Giant, Amazingly Fast FDM 3D Printer Created in South Africa

This is pretty incredible. A man named Hans Fouche, out of South Africa, has built his own giant 3D printer based on the Fused Deposition Method. The printer is "garage sized," and can print the entire frame of a RepRap Morgan 3D printer in only 3 pieces. Some of the ground breaking features of this device are as follows:

• Can print large objects like clothes hangers, lawn mower wheels, etc in one piece
• Extremely high speed. Can print an entire Lawnmower wheel in under 60 minutes
• Does not require 3D printer filament. Instead you can through ABS plastic granules into the machine.
• Print with a nozzle 3mm thick

http://3dprint.com/2951/giant-3d-printer/

Check out a picture of Fouche's amazing 3D printer below:
http://3dprint.com/wp-content/upload...at-720x340.jpg

Hi Thanx Brain!

Quite amazing Hans. Do you plan on releasing the files for this printer anytime soon?

Could you guys include source links on stories, please?

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Originally Posted by eain

Could you guys include source links on stories, please?

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Hi, I have posted a lot of photos on
https://www.facebook.com/fouche3dprinting
Hans Fouche

The printer is very much in prototype form at the moment. Machine number two will be better and closer to a production machine.

Great work Hans, I really like your approach! Smart move of filling the machine with granules instead of filament, so it just melts out of your hot-end without the need of a extruder?

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Originally Posted by Egon van Engelen

Great work Hans, I really like your approach! Smart move of filling the machine with granules instead of filament, so it just melts out of your hot-end without the need of a extruder?

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Yes.... ;-)

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Originally Posted by Hans

Yes.... ;-)

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Just curious, mind sharing on how you control the flow?

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Originally Posted by Egon van Engelen

Just curious, mind sharing on how you control the flow?

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;-) I dont !
I have got a fixed speed 220v AC motor, linked via a reduction gearbox, to the extruder.
I control the speed of the nozzle, and the layer thickness, to suit the extrution rate.
At the moment 700 mm/min with a 2mm layer height seems to work nice.
Hans
(A variable speed drive for the motor is on my wishing list!)

This is awesome, direct pellets into the machine is a great idea.

Is there a possibility of printing at a higher resolution at that speed? 2mm is great for the large objects, what is the lowest you have tried?

I have done a range of 200mm diameter, 25mm heigh test pieces at differant layer heights and speeds, and have stopped with the current settings..... One must stop someware!, but I would like to play more with thin and fast layers. My extruder is running at 350 gram per hour, constant.

Also, going fast with this size of machine, is not so good...... It shakes a lot then....

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Originally Posted by Hans

;-) I dont !
I have got a fixed speed 220v AC motor, linked via a reduction gearbox, to the extruder.
I control the speed of the nozzle, and the layer thickness, to suit the extrution rate.
At the moment 700 mm/min with a 2mm layer height seems to work nice.
Hans
(A variable speed drive for the motor is on my wishing list!)

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Nice thinking, thats not fast do, but you make up more than enough by the amount of plastic coming out! You can have a nice new pair of slippers in less than a hour ;o)

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Originally Posted by Egon van Engelen

Nice thinking, thats not fast do, but you make up more than enough by the amount of plastic coming out! You can have a nice new pair of slippers in less than a hour ;o)

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Yes.... ;-)
https://scontent-b-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/...91442737_n.jpg

Looks like Hans is at it again, this time with his 3D printed lawn mower! Read and see more at: http://3dprint.com/34873/3d-printed-lawn-mower/

http://3dprint.com/wp-content/upload...erfeatured.jpg

Good to finally see Hans getting more press. Kickstarters throw bags of money at three year old regurgitated tech or thinly disguised bulk purchases of off the shelf Chinese printers- this guy is actually doing something new and useful. It's not pretty, but it's the most useful direction I've seen plastic 3D printers take in ages. I'd love to seem him sell an extruder kit.

Hi Hans,
How is the cement printing coming along?
Corrie

Wow, that takes "ugly but functional" to a whole new level.
I actually really like it.

Finally someone with a decent sized nozzle - nice job Hans :-)

There's just no reason a large item with no fine detail should have to be printed with a sub mm nozzle.

Want it smooth ? sand and paint the bugger :-)

Fouche is at it again, this time with 3D printed shoes!

http://3dprint.com/wp-content/upload.../01/fouch1.jpg

see more at http://3dprint.com/38924/3d-printed-shoes-2/