Hi I am looking for a professional outfit who can print high quality output in Polycarbonate material.
You must be based in the US, preferably on the east coast Florida.
I look forward to feedback.
Thank you, Rob.
2 Likes
@RobGeyer if you search â3dhubs.com: polycarbonateâ it will result in all Hubs who are using this material. The closest searches seem to be @MakeSpace in Salt Lake City and @Martin_47 in Pittsburgh. Hope it helps!
Hi Gabriela, thank you, I will go and check out the sites.
I have the ability to print in polycarbonate, I just donât keep anyone on hand. High quality is a relative term (I canât stand how 3d hubs âratesâ printing). What are you trying to print?
Hi thank you for responding to my post. My name is Rob Geyer. I am the enclosure designer on a team producing a medical device. We need the prototype produced using 3D printing, with a view to produce limit production runs down the line. For now we are looking for a potential service provider who we can work with. The enclosure size is going to be produced in one piece, and therefore will need a machine that can achieve this. In addition while Polycarbonate is currently our choice of material, this can possibly change based on FDA regulations. We will need you to sign a NDA before any drawing material can be released for assessment. Based on your response, I will follow up accordingly.
all the best, Rob Geyer.
Ok, If you have dimensions I can tell you if it fits my printer. But I can sign a NDA; ether in person or by using a notary. Based on your FDA requirement I would suggest looking into some of the taulman nylons, they have FDA approval on some of the materials. How to Choose!
Does your enclosure need to be clear? (one the usual choices for choosing polycarbonate) I hear that in high humidity areas the prints do not stay clear but turn a milky color.
In your first post you state you need a professional outfit, do you mean you must work with someone with a business license?
Hi Marvin, thank you for your feedback. Currently we are reviewing three possible companyâs. If we are unable to find a suitable match for our project, then I will contact you for further information. Thank you for your time, and I will keep your information for future reference.
All my best, Rob
Here is a Microscope close up of my print of marvin to show my printing quality, notice solid layer bonding. I can also mail out a sample print.
Hi, my apologies. I mistook your name for Marvin. I am not familiar with the 3D hubs site, and was referred to it by Shapeways while researching potential companies for printing our prototype, and did not realize Marvin was a mascot of sorts. I donât believe you have given your name in any of our correspondence. Thank you for the image of the microscopic view of your product. What material is shown?
All the best, Rob.
Sorry about that! My name is Bobby Willhite, pleased to meet you. Did not realize my name doesnât show on here. I do not use 3d hubs very much either, But I take a special interest in the Jacksonville hub page, our city has a great economy and the 3d print industry is ready to boom here.
The material shown is clear ABS plastic, one of the harder to print materials due to warping. Polycarbonate has this same issue, another reason I had suggested looking into nylon. But of course I donât know the application so I canât make that choice. But as a printing enthusiasts I only want to spread information. Another thing about both materials, they are hydroscopic so having a way to remove moisture from the filament before printing is very important especially here in Florida.
My print operation is currently at a enthusiast level, my main goal is to satisfy anyone who orders through me. Fortunately I have had no issue delivering that, this is why I asked about the business license before. My next goal is a store front, and Iâm getting close to that goal. If needed I have plenty of references I can provide, unfortunately 3d hubs doesnât have a very large market so most of my work has been done locally and on ebay.
Thank you for your consideration,
Bobby Willhite
Also, if FDA approved material is important for a project you MUST take chemical leeching into consideration. Almost no âoff the shelfâ printers have a completely stainless steel extruder. If you take your FDA approved polycarbonate and run it through an extruder with a PTFE feed shaft and brass nozzle, what comes out the other end is technically not food and certainly not medical grade anymore. When I print FDA materials I make sure they only touch sterilized stainless steel.
When you start getting into what I call the âfunctional materialsâ (nylons, polycarbonate, PEEK, iglide, etcâŚ) the level of equipment and expertise required can be substantial. Assuming the equipment can get hot enough (without self destructing), challenges like warping, layer adhesion, and the tendency for many of these materials (especially polycarbonate) to absorb tiny amounts of water can require a lot of experience (and banning your head against the wall) to reliably overcome, especially to achieve the same detail/quality that is easy(relatively) with âhobbyâ materials like ABS and PLA. For me, this is where real 3d printing STARTS.
99% of my printing is prototyping or things made to function without compromise (like printing more printers for example). This means I print âfunctional materialsâ almost exclusively unless for mockup or sizing purposes. I have already been in contact with Mr. Geyer, but if anyone else needs such services or if you are a fellow âmakerâ at any level who wants to talk shop, Iâm more than happy to help or answer any questions. I love talking about this stuffâŚ
-Jesse
1 Like
Hi Bobby, good to make your acquaintance. You are currently on my shortlist, and will get hold of you if needed.
All the best, Rob.
mandyh
14
Hi Jesse, I just joined the site here, ran across your comment in the Orlando talk and wanted to reach out to you. We are a professional 3D solutions company in the Orlando area. We are also resellers of equipment for 3D scanners, 3D printers and software. We represent Creaform scanners, Steinbichler scanners, Geomagic software/scanners and Stratasys 3D printers. We utilize the polyjet technology in our service bureau and own a Connex 350 as well as an Objet 30pro. We offer multi-material capability with rubber-like materials in varying durometers. We can also offer clear material options. On the scanning side, we offer reverse engineering and inspection either with parts shipped to us or onsite. I would appreciate the opportunity to provide a quote for any of your needs for printing or scanning services. Our website is www.3dscanningservices.net. Check out our product offerings.
Feel free to contact me. Have a good day! Mandy Howard, Account Manager / Service Bureau
mandyh
15
Rob,
We are a 3D printing service bureau based in the Orlando area. We have multiple technologies for 3D printing including printers from Stratasys (Connex 260) prints in clear, ABS and polypropylene materials, Markforged MetalX, OnyxPro and X3 printers that print in Stainless and Chopped Carbon Fiber materials and the 3D Systems Projet printer which offers Nylon materials. I would be happy to provide a quote with any of these printers with your CAD model. Feel free to contact me directly. My contact information is below.
âKind Regards,
Mandy Howard | Account Manager
3D Scanning & 3D Printing Service Bureau
NeoMetrix Technologies, Inc.
55 Skyline Drive, Suite 2700, Lake Mary, FL 32746
Cell: (407) 432-8453
www.3dscanningservices.net](http://www.3dscanningservices.net/
