As digital manufacturing continues to prove its competitiveness to the world, the number of 3D printing factories will continue to grow. The number of orders is also continuing to grow, which is why so many of these production facilities are seeking to automate the process. There are already quite a few automated 3D printing factories out there, but most of them use FDM technology. Just a few weeks ago, Formlabs introduced their automated version using their Form 2 SLA printers and a Form Wash, known as the Form Cell. What exactly is a Form Cell you may ask? Well, it is an automated 3D printing system that uses a gantry to run five Form 2 SLA printers as well as a Form Wash, which is used for post processing. It is a system that does most of the work, such as the printing, washing, and curing.
Although Formlabs isn’t the first to come up with such an idea, it is still quite impressive. 3D systems have what is known as the Figure 4, an automated system that uses two 6-axis robots to operate the whole process. Seems those automated 3D printing factories is a new trend in the world of additive manufacturing.
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