Voxeljet GmbH has launched a major development programme to produce what is expected to be one of the world’s largest industrial binder‑jet 3-D printing systems. The new machine, designated VX7000, is being engineered for an international industrial partner and will offer a build volume of around 7,000 x 7,000 x 1,000mm. The system is being positioned as the next step in large‑format additive manufacturing (AM) for high‑volume industrial use, extending the capabilities of Voxeljet’s established VX4000 platform.
The company says the VX7000 will introduce a new generation of large‑format binder‑jet architecture, designed for continuous production environments. At the centre of the machine is a reversed build configuration in which the platform remains completely stationary, while the re-coater and printhead assemblies rise incrementally along a rigid, guided Z axis.
This arrangement supports a build area capable of accommodating more than 60 tonnes of sand while maintaining the surface finish and dimensional stability required for industrial casting applications. Build length and height can be adjusted for customer requirements without a complete redesign, and each machine allows automated job‑by‑job adjustment of the active build area to reduce material consumption and energy use.
As standard, the VX7000 is equipped with four printheads each around 1m wide and fitted with 7,168 nozzles, enabling sub‑100sec layer times. The configuration is modular — additional printheads can be added to increase throughput, or reduced to lower capital cost. A pressurised, large‑diameter binder supply line feeds all printheads simultaneously to ensure consistent part quality and process stability across the full build footprint.
Uniform conditioningThe material supply system has been designed for industrial integration. A central feed point can be connected directly to site silos, while an industrial mixer conditions the base sand by blending it with activator and reclaimed material. The prepared mix is then distributed cleanly via a cartesian robotic system into several buffer silos, which supply the re-coater independently of the 3-D printing cycle. Voxeljet states that this arrangement ensures uniform conditioning and precise layer deposition across the entire build volume.
The machine incorporates several engineering measures to enhance precision. The cast‑concrete build platform sits on rails for controlled movement from the printing area to an unpacking zone, independent of ground conditions and capable of carrying loads in excess of 60 tonnes. The printhead and re-coater bridges use ultra‑stiff tubular frame structures fitted with fixed and floating bearings to accommodate thermal expansion. Direct‑drive actuation maintains high structural stiffness while eliminating the need for sensitive linear encoders.
The Z axis comprises eight ball‑screw‑driven column assemblies — four on each side — powered by electronically synchronised servo drives. These columns are mounted on cast‑iron bases with adjustable feet, simplifying alignment during installation. To increase uptime and reduce consumable use, the VX7000 integrates a multi‑stage printhead cleaning system that allows reclaimed purge binder to be reintroduced into the process. The re-coater features a modular cleaning station that permits continued operation at a reduced build width even if one module requires service.
The machine employs Voxeljet’s latest vibrating‑blade re-coater, built from electronically synchronised subunits operating as a single vibration‑neutral assembly. This design improves layer consistency, supports high‑speed operation and allows the active job width to be adapted by enabling or disabling individual recoater segments. Voxeljet describes the VX7000 as a significant advancement in industrial binder‑jet technology, offering greater precision, modularity and resource efficiency while expanding the boundaries of large‑format AM.