Omni3D, a Polish 3D printer and filament manufacturer, has taken steps towards more eco-friendly 3D printing.
Founded in 2013, Omni3D is known for the Factory 2.0, a 500 mm (XYZ) sized industrial FDM/FFF 3D printer. Omni3D has been granted patents for two of its Factory 2.0 components. According to the company, the patented parts reduce energy consumption.
Eco-friendly 3D printing
With 3D printers slowly coming into offices and homes, many people have shown concerns about health and safety and larger environmental impacts. In this regard, some 3D printing companies have made conscious efforts to reduce the carbon footprint.
Omni3D also believes that the current environmental situation must be addressed in additive manufacturing.
Paweł Robak, CEO of Omni3D, said, “Energy saving in the field of 3D printing is not only an intention that remains unaccomplished. We have developed and implemented effective solutions for which our clients value the Factory 2.0 printer so much. It is one of the few energy-saving patents in the area of 3D printing.”
Recently, the company also entered a collaboration with the Cyprus University of Technology to reduce carbon emissions.
Reducing energy consumption
Omni3D has applied for a patent for the 3D printing head used in its Factory 2.0 printer.
By using a fluid cooling system, the temperature of the extruder is kept constant which also helps in extruding the material at a consistent temperature. Furthermore, according to Omni3D liquid cooling also lightens the weight of the extruder, which makes it work at a faster pace and consume less energy.
In addition to this, the second invention is a print head assembly with at least two print heads, both of which work independently but on the same principle as defined above. The 3D printer employs a single heating element to maintain the build plate temperature and the temperature of the chamber.
Furthermore, the Factory 2.0 has a bed that moves on the z-axis while printing. At the beginning of the print, the build area is small and only this small space needs to be heated. But as the print gets larger, more and more space inside the chamber must be heated. Usually, in such 3D printers, the whole chamber is heated. But this consumes a lot of energy.
With the help of its print heads, Omni3D has devised a way to localize and concentrate heat only within the build area. Hence, there is no need to heat the entire chamber, only the build area. This is achieved by a combination of hardware and software. Omni3D has been granted a patent for its single and dual print head assembly.
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Featured image shows parts printed with the Factory 2.0 3D printer. Image via Omni3D.
