Skip to main content

Big 3D printer ready for its users

“KTH is both science and art, not only cogwheels. The small-scale human arm we’re printing today represents something arty and organic”, says Isak Emericks.
Published Mar 11, 2020

Hi, Isak Emericks at the Department of Production Engineering (IIP), you have built a 3D printer from scratch (more than one cubic meter in volume), how does one do that?

“You google (laugh). I knew nothing about 3D printing, but I surfed the internet last summer. You’d be surprised how much information you can find out there. A milling machine, which is closer to my field, would have felt more natural - but Postnord who sponsored this, wanted a 3D printer of this size. But they are a little secretive about why. Anyway, here it is now.”

Why does KTH do this?

“KTH-IIP is developing strategic competences in the field of additive manufacturing and this project fit well inside of that vison”.

What’s the biggest challenge?

“To get an even quality and make it print fast.”

What is the attraction in this project?

“3D printing is a cool technique, you can print essentially anything you want and in so many materials, not only different types of plastics; carbon fiber, reinforced materials are available, even wood-filled filaments and ones with steel powder may be used. And the beauty is that there’s very little waste of material.”

What happens next?

“Turning theory into reality is very attractive to me and finding fruitful collaborations with companies and industry seems to be very attractive to KTH. It´s been very nice constructing this machine. I´d like to keep working on it, perhaps through a PhD if possible. And Postnord wants to manufacture parts, I presume.”

And if you could print anything you like, what would you chose?

“A statue of myself was one suggestion given to me. It´s not yet been done and I kind of hope I don’t have that much hubris (laugh).”

Text and photo: Anna Gullers

Page responsible:infomaster@itm.kth.se
Belongs to: School of Industrial Engineering and Management
Last changed: Mar 11, 2020