Large-Scale 3D Printer Steps Out With a Smaller FootprintLarge-Scale 3D Printer Steps Out With a Smaller Footprint

3D Systems launches a new pellet-extrusion system that is more compact than its predecessor.

Daphne Allen, Editor-in-Chief

July 13, 2024

1 Min Read
Large-Scale Pellet Extrusion 3D Printer
The EXT 800 Titan Pellet offers industrial pellet extrusion in a smaller footprint than previous 3D printers in the EXT Titan Pellet family.3D Systems

Manufacturers have a new option for large-scale 3D printing of thermoplastics that could help address space and budget constraints. At Rapid + TCT 2024, 3D Systems highlighted its new EXT 800 Titan Pellet extrusion system offering a build volume of 800 x 600 x 800 mm in a footprint smaller than those of other systems in the EXT Titan pellet extrusion portfolio.

The system enables “thermoplastic printing on a big scale” because “pellets allow you to push more plastic through,” Ben Malouf, marketing manager for 3D Systems, told Design News at Rapid + TCT. “Filament printing is limited.” 

And printing in a large format “eliminates the need to assemble small printed parts,” he said.

The EXT 800 Titan Pellet may make such large-format printing more of a possibility for more potential users. It features “the speed, reliability, and efficiency of the company’s large-format EXT Titan Pellet systems (EXT 1070 Titan Pellet and EXT 1270 Titan Pellet) in a more compact format with lower upfront investment,” 3D Systems shared in a news release.

Such a smaller footprint allows the EXT 800 Titan Pellet to fit through double doors, said Malouf.

The system targets applications in aerospace and defense, thermoforming, foundries, prosthetics & footwear, and research as well as general manufacturing purposes. It can be used for lights out operation, Malouf said.

In addition to processing thermoplastics, the EXT 800 Titan Pellet can process glass and carbon-filled high-temperature engineering materials such as ABS, PC, Nylons, PEI, and PEKK as well as highly flexible TPE and TPU that cannot be printed on filament-based machines. 

At Rapid+TCT, the EXT 800 Titan Pellet was printing thermoplastic furniture. Check out the video below with Malouf from 3D Systems.

About the Author

Daphne Allen

Editor-in-Chief, Design News

Daphne Allen is editor-in-chief of Design News. She previously served as editor-in-chief of MD+DI and of Pharmaceutical & Medical Packaging News and also served as an editor for Packaging Digest. Daphne has covered design, manufacturing, materials, packaging, labeling, and regulatory issues for more than 20 years. She has also presented on these topics in several webinars and conferences, most recently discussing design and engineering trends at MD&M West 2024 and leading an Industry ShopTalk discussion during the show on artificial intelligence. She will be moderating the upcoming webinar, Best Practices in Medical Device Engineering and will be leading an Automation Tour at Advanced Manufacturing Minneapolis. She will also be attending DesignCon and MD&M West 2025.

Daphne has previously participated in meetings of the IoPP Medical Device Packaging Technical Committee and served as a judge in awards programs held by The Tube Council and the Healthcare Compliance Packaging Council. She also received the Bert Moore Excellence in Journalism Award in the AIM Awards in 2012.

Follow Daphne on X at @daphneallen and reach her at [email protected].

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