1

Topic: SLS

Hi,
This is a 2 part question.

1. How much are commercial grade SLS printers are selling for these days. About 40x40x40 inches print volume. I am talking about the real industrial machines like a large aerospace company would buy. My department may be looking for one soon, so i am doing preliminary market research. So far all i see is: "contact us for a quote" but i don't even have a ballpark number as an estimate. Are we talking $25K, $250K or $10 mil? Mostly interested in quickly (24HR for 40x40x40 volume) printing plastics for mockup purposes.

2. Are there any works in progress for consumer level SLS machines, say 12x12x12 print volume? Stereolithograhy is within consumer reach, $3.5K; how about SLS?

Thanks ahead

2

Re: SLS

pcm81 wrote:

Hi,
This is a 2 part question.

1. How much are commercial grade SLS printers are selling for these days. About 40x40x40 inches print volume. I am talking about the real industrial machines like a large aerospace company would buy. My department may be looking for one soon, so i am doing preliminary market research. So far all i see is: "contact us for a quote" but i don't even have a ballpark number as an estimate. Are we talking $25K, $250K or $10 mil? Mostly interested in quickly (24HR for 40x40x40 volume) printing plastics for mockup purposes.

2. Are there any works in progress for consumer level SLS machines, say 12x12x12 print volume? Stereolithograhy is within consumer reach, $3.5K; how about SLS?

Thanks ahead

Try the Gigabot, fully assembled they are 5k, and DIY assembly are $4k and they have a 2'x2'x2' (8 foot cube build volume) with 100 micron layers.
These are professional quality machines with a large build envelope.
Check them out here:

http://re3d.myshopify.com/

Here's the specs from their website:

http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0231/1837/files/TechSpecs3.png

The vast majority of home 3D printers have a build volume of less than 1 cubic foot, which limits the ability to create at human scale. The GigabotTM  boasts a build envelope of 8 cubic feet, and a durable, robust platform for creating functional objects.  Households and small businesses are already envisioning 3D-printed tools, furniture, fixtures, car parts, sports equipment, architectural models, toys, artwork, and other functional objects.  Think big, print big!

re: 3D
[email protected]
+1 (512)730-0033

http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0231/1837/products/GigabotKit_1024x1024.png

Everything's in the box! All of the parts & instructions you need to build your own fully functional Gigabot! Includes: Tools, 5 lbs of PLA filament. Shipping and fees (customs/duty/taxes/etc.) not included. Pre-orders for GIgabot are now being accepted for January delivery.

No trees were harmed in the creation of this email, though some electrons were horribly inconvenienced.

3

Re: SLS

The gigabot is cool... too bad it doesn't do SLS...


3dsystems makes some nice printer for the medium range market http://production3dprinters.com/sla/projet-sd-7000

I think their biggest build volume is 22x22x30 inches on this line.

4

Re: SLS

Sorry, totally looked over the SLS for some reason.

No trees were harmed in the creation of this email, though some electrons were horribly inconvenienced.

5 (edited by pcm81 2013-05-31 04:45:26)

Re: SLS

Thanks all for replies. I have the "hot glue gun" (solid doodle) at home. The main reason why i am looking at SLS for work is no need for support material; most of our parts will have huge overhangs. Think "big boxes (racks) with other smaller boxes (DSPs) mounted inside of them".

What is the price range for something like sPro 230 HS? $10K, $100K, $1 mil?

6

Re: SLS

If you can find a build area that large it will probably be closer to $250k.   Operating a SLS printer is a lot more complicated than FDM.  Look up the 3d Printing Confidential blog for an inside look at running one at Shapeways.