Juggerbot P3-44 Astra Enables Large Format Printing With PVC | Plastics Technology

Process controls and safety systems specifically tailored for industrial printing with PVC.

Juggerbot 3D announced the development of the Tradesman Series P3-44 Astra, a large-format additive manufacturing (LFAM) machine designed specifically to address the challenges of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) processing.

PVC offers chemical resistance, flame retardance and mechanical durability. However, its use in additive manufacturing has been limited by the need to precisely manage the fumes.

Astra Tradesman P3-44 Astra. Source: JuggerBot 3D

JuggerBot 3D’s P3-44 Astra addresses these challenges through process controls and safety systems, designed for operator safety, equipment longevity and the environment during printing operations.

According to JuggerBot 3D, the Astra system is engineered to handle the unique challenges of PVC with corrosion-resistant components and targeted fume extraction at the point of print deposition while maintaining the same structural integrity of the base Tradesman Series P3-44 unit.

Proper safety procedures required for observation during the successful operation of the unit include:

The P3-44 Astra is intended to impact industries requiring PVC’s unique material properties, such as chemical resistance and long-term durability. Key uses include but are not limited to body molds, ducting and pipe systems, and medical housings and enclosures where material stability is critical.

“We take pride in proclaiming that we can process a wide array of performance thermoplastics, including PVC. By advancing preexistent process controls in our base P3-44, we’ve developed a system that offers safety and performance, enabling operators to leverage PVC’s material benefits through reliable 3D printing technology,” says Brian Zellers, product development manager at JuggerBot 3D.

Exhibitors and presenters at the plastics show emphasized 3D printing as a complement and aid to more traditional production processes.

A development and manufacturing service provider is using dissolvable molds to build injection molded silicone prototypes.

NPE2024: Lowering barriers to additive manufacturing adoption in toolmaking.