ORNL to Test Strangpresse Extruder for Polymer 3D Printing

 The Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has entered into a research and development agreement to evaluate an extruder from Strangpresse intended for large-scale additive manufacturing. Under the agreement, ORNL will validate the flow rate, system response time and linearity of flow. The lab will also identify processing parameters, make test articles and qualify material properties with a specific focus on long fiber-reinforced polymers.

The polymer extrusion system, capable of processing more than 110 pounds per hour, is on display in Strangpresse’s Booth 14 in the Additive Manufacturing Conference exhibition room, open to conference attendees Tuesday, September 13, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesday, September 14, from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. ORNL is also displaying other large-scale additive manufacturing projects, including the Additive Manufacturing Integrated Energy (AMIE) project and a 3D-printed Shelby Cobra replica, in Booth N-70 within the Emerging Technology Center.

“We are excited to be teaming up with ORNL again,” said Strangpresse CEO Chuck George. “The processing of long fiber-reinforced polymers is a game changer for additive manufacturing. The industry will no longer be comparing the strength of the part as it relates to the base thermoplastic polymer, but rather a factor related to the fiber strength.”

Phase one of the project will focus on testing the extruder and validating the Strangpresse extruder. Then, ORNL will select three long fiber-reinforced thermoplastics for the full evaluation of the system. The lab will manufacture test articles, measure material properties and ultimately create a demonstration article.
The ORNL and Strangpresse collaboration is managed through a cooperative research and development agreement, and the project is supported by the DOE Advanced Manufacturing Office. Work is performed at the DOE Manufacturing Demonstration Facility at ORNL.