Arburg: Around 40 experts attend the Freeformer User Day 2018

Beim Freeformer-Anwendertag 2018 präsentierten Patric Kaisers und weitere AKF-Experten aktuelle Weiterentwicklungen im Arburg Kunststoff-Freiformen. Ein großer Schritt ist ihnen z. B. mit dem neuen Update der Slicing-Software gelungen. (Foto: Arburg) / Patric Kaisers and other APF experts presented the latest further developments at the Freeformer User Day 2018. They have, for example, made a significant step forward with the new update to the slicing software. (Photo: Arburg)

Praxisnah: An fünf Freeformern im Arburg Kundencenter (Bild), Prototyping Center und im Reinraum hatten die Teilnehmer des Freeformer-Anwendertags 2018 ausgiebig Gelegenheit zur Materialqualifizierung und zum Erfahrungsaustausch. (Foto: Arburg) / The theory was followed by a practical demonstration: five Freeformers in the Arburg Customer Center (photo), Prototyping Center and in the clean room offered the participants at the Freeformer User Day 2018 ample opportunity to qualify materials and exchange experiences. (Photo: Arburg)

- Expert conference in Lossburg: Exchange of experiences with Arburg Plastic Freeforming (APF)
- Freeformer: Participants from Europe learn about technical progress
- Focus: New materials and their qualification in theory and practice

Around 40 experts in additive manufacturing from Germany, France, the UK and Switzerland came to Lossburg on April 10 for the Freeformer User Day 2018, which was held at Arburg's German headquarters. The focus was on the exchange of experience in the field of Arburg Plastic Freeforming (APF) with the Freeformer. Arburg's APF experts first explained new hardware and software features and offered tips on additive manufacturing with the open system, before the participants split into groups to examine the finer points of material qualification for themselves in the afternoon.

"We have achieved a great deal in the past few months and are pleased to present further major advances in Arburg Plastic Freeforming today," said Eberhard Lutz, Director of Freeformer Sales at Arburg, welcoming around 40 participants to the Freeformer User Day 2018.

Advances in Arburg Plastic Freeforming

In four specialist presentations, the APF experts explained the progress they have made in industrial additive manufacturing with the Freeformer. Thus, for example, the updated slicing software, now available to all Freeformer customers free of charge as an update, was introduced. Interesting innovations include the "smart" automatic generation of a support structure adapted to the part, a filling speed adapted to the line length, a pressure-regulated strategy to improve the adhesion of the first layer to the base plate and many more features. Moreover, there is a redesigned, more user-friendly Freeformer control system interface, as well as optimised support structures and new or revised material profiles. Overall, the improvements lead to a very high level of process stability and part quality. "We can already provide standard profiles for a number of materials, which can be used to produce functional components that have 100 percent the same mechanical properties as injection-moulded parts in the horizontal build orientation," explained Dr Agnes Kloke, Plastic Freeforming Technology Development at Arburg. The open system will of course continue to support the customer-specific adaptation of process parameters according to requirements.

Material qualification in practice

After the participants had received a theoretical introduction to material qualification and the current range of materials, the next step was to put what they had learned into practice. For this purpose, the guests worked together with the APF experts in five workshops. The task was to prepare the machine and materials, determine the optimum temperature and droplet geometry and then additively manufacture and analyse test parts. During these activities, there was ample opportunity for the participants to discuss their own tasks and challenges.

As part of the final discussions to round off the successful User Day, Dr Eberhard Duffner, Director Development and Plastic Freeforming, provided insights on the innovations that his development team is currently working on. The participants were highly impressed with the current and planned further developments in hardware and software and took away a host of tips and recommendations for achieving even better results with the Freeformer in the future.