[Ric Real] enters the 2023 Hackaday Prize with the Gen5X, a generatively designed five-axis 3D printer. The concept is not new, the type of construction has been seen a few times here and there. In addition to the usual three directions of movement we’re familiar with in Cartesian bot design, these types of machines add two additional axes of rotation, one that allows the build platform to pivot forward and backward around the X-axis, and a second that allows for a rotation around the Z-axis. These combined motions lead to some very interesting possibilities that are outside of our known 3D printing design limitations.
As for the generative side of things, this is a largely theoretical idea. In essence, the concept is that the design of the machine can be iteratively updated and optimized for performance to meet the limitations of available hardware such as motors and other “vitamins” needed to develop the next generation of machines. The design files should be parameterized so that this optimization process can be automated, possibly with input from AI, but we suspect we’re a long way from that. Whether this project will ever meet any of those lofty goals remains to be seen, but keep an eye on it if you feel like it. Here’s a Fusion 360 project to delve into. However, if you are not interested in the research side of the project but just want to build a 5-axis machine to play with, you can find the project source on GitHub page.
If this sounds familiar, you’re on the right track as we recently reported on at least one other 5D printer. We have also addressed generative design at least once. We are sure that we will see more on this topic in the future.
