Marvell Targets 3D Printing with New System-on-Chip

Research and development is an important part of any industry, and additive manufacturing (AM) is no different. What is different is that, until fairly recently, most of the 3D printing hardware R&D was being performed by AM insiders.

That trend may be changing. Marvell, a global provider of microprocessor architecture and digital signal processing, has developed a new system-on-chip (SOC) specifically for AM. According to the company, the SOC could help drive further adoption of 3D printing by providing improved performance from AM systems, both in the home and at the factory.

“Combining the high performance of our advanced silicon hardware with the ease-of-use, flexibility and cloud service capability of our unique Kinoma software, I believe our complete platform solution will empower our global customers and partners with cutting-edge, cost-effective 3D printers for the masses and enable a new era of 3D printing,” said Weili Dai, president and co-founder of Marvell.

The SOC is intended to be a functional tool for both home and industrial AM systems, with a design that has been tailored specifically for AM. The new SOC provides processing architecture that is ready to go as soon as it’s plugged in to a system, which gives AM companies the option of either developing their own electronics, or going with Marvell’s product. In general, Marvell intends for its SOC to make AM easier to use and develop.

Technical stats for the 88PA6120 SOC are as follows:

• 533MHz ARM v7 compatible processor
• Dual real-time microprocessors
• User interfaces with touch LCD support
• Integrated 10/100 PHY, USB, DRAM, SD, and eMMC
• Multiple motor controls and print head interfaces
• HW encryption support for IPSec & SSL

Other elements of the development platform includes some of Marvell’s Wi-Fi/Bluetooth options such as the 88W8801 Avastar Wi-Fi SoC, Linux SDK, including real-time 3D motion control, Ethernet and WiFi network stacks, LCD user interface, and board support package. The platform has also been developed with connectivity options for multiple 3D printer designs.

Marvell will be showing off the capabilities of its new SOC at the forthcoming CES. You can find the company booth at Level 3, Murano 3304, at The Venetian. Below you’ll find an interview with Marvell co-founder, Weili Dai.

Source: Marvell