Development of a 3D printer for thermoplastic modelling

Additive technologies are entering the market in all price segments and the development of new machines and materials is rapidly growing. Machines under 2000  are more and more interesting for home and educational use. This paper presents the development of a 3D printer that shapes the parts layer by layer by depositing the material on a predefined position. The development is presented from the engineering point of view. The construction steps, the control and the actuator solutions are presented. The ABS plastic was analysed for its material properties. The 3D printer evolved from a prototype to the pre- production phase.