So I am working on a project that is going to have me making a LOT of the same item. At current specs it will take about 5 hours per item. I am using a Maker Select V2 and it is doing great with quality of the item, I am looking to get a printer or printers that can handle faster printing than the 50mms @ .2mm layer that I am getting from the MSV2. Any suggestions for a faster printer that does not skimp on print quality. I wish I could be a little more descriptive but am under an NDA about the item…
I can fit 2 of the item on the build plate for a total of close to 10 hours of printing. Need a printer that can do more items in the same time if possible. I have not yet budgeted out yet but I am thinking sub 1100 a piece for the printers…
How many do you need? At some point injection molding becomes cheaper.
Injection molding may be down the road. right now we are 3d printing and not enough for most of the point injection molding companies minimum order
Depending on the volume and strength requirements, casting might be a good option as well. Check this out: http://lcamtuf.coredump.cx/gcnc/ch4/
Has to be reasonably strong. I am looking into doing casting and things on my own, space is an issue as well. At the moment 3d prints are going to be our method until we get the current need covered. I thank you for the information @Neal_Grieb , I have seen that and am going to switch to casting and molding at some point if it comes to that.
Protolabs does low run injection
Wall how big is it ? Can you fit it in let’s say select mini ? (120x120x120) ? Then on you 1k you can get 4 so it will be less the 2h per print most i3 type system can do 60~80 for good part you can get to 100 but its depending on the part if its not to big part you can look at cr10 its about 400$ per printer so if you can fit 3 on 2 printers you my save time if you need faster then 80mm (as side note printing at 160 won’t be 1/2 the time as 80 just as FYI) you need to look at delta printer’s (you can find good ones from 500$)
Prusa’s new MK3 would probably be your best option with it’s faster print speeds. You may encounter thermal issues with printing much faster than 50 mm/s though. PETG shouldn’t be printed faster than 60 mm/s. PLA and ABS can be printed faster (you’ll need a heated enclosure for ABS) and you’ll probably get even better results if you use a longer heater block like E3D’s Volcano.
If you’re looking at other printers you want to look for solid construction, bowden will let you print faster than direct, and you’ll need good part cooling.
Check the sample quote for injection molding at Protolabs. You can order as few as 25 pieces. I have been considering this myself but has not tried it yet.
What about an sls/sla printer. You may spend somewhere between 1K and 5K, depending on make and model. If you can find a big build area SLS/SLA Printer, every part you add to the build aeea will not add any more time to printing. Ie: printing 1pcs vs 4 pcs will take the same time, if they all fit on the same area. If the part is short, SLS may be a good option…
@Panayiotis_Savva please tell me where I can get an SLS printer for under 5k
Maybe something like this…
https://www.imakr.com/eu/en/sintratec-3d-printers/1550-sintratec-kit-3d-printer.html
But ok, little more than 5K…
Check out http://ReliaBuild3d.com, the skip sense option allows high speed real time correction if skips happen, testing speed limits now…