Robust and lubrication-free linear guide in 3D printers for the education sector

The company fabmaker has set itself the goal of introducing people to the technology of 3D printing.
Pupils at primary and secondary schools, trainees in companies and students at universities and technical colleges should learn what is possible with this technology. The aim was therefore to develop a 3D printer with two print heads that is easy to use and safe, works reliably and delivers professional results thanks to its technical specification and software.
One of the main criteria was the precise, vibration-free positioning of the two print heads, through whose nozzles the filaments, heated to 250 °C, flow to create the desired contours using the fused layer process. Although the claim was "not as precise as possible, but as precise as necessary", the positioning accuracy of the nozzles achieved shows what this means: 0.0125 millimetres.
Of course, this requires a high-precision linear guide on which the print heads are moved in the x, y and z directions. However, this guide not only had to be precise, but also lubricant-free and as maintenance-free as possible. Lubricant-free was a must. It would be disastrous if lubricants such as oil or grease were to escape at temperatures above two hundred degrees and contaminate the object to be printed or the working area. The need for maintenance-free operation resulted from the requirement to create an educational printer that would always be available as a teaching aid and would function reliably for many years. In addition, the people who are to be introduced to 3D printing technology have very different technical backgrounds. The printer must therefore be able to forgive operating errors. Last but not least, the price for such a linear guide should remain "within reason".

Based on these specifications, fabmaker looked around the market for such a linear guide, compared various products from different suppliers, tested and rejected them. When the Braunschweig-based start-up finally got in touch with us, we recommended a pre-assembled linear guide from the drylin® W modular system.
Thanks to sliding foils made of iglidur® high-performance polymers, the linear guide is completely lubrication-free, which prevents dust and dirt from accumulating on the guide in the workspace of a 3D printer. In addition, the drylin® W-guidance moves "whisper-quietly" compared to recirculating ball bearing carriages. Their profile rails are made of hard-anodised aluminium, which stands for optimum friction properties, low wear and lightweight construction.
We also supply fabmaker with the energy chain in the educational printers. In view of the wide range of possibilities, the young company initially received sound technical advice from us on which type of chain would best fulfil its requirements.
fabmaker needs two e-chains® for its 3D printer. One that runs vertically in the vertical z-axis and safely guides the control and supply lines for the print bed and a cantilevered one for the control and supply lines for the print heads in the horizontal x/y-axis. The chains should of course be maintenance-free and also have the smallest possible bend radius so that they do not extend so far into the working area. In addition, the energy chain running horizontally should not sag. The compact and stable energy chain from the E2.1 micro series, which is now routed in reverse to the print heads, provides a remedy here. This type of chain is suitable for unsupported applications up to 0.75 metres. It is robust, runs quietly and offers inner widths of up to 50 millimetres, while the smooth contours guarantee the greatest possible cable protection.
And the young company's customers? They are obviously satisfied with the 3D printers. No device has ever been sent back to fabmaker due to a technical defect.