3D printer

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Introduction

3D printer as geek campfire (Source:[1])

According to Wikipedia, retrieved 14:48, 14 October 2011 (CEST), “3D printing is a form of additive manufacturing technology where a three dimensional object is created by laying down successive layers of material. 3D printers are generally faster, more affordable and easier to use than other additive manufacturing technologies. 3D printers offer product developers the ability to print parts and assemblies made of several materials with different mechanical and physical properties in a single build process. Advanced 3D printing technologies yield models that can serve as product prototypes.”

This article shortly introduces 3D printing and then lists cheap open source and commercial 3D printers.

See also:

3D printing technology

The two most popular 3D printing techniques are:

  • fused deposition modeling, also called Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF). A typical example are low cost models like the RapMan
  • Selective laser sintering: “an additive manufacturing technique that uses a high power laser (for example, a carbon dioxide laser) to fuse small particles of plastic, metal (direct metal laser sintering), ceramic, or glass powders into a mass that has a desired 3-dimensional shape” (Wikipedia, retrieved 14:48, 14 October 2011 (CEST))

The opposite of additive manufacturing is subtractive manufacturing, e.g. using milling machines that take away material from an initial form. We therefore can present these alternative technologies:

  • Laser cutting is a fairly simple to use technique for creating "flat" 3D objects by cutting "sheets" like wood or plexiglass. One can create designs that involve sticking or gluing components together.
  • Milling is a process where parts of an object (e.g. a cube) are removed by drilling. For example, parts of car motors are produced like this. Milling is a fairly dangerous process, however hobbyist models that carve out from plastic or wood are safe to use in a classroom for example.

Most 3D printers use an extruder (i.e. a kind of gun) that heats up plastic filament which is then deposited layer by layer. They can print different sorts of Polymers.

  • ABS (used for Legos and car parts) is solid, but warps when printed a room temperature. I.e. it is difficult to print objects that have a larger than 4cm footprint.
  • PLA (polylactic acid) is made of starch (i.e. plants). It doesn't warp, but it's not very solid and starts deforming (melting) at relatively low temperature.

Syringue-based systems like the Fab@Home can print Epoxy (composites) or food and these materials are pushed down with a piston.

A workflow model

The following figure summarizes typical workflows. There a three fundamental design stages:

  • Model an object with any kind for modeling program, e.g. a 3D modeler, a CAD drawing program, a CAD programming tool like OpenScad or through 3D scanning.
  • If the modeler can't export to STL, export to a popular exchange format like OBJ, then translate the OBJ with a program like Meshlab.
  • Translate the model to a format that is appropriate for 3D printing, typically .STL, a stereolithography CAD format created 3D Systems. This file format is supported by many other software packages. STL basically describes an object with triangles using an x,y,z coordinate system. A similar format that can be used by some "cleaning/positioning/to-machine-code" programs is OBJ.
  • Translate STL to machine code, typically so-called G-code

As you can see, there are several paths that lead from a design idea to a printed object. Absolute beginners can start simply by downloading STL files from a repository such as Thingiverse, positioning it, maybe resizing and then printing it. Intermediate users can merge existing objects together at any level, e.g. at STL level with a tool like Meshlab (free) or Netfabb (commercial).

Some low level "how to print an STL file" is described in the First steps with the RapMan V3.1 3D printer article.

Diagrams error (with dot command): Error: /tmp/diagrams_in52fa15bbffa6.dot: syntax error in line 2 near '['

Also take note that respecting physical constraints is important ! For example, you can't print bigger than your print area, you can't print designs that have a large footprint with ABS, you can't print large overhangs with a printer that doesn't allow printing support structures, etc.

Hardware

This section was revised on oct. 2011. There are no endorsements, since I only own a RapMan which was the best thing buy when got it back in Jan 2010. Finally, this list is not complete, for example, several vendors sell RepRap Darwin, Mendel, Prusa and Huxley kits. You can find them in the RepRap wiki. Look at this wiki if you need a real RepRap!. Below, we listed printers that either seem to be well known and known to work or that are new and somewhat exciting - Daniel K. Schneider 20:44, 19 October 2011 (CEST).

To do:

  • produce some specifications for each model)
  • have some indication on how well these model operate. Speed, print size, resolution is not everything. An important criteria is knowing whether you can leave your printer alone. Many require constant attendance, because of filament intake problems for example.

Do it (almost) entirely yourself

Reprap 3D printers

Prusa Mendel

RepRap, a British project, is short for Replicating Rapid-prototyper. This type of 3D printer builds the parts up in layers of plastics. It can be assembled from parts bought in various places.

Designs:

All RepRap printers can built with spare pars available from many places. However, this requires good "bricolage" skills. For those who don't have these, there exist many commercial kits that are relatively easy to assemble and also fully assembled kits (see below).

Resources:

The CandyFab 6000 sugar-based 3D printer

Candyfab printers

Note: As of oct. 2011 this project seems to have stalled (no wiki update since 2009).

Cheap 3D open source printers or kits

Below are the fabbers that were most popular in October 2011, sorted in alphabetical order. You can buy three types:

  1. Fully assembled (unwrap and maybe some small assembly)
  2. Easy to assemble (a few hours)
  3. Hard to assemble (3-4 days)

Most companies offer both kits and fully assembled 3D Printers. Some have web sites with a lot of information. Some have quite good customer support, others don't. Search the forums. Most designs are close or far derivatives from RepRap models.

BotMill Glider

BotMill

Botmill sells 3D Printers that use the (more recent) RepRap Mendel design.

  • The Glider 3.0 3D Printer (Fully Assembled)
    • $1400 fully assembled (that's cheap compared to most others)
    • Print surface: 20.3 x 20.3 x 5.5 cm
    • 0.1 mm positioning accuracy, layer thickness = 0.3mm
  • The older Axis 2.1 kit costs $1065.
    • 20 x 20 cm build area
    • 3mm extruder

Resources:

Rapman 3.1. schema - Source: Bits from Bytes

Bits from Bytes printers

Bits from Bytes produces and sells Reprap derivatives

Hardware:

  • RapMan v3.11 (£750 / CHF 1270) is a device we acquired. We got it in January 2010 and was assembled by end of Feb 2010 Read the RapMan article. - Daniel K. Schneider Nov 2009/Feb 2010.
    • Print area: 27 x 20.5 x 21 cm, not heated platform
    • 3mm nozzle
    • Resolution: x&y axis = 0.2mm, z axis = 0.7mm (roughly)
    • A1 Technologies is a UK reseller
    • Materials: ABS (warping for bottom surfaces larger than 4-5cm), PLA of various sorts.
    • The Rapman is one of the first commercial kits for the RepRap v1 and it's probably one of the most beautiful designs. Assembly is rather difficult, but very well document. All you need is good reading skills. It works well, but does need what we could "RepRap printing skills". Some design elements could be improved, in particular: filament intake (extruder), connectivity (USB instead of a SD card), portability (after transport the structure may need adjustment), (optional) heated platform. The commercial 3D Touch solves some of these problems.
  • 3DTouch 3D Printer is an assembled 3D printer and costs £1,995.00 (single head) or £2,245.00 (double head). We recommend a double head system. The Education pack (£2,484.00) includes double head and plastic rolls. This model seems to be the successor of the BFB 3000 (or the same design ?). It includes more "industrial" parts, i.e. it's rumored to be reliable.
    • Resolution: same as RapMan v3.11

Resources:

Fab@Home version 2

Fab@Home 3D printers

Fab@Home, is marketed as "personal fabricator". As opposed to RepRap designs, Fab@Home uses a syringe system and can print a large variety of materials, including silicone, cement, stainless steel, cake frosting, and cheese. Hardware designs and software on this website are open source. This printer can include a dual syringe tool for printing two materials simultaneously.

Hardware:

Resources:

Cupcake/Thing-O-Matic 3D Printer

Makerbot printers

MakerBot Industries sells other RepRap-inspired designs. Like other Reprap derivaties, their 3D printers include a plastruder and an Arduino-compatible microcontroller and they work with several kinds of plastic, e.g. ABS (Lego-like) and HDPE (milk-jug like). The founder of this company also is involved in the RepRap research project.

Hardware: Currently, (2011) there are three versions:

Other devices are in development as documented in the Makerbot wiki (oct. 2011)

Orca V0.3 3D printer

Mendel Parts

  • Mendel-Parts is a Dutch one-man company that started by selling parts for the Mendel design.

Hardware:

  • Orca v0.3
    • Mendel-inspired design, but the big parts are laser-cut aluminum (and therefore "non-replicatable", but easier to assemble)
    • $600 EUR
    • ABS and PLA
    • Print size: 210x210x165mm
    • Choice between 1.75 and 3mm hot end.
    • Speed: up to 300mm/s
    • The V 0.2 is still available and costs slightly less (oct. 2011)
    • Note: Very new as of oct. 2011. I couldn't find any detailed reviews, but the design looks good - Daniel K. Schneider 20:44, 19 October 2011 (CEST).
  • Mendel v2
    • €699.00
    • I'd rather get the "non-replicating" Orca since it's much easier to assemble. Folks who want to play with the printer design itself, may look at this model or other Mendel Prusa kits.

Resources:

MakerGear Prusa 3D Printer

Makergear

Makergear sells two kits as of oct. 2011. One is rather destinated to people who want to play with the Mendel Prusa design and maybe do creative modifications. The other, i.e. the Mosaic is more an end-user product.

Hardware:

  • Prusa 3D printer kit
    • $825 for a complete kit
    • 8 x 8" Heated Build Surface PCB
    • Either 1.75mm or 3mm hot end (allowing to print either more precisely or faster). Most current printers feature a 3mm nozzle.
    • supports both ABS and PLA
  • Mosaic 3D Printer kit
    • $999
    • (Probably) fairly easy to assemble
  • Mosaic 3D Printer fully assembled
    • Price is unknown, since out of stock on oct. 19 2011

MakerGear also sells various sets of printed parts and other gear for assembling your own.

Resources:

Printrbot

Printrbot

Probably will become the most popular 3D printer by February 2012. See the backers at KickStarter.

Hardware:

  • printrbot.com
  • Open Hardware Design
  • z axis: printhead moves up (not the platform)
  • Heated platform that moves in the y axis (or x axis depending on how you look at it)
  • Cheap
Ultimaker

Ultimaker

As of Oct. 2011, the Dutch Ultimaker seems to be the favorite open source design kit. It's fast, can print big and it's easy to assemble (compared to a RapMan for example). Ultimaker focuses on speedy PLA printing. PLA doesn't warp like ABS, it is ecological but fragile. ABS is very solid, not ecological and would require a heated bed for larger prints. Therefore, if you need to produce tough objects, Ultimaker may not be a good option.

Hardware:

  • Ultimaker Kit (Beta) costs EUR 1200.
    • Reprap design
    • It can print 21x21x22 cm volumes
    • USB connectivity, drivers for Win/Mac and Linux
    • 0.4mm nozzle The theoretical resolution: 0.0125 mm for the X and Y axis and better for the Z-axis. Don't know what the practical one would be.
    • User-friendly feed mechanism
    • No heated bed (?)

Resources:

Commercial closed source entry-level 3D printers

We distinguish between commercial 3D printers that are closed source (below) and commercial open source/open design printers (in the previous section). As of december 2011, we counted two fully assembled machines and two announcement for kits. More models may exist or be in the pipeline. In any case, by summer 2012 one ought to be able to buy a commercial printer for around 1000 Euros or less. However, I suggest to read/find reviews before buying any - Daniel K. Schneider 14:16, 15 December 2011 (CET).

Fabbster 3D printer

Fabbster

Fabbster is announced for March 2012. This printer will be sold through retail shops.

Hardware
  • The flyer announces a pretty fast engine
  • 4mm nozzle (by default)
  • 0.025 to 0.4mm layer size
  • Customized Netfabb engine tool included
  • Suggested retail price: 1000€
Felix 1.0 3D printer

FelixPrinter

Felix is the IMHO the first European company to offer a low cost printer that is easy to assemble, according to the website, about 2-4 hours.

I could not find any reviews of this very new printer. The Dutch owner/designer is a specialist in precision mechatronics and robotics and that is a good indicator - Daniel K. Schneider 13:19, 26 November 2011 (CET).

Hardware
  • The Felix 1.0 (nov 2011) has an introductory price of $800
    • Aluminum frame, assembled by screwing 6 hex bolts, Drylin-sliding bearings, Opto-sensor, NEMA 17 motor
    • RAMPS 1.4 electronics
    • No information about the hot end (nozzle, filament type) yet.
    • 0.35mm diameter nozzle, 1.75mm filament
Solidoodle (beta)

Solidoodle

Solidoodle is the first company to offer a fully assembled low-cost (under $1000) printer (Shipping Q4 2011). The box seems to have a closed chamber which is a good solution for printing ABS at a more or less constant temperature.

Hardware:

  • The Solidoodle 3D Printer) has an introductory price of $699.
    • Design: ReRap Sanguinololu v1.3 electronics
    • Max Part size: about 10 x 10 x 10 cm
    • Accuracy: .3mm (84dpi)
    • .35mm nozzle, using 1.75mm filament (ABS), Sprint loaded extruder (no thumb screws).

Resources:

Light-weight UP! 3D printer

PP3dp / Up!

  • PP3dp sells a light-weight fully assembled 3D printer

Hardware:

  • UP!
    • $2700 + shipping.
    • 14 x 14 cm build area, heated platform (good for ABS)
    • Supports ABS and PLA in later model versions
    • 0.2 mm accuracy.
    • Close source software
  • Reviews: Ponoko, ....

In oct. 2011, this model seemed to be the easiest solution (by a large margin) to start printing, i.e. you can unpack and print and don't need to learn about calibration with tools like Skeinforge. On the downside (if I understand right) one only can print ABS in three settings (fine, normal and coarse). Also, the print area is small compared to a RapMan.

Resources:

Commercial desktop printers

  • Matrix 3D printer from Mcor technologies is a Laminated Object Manufacture printer, i.e. glues and cuts paper. You have to buy a package with an annual fee (e.g. £6600)
  • uPrint from Dimension / StratSys (about $15000 or the $20000 for the uPrint plus multi-color model). These models use Fused Deposition Modeling with a 0.254mm resolution.
  • Alaris from Object offers two models. The 93 kg Objet24 Personal 3D Printer and the Objet30 Desktop 3D Printer print at 0.1mm resolution. Both use some kind of polymer jetting technology. Price on request
  • 3D Systems sells a ProJet™ 1500 personal 3D color printer for about $/EUR 14500 and the VFlash monocolor for about EUR/$ 10'000. In addition, you have to buy material cartriges. Dollar prices seem to be lower... (e.g. $9900 for V-Flash mono color)
  • The cheapest ZCorp (one of the industry leaders) model, i.e. the ZPrinter 150 is 164 kg and costs about $15'000. The multicolor version, ZPrinter 250, is $25'000.

web services for 3D printing

There exist probably several companies who do this. Typically, online 3D printing services also include a store where users can both upload and sell designs. Some sites also offer other manufacturing and commercial services and most also provide free resources for learning how to create things

Note: The laser cutting and engraving services will be moved once I decide to start resources on that topic.

Shapeways

  • They take STL, VRML, Collada & X3D formats with some constraints, e.g. less than 500'000 polygons, a watertight mesh, etc.

Sculpteo

Ponoko

Formulor

  • Laser cutting service. The company also provides Illustrator, CorelDraw and Inkscape templates

VectoRealism

  • Laser cutting (very similar or same as Formulor ?)

RazorLab

  • Laser Cutting and engraving.

Software

Roughly speaking, the production pipeline looks like this:

  1. Model something or find a model
  2. (Merge/adapt models)
  3. Translate to STL
  4. Translate to machine code
  5. Print

Relevant EduTechWiki articles

In EduTechWiki, we provide a few overviews and/or beginner's tutorials

3D Software See:

File formats

The most popular file format is the .STL file format: “An STL (“Stereolithography”) file is a triangular representation of a 3-dimensional surface geometry. The surface is tessellated or broken down logically into a series of small triangles (facets). Each facet is described by a perpendicular direction and three points representing the vertices (corners) of the triangle. These data are used by a slicing algorithm to determine the cross sections of the 3-dimensional shape to be built by the fabber” (The StL Format, retrieved 17:25, 24 June 2009 (UTC)). STL files can be created with most CAD programs. Alphaprototypes provides instructions for several popular CAD applications.

Printing software

We distinguish between two kinds of "printing software"

  • Preparation software will take a 3D model, allow you to make some adjustments (like repairing) holes, positioning and rotation and then output a clean printable forma, in particular .STL files
  • Gcode software will take as input an .STL model (or similar) and then produce machine code according to various parameters that you can set.
  • In principle, some software could do both

List of software:

  • Netfabb Studio (either the free light version or the pro version) allows to repair and position .STL models. The pro version also can merge files.
  • ReplicatorG is the software that will drive your CupCake CNC, RepRap machine, or generic CNC machine. You feed it GCode, it parses the GCode, and then controls your machine via a driver. Its cross platform, easily installed, and is based on the familiar Arduino / Processing environments.
  • Skeinforge is a popular highly customizable g-code generator. Recommended for folks who don't mind fiddling with lots of parameters.
  • Most makers also sell or include custom g-code generators. Some are based on Skeinforge
  • BfB Axon is a free g-code generator for RapMan machines, i.e. a front-end for skeinforge

Special-purpose software

  • CandyFab developed CandyFaboulous, written in Processing, an open source programming language and environment for people who want to program images, animation, and interaction.

Links

See also the Fab lab article which also includes a bibliography.

Repositories

See also

  • "Online printing services" (above), e.g. the largest (and probably most expensive) Shapeways includes thousands of printable objects.
  • Various CAD/CAM and 3D modeling software. Each installed software includes sample directories and other models are often available on various official and unofficial support sites.
  • New objects (includes visualization and downloadable files)
  • 3dprintables.org (excellent wiki includes educational objects, often with links models on external sites)
  • Thingiverse (a place to share digital designs that can be made into real, physical objects). Many interesting objects for RepRap machines like the RapMan.
  • George W. Hart's Rapid Prototyping page includes STL files for (complex) mathematical/geometrical forms. In addition, simpler Makerbot Constructions also are available. Most low end 3D printers can handle these (actually better).

In addition to repositories for printable objects, you also can try to adapt models made for 3D virtual environments, e.g.

  • Google 3dwarehouse/ includes an enormous amount of models. Most of these are not printable, but often it's enough to use a repair tool like netfabb to make a model watertight and otherwise correct.

General

  • 3D Printer page at the Kwartzlab, a canadian FabLab / hacker space. Their wiki therefore also includes other interesting stuff.
  • 3D Printing (Explaining the Future, oct. 2011). Includes a review of both commercial and open source printers.
  • Fabbaloo is a blog with news about personal manufacturing and 3D printing.

On wikipedia

Hardware for milling

(to be moved once we create a milling article)

Acknowledgments

  • 17 October 2011 (CEST). Bart Bakker (Mini FabLab Utrecht) for pointing out two missing items (the Ultimaker and the Solidoodle)
  • 26 November 2011 (CET). Maarten Vermaak for telling me about the Felix printer.
  • 9 dec 2011. Bart Bakker told me about the Printrbot. He has ordered one and will be able to tell more.
  • Pictures are reproduced without permission. I don't think that any non-open source Maker should complain. After all, these may help selling.
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