Rosotics, a producer of hyper-efficient metal additive manufacturing solutions, has recently unveiled the first completed prototype of its Mantis printer – a notably large structure capable of printing up to 45kg of material per hour, using ‘rapid induction printing’ and a standard 240V outlet. The company’s first printers are expected to be ready for delivery in October this year, for a minimum deposit of US$95,000.
In November last year, Rosotics raised a $750,000 pre-seed led by Draper Associates, and has since been focused on developing the first Mantis prototype – which is built to manufacture large-format components up to 30 feet in diameter, using aerospace-grade steel and aluminum. In the future, according to Payload, Rosotics aims to increase the types of feedstock that can be used in Mantis, and broaden applications to other industries such as energy and maritime.
Manufacturing on Demand
Christian LaRosa with the new Mantis printer.
Rosotics makes use of a new, lower energy-consuming method called ‘rapid induction’, where, instead of heating the feedstock with an outside source, induction is used to generate heat from within the feedstock – creating a liquid flow for printing. “Having a new process that is more efficient [and] does away with the laser entirely allows you to not only push more mass through that nozzle, but you can also run more nozzles at the same time,” said Christian LaRosa, Founder and CEO of Rosotics.
Rosotics figured out how to use induction for ferromagnetic materials like iron alloys, including steel, early on. However, using inductive printing on non-ferromagnetic materials, like aluminum, proved to be more challenging. According to LaRosa, to solve the second issue, Rosotics designed a printing nozzle using a blend of materials, including cobalt, that enables the machines to print with aluminum, using the same power and output metrics as they have already reached for steel.
Now that Rosotics has debuted Mantis, the company has engaged in conversations and conducted site visits with aerospace companies as well as industrial firms in adjacent fields. To ramp up production, Rosotics is establishing an assembly line at the Falcon Field airport in Mesa, Arizona, and reportedly intends to scale production to “dozens of these machines each quarter.”
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Author: Edward Wakefield
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