3D printer

[Demon]

Hmm, forum wouldn't let me post a third pic, said I was already at four?



Testing the emitting angle of an LED within a casing, just to see how low I could make the casing:

[Demon]

As I was saying, 3D printers are evolving really quickly especially since these releases:

The $149 MP Delta Mini 3D printer, Monoprice’s low-cost, entry-level printer, features Wi-Fi for easy, out-of-the-box printing. Also in the home user category, Monoprice updated its Select Mini printer to version 2.0, adding community-inspired upgrades to the unit.

On the commercial side, Monoprice debuted the MP 3 Series Commercial 3D printer for $799. Ideal for industrial and rapid commercial prototyping, the printer has a full enclosure for printing, a 400 x 400mm build volume, and the latest in FDM technology. The company also entered the SLA resin market with the new MP Maker Prism Professional SLA Resin printer. This $3,500 printer offers professional quality printing at an impressive 0.03-micron layer resolution, making it perfect for prototyping, jewelry, and other projects that require a high level of printing accuracy.

http://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-te...ting-ces-2017/

I figure a lot of the bargain brands are scrambling to get even lower, or offer more features.


Wow, retail on the HE3D top model was $665 just recently:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/HE3D...9-0cb24c35ea54


it's now $499:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2016...d-9d209edc2684

Same special price though, $472 to $474, depending which ad you pick. :lol:

HE3D is still the only budget triple nozzle 3D printer I see. With the release of that $150 budget machine, I expect the others to redesign the head supports on the single and dual machines real fast.

[Demon]

I like the design of this model, I'm hoping they up their game and increase the platform size and offer triple nozzles.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2016...00023.8.5Ftk6W

It has dual motors for the Z axis and seems more robust overall. The demo pieces look precise and above-quality compared to other printers.

Anet%20Precision%20Reprap%20Prusa%20i3%2

[Demon]

HEADS UP on HE3D PRINTERS!

Specs can claim anything.

Positioning accuracy: Z axis 0.004 mm, X/Y axis 0.012 mm

The demos are not encouraging at all.







All I can say is BEURK!


This printer is still available today ($499 retail / $474.05 special, Store: Hoyi sunway Co.,Ltd):
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/he3d...308.0.0.zYPpnR


They now have 2016 and 2017 versions showing better quality demos ($539 retail / $485.10 special, Store:reprap):
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2016...8.3.106.ExYjae


BUT!!!

If you dig deep enough ($665 retail / $465.50 special, Store:reprap):
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/HE3D...8.3.176.D4iCb8

The link address says HE3D-2016-Newest-prusa-EI3-triple-nozzle-large-print-size-3D-printer-kit

The ad title says HE3D 2017 Newest prusa EI3 triple nozzle large print size 3D printer kit

But the ad still has the same old crappy demos! So what text are we supposed to trust here? Old? 2016? 2017? Or the quality of the demos for that matter?

So, buyer beware.

[Demon]

More rambling about technologies:

SLA has been around for a while but is slowly becoming affordable. We're still talking a few grand for a machine.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereolithography


Meanwhile, 3D printers using fused material have taken a huge leap forward with machines in the hundreds of dollars.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_printing


And now here comes metal:
https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/...esktop-102393/

This is going to be a game changer. Not today for us normal folk, but I remember a few decades ago 3D printing was an art reserved for a select few.


Cheap 3D scanners are also available for $130:
https://www.3dprintersonlinestore.co...diy-3d-scanner

[Demon]

This is an interesting design. Too bad only a single nozzle and only 220mm x 220mm.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2016...00014.6.rrkWuL




Adding acrylic panels to 3 sides and bottom would turn this into a tank.

The only weakness I can think of is the platform. It's built like a diving board, bound to flex and ruin prints if you force it accidentally.

Layer thickness: 0.05mm
XY-axis positiong accuracy: 0.012mm
Z-axis positioning accuracy: 0.004mm


The surface of the whistle looks pretty good (assuming it is small and not a HUGE whistle):

[Demon]

Some printers may seem very interesting at first glance.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Geee...08.3.27.1Nt8l6

And then you compare the specs with other printers:

Layer resolution: 0.1-0.3mm
Positioning Precision: 0.1-0.3mm

That makes me doubt the demos when I compare them to other printers. The orange elephant seems very good for such a weak spec.





The more I research, the more confused I become.

[Demon]

And then there's printers like these which seem just too awesome to be true:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Auto...00014.4.KfkFO8

Click on FEEDBACK.

Then click on the number to the right of the stars, starting with 1.

[Demon]

I just have to show this thing:

3D printer +CNC engraving lathe milling +laser engraving function kit
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Pure...762114337.html


Not sure about doing any CNC work on an open-frame type machine. CNC throws dirt and debris everywhere. Those belts, motors, circuits, power supply, eeesh.

And then the guys doing laser work with their face right up to the printer without using any glasses?

That CNC precision doesn't look too fancy. Not sure I'd want to do my boards on that. And then there's the toxic dust from the PCB board.

We have a government agency in Quebec, loosely translated as Workplace Health and Safety Agency, they'd have a heart-attack just looking at this ad.