Continuous fiber 3D printer developer Anisoprint has launched a new additive manufacturing system. The ProM IS 500 is designed to 3D print high-temperature thermoplastics containing continuous fiber. It was debuted at Formnext 2019 and uses technology based on the company’s Composite Fiber Co-extrusion (CFC) technology.
Expected to ship by the end of 2020, the ProM IS 500 is now open to pre-orders directly from Anisoprint.
Composite Fiber Co-extrusion
Anisoprint’s CFC technology combines both prepreg and co-extrusion based 3D printing technologies. Prior to extrusion, the company impregnates dry fibers with a polymer mix creating a prepreg-like stiff fiber. This material is then co-extruded during 3D printing alongside a chosen polymer.
With the ProM IS 500, Anisoprint has made it possible to co-extrude fiber-reinforced materials with high-temperature thermoplastics like PEEK and PEI. The machine features a heated build chamber, capable of temperatures up to 160°C, and the option of extruding at temperatures up to 400°C. To prevent contamination between the varied high-performance polymers, it has four changeable printheads for CFC extrusion and the FFF polymer feed.
Larger than Anisoprint’s existing system, the Anisoprint Composer, the ProM IS 500 has a print platform measuring 600mm x 420mm x 300mm.
With the ProM IS 500, Anisporint is targeting industrial implementation of 3D printing. Features included in the system to aid this integration, include automated calibration, material and print quality controls, and precision motion control. According to the company, it has also been designed “to run 24/7 in a factory environment.”
With CFC technology, reinforced polymers parts can have a tensile strength of 860MPa, but a density of 1.4 g/cm³ – two times lighter than aluminum but comparable in strength. Spare parts, tooling and functional prototypes for aerospace, automotive and robotics, are some of the machine’s suggested applications.
Technical specifications for the Anisporint ProM IS 500
| Maximum extrusion temperature: |
270°C plus print head for soluble material, and high-temperature print head up to 400°C
|
| Print head cooling system: | Liquid cooling |
| Nozzle diameter for FFF: | 0.4 mm – 1.5 mm |
| Plastic filament diameter: | 1.75 mm |
| Compatible plastics: |
Plastic with processing temperatures up to 270°C: PLA, ABS, PETG, PA(Nylon), TPU, PC, ASA SBS (Also any CF/GF filled plastics using hardened steel nozzle). For HT Extruder: PEEK, PEI
|
| Reinforcing fiber materials: |
Anisoprint 1.5k Composite Carbon Fiber, Anisoprint 3k Composite Carbon Fiber, Anisoprint Composite Basalt Fiber
|
| Maximum platform temperature: | 160°C |
| Material storage temperature: | 30°C – 90°C |
| Maximum build chamber temperature: | 160°C |
| Interface: |
Ethernet, USB, Touchscreen
|
| Material sensors: |
Optical sensor for filament
|
| Slicer: |
CFC + FFF: Anisoprint Aura, FFF: Conventional G-Code slicer
|
| OS support: | Windows 7+ |
| Physical dimensions: |
1.9m х 1.2m х 1.9m
|
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Featured image shows the Anisoprint ProM IS 500. Image via Anisoprint
