I wish that the polyjet resin printer technology would reach the consumer market. We were given a Stratasys Eden 500V polyjet printer last year (originally a $200K machine), and it lays down 16 micron thick layers with 42 micron horizontal resolution. Parts are solid. Build envelope is huge (500 x 400 x 200mm), but resin is $0.20/g. Post processing is just scraping and washing off support material (with water). No goosebumps from model supports to remove. Support material is also $0.20/g. Resin comes in 3.6kg cartridges, so I don't stock multiple colors... It is amazingly fast though. One small part was 38min to print one, and 2hr45min to print 40 more (as a batch).
-- Ralph ________________________________________ From: Bruce Layne [[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2021 10:58 AM To: Enhanced Machine Controller (EMC) Subject: Re: [Emc-users] Replacing a handle. CAUTION: This email originated from outside the Walla Walla University email system. On 10/13/21 12:03 PM, Martin Dobbins wrote: > Bruce Layne wrote: > > Someone needs to make an upgraded MSLA printer that automates the post > processing operations. > > I'll pull the trigger when they do, Bruce. I think of the current state of resin 3D printing as similar to the early days of photography - nearly magical, but there is some inconvenient slopping of chemicals to make the magic work. We need the 3D printing equivalent of digital photography with all of the magic, instant gratification, and without the messy chemicals. However, a little rinsing with isopropyl alcohol, air drying, and UV exposure to cure the surface is a minor price to pay for the resin 3D printing magic. It's SO much easier to CAD a structural part and resin print it than it is to use CNC to make the part. I complain about the IPA rinse, but it's much faster and easier than cutting raw stock, fixturing, breaking end mills, tool changes, clearing chips, multiple fixture setups, tumble deburring, etc. As an added bonus, I can 3D print parts that can't be made by CNC or injection molding. Small parts can be arrayed and they 3D print as quickly as a single part when using MSLA where the entire layer is exposed. Resin printing is an incredibly powerful tool in my engineering toolbox. > Do you have an MSLA right now? What model? I have a Qidi Shadow 5.5S and a Qidi S Box. Both are budget resin printers that do a good job, but there are probably better options now. We're still fairly early in the MSLA technological development. Prices are falling as the quality and features improve. I've had good results with Saraya Tech ABS-Like resin. It prints well at the printer's default settings. I hung some parts outside in direct sunlight all summer and there was no degradation in strength or loss of aesthetics. The quality of the available resins is quickly improving too. I'm hoping the supply catches up to the increasing demand and the prices fall to a penny a gram. Resin printing is enabling a lot of small businesses to make great niche products that wouldn't be viable if they required expensive high volume injection molding. _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list [email protected] https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
