Roboze Unveils the New ARGO 500 3D Printer at formnext

As the 3D printing industry continues its shift away from using the technology merely for prototyping purposes and toward using it for full end-use production, materials are becoming more and more important. The first question on many people’s minds when learning of a new 3D printer is “What kinds of materials can it print with?” Until recently, many popular manufacturing polymers were considered to be un-3D printable, but that has been changing as 3D printers get more advanced and companies release machines capable of extruding at high temperatures.

One of the first companies to release an affordable desktop 3D printer capable of printing with high-performance materials was Roboze, whose Roboze One+400 introduced the 3D printing of PEEK and PEI materials at the consumer level for the first time. Many other companies have since followed suit, but Roboze was the first to make people realize that these types of materials could, in fact, be 3D printed, and not just by huge industrial machines.

At formnext today, Roboze is introducing its latest 3D printer, the ARGO 500, which is comparable to the well-known Fortus line of 3D printers. Like the company’s other 3D printers, the ARGO 500 features Roboze’s patented Beltless System Technology, which ensures repeatability of parts and mechanical tolerances of 25 microns. It’s capable of 3D printing high-performance materials including PEEK, Ultem AM9085F, Carbon PA and its newest introduction, CARBON PEEK, which is PEEK filled with carbon fibers.

The ARGO 500 also includes a build chamber that heats up to 180ºC in an hour, as well as a vacuum plate system that creates perfect adhesion between the build plate and the 3D printed part. It ensures better stability of the part and planarity of the first layers, even during large, long prints – and the ARGO 500 is capable of some large prints, with a build volume of 500 x 500 x 500 mm. In addition, the vacuum plate system makes printing and removal of polymeric films faster and easier.

The newest Roboze 3D printer also features the HVP extruder that was first introduced on the Roboze One+400. The extruder heats to a temperature of 550°C. The 3D printer has multiple sensors and automated features that ensure a quality printing experience, including automatic filament loading, auto leveling, an end material sensor, a material residue sensor in the pre-start printing phase, an insulated spool loading system with moisture control, and spool positioning in a closed, controlled environment to prevent the material from absorbing moisture.

“The new ARGO 500 enables our customer to produce metal replacement parts and benefit of unique technology designed on aerospace, motorsport and manufacturing end user needs,” said Alessio Lorusso, Roboze CEO and Founder. “The AM market is changing fast, and customers need to found the right answers in the media chaos of recent years. The ARGO 500 has been designed in close contact with the demands and needs of end-users on the market. I firmly believe that this new solution will support and help the innovative companies of today and tomorrow, accelerating the digitization of production processes.”

If you’re at formnext, you can see the ARGO 500 at Roboze’s booth, G38 in Hall 3.1.

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[Images: Roboze unless otherwise noted]