Table of Contents

Description

The following paragraphs name and explain all components of the VP75 to give you an exact overview. The terms are used consistently throughout this manual and will help you identifying any part you may wish to find or order as a spare part.

Functional principle

The VP75 Additive Manufacturing System uses the Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) process to build up workpieces in subsequent layers of 0.10 to 0.80mm thickness. The plastic filament is heated in the nozzle to its melting temperature and continuously conveyed by a cogwheel. The molten plastic is pressed through the bore of the nozzle tip and onto the heated print bed. After each layer the print bed is lowered by the preset layer height and the next layer is applied. The heat of the newly applied plastic ensures an adequate binding of the layers.

All temperatures and movement commands are provided by the GCODE, a file format previously generated with a “slicing” software. This file contains all information for a single print job and is uploaded to the 3D Printer via the web interface. All Kühling&Kühling 3D Printers are built to operate best with Slic3r, an OpenSource Software designed for professional 3D printing.

After the workpiece has been finished the user can leave it in the heated build chamber to slowly cool down thus reducing shrinkage and internal tensions, or he can immediately remove it and start the next print job. The layered building process enables the user to create even complex forms that otherwise could not be realized.

The layer-by-layer build-up of complex geometries becomes possible with FFF additive manufacturing machines.

Hardware components

No. Description
1 Build chamber
2 Filament drawer
3 Touchscreen

The VP75 is built from a powder coated sheet-metal frame, covered with acrylic panels on the front. Its main functional sections are the upper build chamber and the lower filament drawer. The build chamber is providing insight through its translucent door during production. It contains all mechanical components. At the rear side, the connections for ethernet, compressed air and mains supply can be found.

The touchscreen for operation is mounted at the front.

General overview of the VP75 Additive Manufacturing System.

All references concerning directions are defined throughout this manual as follows:

Tag Aspect Description
F Front Standing in front of the machine's touchscreen and looking inside the build chamber. This is the reference view for all other directions.
L Left Left side of the machine, referred to the frontal view.
R Right Right side of the machine, referred to the frontal view.
B Back Backside of the machine, referred to the frontal view

All movement directions of the axes are defined throughout this manual as follows:

Tag Called Movement direction
X⊕ X positive Print head moves to the right.
XΘ X negative Print head moves to the left.
Y⊕ Y positive Print head moves backwards.
YΘ Y negative Print head moves forward.
Z⊕ Z positive Print head moves up.
ZΘ Z negative Print head moves down.
Directions and aspects of the machine. All statements refer to the frontal view.

All movements of the extruder drives are defined throughout this manual as follows:

Tag Called Movement direction
⊕ extrude clockwise rotation
Θ retract counter-clockwise rotation
Movement directions of the extruder drives.