Multi-Head 3D Printer for Polymer-Metal Composite Component Manufacturing

[MOST]

As low-cost desktop 3D printing is now dominated by free and open source self-replicating rapid prototype (RepRap) derivatives, there is an intense interest in extending the scope of potential applications to manufacturing. This study describes a manufacturing technology that enables a constrained set of polymer-metal composite components. This paper provides (1) free and open source hardware and (2) software for printing systems that achieves metal wire embedment into a polymer matrix 3D-printed part via a novel weaving and wrapping method using (3) OpenSCAD and parametric coding for customized g-code commands. Composite parts are evaluated from the technical viability of manufacturing and quality. The results show that utilizing a multi-polymer head system for multi-component manufacturing reduces manufacturing time and reduces the embodied energy of manufacturing. Finally, it is concluded that an open source software and hardware tool chain can provide low-cost industrial manufacturing of complex metal-polymer composite-based products.




For more information, visit:
http://www.appropedia.org/Open_Sourc..._Manufacturing

To download paper, go to:
https://www.academia.edu/33578996/Op..._Manufacturing

[Jon]

Congratulations MOST - your Multi-Head 3D Printer is the Homemade Tool of the Week!

3D printing is advancing toward greater utility and application as 3D printers make the slow move into metals (kudos to MOST for the "polymer-metal composite components" phrasing ). The cost is also plummeting, which serves to bring this technology to those who might need it, ahem, most. We had a strong set of MOST projects posted this week, but this one is especially intriguing and applicable to our interests. For more details on projects from MOST (Michigan Tech's Open Sustainability Technology Lab), click here.

Some nice picks from this week: a Router Plane by Mikhandmaker, an Electric Fence by darkoford, a Ford Hub Nut Socket by Frank S, a Table Saw by Andy T, a Blower Hatch by Tuomas, a Grinding Rest by Neil Jensen, and a Fish Grilling Tool by darkoford. We also had an interesting Mill Corner Locating Method by rgsparber. And, we got to look at some other intriguing MOST projects, including: a Mobile Water Quality Testing Platform, an Additive and Subtractive 3D Printer, a 4-Point Probe Mapping Tool, a 3D Microscope, a Solar Radiation Monitor, and Recyclebot.


MOST - as this is your first win, you'll be receiving an official HomemadeTools.net t-shirt. Please PM me a mailing address and a size, and I'll get it sent out right away.



We've added your tool entry to our All Homemade Tool of the Week winners post. And, you'll now notice the wrench-on-pedestal award in the awards showcase in your postbit, visible beneath your username:




Congrats again and nice job!

[rossbotics]

Congratulations on your win