At Formnext, industrial FDM 3D printer manufacturer Verashaper demoed a new concept printer. Part of the VShaper family of printers, it’s capable of printing in 5-axes.

TCT’s big Frankfurt show is in no short supply of innovation. Rubbing shoulders alongside such titanic machines as GE Additive’s A.T.L.A.S. project, is Polish company Verashape and its mind-bending five-axis printing machine.

Developed with the backing of the Polish National Research and Development Center, Verashape’s new machine promises five degrees of movement to its fused filament fabrication. The company claims it will transform the way people think about 3D printing using FDM technology.

It’s relatively simple to wrap the head around. Basically, within the Vshaper’s temperature controlled enclosure lies your standard extruding printhead, moving along the x,y and z-axes. The additional two axes of movement come from a tilting rotary print bed.

Printing in such a way, Verashape claims, removes the need for printing supports, both improving print surface quality and reducing material costs.

Fabrication Freedom: Five-Axis 3D Printing

The potential benefits go beyond frustration free overhangs and pennies in the pocket. Utilizing the five axes, a print could eliminate the traditional weakness of layer bonding in the z-axis by varying the axis on which the extrusion is laid.

Additionally, this freedom of movement can enable the transfer of print surfaces to already printed parts. Not only that but it could, we surmise, mean the abilty to print parts with deliberately stronger areas (by varying the axis of layer bonding).

This 5-axis Vshaper features a cylindrical print volume 300mm in diameter and 300mm tall. TCT Magazine reports that the machine will utilize a tool bank that gives it capabilities beyond simply 3D printing. For example, 3D scanning an object before printing onto its surface.

At this point in time Verashape’s machine is a proof of concept. The company hopes to attract interested partners and potential customers to collaborate and push the design further.

Source: TCT Magazine