Printer recommendations
Printer recommendations
(OP)
I use a Makerbot Replicator 2 for making prototype parts for consumer products and I would like to upgrade.
Could anyone recommend printers in plastic that would be better in finish , speed and reliabilaty than Replicator 2. I am sure there have been many enhancements this type of machine over the past year. I probably wouldnt be interested in machine over $5000.
Other features I would like are higher strength parts, higher functional temperature.
Many thanks
Could anyone recommend printers in plastic that would be better in finish , speed and reliabilaty than Replicator 2. I am sure there have been many enhancements this type of machine over the past year. I probably wouldnt be interested in machine over $5000.
Other features I would like are higher strength parts, higher functional temperature.
Many thanks





RE: Printer recommendations
Carbon Fiber printer makes REALLY strong parts.
does not print faster but makes crazy strong parts.
and it starts at around $5500
RE: Printer recommendations
RE: Printer recommendations
RE: Printer recommendations
RE: Printer recommendations
The Markforged machine looks interesting but I think it may be dedicated to high strength and functional parts for tooling and engineering parts. I would really like to have one though.
My immediate needs are for better finished parts. Really I am looking for SLA for the price and speed of FDM.
I have looked at a few machines like Makerbot, Ultimaker and Cube. It doesn't look like much improvement in part finish with new machines.
Formlabs have a nice new affordable SLA but I am concerned with speed and one vendor told me the old machines only had a 20% successful build performance.
Multijet looks good but over 30K is out of my budget.
RE: Printer recommendations
The 7k is Amazing but it was expensive to buy. But after spending 16 years in the printing industry, my most valuable asset is time, and the 7K makes fast, beautiful parts.
And you are right, the Mk2 is GREAT for strong, industrial parts, but is not the right choice if you are looking for smooth parts or fine feature detail. Still each printer has its use, and I simply do not believe that there is a printer that can do everything. Cheap, fast, quality. Pick two.
Cheap and Fast = terrible quality
Fast and Quality = expensive
Cheap and Quality does not exist.
The new ProJet 2500 is pretty amazing, but still runs $38,000, which seems to be over your budget.
but it is fast and has descent build quality over a large platform. Probably the closest thing to fast and quality that I have seen.
I have done the whole Form Labs printer, and I will NEVER do that again. They are unreliable and produce parts that have no dimensional accuracy.
I Still have my old Dimension Elite printer, but I turned it off once I got my Mk2 and have not turned it back on.
I think you may consider purchasing an old 3DS Viper system used, you may be able to get into one for under 15-20k, and they are solid workhorses. That would actually get you a REAL SLA not the hybrid DLP/SL that FormLabs sells. just be prepared to need some service and support on the older systems.
Hope that this helps
RE: Printer recommendations
RE: Printer recommendations
Sanika Patel
http://crbtech.in/CAD-CAM-Training/
RE: Printer recommendations
For cheap desk-top I like the Ultimaker. Not much difference in them for around $2k . But I think Ultimaker is top of the heap for material choice and consistent printing.
RE: Printer recommendations
Thank you.
Sanika Patel
http://crbtech.in/CAD-CAM-Training/
RE: Printer recommendations
RE: Printer recommendations
I've got a DaVinci 2.0A, and I don't recommend it. ABS is okay, but you have no control over curl because you can't control temperatures. You also have to buy their filament which is almost 2x the cost of other quality brands. Don't get a DaVinci if you want to do PLA.
The Ultimaker is nice because it is cheap, you can run it with different software packages (cura, repetier are two I know), and you have full control. I hear upgrading to a E3D hot end makes it the best printer in the budget category.
I'm personally interested in a dlp/sla printer. Not in the budget just yet. Also hear they aren't good for printing occasional, as you have to deal with the resin.
RE: Printer recommendations
I just want a moderately priced SLS printer for some of those tough nylon materials! I'm not as interested in the DLP/SLA but I do admire the product.