Which SLA Printer should I opt for?

TDEprinting · 2017-07-13T14:34:42.000Z

I have tried many prosumer machines like Pegasus , formlabs and the some of those ultra cheap dlp printers. In my experience you get what you pay for. The cheap dlp can work but will require a lot of tinkering both with the machine and software. Pegasus had awful customer support but it did work although not very well. I eventually landed on a form1+ and have had the most consistent results. The cost of resin is not too high considering high end machine resin cost. You will have to decide your level of involvement, do you want to click and print or do you want to tinker.

Yashua · 2017-07-13T14:53:36.000Z

My form 2 has never failed, i don’t know if it’s just a lucky machine but I’ve printed hundreds of small objects without a single failure! I haven’t received my Moai yet but that’s the other very promising printer we’ve got recently https://peopoly.net/

CusPro · 2017-07-13T14:58:27.000Z

If you on the market for larger commercial SLA printers we could help you with it.

We run and distribute two very good brands of this type of machines namely ZRapid and Raplas.

Please check them out and let me know if this would be of of your interest.

cobnut · 2017-07-13T15:09:59.000Z

In common with, it seems, pretty much all the other replies, I’d say that if you want a reliable machine that’ll produce great quality prints, then the Form 2 is the way to go. Yes, resin and tanks (don’t forget the tanks) are expensive, but you do get what you pay for. One of the least commented aspects of the Form 2 is the simplicity of setting up prints. If you’re used to FDM it’s a dream, you choose the resin you’re going to use (and the machine will check it’s loaded with the right one and the right tray), choose a height, and you’re done. No mucking about with temperatures, extrusion rates, cooling, etc. etc. Formlabs has already done it all.

Although it’s a lot of fun to have your own machine, if quality is important you may simply want to stick with using 3DHubs Hubs. You can get a lot of SLA printing done for the price of a Form 2 and a reasonable collection of resins and tanks…

3dzillait · 2017-07-13T15:56:30.000Z

I have a printer form1 + I bought it well and printed well with non-original resins as fun to do just that if you are not in warranty and you have a problem asking you to ship it in united states and a $ 800 expense to repair it then $ 800 buy 2 whanao logically the printing area and less but the expense and proportionate

rhbruning · 2017-07-13T16:56:04.000Z

1) If you are OK with the Formlabs Form 2 cost, great – it’s a good printer and a good company. I have a From 1+. I’m not sure what you mean, but the Form 2 is SLA (stereolithography) which uses a laser to harden the photopolymer resin. A DLP (digital light processor) based printer uses a projected image to harden an entire photopolymer layer at a time.

2) Yes, Formlabs Form 2 will work with 3rd party resins. You may need to experiment with settings, but it is specifically mentioned as a feature of the Form 2.

3) I suggest you watch YouTube review videos to help you choose. The Formlabs Form 2 has had excellent reviews of performance. The D7, not so much. Look foremost for failure rate – if at any time a print fails, you are starting from scratch. So far in my research the Form 2 is the most reliable. The other brands not so much. Other things to look for are print time, resolution, build volume and 3rd party resin compatibility – the importance of these are based on you intended use.

Chinmoy · 2017-07-14T09:27:03.000Z

Hi Joushuah, thanks for the reply. Sprintray is a bit out of my budget and work on Windows 10.

Since consistency is the key, … what are your thoughts and experince on Flash forge Hunter. They claim that they have in house projector. I stay in India so Form 2 and Hunter are priced the same. Which one would you suggest?

Chinmoy · 2017-07-14T09:30:44.000Z

Hi, thanks for the reply

since you have any extensive hands on experince, can you tell me the difference between an SLA Resin and a DPL Resin. Price wise they both are at par.

Chinmoy · 2017-07-14T09:36:21.000Z

Thanks Yashua,

I’m ever learning more …

Chinmoy · 2017-07-14T09:44:01.000Z

Hi,

Thnx for the reply. Been on youtube and saw many reviews for D7.

Well this would be my first of a kind SLA Printer (or DLP Printer… not yet decided).

So I might as well as go for Plug and Play Printer. D7 may be promising but in India I’m paying almost double for what I buy for the liquid resin… (may be Resins dear to me next to Gold…). So i guess have have to use the Resin wisely. May be in future I might give it a try…

Chinmoy · 2017-07-14T09:46:35.000Z

Hi, thnx for the reply.

What are your thoughts on Flashforge Hunter?

Chinmoy · 2017-07-14T09:48:00.000Z

Hey, thnxs for the reply

Chinmoy · 2017-07-14T09:49:22.000Z

Hi,

Thnx for the reply…

Chinmoy · 2017-07-14T10:03:35.000Z

Hey David, Thanks for the reply.

Yess!!! what you say is true about the FDMs.

I think its for XYZ Nobel 1.0 A which seems to accept only the cartrige made by the company. Wont accept 3rd party as each container has got a chip, so each container can only be used once. Dont know… may be its for other printer… (right now its mostly PRINTER overload) will check on it later and confirm

Chinmoy · 2017-07-14T10:04:30.000Z

Hey thnx… I will check the ones recommended by you too…

Yashua · 2017-07-14T14:52:35.000Z

https://formlabs.com/blog/3d-printing-technology-comparison-sla-dlp/ I’m sorry i don’t know much about the hunter but DLP printers are nothing new, Form 2 has a laser people can debate it all day but if you put them at the same price you need a laser.

Chinmoy · 2017-07-14T14:57:09.000Z

Thanx man. Much appreciated

PlastiPrint3D · 2017-07-17T07:58:50.000Z

Not sure where you are based but I’m selling our form 1+ after upgrading on ebay atm http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/272761392441?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&\_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

wirlybird · 2017-07-18T11:35:43.000Z

Hi all, I am interested in a SLA printer also so I have been lurking in the shadows listening so excuse me for butting in!

My main question is the cost of a print. Is it a significant amount more than FDM? I know, very general question and maybe apples to oranges.

Here is the setup. I print a “widget” in ABS and it comes out nice. Let’s say it is 90x90x140mm with just a few basic supports. Let’s say I would like to have the part with a better finish that SLA may provide.

I priced my part on 3Dhubs, to see a comparison, and for FDM get a cost of about $30 compared to SLA at a cost of $100-250.

I understand SLA is more costly but I am just trying to get an idea of what I might expect.

Thanks for any thoughts and also all of the great info in this thread.

makerdepot · 2017-07-18T14:17:04.000Z

Yes. Sla is more and there r instances where it might not make sense to use an sla. But, there r pieces that an fdm printer could never be able to print.

I printed A three inch tall piece by about 2.5 inch square. It was hollow and only cost my customer $15 to print. That part would have looked horrible with fdm.

The thing to to know is that fdm printers have infill, where sla will print solid unless the part was made hollow. That could be the reason why the cost was high.