Its printer, called Medusa, will be shown on the 26th of February. The company has used a £1.2m grant from Innovate UK to develop and build the 3D printer.
Key Features of the Hybrid 3D Printer
The printer is three times faster than conventional machines, twice as accurate, and reduces training and maintenance costs by 30%, according to Rapid Fusion. The machine's development is backed by project partners Rolls-Royce, AI Build, and the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS).
Capabilities of the Hybrid 3D Printer
The printer combines a pallet extruder, filament, and CNC machining tool to provide a single-source solution for large moulds and tooling used by aerospace, automotive, marine, and construction companies. The latest AI technology has been integrated into the design, with Medusa containing a 1.2m3 volume build and being able to move at 1200mm per second speeds.
Industry Impact and Future Potential
“After eighteen months in the making, this will be a real landmark moment for additive manufacturing in the UK,” explained Martin Jewell, Chief Technical Officer at Rapid Fusion. “A factory-ready industrial hybrid 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 National Manufacturing Institute Scotland.”
Medusa Hybrid 3D Printer Launch Event
More than 150 delegates are expected to attend the official launch of Medusa at Rapid Fusion’s facility in Exeter, with keynote speeches expected from industry leaders and project partners. The AM platform, which includes predictive maintenance, thermal modelling, and the latest computer vision system, will be put through a live demonstration, including the creation of a large mould that can be used to produce components for the aerospace sector.
