The most widespread is the so-called Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) process. In this process, a plastic filament is liquefied in a nozzle and applied in layers. No tools, additional molds or other aids are required for this additive manufacturing process. Thanks to an ever-expanding selection of materials, it is possible to adapt to a wide range of requirements - from soft and elastic to hard and tough.
As an official partner of Dynamical, CMC Maschinenbau offers 3D printer systems on the German market. These state-of-the-art industrial printers are designed for tough continuous operation and can therefore be used 24/7 without restrictions.
The Managing Director of CMC Maschinenbau, Ulrich Schöwerling, explains why this technology has been included in the sales program:
"Until now, we had concentrated on converting slitter rewinders and die-cutting machines from Asia. We import the machines, convert them to European standards and adapt them to specific customer requirements. This traditional business works very well. Recently, however, there has been an increasing demand from customers for modern laser cutting systems for films and systems for additive manufacturing. To meet these requests, we have expanded our range since 2020. Today, we can offer our industrial customers the right technology for both areas."
What are the main advantages that 3D printers from Dynamical 3D offer?
"Dynamical manufactures the 3D printers in Spain in compliance with all European regulations. Although this is not a direct advantage for our customers, it saves us subsequent conversion work, which also incurs costs. However, a significant customer benefit is the robust design of the printers, which is intended for tough industrial use in 24/7 operation. Dynamical also offers a whole series of different 3D printers, which enables optimum adaptation to the customer's specific requirements.
However, these are not the only features that distinguish the dynamic printers from 3D printers in the customer market. The achievable accuracy, the large print area, the low-noise operation and the robust design are clearly aimed at use in an industrial environment. The option of connecting the printers to a network means that design and printing can be physically separated. This allows print centers to accept orders online and produce the ordered 3D parts elsewhere. The option of unattended operation significantly increases the output quantity: switch on in the evening, remove the next morning. An optional uninterruptible power supply ensures that once the power supply is restored, the printers continue where they were before the power failure."
But what general reasons does CMC Maschinenbau see for customers to use such 3D printers?
"3D printers offer some significant advantages over other production technologies. This applies not only to the 3D printers from CMC Maschinenbau. In general, this printing technology is used for the following reasons
tool-free production is possible, e.g. for rapid prototyping, sampling and concept studies
Demand-driven production from batch size 1 is possible
Production of workpieces that are difficult or impossible to manufacture using conventional production methods
Extremely high design freedom with the option of fast, customer-specific adaptation
Minimal waste, low energy costs, sustainable production
Time- and cost-efficient work for prototyping and smaller series
Fast availability of components for functional tests
Virtual design in the CAD system with focus on the required function without being limited by later feasibility
High production efficiency and cost savings possible by clustering several components in one printing process
Large selection of different products (ABS, PP, PEAK, PETG, PEEK, PVA, PEI, PPSU, etc.) to adapt the material properties to the functional requirements
Use of standard file formats that are recognized throughout the industry
Robust, compact design, only one power connection is required
Thank you for this summary of the benefits of 3D printing technology. Additive manufacturing is now known to be one of the most flexible production techniques available to the industry. It is no coincidence that sales figures in this area are rising steadily. This is certainly also due to the fact that 3D-printed components are used in a wide variety of industries, right?
"One example of the use of dynamic 3D printers from CMC Maschinenbau is the ability to produce parts on-demand. 3D printing is becoming increasingly popular in spare parts logistics, particularly in the automotive sector. Instead of cost-intensive stockpiling of spare parts with complex warehouse logistics, spare parts can be printed on-demand. This reduces costs dramatically, because in principle, component production is not tied to a fixed location, but could even be printed directly at the specialist workshop if required.
Our 3D printers can also be used to produce and optimize particularly lightweight plastic components for applications in aviation or motorsport. The design changes are made in the software and the components are produced in Dynamical's 3D printers without any major effort or tools. These fast development processes allow concept studies to be produced and tested cost-effectively.
Another application of 3D printers from Dynamical is the in-house production of spare parts in large manufacturing companies. Not only, but especially with older machines and systems, the procurement of spare parts is often difficult. However, many parts that are subject to wear and tear or are essential to operation can be produced using a 3D printer if required. With the help of 3D scanners, 1:1 copies of such components can be electronically captured and saved. The spare parts are then only printed out when required. No complex CAD design is required for this and this measure reduces dependency on external service providers.
The integration of several functions (e.g. housing cover with locking latch) is also possible in a single work step thanks to 3D printing. Reducing the number of components required makes assembly easier, which also saves costs. Some printers also have two print heads so that two different plastics with specific properties can be combined. Dynamical's sales program for 3D printing filaments includes almost 20 different plastics. Special spool holders allow very large spools of up to 5 kg to be used.
3D printers from CMC Maschinenbau therefore open up the entire range of possibilities of additive manufacturing - from individual parts to series production. From printing as a service to disruptive solutions that are not limited by manufacturing processes. A sophisticated design, robust industrial construction, high reliability and compact size make these printers ideal for engineering companies, on-demand manufacturers, printing centers and development departments in large companies."
Thank you Mr. Schöwerling for this deep insight into the advantages of 3D printing technology and Dynamical's 3D printers.
Additive manufacturing for prototypes and series products with 3D printers from CMC Maschinenbau