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3D printer

Discussion in 'Announcements' started by lewisoliver, Mar 27, 2020.

  1. lewisoliver

    lewisoliver New Member

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    Hi friends, I am looking for 3D printers. Could you check and suggest which one would be a good choice for home use only.
     
    #1 lewisoliver, Mar 27, 2020
    Last edited: Apr 13, 2020
  2. Andy Johnson-Laird

    Andy Johnson-Laird Administrator
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    Lewis: You may be on the wrong forum, I'm afraid. You might have better luck over on https://all3dp.com/2/best-3d-printing-forums-boards-and-groups/

    But, as I have a 3D printer or two, I'll respond:
    1. You need to have in mind what kind of filament you're going to use. Popular ones are ABS (tends to distort like a British Rail sandwich before they discovered plastic wrap, but can be solvent smoothed/welded using acetone), PLA (less distortion but the solvents are really nasty chemicals like tetrahydrofuran (THF) or methyethylketone (MEK) -- see this page for discussion), etc. More exotic (and expensive printers can print chopped or even continuous carbon fiber. (Technolust!!)
    2. If you buy a budget printer, expect (a) to wait hours for it print (all 3D printers are slow, budget ones are slower), (b) several failed prints (aka "spaghetti"), and (c) to have to build a draft-stopping enclosure -- the printers all work using thermoplastic filament and if it cools down too slowly Bad Things happen.
    3. The design software is crucial. Suggest Autocad's Fusion 360 (you can register for a free personal use license here: https://knowledge.autodesk.com/supp...-or-educational-licensing-for-Fusion-360.html)
    4. Expect to spend hours working on the 3D design and waiting, meh, several hours for a prototype to print.


    What do I use? https://www.tiertime.com/up-box-plus/
    What do I lust after? https://markforged.com/ (metal or carbon fibre).

    Hope this helps.
    Andy

    Forensic Software & sUAV / Drone Analyst : Photographer : Videographer : Pilot (Portland, Oregon, USA): Trees=2, Ground=1, Props=11. :(
    The Ground Is The Limitâ„¢
    ---------- Forensic Drone Analyst : Forensic sUAV Analyst : Forensic Unmanned Aircraft Analyst : Forensic Drone Expert
     
  3. lewisoliver

    lewisoliver New Member

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    Thanks for the detailed information Andy. I didn't know that all 3D printers were slow and the cheap ones were even slower! However, my budget is tight and it's my 1st 3D prtiner, I want to get my hands on something that's easier to use and not too expensive.
     
  4. Andy Johnson-Laird

    Andy Johnson-Laird Administrator
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    Hi Lewis:
    I can understand the budgetary issue -- perfectly reasonable. However, in fairness to the truth, none of the 3D printers I've seen are what I would call "easy to use." That said, they're not necessarily hard to use, but they need a fair amount of tender loving care -- and you need to be prepared for "spaghettification" to become a word you use to describe to the last overnight print run you did.

    See, for example:

    Cheers
    Andy

    Forensic Software & sUAV / Drone Analyst : Photographer : Videographer : Pilot (Portland, Oregon, USA): Trees=2, Ground=1, Props=11. :(
    The Ground Is The Limitâ„¢
    ---------- Forensic Drone Analyst : Forensic sUAV Analyst : Forensic Unmanned Aircraft Analyst : Forensic Drone Expert
     

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