Editor’s Pick: AXIOM 20

Dear DE Reader:

Desktop 3D printing gets more interesting every day. Today’s Pick of the Week is a big example of that. “Big” being the operative word.

The just-announced AXIOM 20 additive manufacturing system from Airwolf 3D Printers is a desktop 3D printer suitable for industrial use in an industrial-strength steel and aluminum frame with see-through, 4 mm thick borosilicate glass plate sides. It has a 25x23x35 in. (635x584x889 mm) footprint, and the company says that it can run 30-plus hours at a shot.

But what makes this baby big is its 12.5x12x20 in. build chamber. With that kind of room you should be able to make parts that are both wider and taller than you could before. And these can be fully dense parts, not hollow-cored things.

The AXIOM 20 has some other cool features. For example, it has dual extruders with interchangeable nozzles. Among the notable attributes here is that you can temperature-control each extruder’s hot end. Peak temperature is 599°F (315°C). You can 3D print parts with two different colors, and you can 3D print with two different materials in the same part.

Speaking of materials, Airwolf 3D Printers offers more than 40 material options. These include your usual thermoplastic suspects as well as thermoplastic polyurethane, flexible nylons, rubber-based materials and even high-temperature, industrial-grade polycarbonate and polypropylene. This breadth of materials means that you should be able to use the AXIOM 20 for prototypes, functional prototypes, molds and even some production parts.

Also interesting is that the AXIOM 20 calibrates its print bed automatically before beginning every print. The company explains that this should ensure optimal bed leveling and head spacing, which, in turn, should get you a quality 3D print.

The AXIOM 20 dual-drive desktop 3D printer has a 12.5x12x20 in. build chamber that allows designers and engineers to fabricate large full-density parts. Image courtesy of Airwolf 3D.

Some specs: The AXIOM 20's print speed is 9.85 in./s (250 mm/s). It can produce a minimum layer height of 40 microns, although Airwolf 3D Printers recommends 200 microns or higher.

Finally, perhaps the most interesting part of the AXIOM 20 is that Airwolf 3D Printers’ dual direct drive systems are made to order and delivered assembled and ready to get to work. You can learn more about the AXIOM 20 3D printer from today's Pick of the Week write-up. The link at the end of the main text goes to a web page with full details.

Thanks, Pal. – Lockwood

Anthony J. Lockwood

Editor at Large, DE