Hello everybody! I’m new to this group and to 3D printing in general. The FIRST Robotics team I mentor has recently been awarded a grant to purchase a 3D printer for use in robot design and fabrication. Most of our fabrication is performed by hand by the students, but there are always some parts that are just too complex to make with a drill press, band saw, and manual labor, especially in the 6-week build period.
Based on our group feedback, we have decided that the printing dimensions on the Airwolf 3D XL and the Lulzbot TAZ 3D Printer.
Does anybody in this community have any experience with either device, or is there another similarly-sized printer you would recommend in this price range?
My team and I appreciate any assistance you have. Thank you!
If it’s between the Airwolf and the Lulzbot, go with the lulzbot. The AirWolf is just a prusa mendel which is almost 2 generations out of date by now. I personally shy away from machines with a moving platform in the X/Y direction (left/right, forward/back) and actually suggest people mostly get machines with a moving Z, like the Ultimaker. Both LulzBot and Ultimaker have been incredible assets to the open source community and have fantastic machines. The Ultimaker is only 200mmx200mm, but the quality and support behind them is fantastic. The Taz will do you best for large build volume, and Lulzbot is no slouch in the quality department either.
But stay away from the AirWolf. Old machine, wobbles in the X direction, which means lower speeds, lower quality, etc.
I agree with @ThantiK the Lulzbot looks to be a much stiffer design, which is critical to print quality, especially if you need moderate speeds to print large parts.
I remember you saying that you may want to try working with Poly-carbonate and Nylon for structural components. Poly-carbonate requires about 300C and Nylon about 250C. Does anyone know if the Budaschnozzle supplied with the Lulzbot is up to the task? @Sanjay_Mortimer Has anyone tried to fit an E3D nozzle to the TAZ?
Be aware that printing large ABS parts is problematic and prone to warping and delamination the higher the part is. The TAZ is a great printer but it’s an open design, in more sense than one. You will probably need to build an enclosure.