Rapid Fusion Medusa - Martin Jewell (Medusa) copy

Rapid Fusion Medusa large format hybrid AM platform announced

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Rapid Fusion has announced Medusa, the first UK-built large format hybrid 3D printer, backed by Innovate UK, project partners Rolls-Royce, AI Build and the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS).

The gantry-style machine is expected to cost in the region of £500,000, and combines pellet extruder, filament and CNC machining tools to provide a single-source solution for large moulds and tooling within its 1.2m3 build volume, with the printhead capable of moving at a reported 1,200mm per second speeds.

The development of the AM platform, which includes predictive maintenance, thermal modelling and the latest computer vision system, was assisted with a £1.2m grant from Innovate UK to develop, test, design and build the industrial 3D printer.

“After 18 months in the making, this will be a real landmark moment for additive manufacturing in the UK,” stated Rapid Fusion CTO Martin Jewell.

“A factory-ready industrial 3D printer that is built in the UK and is faster than any international rival is a tremendous achievement and has only been made possible by our engineering expertise and the strong collaboration with Rolls-Royce, AI Build and the NMIS.”

He continued: “The funding from Innovate UK made the extensive R&D possible, and we now have a machine that, thanks to features like a built-in tool changer, can produce large moulds faster, more efficiently and more accurately than anything currently out there. This could be the catalyst for many domestic companies to bring production back – it could have that big an impact on manufacturing performance and cost points.”

Chaco van der Sijp, innovation lead, Manufacturing at Innovate UK, concluded: “The collaboration with industry partners and our High-Value Manufacturing Catapult has resulted in the creation of an impressive all-in-one additive manufacturing machine. This innovation aligns with our vision for a more adaptive and flexible UK materials and manufacturing sector.

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“This has the potential to significantly accelerate the pace of innovation. By enabling rapid prototyping of large-scale components, it opens new opportunities for the sector and drives future advancements.”

A special first look open day is taking place on 26 February at Rapid Fusion’s Exeter headquarters. DEVELOP3D readers can register free, here.