Scara Elite V2

The Scara Elite v2 is our refined viable large-scale cement 3D printer. The Elite prints with cement and has a much larger build volume than the Scara v4. Where the v2 really shines is when it's coupled with a large capacity continuous high-pressure hose extrusion system which can deliver cement loads between 85 - 250 lbs of continuous extrusion.

Speed and noise

The Scara Elite v2 is capable of extreme speeds however speed is relative when it comes to ceramic 3D printing. Realistically you won’t want to exceed 130 mm/s. Many factors determine the speed like nozzle size, layer height, and achieving a good adhesion on the interlayer of the clay. Even with a fast printing speed the printer maintains low noise, which allows operation in any area without disturbing the surrounding environment.

Construction and design

We were able to achieve high precision and accuracy with this large Scara arm robot only through diligent design and robust construction techniques. The majority of this printer is crafted out of heavy aircraft grade 6061 aluminum utilizing CNC and welded components for maximum strength and rigidity. The main rail components are from IGUS* which is one of the leading German manufacturers of precision guide rails. The drive motors are a brand very sophisticated hybrid closed-loop stepper motors. These have onboard computers with telemetry that continually update their position for zero error positioning. 

Drive mechanisms

This is no souped-up 3D printer, this is a dedicated heavy-duty purpose-built robot. The main drives are sophisticated harmonic drive units**. These are the same drives used on large industrial robots similar to the ones that are now in many large manufacturing facilities. These drives are extremely heavy-duty and capable of precision movement down to fractions of a second of a degree. This means very precise prints with no backlash or jittery movements at realistic speeds. These drives are designed for maximum rigidity with extreme accuracy.

Space needed for setup

The advantage of this machine is that when it is mounted on a sturdy tabletop you can start printing right away within a limited envelope area. Or you can give it its own dedicated space for a partial or full envelope. The space needed is determined by the end-user and how much of the print envelope they choose to use. Whether on the tabletop or the floor, the Scara Elite will require direct mounting for maximum stability. This is achieved with multiple screws to secure the printer to the surface it is mounted on. If you choose to use a tabletop it must be of substantial construction, the minimum is 1.5" thick heavy plywood or wood construction. Not securing the printer appropriately will result in the printers diminished performance depending on the build envelope and speed at which the prints are created.

What's included:

1. Scara Elite v2

2. Pump Arm with Hose Adaptor

3. Additional Parts included: Gearbox Cover, Allen key set, Lithium grease syringe, Floor Screws, Z Rail Adjuster

4. Power Supply

Included only with the optional extruder and arm:

1. 3600 or 4000 Extruder Assembly

2. Elite Extruder Arm

3. Set of 5 Anodized Aluminum Print Nozzles (sizes: 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8mm)

4. Driver tool, Anti-Rotator, Extra Seal, Nozzle and Piston, and a second - Polycarbonate tube

Specifications

Printing Envelope:
X/Y- 115" Diameter Circle (2921mm)
Z- 68” (1727mm)
The printing envelope for a clay extruder on the Scara Elite will be similar to the Scara v4

Minimum Printing Envelope:
X/Y- 37" Diameter Circle (940mm)

Printer size:
W-32” L-40” H-86”
Normal operational space needed: W-~48” L-~60” H-~90”
Maximum operational space needed: W-118” L-118” H-~100”
Height to the top of the extruder fully extended is H~100” (2540mm)
Weight with extruder: 100 lbs. (45kg)

Average speed: 1.2’’ to 3.9’’/s (30 to 100 mm/s)
Power Supply: Output - 24V ~15 amps, Input - 110-220V, 50-60 Hertz.
Power consumption: 24V ~8 amps, ~192 Watt
Main controller board running Duet3D with Atmel SAM4E8E: 120MHz ARM Cortex-M4

Full control through web interface, no apps or software installation. Non-WiFi versions are available, please contact us if you would like this type of connection (Ethernet connection).

* http://www.igus.com

Some components may be re-manufactured**

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmonic_drive

Software requirements

None! The only requirements is a web browser interface.

For object generation, the Scara Elite is similar to the rest of the 3D Potter line ceramic printers. Like any other 3D printer it requires an STL file to be sliced by a third-party program. We recommend using Simplify3D. Then transfer the file onto the printer’s SD card via WiFi.

Build envelope

The Scara Elite offers 68 inches in Z height and 112 inches in diameter.

The build envelope is quite unique because it's capable of printing 360 degrees with continuous rotation. This means you can create a huge vessel with the printer initially residing inside the vessel or structure. This opens up the possibility to print small habitats and structures (houses). Larger printers are available for this potential habitat project.

Another unique ability is printing multiple objects within the specified envelope in a sequential mode. For instance, you could print a particular vessel starting on the far left side and continue to print these vessels until there is no more space left.