Factory of the Future 1.0 (FoF 1.0) is four times larger than UMaine’s MasterPrint, which made it into the record books in 2019.
Unveiled at UMaine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center (ASCC), FoF 1.0 has been designed to print objects as large as 96 feet (29.26m) long by 32 (9.75m) feet wide by 18 (5.48m) feet high, and can print up to 500 pounds (226.796kg) per hour.
According to UMaine, it presents new opportunities for eco-friendly and cost-effective manufacturing for industries including national security, affordable housing, bridge construction, ocean and wind energy technologies and maritime vessel fabrication.
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In use, FoF 1.0 can dynamically switch between processes including large-scale additive manufacturing, subtractive manufacturing, continuous tape layup and robotic arm operations. Furthermore, FoF 1.0 and MasterPrint can collaborate by sharing the same end-effectors or by working on the same part.
In a statement, ASCC executive director Habib Dagher said: “FoF 1.0 opens up new research frontiers to integrate these collaborative robotics operations at a very large scale with new sensors, high-performance computing and artificial intelligence to create born-certified systems that meet high quality standards.”
The printer will enable various initiatives, including the development of biobased feedstocks from wood residue and the creation of sustainable, affordable housing. For national security, the printer is expected to enable advances in lightweight, rapidly deployable structures and vessel technologies.
The FoF 1.0 unveiling comes ahead of this summer’s planned groundbreaking of the Green Engineering and Materials (GEM) Factory of the Future, a new research laboratory with the primary aim of developing more sustainable manufacturing practices with the introduction of next-generation solutions and biomaterials.
“Maine needs an estimated 80,000 additional homes by 2030, many specifically for households with incomes at or below the area median income. This new technology allows UMaine-ASCC to scale-up its research and production of its innovative biobased 3D printed home technology,” said Maine Housing’s development director Mark Wiesendanger. “This effort creates another means of producing quality affordable housing, while further driving costs down, and using abundant wood residuals from Maine’s sawmills.”
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