Printed Prototypes
The process devised by a French Company, Soliquid is a unique 3D printing technology which instead of depositing material layer by layer on a plan, prints in a durable and reusable gel matrix using a 6-axis robot arm. The process is much faster than traditional printing technologies and allows for printing complex parts while minimizing material usage and eliminating the need for print supports as the gel holds the overhung parts in place while extruding.
Existing fabrication and manufacturing strategies partially answer to the challenges faced by the Architecture and Construction Industry. Additive manufacturing processes such as FDM 3D printing although successful for various small scale tasks have certain limitations such as slow speed, constraints of scale, materiality(fragility) of the printed prototypes and the need for supports for overhangs, drying time for prints etc.
Printed Prototype
3D Printing Experiments
The following technology enables printing of non-standard, tailor made complex geometries easily and efficiently. The prototypes can be printed using two-component sealing resin. or concrete and can also be reinforced with materials such as carbon fiber etc. to ensure better structurally stability.
3D Printing Simulation
The general device consists of a printing tray that contains a gel matrix and a 6-axis industrial robot, at the end of which is fixed the print head we are developing. This set consisting of the robot and its end-effector is directly controlled on a computer. It’s on the computer that the printing phase is prepared and then initiated: the 3D model of the element to be printed is analyzed, adapted if necessary, then converted into 3D curves corresponding to the future toolpaths of the robot during printing. This path is then broken down into a succession of planes in the XYZ space and associated with certain parameters that define the specifications of the movement and printing processes.
In parallel, a pump is used to bring the printing material from the storage and mixing tank to the print head. When printing starts, the print head fed by the pump plunges into the printing tank and deposits the printing material following the previously determined toolpath. (Source: Soliquid : 3D Print)
Prototypes in Gel Matrix
At the end of the printing phase, the element is kept suspended in the matrix, thus acting as an adaptive formwork/mould/support, until its solidification, or hardening, is sufficient to allow its removal from the tray. (Source : Soliquid : 3D Print)
3D Printing Experiments