3D Printing Robotic Arm

This project introduces the implementation of a low cost 3D printing Robotic Arm. Industrial Robotic Arms made up of several joints and actuated by motors are generally used in industrial field for lifting and manufacturing purposes. 3D printers are machines used for converting digital 3D model into physical 3D object. 3D object can be build by using Additive Manufacturing process. In AM process successive layers of material are laid one upon another and the process repeats until the final object is obtained. The additive process used in this project is Fused Filament Fabrication. By using this method it is able to print object more accurately and smoothly. FFF model uses thermoplastic filament that is wound on a coil and unreeled to supply material through cold end of an extrusion nozzle, which turns the flow on and off. The hot end of the extruder melts the material and can be moved in both horizontal and vertical directions. Both the movement of robotic arm and extruder is directed by a numerically controlled mechanism that is directly controlled by a computer-aided manufacturing software package. The model or part is produced by successively layering the thermoplastic material that is extruded from the nozzle. Movement of extruder is controlled by stepper motor. By combining industrial Robotic arm with 3D printing technology it is capable for increasing range of operation and it is comparatively more flexible than commercially available desktop 3D printers.