University of Oslo Master's student Øyvind Kallevik Grutle, studying for an advanced degree in Robotics, has taken on an impressive thesis project in creating a 3D printer capable of printing using not just three (X, Y, and Z) axes, but five. The idea came from his professor, and Grutle ran with it, working from a modified RepRap Ormerod design. He's created two versions of the 5-axis 3D printer, which offers the printing of smooth surfaces on planes other than the XY plane, and the printing of overhang structures without the need for support material. The 3D printer will eventually be released on an open source basis, allowing other makers the ability to test its capabilities. Check out details on the machine in the full story: http://3dprint.com/77400/5-axis-3d-printer/


Below is a photo of Grutle's 5-axis 3D printer: