July 2019

www.smartmachinesandfactories.com July 2019 | 27 | | SOLUTIONS | example, Mote is a small interface that includes the Robox Root system. Once connected, some of the latest software enables users to control each of the printers separately. Switching between print platforms and setting jobs running becomes extremely easy. With a network-enabled hub in place, it also becomes possible to handle control from other workstations, in the same way you would do with any standard network printer. Some of the latest software also makes it easy to change materials and print quality, ensure that material levels are sufficient for the print and monitor the print as it’s going. 5. Rapid prototyping becomes even more rapid Stacking 3D printers is straight forward and once all the component parts are in place, anyone who’s able to plug and connect a standard 2D printer should be fine with the process. For anyone worrying about space, furniture such as the Stacker and Tree systems have been designed to keep things neat and tidy. As each printer sits atop the next the entire stack retains the small a footprint of one printer, so a stack can sit on your desk and integrate with your workflow. The 3D printers used in stacked system are intentionally small, but, after all, the vast majority of prints have a footprint smaller than an A5 sheet of paper. Even when it comes to larger models, they can always be divided and printed in sections. Small print runs can spread across several printers at speed without the usual slowdown of the print head having to move between multiple parts on a larger platform. And, if anything fails, restarting half or a third of the print, depending on how many printers there are, will only slow down the process marginally. The latest software makes it possible to easily start and stop prints as well as monitor their progress so that downtime is kept to a minimum. Ultimately, a stack is quite easy to create and inexpensive compared with larger printers. It can help SMEs increase reliability, accuracy and speed making rapid prototyping even more rapid.