ARBURGadditive presents diverse 3D printing technologies at Formnext 2023

Formnext 2023 in Frankfurt am Main is a crucial event for additive manufacturing technology and 3D printing. ARBURGadditive, a pioneer in this field, will present its extensive range for industrial additive manufacturing, including granules, filaments and liquid silicone (LSR). One of the standout innovations is the new 750-3X high-temperature freeformer, which produces robust air manifolds from Ultem original granules. This article provides an insight into the impressive developments and application possibilities of ARBURGadditives at Formnext.

“Formnext is undisputedly the world’s leading trade fair for additive manufacturing technology and 3D printing and one of the most important trade fairs of all for us and our markets,” says Dr Victor Roman, Managing Director of ARBURGadditive. “This is a chance for us not only to showcase our technical achievements, but also to observe further developments in this highly dynamic market of the future.”

The new 750-3X high-temperature freeformer, which will be presented at Formnext, uses Ultem 9085 pellets to produce complex air distributors. This high-end machine has three discharge units and offers a larger installation space compared to the previous model. Data preparation and the Gestica control system developed by Arburg have been optimized, resulting in higher process stability and component quality. This enables significantly reduced costs per component and lower material usage. The high-temperature freeformer can reach temperatures of up to 200 degrees Celsius, while granulate plastification takes place at up to 450 degrees Celsius.

Another Freeformer 750-3X produces orthopedic insoles in customized designs. This enables targeted reinforcement of specific areas and adjustment of the filling density. Thanks to further developed software features and grid-shaped support structures, build time has been significantly reduced.

“We are experiencing high demand for additively manufactured components made from short-fibre reinforced thermoplastics,” says Simon Leitl, Director Development at ARBURGadditive. “At Formnext, we will be happy to demonstrate our current progress in the APF process with the Freeformer using the first sample components for various industries. This includes the development of a modified discharge system, for example.”

The compact 3D printers of the TiQ series process filaments using the Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) process. They are particularly suitable for entry into the world of additive manufacturing. Loadable suction pads and mechanical grippers made of fiber-reinforced PA and PP will be presented at Formnext.

All 3D printers from innovatiQ are operated via the intuitive GestiQ-Pro industrial control system. Liquid Additive Manufacturing (LAM) technology enables the production of bellows, soft grippers and end-of-arm tooling (EoAT) for automation. Processing of medically certified LSR KEG-2003H-30A/B from Shin-Etsu will be presented for the first time, enabling the production of implants and products for the food sector.