Anisoprint is a manufacturer of professional 3D printers that develops FDM/FFF machines. Its 3D printer range offers composite 3D printing, with its machines being able to create parts with continuous fiber reinforced materials, be it carbon, glass or basalt. Among its range is the Composer A4, a desktop 3D printer that the company claims is the most accessible, which offers a printing volume of 297 x 210 x 140 mm. It can print continuous fibers for greater strength than a conventional plastic while being lighter than aluminium.
The Main Features of the Composer A4 3D Printer
The Composer A4 is the most affordable 3D printer in the manufacturer’s range, though it has a smaller print volume than its sibling, the Composer A3. It is an open machine, which means that it is not necessary to use proprietary materials, theoretically it should be able to work with any material manufacturer’s solutions on the market. What makes it particularly interesting is its compatibility with composite materials, especially with continuous fibers. Indeed, it is based on the Composite Fiber Co-extrusion (CFC) process, which is based on FFF. The Composer A4 can create parts with carbon fibers and basalt fibers.
The machine is equipped with a 3.5″ touch screen, a heated glass build plate capable of reaching 60°C and two extruders that can reach up to 270°C, making it compatible with a wide variety of thermoplastics. It integrates Anisoprint’s proprietary slicer, Aura, which makes co-extrusion, i.e. 3D composite printing, possible. It remains compatible with Cura and Slic3r slicers but simply for the simple extrusion process – therefore without fibers. Aura will allow the user to have full control over the positioning of the fibers.
The Composer A4 will allow you to create end-use parts that are stronger than parts made of ABS for example, while still being very light – twice as light as some metals depending on the manufacturer. A good alternative to metal additive manufacturing, which is more expensive and often more complex to master.
