Post written by Michael B.
On July 30, members from Terabridges (FTC #18603) met with the CEO of Tronix3D, a 3D printing company that specializes in several different technologies and industrial sectors. This visit was a useful experience for our members on the build side of the robot, as we were exposed to different ways to 3D print parts that we originally didn’t know.
We started our tour by explaining a little bit about ourselves, mainly about our experience with CAD-ing and the way the robot game worked, as well as the way we built our robot mainly around 3D printed parts. We then proceeded to the standard Bambu Labs 3D printers, in which the CEO explained that these standard printers were used for general parts that companies ordered in bulk, much like how we print several parts for our robot with the same type of printer.
Next on the tour, we stopped by the two HP Multi Jet Fusion 3D printers and the one Stratasys H350 Powder Bed Fusion 3D printers, but we took a closer look at the HP printers. The CEO pointed out that the way this 3D printing technology worked is by using plastic or metal powder and spreading a thin coat of white ink on the powder. Then, a jet would drop black ink on the section of white ink to create one layer of many of the 3D print. Following close behind the jet dropping black ink would be, essentially, a laser that would super heat the layer. Since the color white reflects heat and black absorbs heat, the white ink would reflect the heat while the areas with black ink would fuse the powder together in that area, creating a layer of the 3D print. He also mentioned that the final product, if it had used metal powder, would have the strength of about 97% of the original metal if the original metal had been carved out, but this 3D printed part would also be lighter and less dense.
Next, we stopped by a small room with a 3D printer the size of one of the Bambu Labs 3D printers but with a completely different way of creating a finished product. This 3D printer had a bottom plate that actually started from the top of the printer, not the bottom like most other printers. This printer used resin as the main building block of the print, using lasers to melt the resin into the prints shape. In a way, it was like the previous HP Multi Jet Fusion 3D printer where the 3D print was built, layer by layer. By using resin, however, the print could have multiple different colors and also be used in places where small prints are required. However, the CEO told us that due to resin’s properties, keeping it out in the sun is bad for a print made of this resin, so 3D prints from this specific printer are usually used in electricals and other environments where heat isn’t necessarily produced.
To finish off the tour, we saw a couple more 3D printers, one of which could print objects like chairs, tables, and more. We also saw another 3D printer which uses plastic pellets to 3D print large objects a lot quicker than using normal filament. The CEO also showed us some of the 3D prints from the different types of 3D printers, and many of these prints were on display in the lobby of Tronix3D’s facility. Our team also got a brief look into the CEO’s other companies, where they had new technologies for linear actuators and simulation seats as well. Of course, these companies also got a lot of their materials from Tronix3D.
One of the most important takeaways from this experience was the importance of the type of 3D print and its use application, something which we can keep in mind as we enter the new season and have to brainstorm different solutions to the still unknown game. Another takeaway was the importance of using space properly, as Tronix3D clumps one customer’s 3D parts with another customer’s to save resources and time. Additionally, an important idea that the CEO mentioned is that all of us have to have a business mindset as well as a technical mindset. Even though Terabridges isn’t a business, his point is that all of us team members should be well rounded and know what each part of our team does, whether technical or non-technical. We were also able to receive some support from Tronix3D for our new season, and this encounter with them helped all of us realize the wide world of 3D printing and its value for our team and our robot.
Talking about our Robot and FIRST.