Good day all,
I thought I would start a clean thread with a slightly more educated shortlist on a printer for our needs, it needs to have a large build volume, preferably at least 30cm x 30cm x30cm, budget is under £10k ($15k). I would like to whittle this list down to 2-3 with your help.
Wanhao Duplicator 5 - $2400 – 300mm x 200mm x 580mm - http://3d-printers.ireviews.com/wanhao-duplicator-5-review
Leapfrog Creatr XL - $5600 – 220mm x 270mm x 600mm - http://www.amazon.com/Leapfrog-Assembled-Dimensions-Resolution-Laybrick/dp/B00JXOMHIC
Fusion3 F306 - $3975 - 305mm x 305mm x 305mm - http://www.amazon.com/Fusion3-Commercial-Printer-Extruder-Warranty/dp/B00SHYXSSM
MakePi M4141 - $11,000 - 410mm x 410mm x 410mm - http://3dfilamenta.com/3d-printers/241-makerpi-m4141-3d-printer.html
Type A Machines Series 1 - $2749 – 305mm x 305mm x 305mm - https://www.3dhubs.com/3d-printers/type-machines-series-1
3DP1000 - $17,000 – 1m x 1m 0.5m - http://3dpunlimited.com/printer-options-specifications/
Gigabot - $12,000 – 600mm x 600mm x 600mm - http://www.re3d.org/gigabot/
CSP Deltawasp - $7500 – 400mm x 400mm x 600mm - http://3d-printers.ireviews.com/csp-deltawasp-40x60-review
Prusa 13v – $650 - 300mm x 300mm x 350mm - http://www.makerfarm.com/index.php/3d-printer-kits/prusa-12-i3v-kit-v-slot-extrusion.html
One query, suppose I wanted to print some of the typical work shown with a Wanhao Duplicator 5 or the Creatr XL would I have to rotate the model 90 degrees so that it renders it length ways where this kind of printer has the larger build volume, if it’s printing buildings for example that have been rotated 90 degrees will they have enough support? If that’s not well explained please let me know and I’ll post an image.
I have attached a sample of typical work we’d need to produce and also a not so typical piece of work which is the print with the tree forms, though we often do organic forms so we might need to print all sorts of forms. Am I right in thinking that an FDM printer might have issues with overhangs/undercuts or is that more to do with the skills of the person working on the mesh/printer?
Outer dimensions 300mm x 300mm
Largest tree form 300mm high
Thanks all for your help, I’ve learnt a lot here already.
Martin