FDM prints deliver complex shapes quickly and cheaply, but often reach their limits in terms of rigidity and fatigue strength. JanTech Engineering therefore relies on a simple lever that is already available in many firmware versions: the M601 command to pause printing. The idea is to create specific cavities in the component into which reinforcements are inserted during the pause. This allows the printer to produce the desired geometry combined with the rigidity of an embedded material.
In a YouTube video, JanTech examines various inserts. The focus is on pultruded carbon rods and carbon elements that can be inserted into suitable channels. They perform best in terms of strength-to-weight ratio. The approach is similar to principles from other areas, such as reinforcement in concrete or fiber-reinforced plastics, but is applied here to FDM parts.
In addition to carbon, JanTech also considers urethane foam and compares it to sand. Foam serves as a filler material, but is easier to compress. Sand is considered less flexible and can be useful when weight is not a key factor.
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