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Development of a cylindrical coordinate-based fused filament fabrication machine with multiple print heads

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Abstract

Fused filament fabrication (FFF) is an additive manufacturing (AM) process that is intended to build three-dimensional objects through selective deposition of melted material layer-by-layer along a pre-determined path. In the last few years, the utilization of the FFF technology has grown at a high pace and today its use has become widespread in several applications. In the light of the premises, this work emerges as a technology push effort to develop an innovative FFF machine where cylindrical coordinate-based print motion is combined with multiple print heads. The proposed FFF machine was conceived and designed guided by appropriate methodologies concerning product development, assembly, servicing, and design for AM. Furthermore, as a proof of concept, a physical prototype was produced gathering traditional manufacturing processes with AM. The physical prototype was validated with speed, temperature, and deposition tests. The presented FFF machine presents higher manufacturing versatility due to the possibility of processing different materials (in the same part and in all printing area) with an increased production rate, that enables printing up to three parts simultaneously.

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Funding

This work was financially supported by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), through IDMEC, under LAETA project, UIDB/50022/2020. The authors also gratefully acknowledge the funding of the BigFDM project, FCT reference PTDC/EME–EME/32103/2017.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. IDMEC, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal

    Diogo Líbano Monteiro, Carlos Miguel Santos Vicente, Marco Alexandre de Oliveira Leite & António Manuel Relógio Ribeiro

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  1. Diogo Líbano Monteiro
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  2. Carlos Miguel Santos Vicente
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  3. Marco Alexandre de Oliveira Leite
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  4. António Manuel Relógio Ribeiro
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Correspondence to Carlos Miguel Santos Vicente.

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Monteiro, D.L., Vicente, C.M.S., de Oliveira Leite, M.A. et al. Development of a cylindrical coordinate-based fused filament fabrication machine with multiple print heads. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 110, 3129–3143 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-020-05900-y

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