Page 12 – BigRep Industrial 3D Printers

Frank Marangell Appointed President of BigRep America Inc. and EVP of Global Sales

November 29, 2022August 16, 2017

Frank Marangell, former CEO of Rize and former President Objet USA, named new President of BigRep America Inc. and Executive Vice President of Global Sales at BigRep
BigRep is investing in a global team of very experienced 3D printing executives

BigRep, the Berlin technology start-up for the world's largest serial 3D printers and supplier of additive manufacturing systems, is announcing their next big move. Only weeks after hiring Moshe Aknin, formerly from Stratasys, as CTO, BigRep has hired Frank Marangell, former Rize CEO and former President Objet USA, as its new president for the US operations and as the Executive Vice President (EVP) Global Sales.

Mr. Marangell was the President & CEO of Rize Inc. until May of this year. From 2006 to 2013, he was the President of Objet USA Inc. and later Stratasys´s Vice President of Global Field Operations, responsible for the worldwide materials business as well as the company expansion into dental and medical 3D printing. Mr. Marangell holds a BS in engineering and an MBA from Northeastern University in Boston, MA.

René Gurka, CEO of BigRep GmbH: "This is a very exciting summer (2017). We have added Moshe Aknin as our new CTO, started a successful funding round and have now secured the perfect candidate to lead and expand our US operations. Frank Marangell is the best candidate for any 3D company in the US. When he became available I immediately reached out to him and offered him this role at BigRep."

Frank Marangell is very excited to join the BigRep team. “I have been following BigRep for the last three years and appreciate their high-quality large industrial printers. BigRep already has customers all over the US and now it´s the perfect time to build a larger US team and grow the business. In my view BigRep is the most successful new European 3D printing company with the most trusted large-scale printers. It is quality German engineering at a very competitive price,” said Frank Marangell.

Besides leading the USA operations Frank will also become part of the global executive team as Executive Vice President and support global sales in the European and Asian operations of BigRep.

About BigRep:

BigRep is a technology start-up based in Berlin with offices in New York and Singapore, which develops and manufactures the world's largest 3-D printers. One of the groundbreaking developments of the company founded in 2014 is the BigRep ONE, which is supplemented by the smaller BigRep STUDIO. Interdisciplinarity and well-founded experience in the field of additive manufacturing characterizes the multi-national team of BigRep, now more than 70 employees. In addition to new products, the Berlin company is now concentrating on complete solutions for industrial customers in the form of integrated additive manufacturing systems. One example is the TNO project, which is scheduled to be released in Summer 2018. The goal of the highly innovative engineering company is to revolutionize design, prototyping and industrial production from the ground up. Over the next five years, BigRep wants to become a leading supplier of additive manufacturing systems.

For further Information and picture and movie material please contact:

Maik Dobberack
PR & Communication
BigRep GmbH
T +49 (0) 30 208 4826-38
E [email protected]

Fusing Creativity & Technology for Innovation

December 2, 2022February 1, 2018

Some say working in the tech sector doesn’t leave much room for creativity. I beg to differ, and so do most others when they see what my team and I do every day at the intersection of creative and technology. Fusing together art, design and technological innovation has opened up a wealth of possibility for us here at BigRep, and for our customers and partners, in particular.

From an early stage, BigRep decided to have a creative team, and ensure it was a core function within the company. We reached out to designers, architects and artists, and sought interesting collaboration opportunities to demonstrate what large-scale FFF, commonly known by its trademarked name fusion deposition modeling (FDM), could do.

Four years ago, when BigRep started out, not many creative professionals had ready access to 3D printing technology. The awareness level was so much lower than it is now. For us, it was about showing what it really means to use large-scale 3D printing. There’s a difference between doing something large and something that is really 1:1. We took on the exciting challenge of offering more value-added education on what FFF really is, and the potential of it.

In this post, I am keen to give more insights into how we approach our large-scale creative work at BigRep, and why I believe we’ve been pioneering a new-wave approach to creative large-scale 3D printing.

One of our early collaborations was with Munich-based industrial designer Thorsten Franck, on the London table. It is one table that can support a 20-kg plate of glass atop it, and one of the most interesting things about the design is that it can be printed in one loop, in just one day. I think it’s a great example of 3D-printed furniture because it uses the full one cubic meter of the BigRep ONE, it’s made for FFF and designed directly in the G-code, demonstrating big volume at high speed.

We also partnered with Juergen Mayer H. on a project that was about visualizing the code that banks use to disguise information, such as on the inside of envelopes. Given the cavities within the sculpture, 3D printing was the only technology to translate the digital model into a physical reality.

Juergen Mayer H. makes creativity & technology meet with his 3D printed Sculpture

Juergen Mayer H. with his 3D printed Sculpture

Learn About BigRep 3D Printers

Another creative cooperation on perhaps the largest scale we’ve attempted yet, was with Andreas Greiner, in which the Berlin-based artist took a CT-scan of the skeleton of a broiler chicken and converted it into a skeleton the size of a dinosaur – at a scale of 20:1. Produced in partnership with the Technical University of Applied Sciences (TH Wildau), the seven-meter high sculpture was on display at the Berlinische Gallery, as part of Greiner’s suite of works representing society’s attitude to the meat industry and food production and consumption. It’s fascinating, as an artist myself, to see how our technology can bring a concept to life in a way that has such an impact on a space, and those who view it.

Andreas Greiner with 3D Printed Sculpture

From early on, BigRep wanted to connect to the energy of the city here in Berlin and invest resources in projects that showed the potential of FFF, through film and dynamic content. We wanted to educate, inspire and show what the future could look like – thus the BigRep Innovation Award was born, and launched in October 2017. Starting in partnership with NOVACAD Systems, as a competition for Canadian students to design a chair for 3D printing, we want to help equip the next generation of designers, architects, engineers and artists to develop the skills and know-how to innovate with 3D printing.

I remember what it is like to submit works to open calls and competitions, so my advice for BigRep Innovation Award entrants would be: become familiar with the kinds of technologies available in the 3D printing sphere. Not everything is always ‘printable’, so learn how to design specifically with the technology in mind, and this will yield the best results.

Furthermore, try to be original, and to bring your passion and individuality to the design. Take the time to understand how the technology translates design into digital form and don’t worry about making mistakes. Our large-scale 3D printers are great trial and error tools. You can know in one day how something looks on a 1:1 scale. That changes everything – for design, for art, for creation.

Amir Fattal is Head of Marketing & Creative Projects at BigRep in Berlin. He is also an independent artist and business developer for art and culture, who has curated and participated in numerous international exhibitions in galleries and museums.

Connect with Amir on Linkedin HERE and on Instagram HERE.

“We’re not here to make toys” – A BigRep breakdown of SOLIDWORKS

November 29, 2022February 13, 2018

The BigRep America booth at the SolidWorks World 2018 show, Los Angeles

Frank Marangell, President of BigRep America

It flew by in a blur of great conversations, sessions and exciting new technologies, but while the SOLIDWORKS World 2018 booths have all been packed up and visitors have returned to their home towns and cities, I think we’re just warming up for 2018.

Following up with the visitors who stopped by the BigRep America booth, impressed by our machine, has made me want to revisit the SOLIDWORKS fair and reflect on how it was for us, and why.

For those in the 3D printing industry – especially those in the US – SOLIDWORKS World is an important fixture on the yearly events calendar. We’re a silver partner at the event. The namesake software company puts on an event that attracts attendees from around the world, and one thing they have in common is that they are designing the latest, greatest things, across every industry you can imagine. These businesses need to prototype their designs, and are on the hunt for the ideal additive manufacturing solution for their needs. For example, one custom-design machine shop owner stopped by, asking us how a larger-format printer could better handle his requirements.

Ready to get started at SOLIDWORKS - some of our BigRep America team.

Learn more about BigRep 3D printers

Being one of the only large-format printing providers at SOLIDWORKS really set us apart, so naturally we wanted to talk to these businesses about how large-scale 3D printing can change the way they design and manufacture. We continually hear from companies of all kinds that they feel caged in by smaller 3D printers, and lament the hassle of cutting up their prints in data phase. One such customer flew in specifically to see us and the BigRep STUDIO. He liked the size of the printer, and commented on the German engineering quality of the product.

This man, and several others over the course of the event, said to me, “Wow, that’s a pretty big printer.” I was always delighted to be able to reply with, “Yes, but that’s our little one. It’s just one quarter the size of our BigRep ONE.” People couldn’t quite believe the quality and scale you get for the price.

One thing we wanted to do – which I think we achieved – was to showcase the industrial potential of our large-format 3D printers. I think most people at these events walk past the 3D-printed toys and frivolous items, thinking, “Well, I don’t make toys.” And we agree. Our approach is to help companies find solutions to their problems using large-scale, industrial parts. It’s as simple and as complicated as that.

That’s why the samples we carted with us to SOLIDWORKS showcased industrial solutions, such as the headrests for Deutsche Bahn, and our innovation department NOWlab’s work on concrete casts with Geiger. These and other pieces were about showing how high resolution can be achieved at speed, and in large-scale. We had a very nice propeller part that we printed with the 0.6 mm, 1 mm and the 2-mm nozzles to show the capabilities of the system and the resolution the STUDIO can achieve. We always reference the material used and the time it took to print, to show that regardless of resolution, it limits a customer’s ability to stay competitive if it takes too long.

BigRep America team members with a BigRep STUDIO at Solidworks World 2018

The BigRep STUDIO was on display at the BigRep booth at SOLIDWORKS.

Your average SOLIDWORKS user and SOLIDWORKS World visitor is from an SME (small-to-medium enterprise), so we get to interface with them at the event on exactly this – taking their industrial production and prototyping to the next level. You have the big guys with fleets of 3D printers – the Fortune 500 companies – and then a long tail of many other small-to-medium-sized businesses, who are looking to optimize by bringing 3D printing to their processes. It is the perfect place to show these businesses what BigRep machines can do, particularly considering Southern California is one of the biggest markets in the United States for 3D printing, so Los Angeles is the perfect (sunny) place for the event to be held.

While international visitors were certainly in attendance, the SOLIDWORKS room was mostly comprised of US attendees. We were able to meet customers and resellers alike, which is important as we expand our reseller network in the States and internationally. The best part about selling to this industry is that machines are sold bottom-up. They aren’t sold through Amazon or online, they are sold through a salesperson who takes the time to consult and work with a customer directly, locally. Events like SOLIDWORKS remind us of this, because we get that valuable one-on-one time with potential customers and experienced resellers.

We are in the process of creating some tools to better interface SOLIDWORKS with BigRep, as well as looking to work closely with the SOLIDWORKS community. We think they’re the best, and we think we’re at that same level in what we do, so we want to align ourselves with their reseller community. Otherwise, it’s all about gearing up for AMUG and RAPID + TCT in April, as well as many other events after those – then next year it’s off to Dallas for SOLIDWORKS 2019!

Frank Marangell is President of BigRep America Inc. and Executive VP of Global Sales at BigRep. He has been operating at the top level of the additive manufacturing industry for over a decade.

Connect with Frank on Linkedin HERE.

Lean on PVA, When You Need Support

November 29, 2022May 25, 2018

Many of us wish our worldly worries could just dissolve away, but it never seems to work that way. Though if it’s about support structures for large-scale 3D objects, then BigRep’s PVA is the cure for all concerns.

PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) is commonly used in industrial 3D printers with dual-extruders, like the BigRep ONE, to provide support for an object with overhang issues. Some complex prints involving multiple extended overhangs (of over 45°) can only be performed by printing such a support structure. Otherwise, the printed structure would warp or simply collapse – nobody likes that.

BigRep PVA is unlike any other 3D printing filament on the market. It is non-toxic, odorless and easy to extrude, as well as being water soluble. The warmer the water, the faster it dissolves, so users can spend more time creating those tortuous prints and less time refining the results. Moreover, it has been optimized for improved melt flow characteristics, meaning users need not spend their precious time unclogging the hot end. A new video by BigRep shows how easy the process can be, as well as the quality prints resulting from PVA integration.

Wheel Rim

For complex geometries, PVA can be the ideal support structure to enable printing of angles over 45 degrees. Designed by Marco Mattia Cristofori, this 3D-printed wheel rim challenges aesthetic norms for such vehicle parts. The intertwining braces are designed such that they would not be possible with CNC and other traditional methods of milling a wheel rim. Furthermore, for Cristofori’s design, there was no need for manual post-printing curing, sanding, or grinding, thanks to the PVA support – it melts right off the final print.

BigRep Longboard

3D printed on the BigRep STUDIO, this BigRep bionic longboard is a model of structural integrity and fascinating aesthetics. It was printed using BigRep PLA with PVA support and integrated carbon pipe, as designed by Beatrice Müller. Once the print had been soaked in water for 20 minutes, BigRep’s team was able to use a soft spatula-type implement to begin scraping the residue off the print.

While BigRep already sells a range of high-quality, meticulously engineered 3D printing filaments through its online shop, there is always room for consultation on additional materials. When customers are looking for a specific kind of filament for a custom application, BigRep’s team is pleased to take on the challenge – read more about collaborations between BigRep and Deutsche Bahn, Etihad Airways Engineering and BASF.

Discover our Industrial Use Cases

Hot off the Printing Press: BigRep in the News

November 29, 2022May 22, 2018

We can be a little shy to share press about ourselves, but a couple of recent pieces in German media have us feeling proud of our growth and accomplishments these past months. Being featured in some of Germany’s leading newspapers is a feather in our cap, especially in the city of our founding, but of course that comes with a catch – they are in German. For our English-speaking audience, reading the articles could be tricky!

Thanks to Jochen Clemens at Die Welt (The World) newspaper, who published an article on 25th April 2018, entitled ‘Large Prints and a Little Finesse’. Clemens spoke with BigRep’s Maik Dobberack about the company’s journey so far, from a small team to now one of over 100 employees across several global offices. In the article, Dobberack is quoted saying that BigRep’s goal is to become one of the largest suppliers in additive manufacturing in Germany and internationally.

Clemens writes that in order to do this, BigRep has a foundational strategy of low-cost production – a key to staying competitive. Mentioning the manufacturers of the BigRep ONE and STUDIO 3D printers as Olpe Jena and Heidelberger Druckmaschinen, both based in Germany, the article looks at how BigRep is positioned toward industrial-grade applications for a range of industrial sectors: “This is clearly the market of the future for us,” due to additive’s increasing prevalence across the world in solving industrial production and manufacturing business challenges.

Dominik Bath, journalist for the Berliner Morgenpost, visited the BigRep HQ in Berlin-Kreuzberg to tour the office, see the 3D printers in action and speak with Daniel Büning, Managing Director and Co-Founder of NOWlab@BigRep.

Bath’s article ‘3D printing from Berlin on the way to mass market’ was published on 14th April 2018 in the major Berlin newspaper, in print and online. It profiled BigRep as a start-up that has achieved fast growth to become mid-sized company and important player in the Berlin technology community. “BigRep is the poster child for Berlin’s growing 3D printing scene,” writes Bath. “Büning also wants to underscore the fact that technology has gone from something niche to the level of industrial production.”

3D Printed Headrest

The article references the Deutsche Bahn ‘Mobility Goes Additive’ project in which BigRep is involved, assisting the national train network to produce end-use spare parts. The unit’s Managing Director Stefanie Brickwede is quoted as saying “[3D] Printing is faster, more flexible and cheaper than traditional manufacturing processes and the trains are available again in the shortest time possible.”

The article also focuses on a survey conducted by the Senate Department for Economics (Senatsverwaltung für Wirtschaft) provided exclusively to the Berliner Morgenpost, revealing how that of 68 companies using the technology, more than half are already using 3D printers in their daily work. Bath’s piece mentions the inherent advantages for companies taking up the technology: “Because replacement parts can be produced onsite as needed, it could reduce expensive warehousing feed. With the low-noise 3D printers, industrial production could also move closer to residential areas in cities.”

Stay tuned to our blog and social media for more news on BigRep. We recently had a major German news network come to film a TV news story at our Berlin-Kreuzberg HQ – not long until the big reveal!

For some more English-language coverage of BigRep and innovative prints with our large-scale 3D printers, here is a selection of recent articles:

CNET: 3D-printed airless bike tires deliver a 'smooth ride'

All3DP: BigRep Prototypes Big with a 3D Printed Wheel Rim

Aerospace Technology: BigRep and Etihad partner to develop 3D-printed aerospace parts

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School is in Session, with Canadian ‘Innovation Enablers’ CAD MicroSolutions

November 29, 2022May 16, 2018

This summer heralds a big change for the rapidly expanding CAD MicroSolutions. They’re looking to move into their new, larger headquarters in Toronto, Canada, which will also serve as their demo facility. As one of the most recent partners to join the BigRep reseller community, they plan to showcase one of our machines on the demo floor – BigRep’s are the first large-scale printing machines they have added to their portfolio of 3D printers.

“BigRep was the sweet spot,” said Hargurdeep Singh, Director of Additive at CAD MicroSolutions. “We were missing the large-build envelope from our portfolio.” He zeroes in on what it was about the technology that motivated them to bring BigRep products to their customers: namely, the open source technology regarding materials and German engineering.

The Canadian firm has been servicing businesses across the country providing mechanical and electrical CAD solutions since 1984. They have expanded into additive manufacturing as well as VR/ AR and IoT solutions. At the helm of CAD MicroSolutions’ additive program, Singh and the team are based in Toronto, with an office in Cambridge and representatives across Canada, including in Montreal and Ottawa. They have a strong technical team, providing both remote and field support, as well as customized training.

Long-time resellers of Solidworks, CAD MicroSolutions was very selective as they expanded into additive manufacturing. They wanted to be sure their technology partners provided solutions that their clients would value. Singh says this has worked to their advantage. He explains that they are now in an advantageous position, being able to pick the solutions that best fit customer needs.

There’s a core focus on education, as training lies at the heart of what they do. Offering webinars, assisting SMEs find funding to explore additive manufacturing potential, and more, CAD MicroSolutions is intent on spreading the word about 3D printing technology. Singh said, “We don’t just want to sell a box,” – it’s ideas and potential they want to offer, as their company tagline ‘Innovation Enablers’ indicates. Students are, in his view, the ‘future force’, as they’re going to make equipment recommendations to their future employers.

The company has also recently partnered with the Canada Makes network, which is a manufacturing industry-led initiative to boost Canadian innovation by encouraging adoption of additive manufacturing technologies. CAD MicroSolutions has seen enormous potential in Canada for shortening production cycles in the furniture industry with large-scale additive manufacturing. Singh said, “It has become very much like the fashion industry – they want to feel, touch, analyze the product. You just can’t do that digitally, so you need a physical, life-sized model in front of you.”

As well as working with the furniture, foundry, and mechatronics industries, CAD MicroSolutions sees the immense possibilities for educational institutions to further explore industrial 3D printing and specifically additive manufacturing. For Singh, it’s personal. “If I hadn’t had the chance to use, to play with them [a 3D printer] at my university, I don’t think I would have the passion and the desire I have today for additive.”

It’s a lucky thing he did come across a 3D printer in his institute, as it spurred the researcher on to win a host of accolades for the papers he has written on the subject, such OACETT’s Best Publication Award in Year 2014, for his paper titled ‘Cost Optimization of FDM Additive Manufactured Parts’. Singh has a technical research and development background, with a mechanical engineering specialty, and joined CAD MicroSolutions in May 2017 to head up their additive manufacturing division.

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World-first 3D Printed Airless Bicycle Tire

May 21, 2024May 14, 2018

We’ve taken to the streets with our latest innovation, and are pleased to present the world’s first 3D-printed, full-scale airless bicycle tire. BigRep Product Designer Marco Mattia Cristofori shares with us how he used the flexible properties of the company’s TPU filament to bring the tire prototype to life. We even captured him taking the tire out for a test spin through the streets of Berlin. You can see it in motion in the video below.

"We were able to replace ‘air’ as a necessity in the tire by customizing the pattern to be one of a three-layered honeycomb design. Based on the same principle, the design can be altered to fit the requirements of specific kinds of biking, such as mountain biking and road racing, or for different weather and speed conditions. Perfecting the design is the trickiest part," says Cristofori. Even small changes to the infill percentage or pattern can lead to different results in terms of weight and performance.

Printed on the BigRep ONE large-scale 3D printer, the tire prototype utilizes the full potential of BigRep’s latest filament: TPU. What separates TPU from other 3D printing filaments is its unique flexible properties, coupled with high temperature resistance and durability. The rigidity and the internal pattern, known as the infill, can be controlled and customized to suit different weather conditions or terrain. The current tire prototype uses a three-layered honeycomb pattern adapted for urban use.

The main advantage of airless tires as opposed to your average run-of-the-mill tires is that they simply never go flat. Once a luxury, airless tires are now looking to become standard practice in the transportation world. This is not BigRep’s first foray into the mobility world – BigRep has worked on a wide range of automotive, aerospace and transportation projects for such clients such as Aerobus, BMW, Deutsche Bahn, Etihad and Nissan. Following a recent blog post in which we showcased the high-temperature resistant wheel rim, BigRep’s portfolio of use cases continues to expand. It is also possible to print a fully-functioning bicycle frame on the BigRep ONE – as engineers of Aalborg University demonstrated in a recent project.

Since the release of the airless bicycle tire video, the TPU-based tire has received coverage from around the globe, such as on online news sites Inhabitat and CNET. With more projects in the works, we’re delving right into prototyping for the mobility, automotive, aerospace and other industries, so stay tuned for more news in the coming weeks.

Check out the BigRep ONE 3D Printer

BigRep Defies Conventions with Custom Wheel Rims

November 29, 2022May 2, 2018

The wheels are always in motion here at BigRep, to consistently dream up objects that push the boundaries of design for 3D printing. BigRep Product Designer Marco Mattia Cristofori wanted to develop an object that demonstrated the benefit of 3D printing for industrial use, while also focusing on original, striking design. Introducing, the BigRep wheel rim.

Like BigRep as a company, working at the intersection of design and technology, Cristofori’s wheel rim is a meeting of advanced design and industry.

In preparing for this project, Cristofori looked at wheel rims and hubcaps for vehicles, and thought he could go even further with a design that what you usually see gracing the average car. An alternative to CNC-machining a prototype, he wanted to design the wheel rim prototype for large-scale 3D printing.

Particularly in the US, customization of these kinds of vehicle features is very popular. Prototyping these custom parts is, however, often an expensive, time-consuming process. With 3D printing, it becomes a much easier process to design such automotive prototypes for form checks and molding.

Providing extra stability are the fluid tree-branch-like forms stemming from the center of the wheel. These braces are a functional feature as well as an aesthetic touch, and defy the norm of having just one layer or line on a wheel rim or hubcap. More complex geometries are not possible with CNC and other traditional methods, but with 3D printing there is endless possibility.

“With 3D printing you can prototype organic forms, like with our Terra chair,” said Cristofori. “It allows you to envision more complex shapes, because you don’t really have any limits.”

The dimensions of end-use wheel rims must be perfect, thus 3D prints can be used to verify assembly and final production methods, to adjust little by little in ensuring it is a sublimely accurate fit.

“What we’ve developed here is a true-to-life model that can be powder coated,” Cristofori commented, in speaking about next steps with the design. “We are planning to Meta-Coat one of them, to see how it looks as a more final product with a highly professional effect.”

The team printed the wheel rim on the STUDIO 3D printer, which has a print volume of 500 mm x 1000 mm x 500 mm. Cristofori points out that a similar level of detail and precision is now possible on the BigRep ONE, with the new Power Extruder.

Printed using high-temperature-resistant filament PRO HT, the wheel rim is strong enough to withstand a range of tests. For more complex designs, printing with BigRep’s water-soluble support material PVA is also recommended. While not fully functional as wheel rims (which are usually cast in steel), the same design principles can be applied to hubcaps, which could be printed as end-use parts in plastic and then coated to achieve a metallic effect.

Discover our Industrial Use Cases

In a similar vein to his work on the architectural model the Villa Ancora, and his colleague Florian Schärfer’s bionic propeller design, Cristofori wanted to show the potential that BigRep printing technology to create large-scale objects that achieve smooth lines, fluid form and high-level detail. For his next design project, Cristofori will be focusing on prototyping a few automotive parts to improve their aerodynamic properties – he is not giving too much away, but it may involve a wind tunnel!

As well as creating its own in-house solutions for testing and development, BigRep also works with customers to help them find custom automotive applications to solve their own specific business challenges. For more information, or to arrange a free consultation, click here.

RAPID + TCT 2018: BigRep’s Recap

October 25, 2022April 27, 2018

Our BigRep America team has been hard at work these past several days at the RAPID + TCT event, at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Texas. This major industry event attracted company representatives from all over the United States, particularly the southern US, as well as further afield: our team spoke to folks from throughout Latin America, Australia and Europe who were interested in large-scale 3D printing technology.

RAPID + TCT says its attendees are the biggest group of 3D technology buyers in North America – from Adidas to ZimmerBiomet, there are a huge range of manufacturing industries represented: from medical devices, jewelry, defense, automotive, consumer goods, aerospace, technology, fashion, construction, and more.

Our team knew it would be a good opportunity to connect with so many different kinds of businesses. We didn’t bank on being blown away by the sheer diversity of the customer industries that are well-versed in our large-scale additive manufacturing technology, and wanting to go bigger than the smaller-sized printers they have.

Learn About BigRep 3D Printers

BigRep Channel Manager Ryan Hayford spoke with visitors at the booth throughout the event, from April 24-26, and said, “There continues to be a lot of interest amongst many industrial users in the aerospace and automotive sector, but connecting with several education resellers proves that there is another important market we need to explore further in the United States.”

As kids are increasingly being given the freedom to innovate in the classroom with 3D printers, there comes a time when desktop-sized machines are not enough. One Chicago-based art school approached BigRep, saying that the open-source, open-frame BigRep ONE is the kind of machine they’re looking for, so that their students can begin designing bigger.

Several visitors to the BigRep booth (stand no. 1646) from the aerospace industry, were in conversation with our team about their need to print custom, one-off pieces for fixtures and tooling, jigs, and other custom objects that enhance their competitive advantage.

It wasn’t only fresh faces we saw at RAPID + TCT, but also the partners, customers and industry contacts that BigRep knows well. Our customer Steelcase came by the booth to say hi, as did My Central Coop – in fact, they drove there overnight in their Tesla 3 to come to the event and drop by the booth. Our valued resellers Saratech, DesignBox3D and ImageNet were also regular visitors, bringing prospective customers by to see the ONE and STUDIO 3D printers in-situ.

Events like RAPID + TCT are also usually great for us to meet resellers across the country who are interested to add BigRep printers to their portfolios. We spoke to many who are wanting to diversify their product portfolio and feel their clients can benefit greatly from utilizing BigRep’s capabilities.

BigRep America's team from left to right: Frank Marangell, Amnon Hamami, Steven Rizzo, Ryan Hayford, Margaret Hewitt

Our team was pleased to showcase the BigRep range of materials, especially the brand new Pro FLEX filament, for which there were several flexible samples: “There was a lot of excitement about the TPU, specifically seeing the wheels turning in people’s heads about what they could do with seals, gaskets and the like,” said Hayford. “People were telling us they aren’t necessarily thinking about what they’re going to use it for tomorrow – they’re thinking about the future, they’ve all got their five-year plans.”

After all the networking and meetings the past couple of weeks – with AMUG and RAPID + TCT trade shows, among others – it has been a busy, yet very fruitful, event time for us! A particular thanks goes out to our hardworking team, including Amnon Hamami and Margaret Hewitt who were operating the machines, answering technical questions and setting up the booth. The fun doesn’t stop now though, as we gear up for the next events, which are just around the corner… Maybe we’re coming to one near you!

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“If it wasn’t tested, it doesn’t work!” – Our approach to testing large-scale 3D printers

November 29, 2022April 19, 2018

Our team tests the printers for quality assurance

We use the word quality a lot – many companies do. Though without defining what it means, the term can become hollow. So, I wanted to write a two-part blog series on quality assurance, to underscore exactly what we mean here at BigRep, when we talk about the superior performance of our 3D printers. I’ll first focus on hardware quality, speaking on how we make our printers and ensure they’re the most advanced, reliable machines possible. Secondly, in an upcoming blog post, I will delve into our materials and how we make sure they are the highest quality printing filaments out there for a range of applications.

At BigRep I lead a talented team of around 30 developers and engineers in the fields of mechanics, electronics, software, materials and testing, who are all working on exciting innovations, pioneering new products and optimizing existing ones. Everything we develop goes through a set of extremely rigorous testing processes, which are developed by us in-house and go above and beyond what is mandated regarding international regulations.

The leading theme of our quality assurance and testing process is: “If it wasn’t tested, it doesn’t work”. This basically means that we leave nothing to chance. Although we have hundreds of accumulated professional engineering years in our R&D team, we test each and every configuration of hardware, software and materials. We do it in two phases: by the developing engineers, on prototypes, and by a dedicated testing team, which emulates the customers’ behavior.

Here are some of the core focuses for us surrounding testing and quality:

World-class electrical engineering

I’ve been in the 3D printing industry for many years and trained as a mechanical engineer, having worked with Stratasys, Objet and Aeronautics Ltd., among others, so I have encountered a wide range of machines. I know that one of the things that sets BigRep 3D printers apart is that they are German-engineered for quality. We spare no expense or effort in sourcing high-grade materials for our components, and in ensuring we partner with the most trusted companies to manufacture our printers – Olpe Jena GmbH and Heidelberger Druckmaschinen. These two companies are world-renowned for their products’ quality, in the semiconductor industry (Olpe) and the high-end 2D printing industry (Heidelberg). Both have mandatory processes for verification of each sub-assembly before being assembled in the final assembly, ensuring that there are no errors or problems present with the final client. They employ their quality processes in parallel with our suggested tests.

In evaluating our machines, we focus our efforts on testing the electrical and electronic system leading to extreme points of functionality (electrical overload, increased mechanical loads, increased temperatures, etc.), to identify the maximum levels at which our 3D printers can work without affecting the safety of our customers and their processes.

Safety standards and certifications

It’s essential to us that our products are safe and easy to use, so we comply with EU-regulated safety standards, which are among the most stringent in the world surrounding safety for the consumer. For example, “European Conformity” (CE), which indicates conformity with health, safety, and environmental protection standards for products sold within the European Economic Area.

These standards are continuously evolving and we at BigRep are making sure that we are always on top of the changes in requirements of these standards. Sometimes, it means redesigning a current product. Furthermore, we comply with the CB Certification Scheme: the world’s first international system for the mutual acceptance of product safety test reports and certificates for electrical and electronic equipment, devices and components. It is based on the use of internationally-accepted product safety standards, relying on a global network of CB testing laboratories (CBTLs) that are responsible for testing products to applicable technical standards. We are using such independent laboratories to test the printers for us in order to get an objective review of our machines.

We also independently integrate additional safety features into our large-scale 3D printers such as integrated sensors to detect human movement and auto-stop print and glass slide walls on the BigRep STUDIO for additional user safety.

High-performing software and UI

At BigRep, we develop software in-house to be compatible with our machines. Our software engineers are constantly optimizing and upgrading software to meet the current and future demands of our customer base. On-site testing with our printers is essential, and done on a daily basis. Our software is the main point of contact between machine, the materials and our client, so it is crucial that our tests are always meticulous. From our evaluations, we are able to develop and release new versions that offer increased stability, are friendly to our final client, and ensure the total functionality of the system.

In short, we take the word ‘quality’ very seriously – it’s a consistent conversation we have here at BigRep about how we can continue to set new standards of openness and quality through the printing industry, and achieve excellence in everything we do, including every machine we produce and our future products. Stay tuned for the next post on quality: a focus on filaments.

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Moshe Aknin is Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at BigRep, leading a team of around 30 developers and engineers in the fields of mechanics, electronics, software, materials and testing. He holds a degree in mechanical engineering and an MBA from the Hebrew University.