Innovative 3D printer capable of creating tubular objects of variable section and potentially without length limits and moving on them with a guiding system of 4 linear guides ("legs") coupled to integrated anchoring components without the aid of any external support.
| Patent title | 3D printer and related printing process |
|---|---|
| Thematic area | Industry, Digital and Security |
| Ownership | ALMA MATER STUDIORUM - UNIVERSITA' DI BOLOGNA |
| Inventors | Tomaso Trombetti, Michele Palermo, Andrea Govoni, Lidiana Arrè, Gianluca Palli |
| Protection | Italy, with the possibility to extend internationally |
| Licensing status | Available for development agreements, option, license and other exploitation agreements |
| Keywords | 3D printing, object-integrated anchoring system, mobile robotic device, tower 3D printer, mobile 3D printer, climbing robot/3D printer, variable section tubular element |
| Filed on | 24 October 2023 |
The invention was developed as part of the research project entitled "Three-dimensional printer, related process for the creation of a printed object and object thus obtained" financed under the "Proof of Concepts - PoC 2021" tender. Final objective of the project was the development of a first mobile 3D printing device demonstrator capable of moving on the printed element during its creation.
The innovative climbing system overcame the limit of the hardware structure of other 3D printers which remain limited to the dimensions of the printing area and allows the creation of objects potentially without height limits.
The robot is a 3D printer capable of printing an object and moving on it using a movement system coupled to an anchoring component integrated into the object. This system therefore allows to create tubular objects of variable section (within the maximum printing area allowed by the frame, X/Y plane) and of theoretically unlimited length (along the Z direction orthogonal to the X/Y plane) without the use of external supports.
Applications:
- on site 3D printing of mechanical or structural parts;
- 3D printing of mechanical parts;
- 3D printing of structural elements for the construction industry;
- 3D printing of structural elements for the offshore industry.
Advantages:
- Flexible system;
- absence of external supports;
- integrated mechanical anchoring;
- mobility of the robotic system along the object;
- versatility in printed geometry.