ABS 3D printer ALTRA 280

PLApolyamidePEEK

Overview
The BigRep ALTRA 280 is a large-scale industrial 3D printer engineered for high-temperature printing, automation and full material flexibility for demanding industrial applications. It produces production-ready components using engineering and high-performance polymers.

Key Features

• Heated Build Chamber: 280‑liter build chamber heated up to 180°C for stable, accurate large-format prints.
• 4 DSX Extruders: Up to four synchronized Direct Synchronized Extruders (DSX) for complex multi-material parts and continuous production (water-cooled, integrated sensors, Relay Mode for filament backup).
• High-Temperature Material Compatibility: Extruders capable of up to 450°C enabling ULTEM® 9085, PEKK, PEI and other high-performance polymers.
• Heated Vacuum Print Bed: Vacuum print bed heated up to 180°C with material-specific surfaces for strong first-layer adhesion and controlled part release.
• Open Material System: Print with BigRep or compatible 3rd-party filaments including PEEK, ULTEM®, PEKK, PA12-CF, PC and others.
• Automated Quick Start & Calibration: Automated topology measurement, adaptive mesh bed leveling and automated calibration for rapid, repeatable setup.
• Industrial Frame & Motion: Welded frame, ball screws and servo motors deliver positional accuracy and stability over long print durations.
• Integrated Monitoring & Filament Management: HD wide-angle camera, out-of-filament detection, pause/resume and Relay Mode for uninterrupted production.

Applications & Example Use-Cases
Manufacture durable end-use parts, jigs and fixtures, functional prototypes and aerospace or automotive tooling at full scale. Example applications include aerospace fixtures (PEI/ULTEM), automotive functional prototypes (PC), gear racks (PEKK-A) and custom aerodynamic components.

Materials (table)
Supported Materials: Recommended materials with BLADE slicing profiles: ABS, ASA, PC
Compatible Materials: Including but not limited to ABS, ABS-ESD, ABS-FR, ASA, HT-PETG, PA6, PA6-CF, PA12, PA12-CF, PA12-GF, PC, PC-ABS, PC-FR, PC-CF, PCTG, PEKK, PEKK-CF, PETG, PLA, PP, PP-GF, PPS, PPSU, TPU, TPC, ULTEM 9085

Automation & Production Reliability

• Out-of-Filament Detection: automatic detection for print continuity.
• Relay Mode / Backup Function: automatic spool switching to maintain uninterrupted prints.
• Pause & Resume: mid-print pause and resume supported.
• Adaptive Mesh Bed Leveling & Topography Compensation: consistent first-layer quality across large builds.
• Integrated Sensors & Remote Monitoring: continuous monitoring and HD camera for remote oversight.

Build, Motion & Mechanical
The ALTRA 280 offers a 280‑liter build volume with uniform temperature distribution via airflow control, a vacuum print bed with material-specific surfaces, servo-driven motion and industrial-grade components to sustain accuracy over extended prints.

Extrusion & Print Parameters

• Extruder: Direct Synchronized Extruder (DSX)
• Extruder Configurations: Up to 4 water-cooled DSX extruders with integrated cooling and sensors
• Nozzle Temperature: Up to 450°C
• Nozzle Diameters: 0.4, 0.6, 1.0 mm
• Nozzle Type: Diamond
• Minimum Layer Height: 0.15 mm
• Maximum Throughput: 250 g/h
• Filament Diameter: 1.75 mm
• Spool Capacity: holds 4 spools up to 8 kg each (DSX extruders require 1.75 mm filament)

Materials Handling & Storage
Keep-dry sealed filament storage chamber for two spools to protect moisture-sensitive engineering polymers and maintain ready-to-print conditions for uninterrupted workflows.

Environmental & Safety
Air cleaning unit with HEPA and activated carbon filters. Certifications: CE and UL Ready.

Examples from Use Cases (selected)

• Aerospace Fixture — Materials: PEI 9085 & ULTEM 9085 — part mass 0.2 kg — print time 11 hours.
• Automotive Functional Prototype (Porsche front splitter) — Material: PC — part mass 3.0 kg — print time ~1 day 14 hours.
• Gear Rack for manufacturing — Material: PEKK-A — part mass 0.7 kg — print time 18 hours.

Technical specifications

• Build Volume: X 500 mm × Y 700 mm × Z 800 mm (X 19.7, Y 27.6, Z 31.5 in)
• Build Chamber Temperature: Up to 180°C (356°F)
• Print Bed Temperature: Up to 180°C (356°F)
• Print Bed Surface: Vacuum print bed with material-specific surfaces
• Outer Dimensions: X 1900 mm × Y 1650 mm × Z 1950 mm (X 74.8, Y 65.0, Z 76.8 in)
• Weight: Approx. 1300 kg (2866 lbs)
• Extruder: Direct Synchronized Extruder (DSX)
• Extruder Configurations: Up to four water-cooled DSX
• Nozzle Temperature: Up to 450°C (842°F)
• Nozzle Diameters: 0.4, 0.6, 1.0 mm
• Nozzle Type: Diamond
• Minimum Layer Height: 0.15 mm
• Maximum Throughput: 250 g/h
• Filament Diameter: 1.75 mm
• Material Storage: Keep-Dry Chamber
• Drive Technology: Servo motors
• Maximum Movement Speed: XY 400 mm/s
• Position Accuracy: <0.05 mm
• Air Cleaning Unit: HEPA and activated carbon filters
• Power: 3P+PE, 400 V/480 V, 32A, 50/60 Hz
• Certifications: CE, UL Ready
• Automation Features: Out-of-Filament Detection, Pause/Resume, Relay Mode (backup), Adaptive Mesh Bed Leveling, Automated Calibration