Czech firm to provide Ukraine with 3D printed anti-tank barriers
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Loading... - Emil Agard
- 13 Jul 2022
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A Czech company has started to produce anti-tank barriers for the Ukrainian army made on a special, 3D printer. The firm is also considering providing Ukraine with the printers themselves, which would allow them to produce the barriers right on the spot.
ICE Industrial Services is a technology company based in the Moravian town of ŽÄár nad Sázavou, which focuses on designing and building new automation machines and lines. In recent years, it has also been exploring the possibilities of 3D printed concrete.
In view of the ongoing Russia’s war on Ukraine, the firm has decided to use their know-how to help Ukrainians directly on the war front by providing concrete anti-tank barriers made using a 3D printer.
JiÅ™í Vambera is the company’s innovation designer:
“It’s more or less like returning to caves,” says designer of Prague’s first 3D printed house
“The barriers have several different shapes which can be combined together. The process starts with material preparation.
“After the transport of the material we start with the deposition of layers with our six-axis robot. We print the desired shapes, which have a number of hollow pockets that can be filled with sand once they arrive at the final destination.
“We can produce one basic shape in about 20 minutes, so it is possible to print around 20 to 30 a day.”
While the 3D printed barriers wouldn’t survive a heavy artillery attack, tests have shown that they are resistant against small arms and grenades, as well as anti-tank missiles and on-board machine guns.
The material itself reaches full strength only after around 20 days, but it can be provide some level of protection within just days of being printed, says Mr Vambera. Read More...
