3D Printed 7-Axis Robotic Arm
Haddington Dynamics, an engineering startup who develops and manufactures a 7-axis robotic arm for such customers as NASA, GoogleX and Toshiba, spent years trying laser cutters and inexpensive desktop printers to build a robot without success.
When they discovered Markforged 3D printing, it allowed them to achieve just what they were seeking — engineering-quality parts for their robots. They were so impressed that they built their business around 3D printing and created a print farm of carbon fiber printers to keep up with demand.
From end-use parts to custom end effectors, read on to see how they reduced part counts from 800 to less than 100 to save time and money.
The Breakdown:
The Challenge:
Robotic arms need to be cost-effective and stiff enough to maintain 50-micron precision in the arm’s movements.
The Solution:
A fleet of several Markforged printers allowed the team to develop durable custom gripper fingers for customers.
The Results:
Haddington Dynamics reduced part count from 800 to under 70 and can assemble Dexter robots within a day.
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