Developing a multi-material 3D printing platform: II- the robotics and extruding system

Abstract

In this study, a novel three-dimensional (3D) printing method is proposed. The proposed technique aims to enable the 3D printing of metal parts. The method is based on placing metal spheres side by side to form the desired structure, while a clay wall is built around them to keep the spheres in place. Every 3D printing platform consists of three main components: (i) slicing software, (ii) a printing robot, and (iii) microcontroller firmware. In this project, the first two components were developed from scratch, while Marlin was used as the firmware for the microcontroller, responsible for reading, interpreting, and executing G-code files. The proposed 3D printing platform is equipped with two basic components: a clay extruder and a metal sphere dispenser. The rationale behind the placement of metal spheres is examined. The design and manufacturing processes of the 3D printing robot, clay extruder, and metal sphere dispenser are presented. Additionally, the preparation of clay and its loading into the extruder chamber are explained, with examples of clay-printed models provided. Furthermore, metal sphere deposition has been carried out, and the obtained results are presented.

Keywords

• 3D Printing Platform
• Metal 3D printing
• 3D Printing with metal Balls
• Paste 3D Printing

Çok malzemeli 3B baskı platformunun geliştirilmesi: II- robotik ve ekstrüzyon sistemi

Abstract

Bu çalışmada yeni bir üç boyutlu (3B) baskı yöntemi önerilmektedir. Önerilen yöntemle metal parçaların 3B baskı yoluyla üretilebileceği öngörülmektedir. Yöntemin temelinde, metal bilyelerin yan yana yerleştirilerek metal parçaların oluşturulması ve bu bilyelerin kil esaslı bir duvar ile çevrelenerek yerlerinde sabitlenmesi bulunmaktadır. Her 3B baskı platformu üç ana unsurdan oluşur: (i) 3B dilimleme yazılımı, (ii) yazıcı robotu ve (iii) mikrodenetleyici ürün yazılımı. Bu çalışmada ilk iki unsur başlangıçtan itibaren geliştirilmiş; mikrodenetleyici için ise G-code dosyalarını okumak, yorumlamak ve yürütmek amacıyla Marlin yazılımı kullanılmıştır. Önerilen 3B baskı platformu, kil ekstrüderi ve metal bilye ekicisi olmak üzere iki temel bileşenle donatılmıştır. Metal bilyelerin yerleştirilme prensibi incelenmiş; 3B baskı robotu, kil ekstrüderi ve metal bilye ekim mekanizmasının tasarım ve üretim süreçleri sunulmuştur. Ayrıca kilin hazırlanması ve ekstrüder odasına yüklenmesi açıklanmış, kil ile üretilen 3B baskı modellerine ait örnekler verilmiştir. Bunun yanı sıra metal bilye ekimi gerçekleştirilmiş ve elde edilen sonuçlar paylaşılmıştır.

Keywords

• 3D Baskı Platformu
• Metal 3D Baskı
• Metal Bilyelerle 3D Baskı
• Kil 3D Baskı

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