Where are we with 3D printers now?

[Allan Bowker]

Thanks for the update Ian,, we installed a glass bed to our printer last week, also getting good results with that.
Well worth a try (also requires 3DLAC or hairsray for the initial layer to stick).

 

 

Edited By Allan Bowker on 25/09/2016 11:57:40

[David perry 1]

Pretty sure I am going for the Prusa i3 Mk2 . It seems to be a good printer and it looks a fantastic project to build.

 

Is there anything I might have missed?  The obvious question is where to buy.  

D

Edited By David perry 1 on 29/09/2016 21:46:04

[Ian Jones]

Wish I could comment DP but I don't have enough time in on these machines to offer anything beneficial.

[Martin Whybrow]

A friend was using one of these when I saw him recently. I have to say I was quite impressed by the quality of the output and it seemed very well built; at the price, I think it would be very hard to beat!

[Ian Jones]

That's a very good price Martin. I suppose the prices must drop as they become more mainstream though I suspect they must be getting somewhere near as low as they can get at this price.

[David perry 1]

Wow martin that really is twrrific. The quality looks exceptional.

Do you know whether itll run off any old CAD software? My lads use solidworks.

D

[Martin Whybrow]

Posted by David perry 1 on 30/09/2016 22:40:31:
Wow martin that really is twrrific. The quality looks exceptional.

Do you know whether itll run off any old CAD software? My lads use solidworks.

D

Not entirely sure to be honest; my friend was using a separate package to convert the CAD files to G code which is, I believe, what the 3D printer needs.

[Andy Meade]

Yes, it will be able to. All the printers use STL files to import to their slicer, and Solidworks can export those no problems.

[David perry 1]

Cheers Andy

Mustsay tjat 3d is a game changer...i was going for the prusa for sure, but now the. Other option seems as good for a fraction of the price.

What concerns me is the old adage. "If it seems too ggood to be true it probably is".
More research methinks

D

[Erfolg]

It is a great pity that night classes at local colleges are either a thing of the past, or so expensive as to be prohibitive to attend. Otherwise I would be more than tempted to look for classes and sign on.

It is apparent that for those who are conversant with both 3d printers and some aspects of computing, particular CAD packages (and their capabilities and usage) much is obvious and very simple. To myself, the picture is very fussy and confused.

Living in the sticks, at least comparatively, much of what is easily obtainable in the larger cities with respect to modelling materials is generally absent. just with this aspect in mind 3D printing conceptually appears to be attractive.

An aspect that will be holding many back is the status of the technology, it has been mentioned on this thread, has 3D technology moved from innovative stages to the mature technology stage as yet? Or is it still at the early adopter stage?

[Ian Jones]

Well 3D printing isn't new, bringing the technology to the public at large is far more recent though, so there may be improvements to come yet, especially in the area of automating some of the many variables in terms of temperature control for a particular object and filament.

Another thing that exsits but isn't really in the affordable home market is a 3D duplicator, where you place an item in the printer, it scans it and then prints a clone of the original item.

It's a revolution, it's happening and it's gathering pace. It's eventual impact will be a real game changer not just in terms of modelling or DIY but as a domestic must have.

Edited By Ian Jones on 01/10/2016 11:44:05

[Erfolg]

Although not there yet?

The question has been asked or at least hinted at, for the hobbyist that sees 3d printing as a tool, rather than an end in itself, is it there know?

[David perry 1]

Erfolg

Your question is good and i tjink thr answer is "yes". In yhe last rcme there was an article on the model using old escapement gear...and the author, unable to buy one obviously, had printed an escapement. That rather took me aback.

I wondered then about servo arms,cams for closed loop, a whole spitfire! Propellers? Hinges? Fairings?

Im building a large type vii uboat and there are whole sections which can be printed not least the entire hull if i needed it.

My boys, for whom im buying as a christmas gift, are always saying how they could print stuff. They learn it at school you see.

I think the 3d or additive printer is now another tool of exciting consequence.

Now the scanner will be the next thing and then it will be a truly superb tool. I dread to think of its pornographic applications.

D

[David perry 1]

Just feeding back...i have ordered a Prusa i3 mk2 from Lukas at Prusa. Good price and a well respected device.

Ill let you know how i get on

D

[Ian Jones]

Posted by David perry 1 on 03/12/2016 08:28:34:
Just feeding back...i have ordered a Prusa i3 mk2 from Lukas at Prusa. Good price and a well respected device.

Ill let you know how i get on

D

How are you getting on with it David?

Trevor Rushton has started a thread for your specific printer that may be of some use to you, it's here.

Ian

[David perry 1]

It is a fabulous machine. Simply awsome. I use the word as a 54 year old, not as a 20 year old.

Highly recommemded

D

[Ian Jones]

School kids helping school kids, brilliant.

BBC news item "Warrington school makes boy, 5, prosthetic hand", click here

[Robert Armstrong 2]

Anyone using Ultimaker printers? Seem a bit expensive?

[Ian Jones]

I don't know how good they are Robert, at several thousand pounds I would hope they are very good, out of my league though.

[Barry Lucifer 1]

I have produced my own box for my A10M, which I made from ABS. I left room for a good ventilator in the top of the box, so I could undertake some serious projects. Such as prolonged ABS moulding, which as we all know produces a lot of toxic fumes and heat. I picked up my A10M from **LINK** and so far have not had any issues with it” Works like a dream!