ARBURG Additive Manufacturing

ARBURG has 65 years of experience manufacturing systems for plastics processing. Specializing in molding, turnkey systems, and additive manufacturing. ARBURG’s APF (ARBURG Plastic Freeforming) technology takes the open material printing platform to a new level by utilizing thermoplastic pellets to print single or multi-material components. Companies can use their own materials to create parts for a variety of applications from prototyping to tooling and production.

ARBURG Freeformer Overview Video

Technology Description

ARBURG’s APF (ARBURG Plastic Freeforming) technology utilized injection molding grade thermoplastic pellets (rigid or flexible) as the raw material. Pellets are processed through a screw and barrel and into a material printing unit. A piezo actuator works in concert with a print nozzle to lay down micro droplets on a build tray. The build tray moves as the droplets are laid down and the part is created. Parts are printed in single or multiple materials, up to 3 in a single build.

Technology Highlights

• Utilize injection molding grade pellets
• Print rigid & flexible thermoplastics
• Multi-material printing – Up to 3 materials
• Very low material costs – standard pellets
• Part strength/density near injection molding
• Vary printing densities (high or low)
• Open material system

Materials

APF technology works with any thermoplastic material. Currently running a variety of materials in our prototyping lab: ABS, PC/ABS, PC, PP, TPE, TPU, etc.