SAAM Cincinnati Inc.'s new Small Area Additive Manufacturing machine, or SAAM machine, has a build envelope of 7.9 inches by 7.4 inches by 9.4 inches, and uses fused-filament-fabrication technology to 3-D print polylactic acid parts directly from a CAD file. It has a printing speed of about 2.56 ounces per hour. Along with performing both small-scale and mass production, the SAAM machine can be used to complement Cincinnati's BAAM machine, or Big Area Additive Manufacturing machine. Once they have validated their design on the SAAM machine, users can send their file to the BAAM machine for full-scale printing. The SAAM machine takes advantage of Cincinnati's partnership with New Valence Robotics, also known as NVBots, a manufacturer of 3-D printers. NVBots has supplied the software for job submission and printer management for the SAAM machine.What's new? The SAAM machine, which was introduced at Fabtech in Las Vegas.
Benefits Rapid prototyping and testing of design files. Also, unlike other 3-D printers, the SAAM machine features automated part removal and can print continuously without human involvement. Its part-removal system sweeps finished parts from the printing surface into a holding area, so that the printer can begin the next print job automatically from a print queue. In this way, the printer can run even during evenings and weekends, when workers might not be available.
Cincinnati Inc., Harrison, Ohio, 513-367-7100, www.e-ci.com NVBots, Boston, 857-529-6397, https://nvbots.com
