Printer system links 9 printers in single cabinet

Aug. 30, 2019
The new QPod system from 3DQue Systems brings together a three-by-three array of nine printers housed in a single cabinet, together with associated hardware for auxiliary processes, such as part removal.
QPod 3DQue Systems’ QPod system brings together a three-by-three array of nine printers housed in a single cabinet, together with associated hardware for auxiliary processes, such as part removal. The fused-filament-fabrication (FFF) printers are designed for open-platform printing, meaning they can handle a wide variety of materials, including polylactic acid, ABS, nylon and carbon-fiber-reinforced filaments, from many suppliers.

What’s new? The printing systems, as well as the QSuite software that drives them. The systems have been available for lease in limited numbers since the summer. Pre-production units — which will be built according to demand from customers — are available for a one-time cost of $45,000, which includes on-site installation, a five-year equipment lease, 3,000 print hours of QSuite software and 18 months of software support. After its initial pre-production phase, the company plans to move into production — producing large volumes of systems that can be installed by third-party installers. In addition to offering the printers, 3DQue also is licensing QSuite to other printer manufacturers; the software is designed for compatibility with other FFF printers.

Benefits Lights-out manufacturing of plastic parts. From job scheduling to parts removal, the printers can handle much of the manufacturing process without human intervention. Designed to compete with injection molding machines, the QPod printing process and QSuite are cost-effective. Each QPod system can print 100,000 small parts a year. And, unlike injection molding, the printing process produces no waste plastic, such as sprues or flash.

3DQue Systems Inc., Vancouver, British Columbia, 604-755-7162, https://3dque.com

Vital Statistics

          Cabinet dimensions                  5.9 feet by 1.7 feet by 5.9 feet        
          Maximum part size                   8.7 inches by 8.7 inches by 9.8 inches        
          Minimum layer height                  0.05mm