Development of a modular 3D printer

Aditivni postupci postaju sve dostupniji na tržištu razvojem niskobudžetnih 3D pisača. U ovom segmentu tržišta trenutno se najviše primjenjuje postupak taložnog očvršćivanja – FDM. Poseban segment tržišta niskobudžetnih 3D pisača su uređaji većeg radnog volumena posebno u smjeru osi z odnosno visinu. Budući da aditivni postupci imaju svojih prednosti, a i nedostataka naspram postupaka obrade odvajanjem čestica, interesantan dio tržišta su hibridni strojevi koji imaju mogućnost izmjene alata za obje vrste postupaka. Tržište niskobudžetnih hibridnih uređaja je još uvijek u nastajanju. U okviru diplomskog rada je razrađen koncept i izrađen prototip niskobudžetnog 3D pisača većeg radnog volumena u smjeru osi z. U okviru koncepta je razrađena mogućnost izmjene alata. Tako da je uz ekstruder koji je izrađen u okviru rada moguće i postaviti druge alate za rad s postupcima obrade odvajanjem čestica. Izradom koncepta i usporedbom aditivnih postupaka s postupcima obrade odvajanjem moguće je uočiti moguće prednosti i nedostatke konstrukcije ukoliko bi se vršila obrada odvajanjem. Modularnost konstrukcije ima veliku prednost budući da su nadogradnje i poboljšanja stroja moguća laganom izmjenom određenih dijelova.Today additive manufacturing is becoming more available on the global market because of the development of low cost 3D printers. In the market of low cost 3D printers, the most applied process of additive manufacturing is Fused Deposition Modeling – FDM. Specific market segment of low cost 3D printers is a market of 3D printers with large build volume especially in the direction of z axis (height). Because additive manufacturing has its advantages and its disadvantages regarding to subtractive manufacturing, interesting share of the market is hybrid manufacturing machines that have possibilities of exchange tools for manufacturing with additive and subtractive process. The market of hybrid manufacturing machines is still emerging. The concept and prototype of low cost 3D printer with a larger build volume in direction of z axis is elaborated within the thesis. Capability of tool exchange is elaborated within the concept design. With the extruder (that is made as a tool within the thesis), there is a possibility to mount another tools for manufacturing with subtractive methods. With a concept design and comparison of additive and subtractive manufacturing there is a possibility to note advantages and disadvantages of the machine if the subtractive tools would be mounted. Modular design of the machine has a great advantage because upgrades and improvements would be easily achieved