The Dutch start-up Veda 3D has launched the Veda Extrusion System (VXS) – an extruder for FDM / FFF 3D printers, designed to significantly increase the throughput of filaments. According to Veda 3D, the extruder has a remarkable performance, being able to extrude a kilogram of filament per hour! The solution is to be compatible with popular desktop 3D printers on the market. The company describes the VXS as “an uncompromising industrial powerhouse”, capable of processing 2.85mm filaments at a rate of 150mm³ / sec, with a maximum temperature of 450 ° C and a back pressure of 200N.
The key problem in accelerating 3D prints in FDM / FFF technology is the trouble-free and smooth feeding of material to the head at high speeds, taking into account idle movements and retraction. For this reason, companies offering large-format 3D prints use completely different extruder designs and in most cases use pure granules instead of filament in a line (see Azure – a company producing “plastic houses”, described yesterday). Another problem with high-speed filament extrusion is that advancing the filament through the printhead requires additional force to overcome internal friction called “back pressure”. The force exceeding the force exerted on the filament by the extruder may cause the material to slip in the mechanism.
As Veda 3D points out, such slip leads to insufficient embossing, which in turn affects the mechanical properties of the parts produced, as they will have less adhesion of the layers. When the wheels in the extruder slide, clogging of the nozzle is more likely due to abrasion of too much filament, which remains in the printing system.
The solution to these problems is to be VXS from Veda 3D. The topologically optimized extruder melting zone enables smooth extrusion of the fully molten material regardless of the nozzle width, and the 300W output power and high tolerance heat block ensure adequate heat transfer. To bring the 3D printing process closer to injection molding, Veda 3D also integrated a patented paddle wheel into the extruder. The mechanism solves the problems of reliability and insufficient extrusion by “biting” into the filament fed to it, thus preventing slippage in the material and allowing constant flow at any feed rate.
In addition, the extruder is equipped with four fans cooling the applied filament during operation – although with some geometries and such a fast speed it may turn out that it is not enough …? At the moment, officially compatible models of 3D printers are:
The recommended filament diameter is 2.85 mm and this is also presented in promotional materials (Veda 3D generally specializes in upgrades for Ultimaker). The extruder costs a substantial EUR 1299 and can be ordered here.
Source: www.v3da.nl via www.3dprintingindustry.com