A company has launched a “tabletop” 3DCP printer.
India-based Deltasys Eforming is a long-time manufacturer of CNC equipment for industry, and also produces 3D printers. They offer a small FFF device, the Emaker, a Clay 3D printer, and three concrete 3D printers.
Their largest device is a gantry-style on-site construction 3D printer that can print in a variety of concrete materials. They also offer a “floor top” model that has a build volume of up to 2000 x 2000 x 2000 mm.
But we’re most interested in their latest device, the Table Top Small R&D Concrete 3D printer.
This device has a build volume of 600 x 600 x 600 mm, and is intended for use by laboratories and educational institutions as a research platform. Deltasys Eforming explains:
“Designed for research labs and universities, this compact printer includes an integrated mixing and dosing system and a polycarbonate-enclosed build area. It enables affordable, hands-on research into cementitious materials, mortar rheology, and printability—all within a controlled lab environment.”
At the top, you can see an image of the “tabletop” device. I’m a bit suspicious about that naming approach, as the device seems to be on the floor of a workshop. Presumably, you could put it on a table, but it would have to be quite strong to handle the heavy weight of concrete prints. The pan mixer has a 10kg capacity, just so you know.
The integrated material mixer seems to be the key feature, as it would allow researchers or material developers to more easily experiment with different additives.
The company explained that any cementitious material with appropriate flow characteristics can be used in the system, including not only concrete but also mortar, clay, and ceramic pastes. It can handle aggregates with particles up to 2mm in diameter and can process reinforcing fibers if required.
This is an interesting strategy, as most 3DCP devices are quite large and designed for field work. Here we have a device that is much smaller and able to provide a way to develop more effective material mixes. Mixes are far more critical in 3DCP because failures in buildings are a serious matter. Traditional concrete is always extensively tested before being used in building projects to ensure long-term strength.
Due to its small size, the device is more affordable than its larger counterparts. This should make it more accessible to institutional clients.
Via Deltasys Eforming and Manufactur3D
