how to choose a 3d printer

How to choose a 3D printer

A Guide to choose the best 3D

printer for your use.

(C) 2014 Aha 3D l

What to look while choosing

3D Printing has been there for long and there are multiple number of technologies based on which there are various 3D Printers. This post helps you decide the features in a 3D Printer that you need to fulfill your requirements. Before finalizing the printer, you need to figure out these requirements:

• CAPEX (Initial Cost) • OPEX (Operational Cost) • Precision & Quality Required • Range of materials to print • Print Size Required

© AHA 3D Innovations Pvt. Ltd.

Which technology to choose FDM or FFF- Most widely used technology till now.

• Least Cost (both CAPEX & OPEX) • Prints Thermoplastic • Large Print Size • Precision up to 50 micron level only.

SLS- In this special photosensitive resin is used with laser

• Gives higher Precision • Can print selective resins only • Smaller Print Size • Higher Operation Cost • Printed material is slightly different from original material

SLA UV Light with special fluid is used for printing

• Very high precision- used for jewelry • High CAPEX & OPEX

DMLS Direct Metal Laser Sintering- Can print metal also

• Very High Cost


Which technology to choose

Based on your requirements you need to shortlist technology. For example, if you want to print metal you have to use Metal Laser Sintering. For very high precision work FDM can not be chosen. 65% of the market and 85% of consumer segment requirement has been for FDM based 3D printers, so we will discuss FDM printers here onwards at length.


Key Judgment Indicators (KJI)

There are wide variety of FDM Printers available in market .

While choosing you should make judgment of the printer

on these points:

• Cost Effectiveness

• Reliable & Hassle Free Operation

• Repeatable

• Range of Printable Designs

• Range of Printable Material

• Print Finish, Size

• Post Sales Support


KJI 1) Cost Effective

Cost is an incomplete term, so we talk about Cost Effectiveness

FDM printers are available from price range of INR 20k to INR 50 lakh and even more. Cost can be a key concern in decision making, but rest of indicators should be considered as well.

If you are a hobbyist or an individuals aspiring to learn about 3D Printing but do not want to put in too much money, then there are kits and low cost 3D printer available. Though the credibility and reliability of these are low, but they are good launchpad.


Cost Effective?

Low initial cost


Is this “cost effective”?

Failed prints, un-repeatable results


OPEX- Operational Expenditure

While considering the cost, do keep in mind the operational cost to produce prints. FDM printers OPEX includes these parameters:

• Filament Cost- Some manufacturers have filament lock, where only OEM manufactured filaments can be used. They are very costly and hence increases Operational Cost.

• Operation and Post Processing- Many printers, especially single extruder, need post processing expertise, which will need a skilled person. Do check out for this.

• Maintenance Cost- Low CAPEX may cause high OPEX in maintenance, check for the post support conditions, spare parts and warranty.

• Power Consumption- Generally this is same for all printers.


KJI 2) Reliability

Reliability is a key concern in the operation of machine.

If your prime motive is to generate prints of some value (prototypes, study, low scale production), then do check on this aspect. As you will not want to spend too much time repairing your machine.


Low Cost- Less reliable?

Reliability is- How long can you use your

machine without having to fix it?

Low Cost but not cost effective


Unreliable

You slip on your delivery commitments

Downtime= Monetary Loss


Printer’s Chassis

As the printer head moves, the body undergoes vibration. If the structural strength of printer’s chassis is not good, these vibration may disturb the leveling of the bed, which will need efforts every time before starting. An unlevelled bed will result in failed prints.

A metal body chassis gives sturdy results which can bear vibrations and makes the bed stable.


KJI 3) Repeatability

Repeatability is of concern for those who want to use prints for prototyping/ mold making or something whose quality has to be repeated.

Repeatability is the property of printer to provide same performance despite of time, location.

This is crucial for those, who need value out this.


KJI 4) Printable Designs Do you feel- 3D printer can print anything?

Well yes they can, but not all the printers.

% of printable designs

% of not printable designs

Printable designs on single extruder printer

It is important to understand the need of multiple extruder

Story of Single Extruder Printers


Extruders, Build Material & Support Material

Extruder- These are the print heads, through which the material is extruded for printing. Build Material- The material which actually makes the desired print. Support Material- The material which supports the hanging build material, and is removed after completion. Dual Extruder gives the possibility of using different materials in same print. So you can use two different colors, materials for printing in the same print.



Why do we need support material? Without support material, hanging parts of a print can not be built.

Support Material Build Material

Need of Dual Extruder: Using a dual extruder, you can use a material different from build material for printing the support material. This support can be easily peeled off or dissolved. Single Extruder has a limitation that the support and build material are of same material, and it has to be removed manually.



Using single extruder complicated structure can not be printed , as the support can not be removed from them. In fact in all cases because of having same support material, it is difficult to remove support material, which causes poor finish and higher post processing time.

These two objects can not be printed using single extruder printer

You can understand the use of soluble support by watching this video.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srjJ9pM4ijk



KJI 5) Printable Material

There are too many materials that can be printed using FDM based 3D printer. viz. ABS, PLA, PC, HIPS, Nylon etc

Not all printer can print all these material. It depends on the head temperature and bed type.

To print materials like ABS, Nylon some special features are required.


Heated Bed, Closed Chamber

Warping- In the printed plastic uneven cooling occurs at different areas. Due to uneven temperature, the print may undergo shrinkage, hence ruining the print.

ABS, Nylon mostly shows significant warping issues.

Heated Bed- Heated bed warms the lowermost layer of print, to keep the temperature even. A closed chamber is additional to it, as it keeps the whole chamber hot and hence reduces temperature difference.

If you want to print ABS, Nylon, PC etc. make sure to get a heated bed and closed chamber machine.


KJI 6) Print size, finish

The print finish quality depends upon the layer height of the printer.

Generally printer deals in 0.3, 0.2 & 0.1 mm layer height with the latter giving the best finish. As the layer height is reduced, time taken to complete the print increases terribly. So speed also becomes key feature in that case.

Each printer has a specific size, do check out the Build Volume of the printer according to your requirement.

Though larger print can also be made by printing it in smaller pieces and sticking them together post completion.


KJI 7) Post Sales Support

This is not relevant with the printer’s performance but holds too much value to your feel good factor about the machine.

If you do not want to bother about printer’s operation after buying and printer’s downtime means money loss to you, do check out local support and post sales warranty conditions of the machine.


Happy Printing!!

A wise decision will give you nice printing experience

Want to learn more about 3D Printing- Read here

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www.aha3d.in

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