Using Additive Manufacturing for Heavy Equipment Parts

Additive manufacturing (AM) using FDM® technology offers a fast and less costly alternative to traditional manufacturing practices. Prototyping and making end-use parts for the Heavy Equipment industry with FDM allows manufacturers to iterate more often to arrive at a better design.

3D printed parts can be created and deployed faster and for less cost than heavier metal parts. Out-of-production and customized parts can be produced cost-effectively due to the tool-less nature of additive manufacturing.

3D Printing Solution for Large Parts

Despite the benefits of FDM, 3D printing large parts – approximately 600 mm (24 in.) and up in a particular X / Y / Z direction – is challenging. Many 3D printers cannot build large parts due to build chamber size limitations. For many service providers, 3D printing large parts requires dividing them into multiple pieces and fastening them together. But this adds more time and cost to the workflow.

TriMech uses the Stratasys F770 which has a build chamber measuring 1,000 x 610 x 610 mm (39.4 x 24 x 24 in.), providing an overall build volume of 372 liters (13 cubic feet). The F770 is also built on the proven foundation of Stratasys FDM technology. Precise thermal control within the build chamber, linear motors and industrial-grade components provide reliable, accurate print performance. Soluble support material lets you build complex parts since the support material can be dissolved hands-free in a solution bath.

The Stratasys F770 is able to print large parts for prototyping and validating new designs in the heavy equipment industry. It also offers an economically viable means for end-use parts either as a bridge to full production or to produce low volumes of out-of-production parts.

3D Printed Heavy Equipment Parts

TriMech is also capable of quickly and cost-effectively making large jigs, fixtures and manufacturing aids. The design freedom of AM allows these tools to be more user friendly, ergonomic, lighter and more efficient than their heavier metal counterparts for certain applications.

Download the Application White Paper

The white paper highlights relevant additive manufacturing applications for heavy equipment production. It also offers guidance on how to design parts for AM, which is different than designing them for conventional manufacturing.