Materials

Schunk adopts Anisoprint composite 3D printing for metal part replacement

German manufacturer of additive carbon and ceramic construction components Schunk Carbon Technology, has adopted Anisoprint composite 3D printing technology. Anisoprint’s system, the Composer, will be used to to accelerate the development and production of custom tools used in high-temperature applications, as well as the automotive and small motor sectors.  

“We are using the Anisoprint Composer for printing demonstrators and tools for our production,” comments  Gotthard Nauditt, R&D Engineer Composites at Schunk Carbon Technology. “The Composer does a good job! It works precise and reliable and together with its slicing software Aura it forms a capable tool.”

3D printed dry running Graphite bearings. Photo via Schunk Carbon Technology.

3D printing tools with composite materials  

Schunk Carbon Technology is a division of the Germany-headquartered high-tech materials supplier Schunk Group, which is comprised of four divisions and 11 business units. Founded in 1913 the company manufactures components and systems for various industrial sectors from carbon/graphite, carbon compounds, silicon carbide and quartz. 

In addition to Anisoprint’s 3D printer and software, Schunk Carbon Technology is also utilizing the company’s dedicated continuous fiber reinforced polymer composites. Released in 2017 these materials include CCF (Composite Carbon Fiber) and CBF (Composite Basalt Fiber). 

The aim is to use Anisoprint’s offering to produce custom tools that are comparable in strength, lighter and cheaper than their metal counterparts.

Composite fiber co-extrusion technology 

Founded in 2015, Russian company Anisoprint manufacturers continuous carbon-fiber FFF 3D printers and materials. The Anisoprint Сomposer is a desktop sized 3D printer with a Dual nozzle, comprised of a FFF and CFC extruder. It can print up 80 mm a second with FFF and up to 10 mm a second with CFC and is compatible with plastics with a processing temperatures up to 270°С. 

Now in use by Schunk, the Composer integrates a composite reinforcing fiber, made of thousands of ultrathin carbon monofilaments, into a plastic. This improves adhesion between the polymers and the fiber. The company claims that these 3D printed parts are 25 times stronger than pure plastic and 7 times lighter than steel.

This process is assisted by Anisoprint’s Aura software, which makes it easy for users to prepare 3D models for printing using its CFC technology (as well as more standard FFF processes). In essence, the software preps the model by generating reinforcing fiber trajectories in each layer of the print. It also allows users to adjust and control the reinforcement scheme so that parts can meet strength and weight requirements.

Anisoprint Сomposer CFC/FFF 3D printer. Photo via Anisoprint.

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Featured image shows Anisoprint CFC Сomposer printer in action. Photo via Anisoprint.