Destriarch wrote:

For example, imagine a letter H with a short vertical bar through the crossbar - would the printer not need to run a support structure to keep the end of that bar in place until the crossbar was printed to connect it up?

Thinking about it now, for an upside-down fluid bath thing you're probably right...

Upside down or not, they need support.

My favorite example is printing capital letter J. The hook is over 90 degree overhang. So if the print is started from the top of the letter and is progressing to the bottom; the end of the hook gets printed before it is connected to the stem. Without support material the end of the hook will float away and/or it will not rise/fall to allow formation of next layers.

For example, imagine a letter H with a short vertical bar through the crossbar - would the printer not need to run a support structure to keep the end of that bar in place until the crossbar was printed to connect it up?

Thinking about it now, for an upside-down fluid bath thing you're probably right...

I've used a 2 before and they're quite nice machines, though I find the software that ships with them very iffy and the SD card slot was faulty on the one I used. The 2x is a nice piece of kit, but as you say it's expensive, so that'd be a case of saving up for a few months (or getting a job that actually pays me the going wage!)

Thanks again, I will look into the Form One.

-Ash

The FFF process (plastic extrusion) used by the makerbots and solidoodles of the world may not get the detail you're after, even if it's a quality machine set up really well. I'm not sure what process has been used for your commercially-made models so far, but their level of quality may likely be simply out of reach from a small home machine.

If you still want to go for an extrusion machine, it actually sounds like a makerbot 2X is pretty close to what you want:
* Dual heads
* Well documented and supported
* Desktop machine
* Supports use of HIPS filament (and probably also PVA) for soluble support material
* Also at some expense.

I'd guess purchasing a solidoodle and doing a bowden dual-head conversion (along with all the quality-improving mods to get it up to vaguely model-miniature-making standard) would be awesome fun if you're up for it, and I'd guess in the end cost a lot less than the makerbot, but that's up to you and how much patience/spare time you have.

-Ash

Well this is a forum dedicated to the Solidoodle... Unfortunately it doesn't support dual extrusion.

I know, but the forum's description does say 'Any and all 3D printers'. I figured it would be OK to ask at least.

-Ash

1. Fine detail, suitable for jewellery or war-game miniatures
2. Dual extruders; capable of printing in two materials simultaneously
3. Capable of using water-soluble materials for support structures.

I don't need to make large models, in fact a smaller footprint would be far more advantageous than a large build surface.
Anything spring to mind?

-Ash