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3D-Printed Excavator to Debut at IFPE 2017

May 19, 2016
The first fully functional 3D-printed construction excavator will be one of the main features at the show.
At the joint CONEXPO-CON/AGG and the International Fluid Power Expo (IFPE) scheduled for March 2017 will spotlight some of the most innovative products to likely shape the future of the construction industry. One of the main displays embodying the shows’ theme, “Imagine What’s Next,” will be the first fully functional 3D-printed construction excavator. A live 3D-printing demonstration is currently in the plans for the show.

The excavator is a joint collaboration between the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), National Fluid Power Association (NFPA), Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power (CCEFP) from the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).

The project is still in progress as the group enlists help from two separate research teams of graduate engineering students at Georgia Tech and the University of Minnesota. The Georgia Tech team will brainstorm new designs for the boom and bucket, while the Minnesota team designs the hydraulic oil reservoir, heat exchanger, and cooling system. Both teams expect to improve efficiency and decrease the weight and size of the excavator.

The group also invites any interested party of engineering students to design a streamlined cab and human-machine interface. Designs can be submitted through the Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power’s website, and a cash prize of $2000 will be awarded to the team with the best 3D-printed design. On top of that, the team will win a trip to Tennessee to print their design at the ORNL.

About the Author

Leah Scully | Associate Content Producer

Leah Scully is a graduate of The College of New Jersey. She has a BS degree in Biomedical Engineering with a mechanical specialization.  Leah is responsible for Hydraulics & Pneumatics’ news items and product galleries. 

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