A key result in Biopol Track is the development of heated 3D printheads and their associated robotically steering protocols enabling the extrusion of bio-based and cellulose fibres and fillers sourced from 2nd and 3rd generation feedstocks. The temperature sensitivity of the collagen-based biopolymer requires a precisely controllable and closed heating system to control the viscosity of the material throughout the entire material feed. The system controls the material’s temperature, to guarantee a lower viscosity during the material feeding, but a higher viscosity at the point of extrusion to create a stable material bead.
The first iteration of the custom extruder is designed as a single material extruder. The extruder controls the flow rate with a auger screw feeding the material while also homogenizing the materials. The extruder is built in aluminium and nylon which can withstand the temperature of the biopolymer, reaching up to 70°C, robustness against abrasions from the fillers, reduction of the possibility of the collagen bonding with the extruder, and easy cleanability. The extruder is fed using a heated pneumatic pump to the nozzle.
The Eco-Metabolistic Architecture project has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No 101019693).
The Eco-Metabolistic Architecture project has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No 101019693).