We have Makerbot at work and it's a pretty disappointing device, just a glorified hot glue gun. Were never able to print at hi-res, and mid-res parts are pretty crude...

How can a consumer grade 3D printer help in this hobby? The surface quality or any sub $1k printer will likely be unacceptable for making molds (or will require a lot of finishing). Yes, Objet prints much better (and bigger) models, but one would need a 2nd mortgage to buy it.

I picked up a printrbot+ on the kickstarter, at the time it was around $650 and I thought it was too good to pass up.
I treat it like a hobby and I've spent some time setting up, tweaking, getting to know how the ABS and PLA flows and all the software controls that effect quality. I think I've got it pretty well sorted now and can print down to 0.1mm for high quality detail prints, like the Yoda. For funtional parts like my tricopters I print at 0.25mm and fast at 150 mm/s. To print a full tricopter kit it takes about 4hrs to complete and about $3 in materials.

Matt

Nicely done Matt, this is about the same resolution that I expect from the MakiBox when it arrives.

Last month at www.clubworkshop.com in Denver we had a 3D printer print off with about 25 different printers. The www.Lulzbot.com printer was my favorite for both quality of finish product, ease of use, and print quality. The print quality beat out many of the 'pro' commercial printers for print quality. The owners of the company were cool too.

I'm leaning towards their new soon to be released larger print area version.

Andrew

I should check out that clubworkshop. Sounds kind of expensive, but should be worthwhile with the right project.

Originally Posted by the_canuck

Last month at www.clubworkshop.com in Denver we had a 3D printer print off with about 25 different printers. The www.Lulzbot.com printer was my favorite for both quality of finish product, ease of use, and print quality. The print quality beat out many of the 'pro' commercial printers for print quality. The owners of the company were cool too.

I'm leaning towards their new soon to be released larger print area version.

Andrew

That looks very nice Andrew, kind of pricey though. You could buy 4.93 complete MakiBoxes for the price of one of the Lulzbots. And the resolution is nearly as tight as the Lulzbot. But it is available now and you do not have to wait.
Good Luck

Do any of them make parts that don't have all of the lines in the finished product?

Jimmy

$20,000 commercial printers still have lines in the end product.

So how do you get rid of the lines? Sand blast? Sand paper?

I have an aircraft part that was made with a 3D printer and it perfect but think is was made with a laser 3D printer, not the molten plastic like these.

Jimmy

I have seen people use acetone to get rid of the lines (see yoda in MC71s post) a quick dip (3sec) is all it takes to give the finished part a smooth look.

I have an Ordbot Hadron -- built from kit -- nice machine -- needs lots of tinkering
Mechanical kit for about $400

http://buildlog.net/blog/2012/05/ord...ventables-com/

I have a friend that has two solidoodles he likes also a lot of tinkering
but these are fully assembled

http://solidoodle.com/
MendalMax 2.0 is new and exciting

http://mendelmax.com/

Trinity labs A1 is new but has a big printing volume

http://trinitylabs.com/pages/aluminatus-overview

I have the make magazine 3d printer buyers guide if anyone wants a dropbox link to it shoot me a PM

good thread, i'm in the market for a 3d printer myself, will keep an eye on this

Hi all,
I have an interest in 3d printing but does anyone know of an active forum similar to cnczone for cnc machines etc?
I have seen some forums but they seem to lack activity.

cheers
Rob

Rob,
I do not know of any open forum about 3D printing as each forum that is out there is a proprietory forum for it's own printers.
I also wish one existed, if I find one I will post it here for all to see.
Good luck with your quest