Advanced Manufacturing Center Acquires New 3-D Printer Capabilities
September 1, 2016
The Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology's (CCAT) Advanced Manufacturing Center (AMC) can now print a wider variety of fiber reinforcement patterns with the recently acquired Markforged 3-D printer, the Mark Two. It is capable of printing continuous carbon fiber, Kevlar and fiberglass.
The Markforged printer uses a fused deposition modeling process to reinforce parts with composite fibers and obtain strength and stiffness comparable to plastic laser sintered parts. The printer allows components to have the same or different strength values when measured in different directions.
Using this function and a continuous filament fabrication print head, alongside a fused filament fabrication print head, CCAT can now print functional parts by combining nylon with continuous fiber.
"Components can be up to 27 times stiffer and 24 times stronger than ABS, a plastic commonly used for injection molding, have a higher strength-to-weight ratio than aluminum, and have the strength of metals," said a company spokesperson. "In addition, the set up and post-processing operations are less time-consuming than many plastic 3-D laser printers."
"Having already printed prototype parts and small fixtures for in-house use, we look forward to helping manufacturers benefit from the capabilities of this technology," said Don Balducci, CCAT AMC Director.
For more information contact:
CCAT Advanced Manufacturing Center
409 Silver Lane
East Hartford, CT 06118
860-610-0478
www.ccat.us
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