MD90
10
If we are going to buy anything it would be through a dealer that we could purchase a warranty and service through, Sorry.
I think it has been rather well-demonstrated that the cost of the machine itself is worth it. In regards to material, you have two alternative options. First, you can buy refilled OEM compatible cartridges from Argyle Materials for a 25% cost savings. Option two involves uploading a modified software ROM to the HDD which allows you to use whatever filament you want.
MD90
12
Taking a chance at bricking a $40,000 machine for $200 savings, I think I’ll stick with the overly priced materials.
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Well since everyone is suggesting the Dimension, I’ll tell you my experience with the Mark One. We have only had one problem in the first 8 months of using the Mark One and all it required was to replace a print head. The Mark One excels at printing strong parts by using a continuous fiber to reinforce the nylon prints. It is excellent for jigs, fixtures, molds, usable tools, orthotics and durable usable parts. The build size is 12.59" x 5.2" x 6.06" or 320mm x 132mm x 154mm. At $8,799 it is a bargain for what it can produce. Have you seen benchmark parts from your files?
2 Likes
MD90
14
I have not had a benchmark part made from my files, I was given a sample from a demo show. The model had a few inconsistencies that I had to trim off. The part suffers from discoloration at a few of the wing tips where these issues were seen. Is this common? I saw this on more than one demo part. The developer blamed atmosphere in the nylon due to him opening and demoing the sealed nylon holding case.
Well, I agree with you, I am just suggesting that other options exist. We run Stratasys ABS.
As that is a lot of carbon fiber to put in such a small part, it looks like the tips got burned from the extruder head. I have only seen that happen once and it was on a very thin print for a logo key chain. Nylon tends to be very moisture absorbent and we always keep ours in the dry box that came with the printer. If you email me at amoskowitz@accucode.com I can provide a benchmark part or two from your files so you can see the print quality.
Sarl
17
hy every one
I’m a french company who haved a dimension elite, and now a fortus 250, and also mark one (and another very professionnal open source printer) . The printer have not the same business. You can use stratasys for all your parts, and markone for strong part, but not for thin parts ( or only in nylon). I’m very proud of my fortus, but she’s very expansive! ( material, and cost of production), but she’s always here. She’s an easy printer. The mark one is not an easy printer, you can have print faillure often! Using carbon is difficult. The markone is a good printer but you cannon’t print during all days like stratasys.
1 Like
MD90
18
I appreciate the offer. One of the MarkForged reps was telling me that there is a 30mm. minimum diameter and a 600mm minimum length for the carbon fiber material. Could you explain this better? How it effects a print.
MD90
19
Thank you for the information. What is the cause of most failures?
Sarl
20
problem of fiber in the extruder, mainly with the carbon fiber who is very fragile, and break inside the nozzle.
Some little problem of warping with the nylon if you doesn’t have the rigth z offset.
Another thing for the markforged, who doesn’t indicate on the website, be carrefull when you design your part, if you want fiber, you have to have an aera of layer who can receive 600mm of fiber. Because, the cutting of the fiber arrive 600mm before the nozzle, so you have to extrude 600mm of fiber by layer. If not it’s impossible to have fiber in your part, so forget thin feature, little parts… And it’s why my machine doesn’t work often…
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How would you feel about letting go of that BST? 
MD90
22
Can you offer anything for it?
We are currently seeing what Stratasys will give us towards a new Dimension 1200es BST.
Sarl
23
oh! I don’t want to modify something on my stratasys… If something wrong, it will cost a lot to change parts
The Mark One uses one continuous strand of fiber to reinforce parts. If you look at the 2 pictures, #1 was where the software placed fiber (in yellow). Sliders at the bottom let you change the amount of fiber and which layers get reinforced. #2 is where I added more fiber to make a stronger part. I think the reason for the minimum sizes to add fiber is because the second extruder needs time to heat up, extrude fiber and stop. Small parts generally don’t fit fiber easily but printing just nylon at 50% fill gets you pretty strong small parts.
I couldn’t offer much for it. What’s wrong with it? Depending on that I may be able to get it sold. However, be aware that broken ones on eBay only go for about 1k. In addition, if you trade it in, let me know, as they will only take the boards and print head, and leave the rest. The gantry and heaters are definitely good for some tinkering.
Actually you don’t have to modify anything inside the printer to use alternative materials.
Google “CartridgeWriter.exe” to know what I’m talking about
MD90
27
Thanks, I went with a new 1200 BST and we have our old Dimension BST back up and running so I may try this with the old one once we run out of material.
No problem! Use Village Plastics if you are in the US. They sell only in bulk of about 10kg per order. They are very cheap, and very good. They sell HIPS too, which is your breakaway support material.
If you don’t mind me asking, what was the problem and solution with your BST? Just in case I run into a similar issue in the future.
MD90
29
Two fans had gotten old and died causing an overheat which trips a breaker switch (there are 2 or 3 of these switches). Pop the covers off, flip the switches, replace the fans and everything started back up. Apparently the 4 interior fans on the inside wall of the printer only last about a year. Thats why they replace them when it is under the service contract. Sounds like planned obsolescence to me.
