Which 3D printer is better to buy. Print data source

Every year, the foreign portal 3D Hubs, dedicated to 3D printing, announces its rating of printers based on expert assessments and user voting. The portal has already managed to sum up the results in 5 categories:

1. PROSUMER
2. WORKHORSE
3. BUDGET
4. PLUG 'N' PLAY
5. SLS.

Today we will look at the three strongest printers in the “Prosumer” category (derived from the words “professional” and “consumer”)

3D printers are semi-professional printers for users who are looking for a printer with exceptional build quality and the ability to create high-quality parts. These are "highly advanced" desktop machines with various applications. Printers in this category are best suited for professional designers and small businesses.

EVALUATION CRITERIA: Due to the identified needs of this target market, the main criteria were print quality and reliability.

1st place – Ultimaker 2+ (9.1 / 10)

Retaining his usual white design The Ultimaker 2+ features a well-lit open front panel and translucent sides identical to its predecessor, the Ultimaker 2. The Ultimaker 2+ features a new PT100 printhead, an upgraded heating element and the ability to use different nozzle diameters. As a result, it can achieve a print volume of up to 24mm³/s using a 0.8mm nozzle.

The blowing system has been changed, which has improved cooling and direction of air flow. Ultimaker has also maintained the modular nature of the printer, offering Ultimaker 2 owners the option to purchase a kit to convert their Ultimaker 2 into an Ultimaker 2+.

Ultimaker received community praise for implementing updates based on owner feedback previous model. One member surveyed said: “Excellent build quality, precision engineering and a great support team, not to mention a huge community, are just some of the things that make Ultimaker printers amazing! Taking the community feedback seriously during the update, the update resolved all of the Ultimaker 2's problems. The update is also available as a kit for UM2 owners. It's just excellence in customer service."

Of course, Ultimaker's 3D printing ecosystem doesn't come cheap (235,000 rubles to be exact!) But despite the price, Ultimaker 2+ is truly impressive. 100% of users surveyed said they would recommend their 3D printer to someone else - from beginners to experts.

Formlabs returns with its signature orange body and metal base design, featuring a 40% larger print volume (145mm x 175mm x 175mm) than the Form 1+. The printer uses a new mechanism to agitate the photopolymer in the vat to enhance the printing of each layer, while the vat itself heats the resin to a constant temperature. This ensures a reliable printing process without sacrificing speed. The Form 2 also features an automatic resin filling system that allows photopolymer to be refilled automatically if consumables run low.

Formlabs has also added new connectivity options that now include Ethernet and Wi-Fi, as well as a touchscreen interface, so you can launch and manage your prints more comfortably.
Feedback from our reviewers has been positive. Form 2 is extremely high quality printing, build quality, and accuracy. As one user described his impression: “I have Form 1+ and Form 2. Form 2 is something fantastic. The print success rate was more than 99% of the time (1 print failed out of 110) (562 hours in print so far). An excellent solution for printing high-resolution parts, whether simple or functional models.”

It should be noted that using SLA printing requires little great effort in terms of post-processing, but the resulting quality will be well worth your effort. Form 2 owners also reported that the printer's operating costs depend on the resin used for printing, which costs at least 23,000 rubles (per liter of standard resin).

The Form 2 3D printer has a high print resolution, which is highly appreciated by users. 96% of owners of this model recommend this printer, but it is worth noting its price. The RUR 320,000 price may deter some people from purchasing, but as one reviewer wrote: “The Form 2 is one of the best printers I've ever had the pleasure of working with. The machine itself and the photopolymers for it are expensive, but the reliability and accuracy make the price more than worth it.”

Price: 320,000 rubles
Recommended: For professionals
Printing surface area:145 x 145 x 175 mm
Layer thickness: 25 microns
Materials: Photopolymer resins

Pros:
Print quality
Build quality
Accuracy

Cons:
Print area
Speed
Printing cost

3rd place – Zortrax M200 (8.9 / 10)

Constructed from durable aluminum, the M200 is capable of printing right out of the box (with minimal time required for calibration), making it a leader in the Plug "n" Play category. Thanks to the automated platform leveling system, calibration is a breeze. Its 200mm x 200mm x 185mm perforated platform reduces the material's tendency to delaminate, making ABS the optimal choice for printing.

Users of the 3D Hubs community continue to rate the Zortrax M200 as one of the best in print quality, reliability and cost among all 3D printers. The professional standard of the Zortrax printer coupled with its reliability is what has helped it rank highly in the semi-professional machine category.

It's important to note that Zortrax printers have a controlled ecosystem, meaning the printer is optimized for its own proprietary filament, leaving little room for experimentation. Reviewers emphasized that the company is actively listening to the rapidly growing community, releasing software updates and new types of content (currently there are 6). The lack of temperature control leaves little room for experimentation with other (cheaper) materials. Owners have now outlined a need for more connectivity options, better customer support, as well as a dual extrusion option.

As Zortrax owners say, cases of unsuccessful printing can be attributed to closed system cars. Being the flagship in the semi-professional category, the M200 demonstrates print quality comparable to that of industrial-class machines. Overall, these features make Zortrax great choice for those who want to get high quality printing without spending significant time on settings.

Due to ease of use,

We have selected the most common mistakes and misconceptions that our clients often make when independent choice 3D printer. A well-chosen 3D printer can significantly reduce costs and increase operational efficiency.

To protect you from similar mistakes, we will look at them all in turn:

1. The need for deep knowledge.

In fact, to start working with a 3D printer, you don't need to have advanced knowledge of 3D modeling at all. You can limit yourself to a small theory. There are free resources on the Internet with several hundred thousand 3D models, for example www.thingiverse.com and also http://www.grabcad.com. On these sites you can find a huge number of 3D models that are suitable for printing at first.

2. The larger the print area, the better

Size doesn't always matter. Printers with a small print area can print huge models in several parts. It is much easier to print a model in parts - the quality is higher and the error is smaller. When choosing a 3D printer, pay attention to what you plan to print; perhaps a printer with a very small chamber size will do.

3. Multiple extruders are better than one

The question of the number of extruders is most acute - everyone wants to get models with several colors, or be able to print with removable support material. The truth is that the quality of printers with multiple extruders is lower than that of single extruder printers and the defect rate is higher.

When printing in several colors at the same time, small inclusions appear in the model different colors. All this must be taken into account when choosing a 3D printer with multiple extruders, but there are also advantages - reliability. If one extruder fails, you can always use a second one.

4. Wrong choice of 3D printing technology

Very often clients cannot decide on printing technology. There are two main parameters here – quality and material. It is important to know what exactly will be printed - prototypes for which FDM technology and PLA plastic are sufficient, functional models made of ABS, high-quality master models using SLA technology, layouts. Once you have decided, you can begin to select the technology - but you need to remember that the quality of the model directly depends on the printing technology. For example, for printing jewelry rings, only stereolithography (SLA) is suitable, but for the production of prototypes, the much cheaper layer-by-layer deposition technology (FDM) may be sufficient.

5. Choosing the wrong material

If you want to use the printed model in a mechanism or in rigid external conditions(friction, shock, aggressive environment), then it would be reasonable to print it and ABS plastic. If you need to print a prototype, mock-up, or just something you like, it is better to use environmentally friendly PLA plastic. Therefore, before choosing a 3D printer, decide what tasks you plan to solve using 3D printing.

6. Choosing a budget 3D printer

There are more and more cheap 3D printers available these days. These are mainly analogues of MakerBot and other European companies. In general, they have low quality printing, and at a very inexpensive price (two or more times lower than worldwide famous brands 3D printers). Unfortunately, for the vast majority of them, after a few months of operation, the parts quickly wear out, and the print quality drops even more. In order to print high-quality models again, it is necessary to replace some of the main spare parts of the printer. You should also note the inconvenience of use and low-quality software, the lack of its own eco-system.

7. Pursuit of high quality

Many people are chasing high and ultra-high quality printing. The question is, is this quality needed specifically for your model? If you print models for jewelry, then the quality really must be the highest. But if you need to print a small case as a prototype to see what it will look like, 200 microns will be enough. You also need to remember that the higher the quality, the longer the model takes to print.

In general, we hope that we were able to clarify the difficult issue of choosing a 3D printer, because the right printer is the key to success, and simply the joy of creating something new right on your desk.

3D printer- a peripheral device for printing three-dimensional figures from a digital 3D model. Printing is performed by layer-by-layer formation of a volumetric physical object.

Areas of application of 3D printing:

• production of small items for household needs;
• small-scale production;
• creation of educational models and manuals;
• creation of design layouts and prototypes of future products;
• construction of structures;
• production of medical implants;
• creating clothes and shoes, jewelry, works of contemporary art and much more.

The 3D printer consists of the following components:

• frame;
• extruder - print head;
• extruder drive;
• printing platform - the surface on which the object is printed;
• control module;
• power unit.

Important: When choosing a 3D printer, pay attention to system requirements to your computer (processor frequency, RAM, video card with a certain amount of memory). Otherwise, the PC may not work correctly with the 3D printer programs.

Also consider the compatibility of the 3D printer with the OS version of your computer - Windows, macOS, Linux.

• Use the 3D printer in a well-ventilated area. It is advisable to stay as little as possible near the operating device.
• Buy supplies from reputable suppliers. Poor quality material is hazardous to health.
• Always follow safety precautions when using your 3D printer.

3D scanner

3D scanner- a peripheral device for creating a digital 3D model by analyzing a physical object. A 3D scanner produces the opposite effect of 3D printing on a printer. Such devices use laser or optical scanning. The first is suitable for processing static objects, the second is designed for scanning moving objects.

Contact- directly contact the three-dimensional object during scanning.

Advantages:

• high detail;
• independence from lighting;
• the ability to scan the prismatic part of a physical object.

Flaws:

• slow scanning process;
• the likelihood of damage to fragile objects.

Contactless- scan an object without physical contact with it. They can be passive or active.

Advantages:

• efficiency;
• Supports outdoor use.

Disadvantage: dependence on lighting.

Scanning accuracy

10-30 microns- high-precision instruments that produce the most accurate 3D models. Scope of application: scanning small objects with high detail (jewelry, device parts).

30-100 microns- devices general purpose, designed to solve most problems. Scope of application: scanning medium-sized objects (household items, clothing, shoes).

Below 100 µm- devices that are suitable for creating 3D models that do not require high precision. Scope of application - scanning of large objects (architecture, landscape, communications, large transport).

3D pen

3D pen- a tool for drawing a three-dimensional figure. Used to create jewelry, bracelets, cases, stands, and layouts.

"Hot"- miniature version of FDM printer. Material - plastic (ABS and PLA).

Advantages:

• extensive model range;
• convenient control;
• relatively low price;
• large number free stencils for drawing;
• high strength of the resulting products;
• large selection of 3D plastic in different colors.

Flaws:

• risk of burns when touching a hot nozzle or a newly created object (temperature - up to 230 ° C);
• Dependency on the network or device with a USB port.

"Cold"- a smaller version of the SLA printer. Material - liquid photopolymer.

Advantages:

• inability to get burned;
• autonomy (thanks to the battery);
• impressive design and convenient control;
• variety of photopolymers.

Flaws:

• high price;
• fragility ready-made figures;
• large sizes.

When choosing a 3D pen, pay attention to the following characteristics:

• 2 buttons - for comfortable adjustment of feed speed and temperature;
• LCD display - displays information about the operation of the device and a list of options;
• ergonomic body shape - for convenient use of the 3D handle;
• plastic thread diameter - most“hot” handles work with a plastic diameter of 1.75 mm. There are models using 2.85 mm thread.

Class

Household / amateur (desktop)- relatively cheap and compact models. In terms of printing speed and accuracy, they are significantly inferior to other classes of 3D printers. They are used to create small items and are not designed for mass production of parts and products.

Household models allow you to make parts, accessories and objects household items, create unusual souvenirs, children’s toys, “author’s” interior items, stationery and much more. You can print dishes, baskets, flower pots, combs, pipes, rulers, stencils, fasteners (bolts, washers, dowels), feeders and drinking bowls for pets.

Professional- differ from household 3D printers in higher printing speed and accuracy. Allows you to make large objects and are used in small-scale production, education, and design. Such devices are more expensive and take up more space than their household counterparts. However, there are professional 3D printers that are suitable for home use.

Professional models are designed for creating highly detailed objects (including mechanisms and jewelry). Using a professional 3D printer you can print high-quality souvenirs.

Industrial- unlike professional models, they are designed for high-precision serial production complex objects any sizes. They are characterized by high parameters of printing speed and accuracy, and wide functionality. These models have a very high price and large dimensions. Used in enterprises.

Execution

Open body- relatively cheap and compact device. Makes it possible to monitor the formation of the object and provides easy access to the extruder, which is dangerous for children and pets. Such a printer reduces print quality because it does not protect the product from splashes, drafts, and temperature changes that can deform it. A 3D printer is the best choice for your home.

Devices with an open body are suitable for printing products from PLA and PET.

Important: An open 3D printer does not protect against harmful plastic fumes. Therefore, be sure to ventilate the room.

Closed housing - a structure consisting of a door, walls and a lid (cap).

Advantages:

• high quality of the printed product, since the model is protected from external influences (important when making models from ABS);
• absence of unpleasant and toxic odor (especially when working with ABS);
• protection from accidental contact with a hot extruder (important if there are children and pets);
• low level noise from the fan.

Flaws:

• high price;
• large dimensions of the 3D printer.

Devices with a closed housing are more often used in industry.

Printing technology

FDM(PJP, FFF, layer-by-layer fusion) - the formation of a three-dimensional object from a plastic or metal thread. Household printers are equipped with one extruder, while industrial ones are equipped with 2 or more. Devices with similar technology are most common.

Advantages:

• relatively low cost of the printer and consumables;
• compactness and light weight of the printer;
• good quality printing;
• possibility of color printing;
• a relatively wide range of materials (plastic, tin, various alloys and even chocolate).

Flaws:

• low print speed;
• difficulty fixing an object on the desktop;
• the tendency of the product to shrink (reduction in the size of the object after cooling);
• many manufactured models require finishing;
• impossibility of creating large objects;
• a large amount of waste.

SLA(laser stereolithography) - a three-dimensional figure is formed from a liquid photopolymer that hardens under the influence of a laser.

Advantages:

• high printing accuracy;
• production of complex models with a large number small parts;
• the ability to obtain large and heavy products (150x75x55 cm, up to 150 kg);
• small amount of waste;
• ease of finishing (polishing), which in many cases is not required.

Flaws:

• high cost of the printer and consumables;
• low printing speed;
• significant weight and dimensions;
• low strength of created objects;
• limited range of materials;
• Color printing is not provided.

SLS(selective laser sintering) - the formation of a three-dimensional object from a powder material that melts under the influence of a laser.

Advantages:

• wide range of materials (plastic, metal, foundry wax, ceramics, glass);
• the ability to obtain complex objects;
• suitability for small-scale production;
• minimal finishing;
• more high speed printing than printers with SLA technology;
• unlike other technologies, it does not require supporting structures when printing products of complex configurations (the powder itself plays the role of support).

Flaws:

• you need a sealed chamber and a powerful laser;
• smaller size obtained objects than with SLA technology (up to 55x55x75 cm);
• the resulting products need finishing;
• lower printing accuracy compared to devices using SLA technology;
• unsuitable for work at home.

There are other 3D printing technologies: MJM (multi-jet modeling), LOM (layer-by-layer bonding of films), 3DP. Although they allow the production of multi-colored objects, they have limitations on the materials used.

In addition, the resulting products often require finishing and have low strength (LOM, 3DP). For these reasons, 3D printers with such technologies are not common.

Printing material (FDM)

ABS(acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) - has high impact resistance, resistance to moisture, oils, acids and alkalis. Easy to process and paint. ABS also provides high printing speed. At the same time, such material does not tolerate exposure to UV rays, exhibits significant heat shrinkage, and is not compatible with food.

ABS is the most common material for 3D printing. Printing temperature - 210-270 °C. The temperature range for using finished objects is from -40 to +90 °C.

ABS is suitable for the manufacture of the following products:

• parts designed for medium loads;
• decorative items;
• models and mock-ups of low accuracy;
• parts for cars, instrument housings;
• containers, stands.

ABS+- improved version of ABS. This plastic is stronger, less susceptible to heat shrinkage and has reduced temperature print. The result is higher quality products.

PLA(polyactide) - an environmentally friendly material, provides maximum printing accuracy and low heat shrinkage. Compared to ABS, PLA is less durable, harder to process, more sensitive to moisture, and more expensive. PLA is easier to print than ABS. This is a good choice for a beginner.

Printing temperature - 180-190 °C. The temperature range for using finished objects is from -40 to +50 °C.

PLA is suitable for the manufacture of the following products:

• children's toys;
• accurate layouts and models;
• medical products;
• food packaging and disposable tableware;
• decorative items that do not require additional processing.

Technical plastics- used to create products with certain performance characteristics. These include PET, PC, PBT and other materials. Technical plastics are used less frequently than ABS and PLA.

PET(polyester) - elastic, resistant to mechanical stress, heat-resistant. At the same time, PET is inferior in printing accuracy to ABS and PLA. Well suited for creating objects with an optimal balance of viscosity and strength. The temperature range for using finished objects is from -40 to +120 °C.

PC(polycarbonate) - stronger, harder and more accurate in printing, but less viscous. Used for the production of products designed for heavy loads. The temperature range for using finished objects is from -40 to +120 °C.

PBT(polybutylene terephthalate) - resistant to prolonged static loads and thermal aging, has good elasticity. The temperature range for using finished objects is from -50 to +160 °C.

Decorative plastics- intended for the production of decorative and arts and crafts products. In appearance, weight, and tactile sensations they resemble wood, bronze and other materials.

Decorative plastics include Laywood, BronzeFill and others. Laywood imitates wood, BronzeFill imitates bronze. The performance properties of these plastics are similar to PLA. The temperature range for using finished objects is -40 to +50 °C.

Auxiliary materials- used to create supporting structures necessary when printing objects of complex configuration. Once printing is completed, the support is removed. These include PVA (polyvinyl acetate), which is highly soluble in water, and HIPS (polystyrene), which is dissolved in Limonene (an organic solvent). Both materials are easily removed mechanically.

Print Resolution

This indicator determines the printing accuracy, which affects the quality of the manufactured model.

Horizontal (XY axes)- the minimum possible movement that the printer extruder makes along the layer on the X and Y axes. In devices with FDM printing technology, this characteristic depends on the positioning accuracy of the print head. Measured in micrometers (µm).

The lower the horizontal resolution, the higher the detail of the finished object. U budget devices this parameter is 30-50 microns; more advanced models can boast an accuracy of 20 and even 12 microns.

Vertical (Z axis)- the minimum height (thickness) of the layer that the printer creates per pass. In 3D printers with FDM printing technology, this parameter depends on the nozzle diameter. The lower the vertical resolution, the smoother the surface of the printed product. U inexpensive models this parameter does not exceed 200-300 microns; higher-class equipment produces up to 20 microns. The optimal parameter is 100 microns.

Print speed

This value indicates the speed at which the extruder moves while extruding the plastic filament. The print speed of FDM printers that print with plastic filament is measured in millimeters per second (mm/s). The higher this parameter, the faster the product will be formed. As printing speed increases, the cost of the printer increases.

Modern devices can print at speeds from 10 to 150 mm/s and more. For domestic needs, a speed of 20 mm/s is sufficient.

Important: printing speed is determined by the type of material and complexity of the product, as well as the number of extruders. Speed ​​contradicts printing accuracy: the higher the speed, the lower the accuracy and vice versa.

Print area

This indicator determines the maximum possible size of the printed object. The print area depends on the size of the print bed. The larger the platform, the higher the maximum dimensions of the model. At the same time, the price and size of a 3D printer are increasing.

The print area is measured in centimeters(cm) in three planes (XYZ). For example, 13x13x13 cm is the optimal size for making most products.

The small print area limits the ability to create large objects. In this case, it is worth printing the object in parts and then gluing it together. True, such a figure will be less durable than a solid product.

Nozzle diameter

The nozzle supplies heated plastic and prints the product. The smaller the nozzle diameter, the higher the accuracy of reproducing small details of the figure. At the same time, the printing time increases and a number of side effects(clogging of the nozzle, resulting in a “spreading” product).

Most 3D printers are equipped with a nozzle with a diameter of 0.3-0.5 mm. For 3D pens this parameter is usually 0.6 mm and above.

Number of print heads

Most often, 3D printers are equipped with a single print head. Some models have 2 and, less commonly, 3 heads, which significantly expand the capabilities of the device.

The second extruder allows you to print two products simultaneously, as well as produce two-color models or form the model and supporting structures from different materials(to save money). In addition, a second extruder will come in handy if the first one fails.

Number of print colors

1 (monocolor) - standard option, which is found in most 3D printers (they have one extruder). Monocolor printing is relatively inexpensive. The best option when the color scheme of the object does not matter.

2-3 (multicolor)- such printing allows you to create a multi-color object, which affects the cost of the printer and consumables. For two- or three-color printing, you need a 3D printer with a dual or triple extruder.

Types of multi-color printing:

• gradient- gives smooth transition one color to another;
• layered color- provides a sharp transition from one color to another;
• spot color- applies color to a specific part of the product;
• full color- applies a photographic level image to the object.

Print data source

Print data (digital 3D models) are transferred to the 3D printer from a PC, external storage devices, or stored in internal memory the printer itself.

These interfaces are used to connect to a computer.

• USB- wired connection providing high speed file transfer. Found in the vast majority of printers.
• WiFi - wireless communication. Gives you the opportunity to choose the location of the 3D printer, which will not always fit on the table. Minus - it takes longer to transfer data.

Ethernet and Wi-Fi interfaces are used to connect to the local network.

External drives - eliminate the need to connect the 3D printer to the PC. These include:

• memory card- connects via SD slot;
• USB flash drive- connects via USB port.

Internal memory- makes the 3D printer independent of the PC and external drives. Saves the print job and allows you to work with the printer when the PC is turned off or the USB cable is disconnected.

Nutrition

From the network - classic version, which occurs most often. The mains powers 3D printers, most 3D scanners, and many 3D hot pens. For the latter, this solution is more of a disadvantage than an advantage, since it hampers the user’s movements due to the limited cable length.

Via USB- typical for 3D pens and some 3D scanners. Pens with this power supply are also limited by the length of the cord as models powered by the mains.

Battery- used in “cold” 3D pens. Provides complete freedom of movement when working with the handle.

Functions

Adjusting the Print Speed- allows you to change the printing speed. Thus, you can get a finished object faster, sacrificing its detail.

Temperature adjustment- allows you to change the temperature depending on the characteristics of the material.

Auto shutdown- automatic shutdown of the device during prolonged inactivity. This feature saves energy.

Equipment

Display- displays information about the operation of the 3D printer (heating temperature of the printing platform and nozzle, continuous printing time of the extruder, etc.). Makes it easier to work with the device.

Heating of the printing platform- needed when working with ABS, PC, HIPS and other materials that give significant heat shrinkage. If you print without heating the platform, the finished product will decrease in size and become deformed. In addition, the object may delaminate. To make a model from ABS, the temperature of the printing platform should be 100-110 °C. This option is not required for PLA printing.

Removable glass platform- gives a flat print surface and allows you to easily remove the finished product.

Automatic platform calibration - automatic adjustment height and level of the printing platform under specific task. Simplifies the operation of the 3D printer and ensures uniform formation of the object.

Spatula- used to remove the finished product from the printing platform.

Brush- used for finishing processing of the finished object.

Tweezers- serve for cleaning the 3D printer nozzle and finishing the resulting figure.

Hex keys- used for printer maintenance. Many printers require assembly - in this case, hex keys are also useful.

Also, many 3D printers provide the ability to remotely control printing. And to monitor the operation of the device there is a webcam.

Volumetric 3D printing of a material object based on its three-dimensional computer model is a unique technology of our time, which has great prospects in the future. Until recently, devices using it seemed like science fiction, but today they have become a reality and have become available even for home use. Although the cost of 3D printers is still high, and exceeds the price of other computer devices, they are finding increasing practical use not only for applied creativity, but also for various areas of business. The constant development and improvement of this technology has already led to the creation of industrial devices. Which one should you choose?

What is a 3D printer and its purpose?

A computer peripheral device that is digitally volumetric model creates a material object by layer-by-layer application of quickly hardening material, called a 3D printer. To operate such a device, a three-dimensional computer model is required, made in any of the 3D editors or obtained on a 3D scanner. Today there are several varieties, depending on the technology used:

• FDM and DIW 3D printers that use the extrusion method, based on forcing molten material through a thin hole in a special device called an extruder (in the first type of printers, thermoplastic heated to the melting limit is applied layer by layer to the cooled surface of the platform, and in the second type, ceramic sludge is applied, which called ink, thick ceramic slurry may be used in large architectural models);

  3D printers using extrusion technology (FDM) produce a model by laying molten plastic layer-by-layer, extruded through an extruder. The print head moves along the X and Y axes, and the print bed moves down the Z axis

• SLA-DLP type printers that use the photopolymerization method, in which a liquid photopolymer is used, and each layer is hardened by exposure to an ultraviolet laser;

  In 3D printers built on SLA technology, the product is formed in a vat filled with photopolymer resin. Under the action of UV laser radiation acting on a thin layer of resin, it hardens and the base falls down to the thickness of the next layer

• printers in which, to create a three-dimensional material object, an aligned layer of powder is used, bonded layer by layer using various methods, by applying glue using inkjet printing (3DP printers) or melting it with an electron beam in a vacuum (EBM), laser radiation (SLS or DMLS, depending depending on the type of powder) and heating head (SHS);
• EBF 3D printers, which use wire that melts under the influence of electronic radiation to produce a material model;
• printers built on the principle of lamination, or layer-by-layer application of film, in each layer of which the outline of the part is cut out with a special cutter or laser;
• printers with a point supply of powder melted by laser or electronic radiation;
• devices operating using the multi-jet modeling (MJM) method, when a quickly hardening material is applied by inkjet printing;
• bioprinters are innovative peripheral computer devices that are just beginning to be implemented; they use cells of a living organism to form internal organs, and in the future they will be able to create full-fledged material for transplantology (there are already cases of successful manufacturing and transplantation of a jaw for a human and a thyroid gland for a laboratory mouse) .

Video: how the mechanism works

The possibilities for such a unique peripheral computer device are almost unlimited. Today it is already used for the following purposes:

• rapid creation of accurate layouts in architectural design, design of various mechanisms and machines, as well as in interior and landscape design in order to finalize the project and present it to the customer;
• production of any parts of complex shape for single or small-scale production, as well as spare parts for the repair of various devices;
• making models and molds for casting, including the creation of jewelry;
• construction of buildings and structures of any complexity, for which they use special devices resembling a tower crane, which instead of cables has lines for supplying liquid concrete (such a device allows you to erect 1 floor in 10 hours, which significantly reduces construction time);
• creation of prosthetics and internal organs for transplantation in medicine;
• production of prototypes of complex devices for visual aids educational institutions;
• creation of geographic information systems, which are a three-dimensional map of the area in color, with an accurate display of the relief;
• production of household items, various accessories and items for interior decoration;
• development of packaging and container layouts for marketing purposes;
• production of housings for experimental equipment - cars, automation systems and various electronic devices;
• production of advertising and souvenir products;
• production of exclusive clothing and shoes according to the figure and dimensions of a specific client, obtained by 3D scanning.

This list clearly demonstrates the prospects for the use of 3D printers and their demand in the most different areas human activity.

How to choose: parameters to pay attention to

When buying any complex device, you need to clearly define for yourself the purposes for which you are going to use it. This will determine which operating parameters suit you best. Considering that such a peripheral device is not cheap, you should select it most carefully, taking into account all the operating parameters, so as not to regret the purchase later.

First of all, you need to decide on the type of printer based on the 3D printing technology used. The most popular and affordable models today for home use or small business are:

• FDM printers using plastic polymer filament as material various types, and having fairly good print quality and the lowest price;
• SLA devices based on photopolymers, which have higher print quality and price, ideal for the production of jewelry;
• the most expensive of the peripheral devices in this group are SLS-type devices that melt powder with a laser; it is impractical to buy them for the home, and they can only be suitable for business, due to their high cost (up to 30 thousand dollars).

Among the main selection criteria are the following:

1. The type of material used for printing. When choosing a 3D printer, you need to take into account that consumables for FMD type devices will be cheaper than for SLA printers. For those who decide to purchase an FDM printer, there is a large selection of plastics of different colors and types (PLA, ABS, HIPS, PVA and others), but polymer filament made from PLA plastic would be ideal for beginners, since this material is easier to use, and products made from it are perfectly even and smooth. Those who choose an SLA 3D printer will have to purchase more expensive material in the form of photopolymer resins. For non-professional printer models, it is best to buy photopolymer from the Vera, Somos or Tanga series, which are characterized by transparency, high strength, heat resistance and plastic stability.
2. Printing accuracy. It is higher for SLA printers. The accuracy of model reproduction in extrusion-type devices largely depends on the thickness of the layer that is laid by the printer during printing. This means that the thinner the extruder nozzle hole, the higher the clarity of reproduction of the digital model in a material object. Today, printer models are produced with different nozzle opening diameters from 0.1 to 0.4 mm. At the same time, you need to understand that the smaller the extruder nozzle hole, the more time it will take to make the model. Here everyone must choose for themselves what is more important to them - the accuracy of displaying a 3D model or the speed of printing.
3. The print area that determines the maximum size of an object that can be printed by this printer. It is, of course, possible to produce larger objects, but only in parts, gluing them with special glue. To do this, using the 123D Make program, the digital model is divided into separate parts. But, if you don’t want to do gluing, then when choosing a printer, compare the desired dimensions of the produced layouts with the printing area of ​​a particular model.
4. Design features. What matters here is whether it is open or closed, and what materials the body and supporting elements are made of. These factors most influence the rigidity of the entire structure, on which the speed of movement of the print head depends, as well as the ability of the supporting parts of the device to dampen vibrations and vibrations from several electric motors responsible for moving the printer head along all three axes (X, Y and Z) and its table along the Z axis. The body made of wood may seem too budget option, but it absorbs vibrations very well. Supporting structures made of aluminum or steel will be stronger and more durable. It is better to buy SLA printers with a well-ventilated working chamber, which will facilitate faster curing of the photopolymer. And for FDM type devices, especially when working with ABS plastic or nylon, which have high degree shrinkage during rapid cooling, it is better to purchase a 3D printer with a closed body and lining of the working area.
5. Availability of auxiliary software. 3D printers are high-tech computer devices that require special programs. First of all, the 3D printer must recognize and be able to read all 3D editors and various formats data entry. The latter include the STL and X3D languages, as well as the VRML standard. There are many auxiliary programs that allow you to perform a wide variety of actions to prepare for printing and create a material model. These are, for example, slicer programs that allow you to cut an object into pieces for printing in parts (Kissslicer or Cura) or the 123D Catch program, designed to work with cloud service, and allows you to obtain a three-dimensional digital model of an object from its photographs taken from different angles. The availability of support programs supplied by the printer manufacturer makes working with such technically complex devices much easier. And this fact should also be taken into account when choosing them.

The Best 3D Printers for Small Businesses

Volumetric printing using 3D printers is the most promising area for small businesses today. With the help of these computer devices, which do not require too large financial investments, as for industrial printers, it is possible to establish small-scale production of various goods.

Of the wide variety of printers on the market for these purposes, models that meet the following criteria are most suitable:

• the print quality must be quite high in order to create unique and realistic models that are interesting for sale, which immediately excludes relatively cheap printers costing up to $1000 from the choice;
• It is desirable that the printer be adapted for color printing (FDM, DIW, 3DP or EBF printers), which will save time on coloring the product in small-scale production;
• the device must support work with at least two main types of plastics (PLA AND ABS), which will expand the possibilities of its use and allow the production of products for children (PLA plastic is intended specifically for children's products);
• the price of consumables used by the 3D printer must ensure an acceptable cost of finished products, sufficient for a normal level of business profitability;
• the size of the working chamber must correspond to the dimensions of the models intended for production, while it should be taken into account that printers with a larger printing area will cost more.

In any case, the choice of printer will depend on what type of business you intend to do. For the production of small crafts, extrusion-type devices are suitable, and for the production of jewelry or dentures, more expensive photopolymer printers are suitable. The most suitable models for small businesses include the following models:

• Flashforge Creator Dual, with a working chamber volume of 5.2 liters and two extruders, the printer supports work with three types of plastics - ABS, PLA, PVA and has a printing accuracy of 0.1 mm;
• 3Dison pro AER from Korean company Rokit, with a working space volume of 15.3 liters, capable of working with 50 materials, having a high printing speed (up to 1000 mm/sec) and a layer thickness of 0.025 mm;
• stereolithography 3D printer type SLA model

  Pico 2 from Asiga, an ideal choice for those who decide to go into jewelry making or dental care, the device is powered by a solid-state LED ultraviolet light source.

Which device to choose for your home

Considering yet high cost peripheral computer devices for 3D printing, it is unlikely to be advisable to buy for home use an overly expensive and sophisticated 3D printer costing 5 - 10 thousand dollars or more. A device priced from $500 to $3,000 will be sufficient. It all depends on the buyer’s demands on print quality and his financial capabilities.

It is best if a 3D printer for home has simple and intuitive controls, a user-friendly interface and an ideal price-quality ratio. All printers in demand today for home use can be divided into the following groups according to price categories:

• budget models, the most affordable of this type of device, priced from 300 to 1 thousand dollars;
• mid-range printers ($1–1.5 thousand);
• quite a high-end device at an affordable price from 1.5 to 3 thousand dollars.

Among the most popular printers for 3D printing are the following models:

• Printrbot Simple, costing $300, which refers to extrusion printers (FMD), and is sold unassembled - self-assembly device will help you better understand its design and understand the operating principle of this equipment;
• Kino XYZ printing da Vinci 1.0- This new printer Taiwanese company XYZ printing, which has high resolution printing comparable to more expensive devices - 0.1 mm, its cost is about $500 (the work uses the technology of layer-by-layer deposition of molten plastic - FDM);
• Cubify CubeX, related to the average price segment, with a cost of $1300, and characterized by high printing quality and the speed of creating a large model, this printer is available in three design options - with 1, 2 and 3 extruders, which allows you to obtain color layouts computer models, can connect to a computer via a USB connection or Wi-Fi module.
• Afinia H-Series H479 having high accuracy printing (0.15 - 0.4 mm), convenient software that works with inexpensive filament made of ABS plastic of decent quality, such a device costs 1.5 thousand dollars.

Rating of the best 3D printers

The world's most famous expert in the field of 3D printing is the foreign portal 3D Hubs, which regularly ranks the best models of printing peripherals in various categories. According to this online resource, the following 3D printer models were named the best in 2017:

1. Original Prusa i3 MK2 produced by the Czech company Prusa Research. This printer is intended for electronics enthusiasts who are new to 3D printing and can assemble it themselves from components since it is sold unassembled. The device is an FDM type extrusion model and supports work with 15 types of plastic, including ABS and PLA, Carbon and Nylon, HIPS and FilaFlex, Bamboofill, Laybrick and others. This model can use up to 4 different materials simultaneously. It has an integrated Z-axis and a heating table with a printing surface made of PEI plastic. A printer of this model has a fairly large print area with dimensions of 250 x 210 x 200 mm, a minimum thickness of the laid plastic layer of 0.05 mm and a printing speed of 40 - 60 mm per second.
2. BCN3D Sigma R17 (Release 2017). This 3D printer model, released by the Spanish company BCN3D Technologies, is a continuation of the Sigma line of 3D printing devices that is popular all over the world. The new model uses an independent dual extruder, which avoids deformation when changing the color of products, and also simultaneously prints two identical layouts. The upgraded device uses a new cooling system and updated microchip technology that controls power. All this allowed us to make the printer operate more silently. Sigma R17 has a high printing accuracy of 0.125 mm and a layout area measuring 297 x 210 x 210 mm. The work uses plastic filament from the following polymers ABS, PLA, HIPS, PET and Exotics, which the extruder extrudes with a minimum layer thickness of 0.05 mm.
3. Formlabs Form 2 - stereolithography (SLA) 3D printer produced by American company Formlabs, equipped with a powerful laser, touch display and Wi-Fi module. The device has a print area of ​​145 x 145 x 175 mm and a layer thickness of 0.025 - 0.1 mm. This printer runs on liquid photopolymers and accepts resins from other manufacturers. It is equipped with a heated platform and a built-in control panel.
4. PowerSpec 3D Pro. This model is made in China and belongs to price category budget 3D printers. His distinctive features are strength, high printing speed and the presence of a dual extruder in the design, which is rare for inexpensive models. 3D Pro supports three types of plastics (PLA, ABS and PVA) and has high printing accuracy. The thickness of the laid layer is 0.1 - 0.3 mm.
5. OrdBot Hadron. This printer is manufactured by ORD Solutions from Canada. The model is a mechanical 3D printing platform made of aluminum. It has high rigidity, reliability and printing speed (400 mm/s). The principle of its operation is based on FDM technology. The device supports work with two types of plastics - ABS and PLA, and has a print area measuring 190 x 190 x 150 mm. The design of this printer provides the ability to connect a second extruder, servo drive, LCD screen and other equipment, which can significantly upgrade the device after its purchase.

Three-dimensional 3D printing technologies are just beginning to conquer the computer market, and the cost of printers for translating a digital model into a material object is still quite high. But these technologies are the future, and 3D printers will probably soon appear in every home, becoming an everyday addition to a computer. Already today, many models have become accessible to people with average incomes, and are widely used not only in small businesses, but also in everyday life. Using the recommendations outlined above, you can easily choose the right printer for home use or your own small business.

For a long time now, anyone can independently print any texts, photographs and even paintings at home. New are 3D printers, which, as their manufacturers promise, are capable of creating from thin layers of plastic almost any object the size of a walnut to a coconut.

If you have enough creativity and an inventive spirit, a 3D printer will open up endless possibilities for your home workshop. However, there are still quite a lot of problems associated with this young technology. To make your choice easier, we have collected some of the most interesting devices new type at the CHIP technical center and checked how they fulfill the “promises” of their creators.

You can purchase some of the presented printers from distributors or order them for delivery by mail. However, it should be borne in mind that then their price will be higher due to customs duties. The easiest devices to put into operation are those that are sold already assembled - MakerBot, Sintermask, Pearl and iRapid. The Ultimaker is shipped either partially assembled or as a collection of parts that required an experienced CHIP test center engineer to assemble as much as 16 hours of work. Velleman K8200 is sold as a complex kit only individual components, requiring 24 hours of assembly.

Most devices have problems that affect print quality. Thus, the Ultimaker has long guides, and their fastenings become loose during printing. The Velleman printer motor is not level (photo on the right), and the ribbed stand needs to be covered with a glass plate. The MakerBot sold assembled has a loose controller unit - however, this, fortunately, does not affect the printing result. The appearance of the devices varies: from the bare aluminum stands of the Velleman printer to the powerful plywood case of the Ultimaker or the neat plastic box of the Pearl.

Differences in daily work

3D printing technology has not been around for very long. This explains why working with the devices is relatively complex. Before each job, the user should check and adjust the printing platform on which the finished items appear. After the first - inevitably unsuccessful - attempts, it is necessary to optimize the print settings. Some little things are very useful. So, MakerBot has only three adjustment screws, automatically adjusts the print head to the correct position and displays the necessary instructions on the display - all this makes calibration much easier.

The Pearl and Fabbster models are also quite easy to adjust. With other devices that have four screws and require manual debugging of calibration points, sometimes you have to tinker for half an hour until everything is configured correctly. Quite annoying for the Ultimaker, which often requires additional careful adjustment of its spring-loaded base.

Refilling with print material is very simple on almost all of the printers tested. They use spools of plastic thread, the thickness of which is approximately 2 mm. The fiber is threaded through a guide tube, inserted into a feed mechanism, and finally fed into the print head. The only exception is Fabbster with its short polymer rods, which need to be loaded one at a time, and this is somewhat more labor-intensive. In addition, during printing, the material feed is often unreliable and interrupted. But such filigree products as our chess piece (see table below) only benefit from the fact that the notches on the rods allow the material to be dosed more accurately.

In terms of control, all the 3D printers reviewed are equipped in a spartan manner: none of the test participants have more than five buttons and one low-resolution LCD display. However, most settings can only be set using the printer management program on a PC. 3D model, which the user downloads from the Internet or creates himself using a CAD application, is first imported into the utility that comes with the device. From the 3D model, the software generates a task to control the printer. To do this, the user needs to set various printing parameters. The print quality setting determines the number of horizontal layers (slices) into which the program should decompose the model.

In addition, the application specifies the creation of supports for hanging elements and the density of filling voids. The utilities for MakerBot and Ultimaker turned out to be simple but quite functional. Open program Source called RepetierHost, which is used by the creators of Velleman and iRapid devices, has many settings, but requires known skills to work with it. The Pearl printer software is not clear enough, and it also works extremely slowly when recalculating layers - especially when you need to prepare and print several objects at once.

Quality, print speed and noise

To transfer a print job to the printer, it is most convenient to save it on an SD memory card. The fact is that due to the noise and smell that are inevitable during operation, the 3D printer should be kept in a separate, well-ventilated room, usually far from the computer. Cards are read by all devices except Velleman and iRapid - you can use them USB ports. Once printing begins, each printer first warms up its extrusion nozzle on the print head, this can take anywhere from two (Ultimaker) to a good ten (Velleman) minutes.

Then the actual process of work begins - with more (Pearl) or less (Velleman) loud sounds. In an optimal scenario, a small item will be ready in ten to twenty minutes, but a large item can take several hours unless the printing is interrupted (in the initial stage of our testing, this happened in half of all cases). Possible reasons errors are varied. Most often, the item becomes deformed and comes loose. As a rule, this happens with printers whose platform is not heated. If an object is complex and does not have enough supporting structures, it may settle inward. In both cases, the extruder continues to print "in the void", causing the loose filament to become tangled. An air bubble or clogged nozzle can stop the material from flowing. Only careful preparation helps to avoid printing errors. Before working with large items, you should adjust the print bed, check that the material is feeding correctly, and clean the extrusion nozzle.

If you master all these operations perfectly and learn, like an experienced craftsman, to make optimal settings for each printed object, you can reduce the number of errors by up to 20%. The material used in most printers is PLA plastic. This substance, made from lactic acid, melts at a temperature of 150 to 160 °C. Because it tends to stretch with filaments, the voids in printed items are often not as clean as when using the alternative ABS material.

The latter has a higher melting point - from 220 to 250 °C - and due to the greater difference with the room temperature, printed objects are more likely to deform. Therefore, a printer working with ABS plastic must have a heated print bed. It will maintain the temperature of the created object until it is ready and can cool evenly.

Test results

MakerBot Replicator 2 works the most reliably and efficiently. In addition, its parts are distinguished by very careful processing. By the way, in preparation given number There was news about the release of two new models of this printer. The price of the miniature Replicator Mini (99x99x124 mm) in the USA is $1375. A professional model that can work without a PC, called Z18, allows you to print products up to 45 cm in height.

For experienced users, the Ultimaker is quite suitable. This is a fast and good printer, however, it requires regular additional settings. Recently, its updated model, Ultimaker 2, appeared. With the same dimensions, it can print a larger object. Pearl is a real winner for beginners: it doesn't require much preparation and produces a rough but acceptable print.