applied sciences Article Design of an Atypical Construction of Equipment for Additive Manufacturing with a Conceptual Solution of a Printhead Intended for the Use of Recycled Plastic Materials Jakub Kašˇcak 1 , Štefan Gašpár 2,Ján Paško 2, Lucia Knapˇcíková 3,* , Jozef Husár 3 , Petr Baron 1 and Jozef Török 1 1 Department of Computer Aided Manufacturing Technologies, Faculty of Manufacturing Technologies with a Seat in Prešov, Technical University of Košice, Štúrova 31, 08001 Prešov, Slovakia; [email protected] (J.K.); [email protected] (P.B.); [email protected] (J.T.) 2 Department of Technical Systems Design and Monitoring, Faculty of Manufacturing Technologies with a Seat in Prešov, Technical University of Košice, Štúrova 31, 08001 Prešov, Slovakia; [email protected] (Š.G.); [email protected] (J.P.) 3 Department of Industrial Engineering and Informatics, Faculty of Manufacturing Technologies with a Seat in Prešov, Technical University of Košice, Bayerova 1, 08001 Prešov, Slovakia; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +421-55-602-6407 Abstract: This article presents the variability of Fused deposition modelling (FDM) technology and the possibilities of its use in the design and implementation of a prototype atypical device. The assumptions of the behaviour of individual components and subsystems of the design result from an extensive application of the finite element method and motion analysis of subsystems and various Citation: Kašˇcak,J.; Gašpár, Š.; parts of the structure. The use of this method to such an extent accelerated the design process and its Paško, J.; Knapˇcíková,L.; Husár, J.; implementation. The proposal itself reflects the current state of this technology and its focus is on Baron, P.; Török, J. Design of an Atypical Construction of Equipment improving sustainable development. As is generally known, great efforts are currently being made for Additive Manufacturing with a to reduce plastic waste volume and its environmental burden. The proposed concept is modified to Conceptual Solution of a Printhead replace the final treatment of the top layers of the models, called “ironing” by non-planar layering Intended for the Use of Recycled of material. At the same time, it points out the advantages of this method in reducing energy Plastic Materials. Appl. Sci. 2021, 11, requirements and the time required to produce models. The conclusion is a conceptual design of 2928. https://doi.org/10.3390/ a printhead for a proposed prototype, designed to use recycled FDM, intending to streamline the app11072928 possibility of recycling with little serial and piece production. This process thus closes the circle of opportunities published by us, which in the future can contribute to the optimisation of this Academic Editor: Francesco Ciardelli technology towards increasing the efficiency of resource use, reduction of energy demands and environmental burden. Received: 27 February 2021 Accepted: 23 March 2021 Keywords: fused deposition modelling; fused filament fabrication; non-planar printing; plastic Published: 25 March 2021 waste; recycling; alternative design Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affil- iations. 1. Introduction According to previous surveys and trends for the first quarter of 2019, Fused de- position modelling (FDM) technology still accounts for most additive manufacturing technologies, up to 46%. Despite the development of new technologies and designs, FDM Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. technology increased compared to 2018. Excessive production of plastic waste is currently Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. a global problem. There are now 12 different basic types of additive devices on the market This article is an open access article (Figure1). As a result, this technology’s demand, despite its now common occurrence, is distributed under the terms and growing in schools or households and various industries [1]. For this reason, the technology conditions of the Creative Commons can also be considered as a significant producer of plastic waste, to which its “hobby” use Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// also makes a significant contribution, which makes it difficult to monitor in this respect [2]. creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/). Appl. Sci. 2021, 11, 2928. https://doi.org/10.3390/app11072928 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci Appl.Appl. Sci. Sci. 20212021,, 1111,, x 2928 FOR PEER REVIEW 2 2of of 26 25 50% 0.46 40% 0.36 0.38 0.33 0.33 30% 0.25 0.21 20% 0.13 0.13 0.1 0.07 0.1 0.08 0.15 0.04 10% 0.12 0.04 0.060.04 0.02 0.02 0.02 00.02 0% FDM SLS SLA DMLS/ Polyjet Multi DLP Binder EBM CLIP/ SDL LOM SLM jet jetting CDLP fusion 2018 2019 Figure 1. Additive manufacturing technologies and their share in the industry [1]. 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The article presents the the main benefit of which is to make this method of model production available to a wider process of design and presentation of partial results achieved by the created prototype of group of users. the device, the main benefit of which is to make this method of model production availa- ble1.1. to Non-Planar a wider group Layering of users. of Material In connection with FDM technology application to robotic arms or other atypical 1.1. Non-Planar Layering of Material structures, whose structures are inspired by these arms, a simple question arises: whether, in theIn currentconnection state, with accuracy, FDM method technology of production application and to implementation robotic arms or of other