German OEM Arburg states that injection molding plants can benefit from the additive manufacturing of grippers and operating equipment – through its sister company ARBURGadditive whose core business is dedicated to AM.
As part of its offering dedicated to AM, Arburg provides the Freeformer 300-3X, an industrial 3D printer that can produce parts with dimensions of up to 234 x 134 x 230 millimeters. Based on Arburg Plastic Freeforming (AFP), the machine can process a wide range of original and certified plastic granules, including granules for high-temperature applications.
According to Arburg, this machine makes it possible to achieve additive end-of-arm tooling (EOAT) for various robotic systems and handling tasks can be 3D printed on demand quickly, cost-effectively, and customized for specific applications.
One example is a multi-material gripper, which is created in a single step with the aid of support material and without the need for any additional assembly work. The result is a resilient functional component in a hard/soft combination. The hard housing is made of PC/ABS, while the soft TPE nozzle closure expands positively using compressed air to reliably remove a molded part from the mold.
Other applications
The Freeformer can be used to produce sophisticated designs and complex geometries for various industries. A few examples include aerospace 3D printed parts made from Ultem 9085, customized multi-material applications such as shoe insoles made of flexible TPE, parts made from semi-crystalline PP, resorbable implants, breast prostheses as well as medical devices and aids.
Remember, you can post job opportunities in the AM Industry on 3D ADEPT Media free of charge or look for a job via our job board. Make sure to follow us on our social networks and subscribe to our weekly newsletter : Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn & Instagram ! If you want to be featured in the next issue of our digital magazine or if you hear a story that needs to be heard, make sure to send it to contact@3dadept.com