If you have read our article on the 7 types of 3D printing technologies, you would have read about how ARBURG Plastic Freeforming (APF) being the newest 3D printing technology in the additive manufacturing market today.

A key feature of ARBURG Plastic Freeforming (APF) is that the same qualified standard granulates as used for injection moulding can be used. This means you can efficiently produce individual parts and small batches from original materials, but also individualise mass-produced items.

How did ARBURG incorporate this newest 3D printing technology into their products? They developed the freeformer 3D printer, where the freeformer system is equipped with a material preparation unit featuring a special plasticising screw. Plasticising is followed by freeforming without the use of a mould: a high frequency nozzle closure discharges tiny plastic droplets, which are applied very precisely by means of a moving part carrier. This enables your three-dimensional plastic parts to be built up layer-by-layer. This is even possible with multiple-component parts.