freeformer

Plastic freeforming www.arburg.com

Free for the future
First came the legendary C4/b. Then the ALLROUNDER. And now,
we are once again completely redefining plastics processing: with
our freeformer. A machine that only ARBURG could produce. With
our completely new, patented and therefore unique process for
industrial additive manufacturing, parts are produced through the
layer-by-layer application of plastic droplets. Customised production.
Parts created directly from 3D CAD data. No injection mould required.
We are perfecting the production of small volumes – for end-
to-end production efficiency. After all, there are many additive
manufacturing processes – but only one APF:
ARBURG Plastic Freeforming.
 Free for a new
Simple, cost-effective production efficiency: Anyone who, like us,
aims to provide truly forward-looking technology must look to the
future, while also remembering the past. We have analysed established
practices and, based on our findings, we have developed a completely
new process: ARBURG Plastic Freeforming (APF) makes it possible to
produce one-off parts and small-volume batches using your
qualified standard granulates – without requiring injection moulds
and with efficient use of materials.

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technology
Process
principle

Machine construction is our world. That’s why we designed our

freeformer from a machine construction perspective. You can
manufacture individual one-off parts and small-volume batches
or, if you want to, design studies, functional samples or prototypes
directly from 3D CAD data using the desired qualified thermoplastic
material. Our freeformer is your ticket to a new technology for
industrial additive manufacturing.

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Free for
new versatility
Our unique freeformer enables you to work the way you always
wanted to: with complete freedom. This starts with the materials
used. You can continue to use your familiar standard
granulate. In other words, the material that you use on a day-­to-
day basis at your injection moulding plant. The only requirement:
the material must be qualified, in other words the processing
parameters need to be determined and optimised - something
you can do yourself any time, or that we can handle for you.
With our freeformer, you require no additional, special and
therefore expensive materials.

You can continue to use the wide variety of unreinforced plastics

that are already available. Using top quality technology at minimal
operating costs. And not the other way around. This is because
integrated material preparation melts the granulate in the same
way as in injection moulding. And as you know, this is one of
our core areas of expertise. The special discharge unit featuring a
pulsed nozzle closure marks a new era in industrial processing:
the generation of tiny plastic droplets and their application
layer-by-layer to produce three-dimensional parts.

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Free for new combin
Our decades of experience in the field of injection moulding have helped
us recognise the flexibility of the freeformer as the measure of all things.
So what does this mean for you? You can use a freeformer to process
two components or colours as standard. This enables you to produce
complex geometries using water-soluble support structures, bringing
greater functionality to your parts. Want to produce replacement parts
or functional samples from the desired qualified material?
The freeformer has the answer. Looking to use hard/soft combinations
for moving parts or sealing components? The freeformer makes it possible.
Be inspired by our new technology!
nations
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Free for
more flexibility
With our freeformer, the operator no longer tells the machine what
to do. The part dictates the production sequence. It takes just a few
simple steps to prepare your 3D CAD data (STL format) for the specific
machine requirements and to start the freeformer. Done! Training
costs remain low. Your expert knowledge of plastics gives you the
freedom you need to optimise processes on an individual basis or to
qualify materials. This gives you the necessary flexibility for industrial
additive manufacturing. In technical terms, everything you encounter
here is a high-end solution. We use a high-performance industrial
PC with multi-touch screen as an operating unit. This enables you to
manage your freeformer intuitively using hand gestures, which makes
work a lot of fun.

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Free for
a clean environment
Free from dust and emissions, our freeformer enables you to transform
your ideas into reality layer-by-layer – in the case of a new process such
as that employed in the freeformer, production efficiency also means
prioritising environmentally-friendly manu­facturing. This is true in every
respect. Anyone working with our freeformer will find themselves
working in a clean and pleasant environment.
Our practical technical concept requires no pneumatic system,
no cooling water and no active extraction, so that production
can proceed without difficulty, whatever the environment.
Our freeformer is well-conceived in every detail, leaving your
mind free for new, creative ideas.
Free for
new ideas
Our freeformer will allow you to manufacture fully functional plastic
products. No injection mould required. Parts created directly from 3D CAD
files. On a moving part carrier. With the application of minute droplets in
layers. With qualified standard granulate. We have always paid attention
to one of the most important production factors: the quality.

You can rely on us to provide you with everything you could possibly want.
That‘s because we know the process limits – for example for surface
finish or strength values. Because our expertise allows you to design parts
so that you always get the best from your production. In a measured and
practical approach. This is what the name ARBURG stands for.

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1 2

Free for

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 1 Highly flexible: elastic bellows made from TPU

2 Freely moveable: hose clamp with joint and closure

made from PA or PC

3 Functional: gripper with sealing lip and integrated air

channels as a hard/soft combination (ABS, TPU)

4 Highly customised: office scissors as a series injection

moulded part with additively applied 3D lettering

a new approach
No matter what sector you come from. Our freeformer offers you
exactly the same new freedom in the automotive sector as in the
medical technology or consumer goods sector. Get started now!
Experience plastic freeforming!

More
examples

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 Free for
Safe operation.
Free from dust and emissions.

Efficient use of materials.

Without waste.

Combining different materials.

Without problems.

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greater efficiency
First we continuously perfected injection moulding.
Now we are developing industrial additive manufacturing. Our objective
has always remained the same: quality at affordable unit costs.
We believe there is a great deal of potential for the future in this.

Simple, intuitive operation.

Without requiring special skills.
Process optimisation.
Without limitation.

Using qualified granulates.

Without prior preparation.

Producing fully functional parts.

No injection mould required.

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freeformer – more than just 3D printing:
• Technical functional parts
• From qualified standard granulate
• With free geometries
• In hard/soft combinations
• Efficient, free of emissions and waste

680836_EN_GB_092015 · Subject to alterations

Printed in Germany

ARBURG GmbH + Co KG
Postfach 11 09 · 72286 Lossburg · Tel.: +49(0)7446 33-0
Fax: +49(0)7446 33-3365 · www.arburg.com · e-mail: contact@arburg.com