Our vision is to create an automated intelligent post processing machine, capable of finishing
additively manufactured thermoplastic polymer parts to an injection moulded level surface finish.
Current finishing methods are labour intensive, costly and time consuming. Accounting for between 5-
60% _\[Innovate UK funded FACTUM project\]_ of the cost depending on part complexity, size and
volume. This machine will address the pressing challenge in additive manufacturing of post process
surface finishing, particularly at high production volumes.
The project team's objectives are to:
1. Create a saleable automated post processing machine capable of generating a repeatable and
reproducible surface finish equivalent to that achieved in injection moulding for additively
manufactured parts.
2. Develop intelligent algorithms that control the amount of post processing for a given material and
geometric design.
3. Develop a machine that is integrated into the digital manufacturing chain.
The project is focused on:
Automated and predictable surface finishing for thermoplastic polymer parts.
Significant quality improvement of the finished part.
Reducing costs through the elimination of manual surface finishing.
Significantly improving part turnaround time.
Innovation lies at the heart of the machine through:
Use of proprietary process, discovered by the University of Sheffield, that smooths the surface of
parts using solvents.
Use of automated process feedback to control the level of finishing applied.
Use of algorithms to manage different materials and geometric designs thereby creating an intelligent
machine architecture.