3D Printing Industry Review of the Year May 2018

3D printing in May 2018 saw the launch of our second annual 3D Printing Industry Awards (2019 nominations now open) and marked the 10th Anniversary of the RepRap movement. In applications, some of the most popular articles included medical breakthroughs. We were also given the exclusive opportunity to see the latest machines coming to market. […]

3D Printing News Sliced: IKEA, EnvisionTEC, America Makes and a giant elephant

Today in Sliced, our 3D printing news digest, we collect all the latest business updates, applications and additive manufacturing research. In addition to the title companies, we feature Organovo, BigRep, Etihad, Graphene 3D Lab, PrintLab, Renishaw and UNYQ in a quick-fire round up of stories from across the industry. The 3D printed elephant bursting out […]

BigRep Showcases New Technology with the PRO and EDGE 3D Printers

The BigRep PRO

At formnext this week, large-scale 3D printing company BigRep introduced its latest sizable offerings in the form of two new industrial FFF 3D printers called the BigRep PRO and BigRep EDGE. The next-generation 3D printers will allow designers and engineers to create functional prototypes, composite tooling, end-use parts and small-number serial production. The PRO and EDGE are both capable of 3D printing with high-performance materials and are aimed at establishing additive manufacturing as a production technology in industries such as automotive, aerospace, consumer goods and manufacturing.

The two new 3D printers are embedded with MXT, BigRep’s Metering Extruder Technology, and equipped with a Bosch Rexroth motion control system for speed, precision, quality and IoT connectivity.

“This new technology delivers the type of innovation that the industry has been awaiting, as our groundbreaking MXT® system makes our new printers five times faster – with greater precision and quality – than current extrusion speeds,” said BigRep CEO Stephan Beyer, PhD. “This is one giant leap for additive manufacturing, allowing BigRep customers to make full use of today’s most advanced large-scale 3D printing technology.”

The BigRep PRO has a build envelope of one cubic meter and a large, temperature-controlled spool chamber allowing for continuous printing of high-performance materials such as ASA/ABS, nylon and more. An insulated, enclosed metal frame allows for even temperature control, while glass doors allow the user to keep an eye on the print. A heated print bed is mounted with polyimide foil for better adhesion during the 3D printing process, and an integrated inductive sensor allows for semi-automatic leveling.

The BigRep EDGE has a build envelope of 1500 x 800 x 600 mm and is designed for printing high-performance materials on a large scale. End-use parts, composite tooling and functional prototypes are all possible. A heated build chamber provides a controlled, high-temperature environment of up to 200° C in the chamber and 220° C in the print bed. The EDGE is also designed to be easy to use, with automatic, upward-moving doors and an easy-to-use graphical interface on a large screen that enables full control over all print settings.

The BigRep EDGE

The partnership between BigRep and Bosch Rexroth was announced last month, and the PRO and EDGE 3D printers are the first by BigRep to incorporate Bosch’s control systems and drives.

“Thanks to professional control systems technology, 3D printing is establishing itself as an industrial manufacturing application,” said Thomas Fechner, Director of the Business Unit New Business at Bosch Rexroth. “In terms of hardware, the CNC control system by Bosch Rexroth is delivering the necessary performance, precision and durability. In our development partnership with BigRep, we are advancing the potential of 3D printing for its use in the environment of the Factory of the Future.”

Meanwhile, BigRep’s MXT technology allows for a clear separation between filament feeding and melting and molten extrusion, enabling full control over the amount and speed of material extruded at any given time. The technology is designed to take full advantage of the new 3D printing materials BigRep is developing in partnership with BASF. Both the PRO and EDGE are equipped with two MXT modular extrusion heads, which manage and synchronize the printing operations.

When used with its finest 0.6 mm nozzle, the PRO can achieve printing speeds of more than 600 mm per second, five times faster than any other FFF 3D printer on the market, according to BigRep. The EDGE can reach speeds of 1,000 mm per second with the same size nozzle. Both 3D printers have achieved filament throughput rate of 5x at the maximum extrusion rate and 3x at the average extrusion rate compared to standard FFF technology.

Formnext is taking place in Frankfurt, Germany until November 16th. You can visit BigRep and learn more about its new technology at Booth E-20 in Hall 3.1.

Discuss this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts below. 

 

BigRep debuts PRO and EDGE industrial large format 3D printers

German large-scale 3D printer manufacturer BigRep, has today launched two 3D printers, the PRO and EDGE, powered by new proprietary Metering Extruder Technology (MXT). “This new technology delivers the type of innovation that the industry has been awaiting, as our groundbreaking MXT system makes our new printers five times faster – with greater precision and […]

Formnext 2018 – the 3D Printing Industry first look

3D Printing Industry took a morning run through what is set to be a record breaking event. Here are some of our first impressions of Formnext 2018. Our team will be in Frankfurt all week to bring you detailed coverage of the 4th edition of what has become the main event on a crowded additive […]

What’s next for BigRep? Interview with CEO Stephan Beyer

Large scale 3D printer manufacturer BigRep has new products due to be unveiled in Frankfurt at Formnext this week. I got a few hints about what to expect from BigRep CEO Stephan Beyer as we discussed topics including large format applications for 3D printing and how the industrial market is demanding more from additive manufacturing […]

Interview with BigRep CEO Stephan Beyer

Hot off of their announcement to partner with Bosh Rexroth we interviewed CEO Dr. Stephan Beyer of BigRep GmbH. The large format company seems to be excelling in partnerships and marketing. What is happening with the Berlin-based startup and where are they headed?

How is BigRep doing?

“We are seeing a very dynamic business right now, with BigRep and its partners leading the way in one of the 21 st century’s most exciting, disruptive technologies: 3D printing is already re-shaping Additive Manufacturing now in many industries. We are building the world’s largest serial production 3D printers, so we are experiencing a high level of interest and requests from industrial companies from around the world.”

What are your target verticals and types of companies?

“We are serving many different company types and industries, among them, of course, aviation, automotive, rail, design and architecture. We have a great many small- to mid-sized companies among our clients, but also major corporations. This reflects our highly flexible, customer-oriented approach. You need to listen to the industry. So we first identify and analyze the required application, which, in turn, drives the selection of performance materials, leading to the third and final step, the system as such, industrial AM equipment based on a 3D large-format printer.”

Why should I buy a BigRep?

“The top five reasons are these:

  • Size – with a capacity of over one cubic meter, the BigRep ONE provides the largest FFFbuilt volume currently available in the market.

  • “Made in Germany” – only our printers are based on the know-how of high-standard Germanengineering.

  • Technical quality – Our machines guarantee reliable, precise manufacturing with the highestlevel of iteration quality.

  • An open-choice approach for filaments.

  • Costs – BigRep printers are highly cost-efficient, both in acquisition costs and in long-term operations.”

How big is BigRep?

“We are headquartered in Berlin with a team of 90 engineers, developers, designers and experts from 22 different nations. As we are serving clients around the world, we also have offices in Boston and Singapore. In addition, we rely on an excellent global network of partners and re-sellers. We also have a global network of leading industry partners, such as Etihad Airways and Deutsche Bahn, as well as key investors – including BASF, Koehler, Klöckner and Körber.”

Are you aiming to make many small things quickly or large items?

“Actually both. One of the advantages of large-scale printers, of course, is to create large industrial objects in one single piece. But speed is of essence, too. So a fast extruder is quite important. For the ONE, we offer an optional Power Extruder with 0.6, 1 and 2 mm nozzles that can print 60% quicker, thus making our printer one of the fastest large-format 3D printers in the market.”

Will your machines grow bigger still?

“Well, they might depend on customer requirements. But more important is to make them faster and even more efficient – and more connected.”

You received EU funding, what did you use it for?

“The EU funding aims at supporting the growth of BigRep.”

What are the challenges when developing a 3D printer?

“Today, as any 3D printers, the large-format machines also will have to become faster and more efficient. They also need to offer interconnectivity and data in order to become a key element in smart factories and IoT applications. These are the challenges any manufacturer faces right now.

Where do you hope to see BigRep in five years?  What is BigRep’s ambition?
For us, it has always been about moving this technology and this industry forward. Studies show that the 3D printer market will grow by 20 per cent annually until 2020. A study by McKinsey forecasts a market volume of 100-250 billion Euros by then – and one of the driving forces behind this will be large-format 3D printing.

Given this background, we are aiming at taking a leading role in the 3D printing market for industrial manufacturing. Equally, we are aiming at further expanding the business while, at the same time, becoming the innovation and thought leader in the 3D printing industry.”

Do you see yourself as being a part of an ecosystem or developing a platform or just shipping a machine?

“We follow a comprehensive, sustained approach, so we develop complete solutions for integrated additive manufacturing systems, as well as a wide range of printing materials on an open-choice basis.”

What kind of industries do you think will use 3D printing for manufacturing in the near future?

“The same as today – automotive, aviation and transportation such as rail. In addition, medical technology, consumer goods, research and science are other promising areas of applications.”

Is sand casting important to you?

“It is a fascinating application. 3D models created by engineers with the use of a CAD software only need to be transferred to a BigRep 3D printer to be produced. It shortens the production cycle, reduces the use of resources and makes the complete process more cost and time-efficient. One example for this is the UK-based company Teignbridge Propellers International, which produces propellers for tugs, luxury yachts, fishing trawlers and ferries. Here, the BigRep ONE 3D printer is used to 3D print a full-size replica of the designed propeller to be the positive pattern for the cast mold, making the process faster by 33 per cent.”

BigRep and Bosch Rexroth Partnering Up to Combine 3D Printing with CNC Control Systems and Drives

German large-format 3D printing company BigRep, which became the newest member of the Direct Manufacturing Research Center (DMRC) an industrial research network in June, is on a mission to reshape the face of manufacturing with its large, serial production 3D printers. Founded four years ago in Berlin, with offices in Boston and Singapore, the company is committed to creating complete solutions in industrial sectors like automotive and aerospace.

Now, BigRep has announced an important development partnership with its strategic partner Bosch Rexroth, which supplies drive and control technologies. Together, the two companies will introduce a new dimension of industrial 3D printing, and set it up as an Industry 4.0 application in industrial production.

“This partnership demonstrates that Bosch Rexroth is constantly developing sustainable technologies and new factory automation solutions for the Factory of the Future,” said Thomas Fechner, Director of the Business Unit New Business at Bosch Rexroth.

As a result of this new development partnership, BigRep’s large-scale 3D printers, like the BigRep ONE and the Studio, will be equipped for the first time with excellent CNC control systems and drives by Bosch Rexroth. This will make BigRep’s 3D printers systems that are IoT-ready.

BigRep ONE 3D Printer

“Across industries, customers are looking for reliable, controllable and efficient 3D printers in order to manufacture top quality parts. As BigRep is the first to integrate CNC-grade control systems in 3D printers, we will re-define Additive Manufacturing,” said BigRep CEO Dr. Stephan Beyer. “The Rexroth controls are also an excellent platform for providing our 3D printers with full connectivity for existing production and automation systems. This will establish 3D printing as a key industry 4.0 application.”

Previously, Bosch Rexroth had predicted that in the future, industrial 3D printers will be faster and more reliable, which will make them far more suitable for use in mass production. Over the years, additive manufacturing has been busily setting itself up as an ideal manufacturing technology for the Factory of the Future, with major reported impacts on small serial production and prototyping.

Bosch Rexroth is also committed to 3D printing – it does offer AM components and solutions, after all. But in addition, the drive and control technologies specialist is using the technology, as stated in a BigRep press release, to “enable the fast and cost-efficient creation of models, patterns, prototypes, tools and end products.”

By following the lead that’s been set by BigRep and Bosch Rexroth in their partnership to combine large-scale, industrial 3D printing with drive and control technology experts, the additive manufacturing industry will be able to realize more cost-efficient and rapid creation of models, prototypes, tools, end-use products, and patterns.

What do you think about this news? Discuss this story and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts in the Facebook comments below. 

BigRep and Bosch Rexroth partner to develop smart factory 3D printing systems

BigRep, a large-format 3D printer manufacturer based in Germany, and international engineering firm Bosch Rexroth, have partnered to integrate state-of-art CNC control systems and drives into new additive manufacturing systems. “Across industries, customers are looking for reliable, controllable and efficient 3D printers in order to manufacture top quality parts,” said Dr. Stephan Beyer, CEO at BigRep. […]

Day Two of 3D printing at IMTS, smart factories and preparing for serial production

Self-driving 3D printed vehicles, beer-pouring robots, robots 3D printing, whirlyball playing robots – ok I made that last one up but automation – together with additive manufacturing – is clearly a dominant theme at IMTS 2018. 3D printing and automation Automation is self-evidently a technology that does not stand in isolation – there must be […]