3D Printing Impossible-to-Machine Parts for Hexapods

More than ever, the way we are manufacturing is changing. In particular, due to increased issues such as the Global Supply Chain Crisis of 2022 or even the COVID-19 pandemic itself, we are seeing the benefits of local manufacturing. For this reason, the adoption of additive manufacturing has also been growing in many new sectors. One particularly interesting case comes from French company Symetrie (meaning symmetry), which has acquired a 3D printer from OMNI3D to help in the manufacturing of hexapods.

You may not have previously heard of hexapods. According to Symetrie, these are parallel kinematic mechanical systems with, as the name suggests, six legs. They are used to position or move an object in space with six degrees of freedom with high accuracy, resolution and stiffness. The company itself has become one of the world’s leading providers of hexapod solutions for both positioning and motion applications since its creation in 2001.

Symetrie turned to 3D printing to make its hexapods

As mentioned, there are two different types of hexapods, both of which are made by Symetrie. The first are precision positioning systems, often used for samples on beamlines, mirrors on satellites or even on telescopes. Second, there are motion systems which simulate the motion of a boat, truck, tank or airplane. They are most often used to test and qualify sensors, optical components, inertial measurement units or gravimeters.