SoliForum - 3D Printing Community — Choices :s

Re: Choices :s

null@example.com (russh) — Wed, 23 Oct 2013 12:09:47 +0000

Hi Everyone,

Well, I went down the R.P.M route...............and failed. QU-BD are a very poor company, not a single R.P.M have been delivered yet, and they are getting huge amounts of bad press.

So, Im back on square 1.
Im not thinking of going the flash forge route, however, I thought I would check on a few things

1) Is the flashforge pretty high resolution?

2) Can I upgrade the head to allow me high temperatures (therefore Polycarbonate printing), and if so, what is recommended

3) are there any known issues with the flash forge

Re: Choices :s

null@example.com (russh) — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 17:18:49 +0000

hmmmmm, ok, thats a bit of a worry

Re: Choices :s

null@example.com (elmoret) — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 17:14:35 +0000

Nope. They haven't shipped a single one yet, and no one has ever see it mill anything.

Re: Choices :s

null@example.com (russh) — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 17:05:07 +0000

Got to be honest, having spoke to them via email, Im really really keen on the R.P.M. RAPID PROTOTYPING MILL
To have the ability to 3D print with ABS, PLA, polycarbonate, PEEK, and Nylon (Nozzle spec'ed at 350C Temps), As well as converting the printer into a full water cooled milling machine, which im told is fully capable of aluminium machining, is amazing.

Does any one have any experience or comments on this machine?

Re: Choices :s

null@example.com (Tomek) — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 11:33:12 +0000

Ultimaker prints quite well. I like that company a lot, but I can't afford.

Re: Choices :s

null@example.com (Hazer) — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 01:10:01 +0000

If I were to drop $3000, it would have to be on a Form 1 SL printer.

Re: Choices :s

null@example.com (russh) — Thu, 26 Sep 2013 22:52:20 +0000

oh and of course the REVOLUTION XL 3D PRINTER as mentioned above, that prints amazingly fast.
Bit of a smaller build size, but it seems to have a hot head suitable for 350 C and can print alot of materials

Re: Choices :s

null@example.com (russh) — Thu, 26 Sep 2013 22:40:12 +0000

Been having a good think, and Im going to go with a pre-built model to start with, so to avoid any frustrations during a first build that may put me off. I can then at least get used to the process and the way it all works, then approach a self build.

So, with the point about large models could lead to problems, I guess I can tick the indimension3 off the list.

This leaves,
Ultimaker 2
FlashForge Creator
Makerbot Replicator 2X

Ultimaker
230 x 225 x 205 mm Build Size
Single Print Head
Max Temp - No Info??
Hot End - Doesn't say if its all metal?
Cost - $2750

FlashForge Creator
225X145X150mm Build Size
Dual Head
Max Temp - 260 C
Hot End - Doesn't say if its all metal?
Cost - $1200

Makerbot Replicator 2X
246 x 152 x 155 mm Build Size
Dual Head
Max Temp - No Info?
Hot End - Dosen't look to be all metal?
$3350

Does the ultimaker perform well??

Re: Choices :s

null@example.com (IanJohnson) — Thu, 26 Sep 2013 21:38:05 +0000

If you want to build yourself, it is much better to get a kit to begin with. You will learn plenty from putting it together and working with all the components. Building another from scratch would work better after you have some hands-on understanding of the parts and what is required of them.

Re: Choices :s

null@example.com (russh) — Thu, 26 Sep 2013 19:09:35 +0000

Thanks Laird,

I see where your coming from with a full all in one large print being prone to possible errors. Can a glued model but just as good as a full print then?

In regards to the replicator being open source, could I actually build this myself and gain much needed knowledge, enjoyment and the chance to improve areas. I have access to CNC milling machines, etc. Do you need much programming knowledge

Re: Choices :s

null@example.com (laird) — Thu, 26 Sep 2013 18:45:58 +0000

The Flashforge is getting good reports. Since it's a (legal) clone of a Makerbot Replicator it benefits from the Replicator's popularity. So you can use the Sailfish firmware (a very nice enhanced "fork" of the open source Makerbot firmware), take advantage of enhancements produced by the community (e.g. machined metal extruders, replacement build plates, etc.). The only real "downside" to the Flashforge is that you're supporting a company that's basically copying someone else's work and cranking copies out cheap. It's entirely legal, of course, because everything in the Replicator is open and published, but they're not paying developers to work on improving the software, etc., which is something I like to support even if it costs a bit more. But in terms of what you physically get, it's a good printer, with two print heads, heated print bed, the ability to print ABS, PLA and all sorts of other materials, and (kinda) membership in the largest user community of any home 3D printer.

Both Ultimaker and Flashforge are made of wood, which is technically fine, but it would look out of place in an office, if that's an issue.

One thing I'd say is that huge print sizes on home 3D printers isn't generally useful. That is, to print a huge object you'd have to leave it running for days at a time, and there are good odds that you'd have some issue somewhere in the print so you're usually better off printing in more, smaller pieces and assembling them. Compare having to get a week-long print to go perfectly and restarting and running another week whenever there's any problem, vs. printing fourteen 12-hour prints, and any problem just meant reprinting that one component. One exception to this would be an extremely high speed printer, the QU-BD RXL which is just starting to ship, so there's a fairly long waiting list right now. They've shown videos (http://store.qu-bd.com/product.php?id_product=44) of 500 mm/s printing, and the results look quite good, and at that speed you could cover a huge area in a more reasonable time.

Note: I have a Replicator that I've been using for years, and have ordered a QU-BD RPM, which is a combination extruder and CNC mill, which I hope will ship in the next few weeks.

Re: Choices :s

null@example.com (russh) — Thu, 26 Sep 2013 13:27:04 +0000

Im really torn between the Indimension3 Glacier Peak, the FlashForge Creator and the Ultimaker 2.

The Flashforge is cheap as chips, and Im wondering the extra build size on the Glacier Peak is really worth the big step in price.

Other than the build size capability, are these 3 printers all in a similar ball park.

Can they all print poly carbonate

Re: Choices :s

null@example.com (IanJohnson) — Thu, 26 Sep 2013 00:29:02 +0000

3D Systems charges $50 for .5kg of filament in chipped cartridges. All other low cost printers can use 3rd party filament which is $30 for 1kg. That printer is for people who think they can push a button and print an object without needing to learn anything about 3D printing, which isn't true of any printer under $10k.

Hyrel 3D has been experimenting with ceramic printing, but I don't know if you can buy one yet - http://www.hyrel3d.com/

Re: Choices :s

null@example.com (russh) — Wed, 25 Sep 2013 23:57:52 +0000

Now I understand. Thanks you

Thats the 3D Systems option completely out the window, there seems so much more out there for your money. Im glad I asked now.

Do all the ones you mention above have a good print success rate?
Can you use filaments from any source with them?

Also, as a completely separate discussion, are there any good ceramic 3D printers out there?

Re: Choices :s

null@example.com (IanJohnson) — Wed, 25 Sep 2013 23:47:35 +0000

Most hot ends have a plastic portion leading up to the heated nozzle which can be ruined by getting them over 245C. Some materials like Polycarbonate need to be printed at 250C, and also higher temperatures make it easier to print faster. The faster the head moves, the faster the extruder has to push out the plastic, and the plastic flows more easily at higher temperatures. With a hot end that is made completely of metal, you can go up to 300C without damaging it. The open source, kit printers are more easily modded and tinkered with, so that is something to consider.