RepRap Unveils L280 Liquid AM Production-Ready Printer

German RepRap has been active in pushing for the advancement of liquid additive manufacturing for quite a while now. With the launch of the L280, they appear to have cracked the code on making LAM a production-ready process. The company is looking to position the technology as a means of making parts that would be impossible to ordinarily make with injection molding technology in terms of both print quality and strength.

The LAM printing process enables the solidification of liquid or high viscosity materials such as Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR). It uses a material in a liquid form and vulcanises it under massive heat exposure for a cauterising effect. Unlike FFF/FDM technology, it is not based on melting a material and solidifying again. This gives it a distinct advantage in quality over injection molding due to the intense micro level control it allows.

The L280 LAM Process

The L280 comes with a heated print bed, which maximises part adhesion and ensures optimal cross-linking. It also uses a high-temperature halogen lamp, selectively applying heat throughout the process. The multiple heat sources allow for far better adhesion, strength and print quality.

The LAM process can use DOW chemicals’ “EVOLV3D LC 3335 Liquid Silicone Rubber” (LSR) material can be supplied either in cartridges or pail form. The L280 also monitors the print using a safety technology over the course of the curing process. The printer can thus immediately stop the process in case of any issues. A special light system provides information about the printing status as it continues along.

According to RepRap, the company has extensively tested the technology and proven its reliability. They also provide a maintenance contract and a professional on-site service are available as an option from trained technicians. They can aid in the training people in the usage usage of the device’s hardware and software.

Specs

Specs

Description

Technology

LAM (Liquid Additive Manufacturing)

Build Volume

280 x 280 x 200 mm

Print speed

10 – 150 mm/s

Travel speed

10 – 300 mm/s

Position accuracy

(X/Y) +/- 0.1 mm/s

Layer height/Resolution

0.22 – 0.9 mm minimum

Material

EVOLV3D™ LC 3335 Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR)

Nozzle diameters

0.23/ 0.4/ 0.8 mm

Bed temperature

110°C

Connectivity

USB, Stand-alone printing with touch display, ethernet

Software

Simplify3D Software

Voltage

230 VAC

Ambient temperature

15-26°C

Size with installed cartridge system

700 x 700 x 2040 mm

Size with material pails

700 x 700 x 2260 mm

Weight

120 kg