Hi folks,

Still shopping and comparing products. There's a mini-revolution going on right now; pricing are changing weekly.

My requirements are:

- triple nozzles, to print a backlit cap for a switch. My design is simple, clear interior, black shell and thin white layer for the text. I'll need to experiment just how thin white must be and stuff like that.

- a large print surface because I want to be able to print custom keypads for flight sims.

- a solid frame that will last years.

- quality print, no fuzzy surface.


HE3D.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/he3d...f-d0b4a9d6bdc0

Triple nozzles, large print surface, low quality prints. I would expect that quality from a $100 printer, not $475 USD.


CreatBot.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/DX-0...f-d0b4a9d6bdc0

Triple nozzles, large print surface, waaay too expensive at $2,633 USD.


I've contacted a few manufacturers in China and waiting for them to all respond.


movement designs:
I've noticed 3 main designs so far:

bearing wheels:
https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1UnoJL...Xq6xXFXXX8.jpg

I would expect the wheels to wear with use, thus affecting print quality.


Triple axis:
https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1wGBwO...a7e22c98d99b6f

I have read several negative comments on quality and clogging. I would not trust a pivoting head on a budget printer to remain perfectly flat across the outer edges of a print.


Screws and bearings:
https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1P.wrN...eedc714820fca5

I would trust these to be more reliable of the three. Some have two for the Z axis, some only have one. I would expect the vertical beam to flex somewhat on the single design.

Be careful with bearings, some use ball bearings, some use bushings (these do not last long).


Frame designs:

Boxed:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/DX-0...f-d0b4a9d6bdc0

Most likely the most sturdy design. Read the descriptions carefully, some are made of melamine = super cheap.


Aluminium rail:
https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB18TuBN...a8d1bd9bd8f006

Most common. There are several designs of corners brackets though, and I believe that is where the importance lies. Some brackets are more sturdy than other, thus affecting the true of the frame, and your print quality.


Combination aluminium and synthetic plates:
https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB15dYbK...Xq6xXFXXXR.jpg

Might be very sturdy, could only tell by actually stress testing the frames.


Conclusion so far:

I would love to see a design that uses flat sides for rigidity, dual screws for Z axis, as well as screws for X and Y axis instead of belts. Belts stretch and wear, They do not last long.

I know screws and motors add weight, but that's why you would use a quality motor on the Z axis and not the cheapest NEMA 17 available.

Single unit extruder head, meaning it incorporates the motor that feeds in the material. Most designs rely on the motor being installed on the side frame and a tube feeding the material into the head. More parts = more breaks, wear, looseness, harder to clear jams.

Last issue, I would not use an all-in-one triple nozzle. I would not trust the separation between colours to be precise.
https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1oy6.N...aee54ad15dd631
Also, there is a tie-wrap holding the unit in place (near the bottom). They are careful not to show the tie-wrap on the other pictures, another reason why I would not trust the manufacturer of the triple-axis design.