resolution. Looking at my prints, then comparing them to what the Makerbot x2 is producing when I see it on display…what are they doing to successfully print at ‘100 micron’ resolution, the output looks significantly better than what I can currently produce…what’s the secret?
I’ve wondered the same thing. I saw some of the models at the 3D expo in Burbank (especially the apple) and was like whoa, why is it their prints look so much better.
I’ve got a 3dr that’s recently come onto it’s own. I was comparing it to the Makerbot 2x at our local Microsoft and Microcenter stores.
Makerbot is known to print their ready-made show pieces on Stratasys machines.
the stuff I was looking at was hot off the printer…I’ll check my settings, I may not have run anything at .1 mm yet.
I’m pretty routinely printing at .07 & .05 now on my Rep2 - some of the stuff starts to look injection molded. I assume some of it has to do with the rigidity of the frame, but getting the plastic flow right, slowing the print speed down and getting the right build surface (glass with hairspray) + proper leveling has made a huge difference in allowing me to go below .1 consistently.
@Scott_Wells what did you do to ensure correct plastic flow?
I basically looked at the results I was getting from different slicers (Skeinforge, Makerware, Simplify 3D) and noticed some were doing a better job than others printing the same model, so I began to do test prints decreasing & increasing plastic flow and noting the results. Currently I run Skeinforge through Makerware 2.1 at the default Best setting but much slower print speeds (40mm/sec) for prints I don’t need supports for (or ones I build manually) or I run Simplify 3D with the Extrusion multiplier set to 1.2 on things I want to auto generate supports for (also at 30-40 mm/sec print speed). The default value in S3D is a little lean in my experience & causes more visible build lines.