Engineering news
Drone companies and firms using robotic arms are among the first users and potential customers for the Method Carbon Fiber editions from MakerBot. As well as high strength and heat resistance, printed parts offer lightweight and customisable alternatives to metal. The printers are designed to enable engineers to print stronger and more accurate parts for manufacturing tools, jigs and fixtures, and end-use production.
The Method and Method X printers use a new composite extruder that is optimised to handle abrasive materials. Also available as an upgrade for earlier printers, the extruder has hardened metal drive gears, a metal filament switch and an interchangeable hardened steel nozzle.
The new nylon carbon fibre material is a potential alternative to metal for structural applications such as vehicular brackets and inspection gauges, manufacturing tools such as robotic end effectors and under-hood applications. Carbon fibre can help reduce costs and increase efficiencies.
MakerBot is already working with All Axis Robotics in Texas, which uses robotic arms to automate workshop processes. The nylon carbon fibre is ideal for end effectors – manipulators at the end of robotic arms – says Johan Broer, MakerBot vice-president of product development, to Professional Engineering.
“You need something that is very strong and lightweight, because most of these robot arms can only hold a certain load,” he says. “The heavier your end effector is, the less you can actually lift with your robot arm. So companies are looking to 3D-print these parts, also because oftentimes the task is very specialised and it’s a custom part, so it’s much more cost-effective to 3D-print that part than to machine it.”
Soluble support materials also enable parts with complex geometries and lightweighting internal cavities, which is often required for end effectors. The nylon carbon fibre can be used alongside printed materials with other properties, such as flexibility, to create complex parts with optimised features.
MakerBot has also been speaking to a company that makes drone parts, says Broer. “Obviously again weight is very important, and also the stiffness, and strength of the part as well. You want to use something strong and lightweight, so then you have to use less energy to actually lift the drone.”
The Method X has a chamber temperature of up to 110°C on the build plane, so could support other high-performance composite materials in future.
Want the best engineering stories delivered straight to your inbox? The Professional Engineering newsletter gives you vital updates on the most cutting-edge engineering and exciting new job opportunities. To sign up, click here.
Content published by Professional Engineering does not necessarily represent the views of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.