Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services


Open-source 3D printer

13 June 2018 Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services

The new easy-to-use RS Pro iTX 3D printer targets a wide range of users in manufacturing and many other commercial and business applications, as well as being ideal for educational purposes and at home for anyone who wants to design and build things quickly and at low cost. The combination of power, speed, precision, efficiency and multitude of features make the RS Pro iTX 3D printer one of the best in its class.

As with all RS Pro 3D printers that leave the factory fully constructed, the iTX is made in Britain and is ready to use straight out of the box. A key element of the machine is its upgradability: the high-quality machined parts and circuit boards are designed to be easy to replace and/or upgrade in a matter of minutes.

All RS Pro 3D printers are open-source designed, which means they can easily be customised by advanced users and enthusiasts alike. In particular, the iTX’s RS Pro VariBLOCK head unit offers future-proofing, as it is easily interchangeable and upgradable to other extruder head systems, allowing the machine to use various other materials as they become available. In addition, all serviceable parts including the printer’s hot-end and filament extruder can be easily maintained.

The machine uses the fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printing process and comes with a fully heated build plate, handling temperatures in the 50°C to 100°C range. The printer also features a metal-gearbox-controlled filament extruder system to deliver maximum power and reliability. The extruder is designed for 1,75 mm filaments and is capable of printing a wide range of materials including ABS, PLA and PETG.

Other key specifications include nozzle size options including 0,2, 0,3, 0,4, 0,5, 0,8 and 1,0 mm; build volume of 8000 cm³ (200 x 200 x 200 mm); and a wide selection of layer resolutions from 0,8 mm for fast printing, down to layers as small as 0,08 mm. Coming with a strong steel powder-coated frame construction, the printer has dimensions of 450(H) x 535(W) x 370(D) mm, expanding to 550(H) and 535(W) when fitted with the spool holder and umbilical wire.

Another key feature of the printer is its integrated and fully upgradable PC computer, which is based on an AMD Kabini A4 quad-core processor, along with an AMD Radeon graphics card, Ethernet networking, 8 GB of upgradeable memory, and an upgradeable 500 GB SATA hard-disk drive. The integration of a PC into the machine enables a number of accessory upgrades, such as adding a webcam or other networking and remote-access capabilities.

Also available separately from RS Components is a safety-compliant cabinet system that has been designed especially for use with the printer.



Credit(s)



Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

Isolated power module with high efficiency
RS South Africa Power Electronics / Power Management
The new MagI3C-FISM power module, with an integrated switching power stage, is 100% pin-to-pin compatible with the previous versions.

Read more...
RS expands its professional lineup
RS South Africa News
RS PRO offers a wide range of high-quality electronics components, to meet a range of needs, from industrial connectors and passives to the latest test and measurement equipment.

Read more...
Clean soldering tips in one second
Testerion Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
Weller has introduced the new WATC100 soldering tip cleaner which can clean soldering tips and desoldering tweezers quickly, efficiently and safely.

Read more...
AIROC Bluetooth LE MCU
RS South Africa Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
Infineon has launched its new AIROC CYW20829 Bluetooth LE MCU, a full-featured Bluetooth LE v5.4 device with best-in-class RF performance, security, and energy efficiency.

Read more...
Yamaha Robotics releases 3D hybrid AOI
Truth Electronic Manufacturing Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
With a 25-megapixel high-resolution camera, the AOI achieves approximately 1,6 times faster speed than previous models.

Read more...
Next gen high-speed modular mounter
Truth Electronic Manufacturing Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
This new addition is a next-generation, compact, high-speed modular mounter with space-saving qualities, and provides a combination of component compatibility and versatility.

Read more...
Modern vision systems in manufacturing
Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
Using an intelligent vision system provides a proactive approach, which helps prevent faulty products from reaching the market, thereby reducing customer complaints and minimising recall costs.

Read more...
Designing and manufacturing robust enclosures for extreme environments
Editor's Choice Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
The lifecycle of robust edge devices starts with design, and all aspects, including electronic components, packaging, shipping, installation, and servicing needs to be considered at the design stage to ensure that an edge device can operate in the environment it is intended for.

Read more...
Maximising soldering iron tip life
Vepac Electronics Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
During the soldering process, the soldering iron tip undergoes physical changes. These changes, over time, affect the ability of the soldering iron tip to make quality solder connections, and can decrease an operator’s performance.

Read more...
White residues on the assembly
Electronic Industry Supplies Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
When white residues suddenly appear on assemblies for unknown reasons, the customer is often confused – and the first idea is often the same: something must be wrong with the cleaner. But this is only the cause in extremely rare cases.

Read more...