Dutch clay 3D printer manufacturer VormVrij has released the LUTUM 4 series of 3D printers. Fourth generation machines, LUTUM 4s comes with a number of upgrades and under-the-hood improvements, including an ability to 3D print pottery up to 80 cm tall.
Speed test on a LUTUM V4 3D printer. Clip via Yao van den Heerik on YouTube
Sustainable, natural 3D printing
VormVrij was founded in 2012 by Marlieke Wijnakker and Yao van den Heerik, graduates of Design Academy Eindhoven. Translated, the company name means “shape free” referring to the geometric freedom of 3D printed design. The ethos of the company is to help cut down on plastic waste, relying on the natural resilience of clay. “We now produce with an immediately recyclable and locally obtained natural material,” explain the founders,
“We print without loss. And our final products are durable. If left to the elements they remain functional for 5000 years without any harm to our natural environment.”
Inside the LUTUM 4
The LUTUM 4 series encompasses a total of three machines: a standard V4, the larger V4 MXL, and the V4 DUAL with two extruders.
First of all, the most noticeable upgrade about the LUTUM 4 series is its size. Its predecessor, the V3 from 2016, has a standard build envelope of 43 x 42 x 44 cm (L x W x H). A standard V4 has a bed measuring 43 x 46 x 51 cm, and the V4 MXL extends the max build to 80 cm in height, almost twice the height of V3.
Secondly, each V4 machine has a full metal body, replacing earlier versions that contained wood. Within this body, internal electronics have been rearranged for better protection from dust and water, which occur in abundance in pottery studios.
Clay is extruded on the 3D printers through cartridges which can be loaded with any possible clay type, e.g. earthware, stoneware and even porcelain. Depending on the viscosity of clay used, print speeds are typically anywhere between 20mm/s to 100mm/s.
Pricing
Developing a name within the clay 3D printing industry, VormVrij recently completed a 3D printing challenge for an Audi A8 launch event, fabricating 1,200 identical ceramic cups in in the space of 6 weeks.
First previewed at Fabcon + Rapid.Tech 2018 in Germany, LUTUM 4 3D printers are now shipping to customers worldwide, including universities in France, Germany, Portugal, and America. The whole range is now available to buy online, with prices starting at €6,350.
Technical specifications of the LUTUM V4 Clay 3D printer
Technology: Liquid Deposition Modeling (LDM)
Printing volume: diameter 430 mm ø x 500 mm H
Nozzle diameter: 1.2mm
Layer resolution: min 0.5mm – max 3mm
Max speed: 100mm / s
Materials: earthenware, stoneware, refractory, clays etc.
Extruder: 18/10 Stainless steel
Nozzle diameter: 3mm, 0.6mm, 1.2mm, 1.6mm, 5mm or 7mm
Operating systems: Windows, Mac, Linux
Slicing: Slic3r (recommended) – Simplify 3D – Cura
File type: .stl, .obj, .gcode,
Connectivity: SD Card, LCD screen, USB
Printer dimensions: 75 x 75 x 105 cm
Printer weight: 75kg
Price: €6,350
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Featured images shows ceramic chapel structures 3D printed (from left to right) on the LUTUM V4, V3 and V2. Photo via VormVrij
