What is 3D Printing?

A 3D printer produces a solid object rather than printing onto a 2D sheet like a conventional printer. Our Extru 3D printer produces the object from plastic by taking a plastic filament, melting it and squirting it out - similar to a hot glue gun. The head is driven in the x and y directions to form a layer and at the end of each layer the print bed lowers to allow the next one to be laid down on top.

In order to produce your object you simply draw a 3D model using almost any CAD package and then save it as an stereo lithography file (STL file). This file is then converted to g-code to produce layers which will be printed.

The future of engineering and manufacturing is being dramatically changed by Rapid Prototyping / Rapid Manufacturing (RP / RM). These technologies are already significant in industry, and their use is growing very rapidly.

Schools and Colleges are already starting to teach Rapid Prototyping, but the technology is too costly to be accessible to everyone.. until now! For well under 1 000€, you can create 3D shapes in a number of different materials.

The Extru 3D not only enables the teaching of RP and RM, but also is supplied in kit form, so building the Extru 3D contributes towards the teaching and learning of engineering.

CNC Plateform facts

Linear bush bearings Oversized 12mm guides giving extra rigidity Steel frame to give greater rigidity/stability X & Y axes driven by timing belts and 1/16th microstepping stepper motors Z axis driven by lead screw and 1/16th microstepping stepper motors

Extruder facts

1/16th microstepping stepper motor drive for precision control

One piece nozzle and heater barrel assembly

Custom-designed extruder drive-screw for reliable precise filament delivery

Hot end

Electronic facts

Purpose designed board

Runs via an SD card, no need for a PC to be connected

OLED user interface

Full control over all parameters during printing

Boot-loadable upgrades via USB

Skeinforge conversion software with a purpose-written user-friendly BFB front end

SPECIFICATIONS

 Overall size: 590W x 570D x 640H
 Weight: 16kg + filament
 Print area: 200W x 200D x 170H dependant on head design
 Printing speed: Approx 120mm 3 per min (material dependant)
 Power (max): 48W @ 12V
 Max extruder temp: 290°C on tip
 X & Y drives: Timing belt, driven by microstepping stepper motor
 Z drive: Leadscrew, driven by microstepping stepper & timing belt
 Tolerances: Movement x & y +/-0.1mm, z +/- 0.4mm (dependent on nozzle size), extruder nozzle diameter 0.5mm (alternatives available)
 Materials available: High density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), unplasticised polyvinylchloride UPVC), ABS, polylactic acid (PLA) and polycapralactone (PCL)
 Filament: 3mm Ø
 Spool capacity: 500g

FILAMENTS FACTS

 ABS - Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene
 HDPE)- High Density Polythene
 LDPE - Low Density Polythene
 PP - Polypropylene
 PLA - Polylactic Acid
 ABS Colours Natural-Yellow-Red-Blue-Green-Black
 Filament Dia 3mm
 Spool Capacity 1 kg

FEATURES AND BENEFITS

 System designed to be assembled by students, who can then print their designs on it
 It can be taken apart and reassembled to teach assembly skills (e.g. Engineering Diploma)
 It is able to print some of its own replacement parts
 Manufactured from high impact acrylic
 Precision laser cut parts
 A variety of affordable material (filament: 3mm ø) upvc, hdpe, ldpe, polypropylene (PP), abs, pla (poly lactic acid) & polycapralactone (PCL) - extrudes at lower temps (170°C)
 Students can see all mechanisms and fully understand their workings
 Safer than a soldering iron! (runs at a lower temperature)
 Suitable for teaching across key stages 3, 4 and 5. Also used in many universities, both in the UK and worldwide for final year projects
 Teaching materials and support available, including teachers’ forum
 The machine can print objects both as a teaching resource and fully functioning rapid prototyping machine
 Fastest, cheapest and easiest way to produce small one-off 3D designs
 Runs on open source software for set up and control X/Y/Z positioning system able to accommodate multiple tools
 Self-assembly ensures easy maintenance

TESTIMONIES PICTURES AND VIDEO

DOWNLOAD AREA

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