Foaming EPS with a pellet extruder

This year, our team was once again at the 3D printing trade fair “Formnext” to discover the latest technologies. We were particularly impressed by an innovative production method: the foaming of EPS (polystyrene) with a pellet extruder.

The process makes it possible to produce a high-volume material in a very short time, which is particularly light, inexpensive and resource-efficient thanks to its high air content.

The Czech company Fanum clearly demonstrated what is possible with this method:

° Drone tips or boat parts: Foamed and then precisely milled.
° Lightweight components: Ideal for boat hulls or components made of CFRP (carbon fiber composites), which are manufactured using the vacuum infusion process, for example.

Pellets as a base material offer many advantages over filaments:

Cheaper and more flexible in the choice of materials.
Perfect for large-format and sustainable 3D printing projects.

With these new possibilities, the foaming of EPS opens up exciting potential for lightweight construction and the resource-saving use of materials.