Compact and cost-effective lead screw technology proves its worth in mini 3D printers

drylin® Trapezoidal threaded spindle and lead screw nut for precise movements in LumiPocket 3D printers

This 3D printer is only ten centimetres high, but prints objects of the highest quality. This is made possible by a drylin® trapezoidal lead screw with a flanged miniature nut, which ensures absolutely precise and smooth movement of the print head. Companies from the jewellery industry and dental laboratories have already expressed great interest in the device due to its high level of accuracy.

Profile

What was needed: drylin® trapezoidal threaded spindle and lead screw nut
Requirements: During printing, a tray must perform extremely precise vertical movements in order to achieve a high print resolution of 50 micrometres. In addition, the smallest possible components had to be found for the compact 3D printer.
Industry: 3D printers
Success for the customer: With the help of drylin® components, the Lumi Pocket was developed as a 3D printer that combines an extremely compact design with outstanding print quality and an unbeatable price.

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LumiPocket application with 3D-printed samples and a transparent part.

Problem

Lumi Industries has developed an extremely compact 3D printer with light-sensitive resins and a DLP projector to produce parts with high print quality. Printing begins with the STL drawing of the object to be printed, which is sliced into layers of 100 to 25 microns by slicing software. Each layer becomes an image that is projected onto a moving tray by a DLP projector.
The Lumipocket mechanism is based on a vertical trapezoidal threaded spindle in which a movable base mounted on a flanged miniature nut moves up and down. The tray in which the printed object is to be created is connected to the moving base and immersed in a vat of resin. During printing, the tray must perform an extremely precise vertical movement that enables a print resolution of each layer of up to 50 microns on the Z-axis. The smaller the layer, the better the quality of the object created, as the individual sections are less visible.

Solution

In order to achieve high precision on the Z-axis of the 3D printer, Lumi Industries opted for a drylin® trapezoidal threaded spindle (PTGSG-06X2P1-02-R-180-ES diam. 6 mm). It is not only compact and takes up little space in the printer, but also enables very precise movement of the tray. To suspend the moving base, the company opted for a particularly small drylin® lead screw nut with flange (JFRM-1315TR6X2P1), which enables minimal precise movements. The flange with screw holes also enables better fastening of the moving base. Thanks to the trapezoidal threaded spindle and flanged miniature nut, the 3D printer can achieve layers of a constant 50 microns. The customer is even testing to achieve 25 micrometres with the support of the software.
The result: with the help of drylin® components, the Lumi Pocket is a 3D printer that combines an extremely compact design with outstanding print quality and an unbeatable price.

Overview drylin® lead screw technology

Lumi Industries srl, Davide Marin, Roncade, Italy

Further 3D printing applications

Cleanroom 3D printer

What was needed? A precise and reliable cleanroom 3D printer for processing thermoplastics
Requirements: Absolutely lubrication and maintenance-free, long service life, suitable for clean rooms, no abrasion, cost-efficient
Success for the customer: Design freedom was gained on all linear guides by using the drylin®® -bearing with exchangeable sliding foils. This has significantly accelerated the design process. The sliding foils prevent unwanted particle release and at the same time offer process stability. There were other advantages from using suitable rail and shaft guides for system implementation.

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3D printer in a closed test cell with filament guide and part holder.

Portable 3D printer

What was needed? A 3D printer that is compact and portable, but can still produce detailed 3D parts
Requirements: Best performance even in tight installation spaces, no maintenance, 100 % lubrication-free, low wear and friction, smooth dry operation, vibration- and noise-free, no adhesion of dust and dirt
Success for the customer: In developing countries and emergency areas, a portable device with high precision is very helpful. It is a radical advance for dental and medical care. The igus® products in the 3D printer ensure a long service life, clean printing conditions, and dry operation without vibration or noise.

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Lumifold device with the lid raised and internal components visible.

3D printer that makes itself

What was needed? A 3D printer that can produce its own essential parts quickly and precisely
Requirements: High precision and working speed, no vibration, low weight, lubrication-free, low friction
Success for the customer: The xBot is aimed at private users as well as schools, universities and industry: "The printer is not only fast and precise, but also high-quality and durable. It can process a variety of materials - from compostable PLA to standard ABS to flexible materials such as nylon and rubber-like plastics. The construction is solid and all the main components are manufactured in AT or DE."

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The drylin R linear guide in a 3D printer guides the print head precisely.

Fabforge Innovations 3D printer

What was needed? A precise and quiet 3D printer that fulfils the requirements for "Made in India"
Requirements: 100 % lubrication and maintenance-free, precise, quiet and vibration-free running, smooth dry operation

Success for the customer: Fabforge Innovations is a manufacturer of 3D printers based in South India and operates nationwide. It used to use linear rails from other manufacturers, but to meet the "Make in India" conditions, Fabforge Innovations changed the design and used igus® products.

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CAD model of a linear setup with several igus guide elements and axes.

3D printed lead screw nut

What was needed? An alternative to metal ball screw nuts that can be manufactured independently using 3D printing
Requirements: 100 % lubrication and maintenance-free, quiet running, simple manufacture, smooth running, clearance-free
Success for the customer: With the design, there was no other way to achieve the set goal. The parameters were prescribed, and the final product had to work. Optimising the contact area was crucial to reducing friction. Thread surface hardening reduced it further. After several printing attempts, the print quality improved.

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Threaded spindle on a machine frame with guide rods and a metal plate.

3D printer office

What was needed? A large-format and precise 3D printer that is suitable for use in offices or workshops
Requirements: Maintenance-free, easy installation, high accuracy, 100 % lubrication-free, no dust and dirt adhesion, quiet and vibration-free due to office use
Success for the customer: The engineers use linear guides, slides, threaded spindles and lead screw nuts of the type dryspin® for the linear movements of all three axes. The lead screws allow travel speeds of up to 120mm/s. All components help to minimise maintenance of the 3D printer. The right 3D printer in the office.

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igus MANUS linear motion system with aluminium frame and sliding carriage.

Consulting

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