Tractus3D offers solutions for large-scale high-temperature polymer production

Demand for advanced thermoplastic polymers such as PEEK, PEKK or PEI, compatible with 3D printing has been growing for some time now. Tractus3D was one of the first companies to identify the need for a large-scale 3D printer that could work with these high-performance and high-temperature materials. In order to learn more about the range of 3D printers they offer today we spoke with Daniël van Mourik, the CTO and Founder of Tractus3D. He told us about the beginnings of the company and the key benefits of their solutions!

3DN: Could you introduce yourself and tell us about your relationship with 3D printing technologies?

I’m a lifetime inventor and entrepreneur, I was innovating long before I built my first 3D printer. My passion for tinkering and innovating goes all the way back to my childhood. I live by the phrase: ‘No challenge is big enough’, which is why I didn’t doubt that we could build one of the first high temperature 3D printers in the world. I first learned about 3D printing around my hobby, RC planes. I was looking for an option to produce a realistic dashboard of an airplane. That’s when I heard about 3D printing from my brother in law and wanted to try it for myself. The first 3D printer I bought was not that good so I decided to make myself a better one. I needed bigger parts for the bigger RC planes, which meant I needed a larger 3D printer – this is how the dream for the larger 3D printer was born.

Six years ago I made my first Delta printer with a build volume of 370 x 600 mm which was very big at that time. In 2014, I built myself my first large volume printer as a fun project, nothing commercial yet. Following this I saw a new challenge, high temperature 3D printers! I decided to take on this new challenge and start a new company! In March 2015, Tractus3D was born.