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Hi,

I need to purchase a 3d printer within 5,000 USD. I’m looking to use it to manufacture 5" x 5" x 3" test ‘boxes’. The objective of these test ‘boxes’ are to receive and mate with connectors which are machined to a 0.1mm tolerance. The box is not critical for testing the dimensional accuracy of these connectors, but houses circuitry to test them.

Precision (reliable, repeatable dimensional accuracy) is really important to me, because these connectors will not fit into the tester if the CTC distances of the pins do not match.

If you think a 3d printer within this budget will not be able to provide the required precision, suggest a printer I can use to print roughs. I can then get these roughs machined to my requirements.

Regards

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Hey @Arsalan_Pirzada, first things first! You should definitely check out the 3D Printer guide we did based on the reviews from our community: Best 3D Printer Guide 2023 | Hubs :wink: Hope this helps

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You have several options:

Form 1+ SLA 3d printer: Best accuracy for under 5K. Parts need to be printed in certain orientation, also post-processing is required(support removal, Alcohol bath, uv curing)

Flashforge, Ultimaker, Airwolf are consistent FDM printers but parts would definitely need to be machined. Clearances are not something a 3d printer will provide effectively.

Bottom line: Making something always requires a number of steps in order to achieve the desired results, regardless of what printing method you pick.

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Original has you pretty much covered - There’s also the Rostock Max, Lulzbot Taz 4, and Type A Machines that You may want to put on your consideration list.

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Hey there !

How many of those boxes do you need ? Depending on that i don’t think that it’s worth it to get a 3d printer unless you use it for futur projects.

I use a leapfrog Creatr HS and am happy with it.

How exactly does your box have to look like ? are there openings with specific tolerances or any other difficulties ?

In general i would look for a bouden tube dual extrusion 3d printer so that it’s possible to print support structure.

As recommendation i heard and saw very good things from :

Ultimaker 2

Lulzbot Taz (or Mini but i don’t know the build volume)

Leapfrog (Creatr HS, not the normal one !)

All of them are very much below 5k. If you want to reach the limit of your capital then i’d say go for an SLA printer, they are the very best when it’s about precision. However SLA based printers are very slow and there is mostly only one material to print in a few colors available. The resin is also very expensive.

Mostly the precision depends on the geometry and the settings, you might have to make holes some tenth of a millimeter larger so that the outcome is your wished size.

For the industrial use of a printer you also might want to give the Stacker a look.

It’s just like a normal 3d printer but with up to 4 nozzles attached to one axis so that you can print 4 parts with same geometry but alternating materials or colors at the same time.

It is on kickstarter at the moment and there are various versions

STACKER - A New Kind of Commercial 3D Printer by STACKER, LLC — Kickstarter of it, however it might cost you the full 5k.

For further help i would need more information on what tolerances the printer should have in which spots of your box. Maybe you can upload some pictures of a CAD construction from the box.

-Marius

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I would look for Metal Box type printer. (CTC, Flashforge Type)

For consistent and accurate, precise prints, you only want the Feed Head to move.

With some extra parts a $600 printer would do just fine. Spend the extra on things like (Metal arms, Pro PLA, or Pro ABS.

In my opinion, the printers that use the bed as X/Y Axis will not give you the dimensional accuracy you desire.

The resolution your looking for is between .5 - .8mm.

Most printers out of the box will do .1mm highest without degradation.

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I’m a car enthusiasts that has some experience in making my own CNC parts, especially for plasma cutters and such.

I’m in the market to get my first 3D printer to play with. I expect I will end up making some small parts to sell with my cars, so I’d like something that makes decent prints, but also something my wife and daughter can play with. Price as always, is a focus.

I’ve done some investigations on machines currently available ( 2016 ), and I think I’ve narrowed it down to 2 machines. Of course im a newby, so I can only guess I’ve got the right machines. LOL

Wanted to have a experience person tell me their thoughts on my chosen machines. Of coarse, if you think I’d be better off with something different, I’d love to here your thoughts.

My main interest is in a machine that is competent in using CF infused, and metals. I lean toward the double extrusion machine, as I’d like to not have to change things out all the time.

First machine is the FlashForge Creator Pro… More because it has the double extrusion.

But the machine that seems to be bullet proof ( and is my first choice ), but is only a single extruder ( sucks ) is the WiiBoox. Its seem to get raving reviews for print, and quality.

your thoughts???

BK

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“My main interest is in a machine that is competent in using CF infused, and metals.” Carbon fibre reinforced materials (which is what I think you mean with “CF”) require a special nozzle to print, for example the e3d hardened steel nozzles, otherwise the brass, of which most nozzles are made, will wear out and the carbon fibres will widen and deform the nozzle hole. Metal prints are only possible if you think of it as metal-plastic prints. There are a few producers of materials that contain metal particles, but it’s very time consuming to make those parts look like metals, also the material stength is nowhere near the specific metal as the particles are loosely stuck in the plastic. In fact the strength is (if af all) around the strength of the source plastic. What things for your parts do you want to print? Do you 3D model those on your own and do you have sample models of what you want to print so that we could judge if those normal printers suit your needs. Cheers, Marius Breuer