Smart Molding International 1-2023

44 smart_molding international 1/2023 additive manufacturing Optimized for superior performance The refined version of BCN3D Epsilon Series printers received more power through brand-new features. Customers will find new aesthetics, upgraded electronics, XYZ autocalibration, and local network access in the latest printers set for shipping. B CN3D Technologies’ quint- essential Epsilon Series has proved itself to be a top con- tender in the world of 3D printing solutions since it arrived on the mar- ket in 2020. Since then, innovators in corners of every industry have been able to get their hands on exception- ally strong functional parts with qual- ity and precision. The defining vision for the Epsilon was accessibility for all; to deliver industrial power on any workbench or factory floor. Now, the Epsilon Series has been fine-tuned and a new generation has been born into what the developers believe is their best printing solution to date. What’s new? • New v e n t i l a t i on s y s t em: Previously, the ventilation system introduced cold air inside the fans with extraction towards another grid. It turned out that this could potentially cause turbulence in the interior, resulting in occasional inefficiencies. To resolve this, the hot air flow is now extracted from the interior and lowers internal pressure to let the interior absorb air from the outside. • New motor drivers: The Trinamic TMC2130 motor has been replaced with the TMC2226. Not only are these new drivers very silent, but they also perform with greater efficiency and better engine torque. Whereas their predecessors required heatsinks to cool down, these new ones instead heat up very little. • New main board: BCN3D has reverted away from commercial componen t s and de c i ded on custom-made components specially designed for its own products. These have been concentrated into one single board, as opposed to being formed of several commercial pieces implemented in various areas of the printer. This significant reduction offers a simpler and in turn more efficient main board. One feature highly anticipated by the customers, especially those in the corporate world, is local network access: an internal web server allows to access it via its local IP address; send files, monitor, pause and cancel prints jobs remotely. This can also be enjoyed by owners of previous Epsilon versions after a firmware update. Autocalibration XYZ is another recently added feature and the fastest one on the market at that. At the push of a button, this automatic process can reduce printing set-up time from 40 minutes to just 6 (that’s 85%!). Plus, this foolproof technology takes away any dependence on human criteria, reducing room for error and guaranteeing a correct first layer adhesion every time. This calibration process is done by measuring multiple points to automatically adjust the printing surface height and (XY) offset between both nozzles. T h e i c o n i c b l a c k f r a m e manufactured by Farguell has been remodeled for a sleeker look to elegantly slot into any workshop. Not just for aesthetic purposes, but the chassis is now more robust and improves rigidity which ensures the correct parallelism of the axes. About BCN3D BCN3D is one of the world’s leading developers and manufacturers of 3D printing solutions, with an installed base in more than 60 countries. Its main clients include Nissan, BMW, NASA, Camper, Louis Vuitton, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). BCN3D www.bcn3d.com A large part of the elevated efficiency can be attributed to new and improved electronics (picture: BCN3D)