Nowadays, everyone is talking about 3D printing. Private persons are taking the first steps in their own homes and are testing out the new technology in a diverse number of projects. Meanwhile, several industry branches are discovering more ways to implement professional 3D printing. While both technically-oriented private persons as well as product engineers are enthusiastic about this technology, this is where the similarities between these two groups end. In contrast to their smaller and considerably simpler counterparts found in the basement hobby room, industrial 3D printers are in the position to create durable, fully functional components, and even complete products. The manufacturer offers various models for industrial use.
Additive manufacturing methods have made significant advances in recent years. Plastics and metals can now be processed in qualities that were unheard of just a few years ago. Suitable printing methods and the processing of various materials allow 3D-printed components to constantly be used in new fields. At the same time, use in the rapid prototyping discipline, that is the rapid manufacture of individual components or small batch series for research, is declining and moving to the discipline of "rapid manufacturing" - the direct production of components for products found on the market. This in turn changes the demands placed on the printed components. While sometimes only a certain feature such as the correct fit is important for prototypes and other characteristics can be disregarded, industrially used components must be durable and often visually pleasing as well.
To obtain characteristic values for product quality and important information for the advancement of todays printing methods, the manufacturer equipped its testing laboratory in Spain with a testing machine from ZwickRoell. Various tests are performed on printed specimens whose results provide information about the suitability of components and printing methods for specific fields. Testing machines from ZwickRoell, such as the extended 50 kN AllroundLine table-top machine with MultiXtens are used for tensile, compression, and flexure tests on plastics. Combined with a temperature chamber and testXpert III software, the testing system delivers accuracy and versatility.
Additive manufacturing methods have made significant advances in recent years. Plastics and metals can now be processed in qualities that were unheard of just a few years ago. Suitable printing methods and the processing of various materials allow 3D-printed components to constantly be used in new fields. At the same time, use in the rapid prototyping discipline, that is the rapid manufacture of individual components or small batch series for research, is declining and moving to the discipline of "rapid manufacturing" - the direct production of components for products found on the market. This in turn changes the demands placed on the printed components. While sometimes only a certain feature such as the correct fit is important for prototypes and other characteristics can be disregarded, industrially used components must be durable and often visually pleasing as well.
To obtain characteristic values for product quality and important information for the advancement of todays printing methods, the manufacturer equipped its testing laboratory in Spain with a testing machine from ZwickRoell. Various tests are performed on printed specimens whose results provide information about the suitability of components and printing methods for specific fields. Testing machines from ZwickRoell, such as the extended 50 kN AllroundLine table-top machine with MultiXtens are used for tensile, compression, and flexure tests on plastics. Combined with a temperature chamber and testXpert III software, the testing system delivers accuracy and versatility.
