Hello all,
I’m new on this webiste and would like to get some advices for my case.
I’m quite interesting in buying a 3D printer but after reading all the reviews on internet I still don’t which one will be the best for me.
I’m a yacht designer looking to build scaled models of boats I designed. I would like to use my 3D prints for accurate model as well as “pre concept” model to see the general shape of the boat.
Here some of my projects, it could help you to better understand the kind of stuff I want to do.
http://www.raphaellaloux.net
The size of the prints would be quite large (around 60cm for the accurate model) but I don’t mind doing in several parts.
In term of quality, I need a high one as boat hulls are long vertical surfaces and I don’t want to see all the layers of the printing.
I don’t want to spend a lot of time setting up the printer before printing.
I have narrow the printer to Ultimaker 2, 2 extended, Zortrax, but opened to others.
Could Stereolithography printers be a possible choice?
My budget is around 2500€
Looking forward your precious advices,
Thank you,
Raphael
1 Like
SO3D
2
Hi Raphael,
Nice to meet a fellow naval architect!
Making nice models is a fine art and not so easy. With any FDM style printer you will end up with lots of lines that take a lot of prep work if you want to paint. SLA/DLP is for sure better but you will be reduced in print size dramatically!
I am not sure of the final quality of your models you are after but have a good google search on finishing 3d printed parts, this should give you an insight into the many methods people use.
For what you are wanting a combination of printers is probably needed (UM2 and Form 1+) for example, you may be able to find these both on eBay for a little more that your budget!
I hope above helps, you should also use 3d hubs to get some prints done on different printers and then compare the results!
I hope above helps.
Will
Thank you very much Will for this precious advises,
I was wondering if you know the XYZ Printing Nobel 1.0, which is less expensive than the Form 1+ with a little bit bigger size build.
How I can ask for some trials print to compare?
Thanks again,
Raphael
SO3D
4
Hi Raphael,
Take some of your models that you would like, scale them down and then get someone on 3D Hubs to print. Get someone with a Form 1+ to print the same file as someone with a Nobel for example, of course there is some investment in this but its a lot smaller than buying the wrong printer!
If you are looking for a new printer many sellers do test prints so you could try that route also!
I would also search on the specific printer forum and get a feel for what people are producing with the printer, many people post their prints so that can give you an idea as well.
I hope above helps.
Regards
Will
yay3d
5
I’ve the Zortrax M200 and regularly print at 200 microns, altho it can go down to 90.
I don’t see any lines from this printer w/o a magnifier - it’s very accurate.
I cannot say the same for my Solidoodles - even tuned there’s some noticeable z-wobble due to its design.
Only issue w/ the M200 is I wish it was a bit faster - this is a slow machine
-scott/yay3d
Thanks guys for your feedback,
Zortrax seems to be a good solution, I saw a print which had a really good quality, I will do some test print with different printers like you advise me, and which one is the best !
Thanks,
Raphael
The Nobel is a cheap machine but with some drawbacks. It’s noizy, print quality is not great (my zortrax can do many prints better), you need to change the resin container often, the software is buggy and it’s slow.
For printing big boat parts i think a FDM/FFF machine is more versatile an easier (cleaner) to use. In case of the Zortrax, the print quality is the best and it has a very easy to remove support. If you want to be free in the material you use, look at a Ultimaker or a Big-Builder.
Hey @RaphaelL, now that the 2016 3D Printer Guide is live, you can check more reviews here. Hope this helps!
Onisus
9
Hello Raphael,
We are using a new and unique multifunction 3d printer, It’s called Zmorph. Zmorph can reach 100 microns pretty easy and It’s very easy to use too, it has a dualhead extruder for use different colours or materials. His aluminum unibody structure make it more accurate and gain more speed but the biggest advantage is his multifunction.
Zmorph allow you to laser cut and engrave many differents materials, or use it as a milling machine, cutting and engraving materials with a Dremel adapted, ceramic and food extrusion too. It has an ocean of posibilities.
His maximum working area is 300 x 235 x 165 mm.
I can see in the yacht photo that you use wood for some parts, so you can engrave with the laser the pattern on the wood and later cut it extraordinary accurate for the real model.
You can test it using our hub if you are interested in, we also sell Zmorph =)
Good luck.
1 Like
Thanks everyone for sharing your experience with me,
I ordered 2 test prints to compare between Zortrax and UM2 and the quality is better with the Zortrax print. As you can see all the layer prints on the um.
R.
