4 Cost Saving Tips for 3D Printers

Most consumer-grade 3D printers use recycled PLA and ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene). Others may utilize liquid resins infused with photoinitiators that harden when exposed to light, enabling printing on demand while eliminating out-of-date inventory storage requirements.

Though expensive and difficult to master, 3D printing technology has enabled more affordable product printing as well as being employed more widely for humanitarian causes. And some models are preferred, like the Elegoo line of resin for 3D printers.

Materials

Material choice in 3D printers has an enormous effect on print quality. Each material offers different characteristics that affect strength, flexibility and surface finish of printed objects; knowing your available options can help you select one that meets your specific requirements and maximizes printing results.

Conductive materials offer an ideal option for building electrical components to integrate into functional prototypes or electronic devices. Their low density makes them suitable for most standard 3D printers; however, to maximize performance they may require special printing settings and equipment as well as being more costly than standard materials.

Polycarbonate plastic is a hard and resilient material suitable for various uses, from industrial parts such as nozzles and molds, to its wide array of colours and exceptional flexibility. Polycarbonate has become increasingly popular as an easy material with which to work, boasting excellent safety credentials as it can withstand high temperatures without melting.

Common choices are PLA (polylactic acid), ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), and Nylon, each offering its own advantages and disadvantages; make sure you select one suitable to your project!

Nylon filament is an ultra-strong and flexible thermoplastic that can withstand small impacts without deforming, as well as withstanding pressure while being bent. Furthermore, nylon can stand up against numerous chemicals for use in demanding environments; however, moisture absorption may have detrimental effects on printability and mechanical properties of its filament if left exposed; to ensure maximum printability it is important that nylon filament be dried prior to printing.

Polycarbonate plastic offers numerous uses, from moulding trays and low-cost plastic fasteners to being FDA compliant and long-lasting. While printing it may be challenging due to its high melting point and brittle nature, using a lower temperature extruder could reduce any risks of damage; thicker layers should also provide better mechanical properties.

Processes

3D Printing (also referred to as additive manufacturing) is a new fabrication technology that builds parts layer by layer, unlike traditional manufacturing techniques that utilize casts, moulds or machining to form parts out of blocks of material. 3D printers allow users to create shapes that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to manufacture via traditional techniques; furthermore they reduce assembly time and costs, eliminate weak joints, create lighter geometries.

There are various kinds of 3D printers, each employing its own process for prototyping or final production. Some processes, like FDM, may be better suited for prototyping while others offer greater versatility regarding cost, speed, surface finish and feedstock material compatibility. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages that should be carefully considered when making an informed decision about purchasing one of these machines.

FDM printers use plastic filament such as ABS or PLA, heated and extruded through a small nozzle to produce platforms hardened with UV light. While this method is fast, it does not produce high-resolution prototypes as its layers require post-processing for smooth surface finishes.

Other advanced processes include vat photo-polymerisation (SLA), material jetting and binder jet printing. SLA involves using liquid resin to build layers of polymer hardened by ultraviolet light – an extremely precise yet costly production technique used for final production runs; additionally these parts must be handled with care in order to last as promised.

Laser Sintering (SLM), electron Beam Melting (EBAM), and selective Sintering (LS) are among the more advanced 3D printing processes, employing bed of powder material made of titanium alloys, thermoplastics, ceramic powders or metals to form complex parts with high dimensional accuracy and excellent mechanical properties – yet these printers tend to be more costly.

Printing Speed

Another method involves decreasing infill density; although this could reduce strength but nonetheless significantly shorten overall print times.

Your printer’s nozzle diameter is one of the key factors affecting its printing speed. A larger nozzle allows more filament to be extruded with each stroke, leading to quicker printing times; however, be careful not to overextend its extension, as that could result in “bridging” effect leading to distortions in parts produced.

Print speeds for different materials vary significantly. A good place to begin would be with PLA, which typically prints around 60 milli-meters per second on most printers. When working with more complex materials it is essential that one experiments with various print speeds; each material has unique properties which necessitate different speeds of printing.

Fused deposition modelling (FDM) printers are among the most prevalent 3D printers today, using thermoplastic filaments melted through a hot nozzle to build objects layer by layer. FDM printers can produce objects as diverse as medical devices and household goods – ideal for rapid prototyping purposes and potentially revolutionizing manufacturing as we know it today.

FDM is one of the most prevalent forms of additive manufacturing, using plastic to quickly create prototypes. Other popular additive manufacturing processes are SLA and DLP which use ultraviolet lasers to craft objects within hours.

While 3D printers provide many advantages for businesses, their high price tags can be daunting for some companies. To reduce costs, manufacturers have been working on ways to speed up the printing process; one company called Create It REAL recently developed a control board capable of increasing printing speeds by up to 455mm/sec and is planning to sell this board shortly thereafter. Furthermore, this control board will enable manufacturers to print parts made out of flexible filaments like TPU and nylon without worrying about speed issues.

Costs

3D printing has evolved into an affordable technology, yet still contains hidden expenses that can quickly add up. These expenses range from initial investments and materials purchases, maintenance expenses and labour expenses incurred during operation; and can even include operating expenses like labour. These costs can be managed more effectively through adopting cost-cutting measures as well as selecting an ideal printer for the task at hand.

Step one in determining 3D printer cost is to understand your needs and budget, which will enable you to select an ideal model suited to them. Entry-level printers generally cost under $200 while higher-end models can run over that price point. Furthermore, printing material selection will affect hourly print rates; standard PLA filament tends to be fairly affordable while higher quality colours could double its price per hourly print rate.

One key component in calculating 3D printer costs is build volume size. A smaller print volume is ideal for prototyping and miniatures; larger prints work better for functional parts and structures. Furthermore, build volume is an indicator of accuracy and precision of printed parts.

As well as taking into account the size of your build volume, it is also essential to consider what materials will be used and any waste produced during printing. Certain print materials require additional support or generate extra waste during production which increases printing time and expense; optimizing design of models to reduce support quantities could significantly lower this figure.

Dependent upon the complexity of your print, you should also carefully consider post-processing costs. This crucial step transforms a 3D print into an end product and can either be accomplished on its own or hired out professionally; DIY post-processing offers lower labour costs but requires considerable time commitment while professional services provide quicker turnaround and higher quality finishes.

Another key consideration when purchasing a 3D printer is power consumption. A machine that uses too much electricity will drive up energy bills and should be taken into account before purchasing one. Also ensure you check what warranties or support options come included with its price to ensure you’re getting good value for your investment.