Multiplate can immediately start the next print job without an operator having to open it and insert a new plate, which saves time, costs and resources. Furthermore, this capability helps manufacturers avoid bottlenecks when job orders peak, as the machine can run overnight.
Trumpf’s solution is particularly suitable for industries where orders tend to fluctuate. One example is the dental sector, where employees often have to restart 3D printers in the middle of the night to meet delivery obligations. Many smaller dental labs lack sufficient capacity and have no choice but to decline orders. Trumpf’s Multiplate function solves this problem, helping dental labs to avoid bottlenecks and remain competitive.
When the TruPrint 1000 automatically changes substrate plates, the construction cylinder, overflow container and re-coater all have a part to play. The cylinder and container sit below the process chamber; the TruPrint 1000 prints the component on a substrate plate in the construction cylinder, while the overflow container collects excess powder.
In a Multiplate set up, the re-coater that distributes the powder in the build chamber during printing handles what is usually the operator’s task. The re-coater pushes the substrate plate – on which the previous component was printed – into the system’s overflow container. A spring support mechanism ensures that the overflow container lowers the substrate plate evenly, while the next substrate plate is standing by in the TruPrint 1000's construction cylinder. After printing a component, the system lifts the new plate up into the process chamber. The TruPrint 1000 immediately starts the next printing job without an operator having to intervene.
Multiplate also conserves resources, as the operator does not have to replenish the shielding gas. Trumpf customers already owning a TruPrint 1000 can easily retrofit Multiplate.
