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Good day, I need some real advice.

Total newby in the 3D printing and looking to buy my first 3D printer. Did a lot of research the past 2 weeks visiting 3D printer companies and even attended an Expo.

Finally decided on the Zortrax M200, but saw the Raise3D this morning. Searched the net for some comparisons from users (actual users - not re-sellers) but very limited info.

I need something that is:

- Very reliable

- Great quality, hassle free prints - need to make money

- Low operating costs - reprints etc

Not to worried about filament costs and current limitations on filament choice.

I need ease of use, quality prints, reliability.

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Hey @Venphi, welcome! You can also check out our annual 3D Printer Guide to help you choose a printer based on your needs. Good luck!

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I can speak as someone who uses Zortrax. My Employer has 5 of them in production and quite a few others. We do have a Raise3D printer coming but will not have it until the end of October or beginning of November.

As far as simplicity, ease of use and being a workhorse of a printer, Zortrax is your friend in these categories. Our other printers do not stand up to this as far as ease of use, with the exception of our Up Mini II but it has a small build size.

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Received email from Zortrax this morning. Zortrax M300 is available at $4199. FYI

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Hello,

First of all yes, I am a reseller of both Zortrax and Raise 3D, however We also run a very successful 3D Hubs printing service.

The Zortrax M200 and the new M300 are work horses, however, the Raise 3D N-Series has made them obsolete in term of value, open source, printing ability, support removal, price and being able to use any brand and almost all type of materials.

The Raise 3D is a Prosumer printer designed for 24/7 operation.

It is built better than the Zortrax and is far more sopisticated.

They are completely enclosed as apposed to Zortrax’s side panels which are an option that you pay for.

The M300 is just a larger M200 with nothing changed except the size and is over priced at that.

I know it is hard for Zortrax owners to even think that there imight be a new printer that is better and less expensive but this is the simple truth.

We had 4 Zortrax M200 machines for our printing service and now use 4 N-Series machines instead.

If you like I can print a part/model on the Zortrax and the same part/model on the Raise3D for free and ship them to you.

You may send your .STL part/model to me and we will print them on same resolutions, color, etc. and you will receive both models as is right off the printers.

We will call this the Zortrax Challenge.

We wifi do this to show just how well the Raise3D printer prints.

We will even have cameras on the machines showing the machines printing live where you can watch.

Send your smaller part/model to sales@petermake 3D.com and let us see which printer gives a better print.

Any questions please do not hesitate to ask.

Regards,

Peter of PeterMake3D

954-320-4924

sales@petermake3d.com

https:petermake3d.com

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Here’s some thoughts to help guide your decision.

First, the short answer based on your criteria is to get a Zortrax. You’ll be very happy. It’s earned a reputation here and elsewhere for being reliable, plug-n-play, and amazing print quality. It will easily deliver what you seek, and as a newbie you’ll really appreciate how fast you can get it up and running, making superb prints reliability, time and time again (they even added a reprint option in the last firmware release).

If we take a deeper look at both printers, setting your specific needs aside for a moment, here are a few considerations on choosing one vs. the other. Keep in mind I do 3D printing professionally and have had the opportunity to use many of the popular desktop FDM printers, as well as many professional Stratasys and 3D Systems printers. I’ve also been to many, many trade-shows and seen most of these printers in person. I currently own an M200 in my fleet. I do not own a Raise3D, but I have seen them at shows and events.

  1. You won’t find many head-to-head comparisons yet. This is because Raise3D only started shipping late 2015, whereas Zortrax has been shipping since late 2013. Zortrax is now an established company, with a few years under its belt. In that regard Zortrax is probably a lower risk purchase. You’ll likely see Raise3D in the 2017 Make Mag 3DP shootout.
  2. Zortrax has the best construction build quality of any desktop I’ve seen. From what I saw of Raise3D at shows, they also appear to have a very well built machine. Zortrax is manufactured in Poland, Raise3D is made in China I believe. Both offer a 12-month warranty. Long term reliability of Zortrax has been proven. Raise3D is still too new to make a judgement.
  3. In my opinion printer software should be as much a factor as hardware. Both Zortrax and Raise3D use their own proprietary software. You might want to take each for a test drive before buying. I’ve used both and here are some thoughts.
  • Zortrax has a cleaner interface, easier for beginners to learn and use.
  • Both offer you the option to split or cut your part (nice for breaking apart large parts into sections, or printing parts in 2 halves to reduce support)
  • Raise3D software has built in model repair functionality, Zortrax does not. I’m guessing the repair option in Raise3D is using Netfabb’s repair engine but I could be wrong about that. I just use the free Netfabb basic which you can download from Autodesk and do this operation separately when needed, but it is nice to have this feature built into your slicer to streamline your workflow.
  • Raise3D allows you to manually add and remove supports. This is a big deal! I’ve only seen this capability in Simplify3D until now. Zortrax does not offer this.
  • On that same note, you can use Simplify3D software with Raise3D’s printers. You cannot use Simplify3D (or any other program) with Zortrax - you are stuck with their software. This fact alone will steer many seasoned users to Raise3D.
  • With Raise3D, you can get into the advanced menu and have full control over all parameters (like using Cura, Repetier-Host, Matter Control, etc.). This allows you to build a profile for any given material you may want to print with. With Zortrax, even the advanced menu options are limited and profiles are hidden. You just select the material you want to print with and Zortrax determines the rest for you. While it is possible to run 3rd party materials on Zortrax, their software is aimed to run their materials only.
  • Bottom line, even though I like the look and feel of using Zortrax software better than Raise3D, Raise3D software has more features and options that advanced users might prefer.
  1. Print quality appears to be comparable between the 2 machines. Which says a lot about Raise3D because Zortrax has owned this badge in the desktop world for awhile now. A quantitative test like the one done in the Make Mag shootout would be needed to say for certain which machine is more accurate, but both systems seem to output very high quality prints. I and many others can say this first hand with Zortrax. For Raise3D, you can see some examples at their page here http://www.raise3d.com/pages/raise3d-printers-reviews-on-youtube.
  • You’ll notice on the first video that the 3D Printing Nerd, a popular 3D Printer reviewer on YouTube, actually says in the video that the Raise3D printer made a better print than the M200. Keep in mind this was just 1 print of 1 specific model, so I wouldn’t read too much into that. Again, a quantitative controlled test would be better for comparison.
  • It’s worth noting that Raise3D will ultimately allow you to print at a higher layer resolution in their software, as fine as 0.01mm (10um) vs. 0.09mm (90um) for Zortrax. Sounds great, but in reality you’ll probably never print that fine. Aside from the difficulty of dialing in profiles below 100um, it adds a ridiculous amount of time to the print. If you’re looking at printing for a business, you cannot be printing parts at 10um and make any money.
  1. Support and raft removal also appears to be very comparable between the 2 printers. From what I can see, the support and raft generation in Raise3D is extremely similar to Zortrax (which is to say quite different from other slicers like Cura), resulting in supports that are easier to remove and leave behind a nice clean surface.
  2. Zortrax has more ease-of-use features, like auto bed leveling which I believe the Raise3D does not (you have to manually level the plate). Raise3D gives you more room to grow with endless material options, dual-extruder upgrades, etc.
  3. Raise3D allows you to print with just about every material on the market, Zortrax does not (as eluded to above). Zortrax does not support PLA out of the box, a deal-breaker for some. I personally find PLA useless as I print engineering grade parts. There are some hacks from companies like www.z-temp.co which allow you to have more control over the Zortrax temps and run more materials, but it’s still not really open. On the other hand, don’t buy a Zortrax if that is your goal. There are plenty of unlocked printers to choose from. Zortrax offers a controlled ecosystem of hardware, software, and materials to ultimately deliver a user experience that is phenomenal. The system just works, all the time, and produces great results. So if you want to tinker and experiment, Raise3D (or other printers for that matter) is probably a better choice for you. If you just want to print and the material offerings from Zortrax are sufficient (which for many they are), then get a Zortrax.
  4. One last thought is the print bed surface. Raise3D is using BuildTak while Zortrax is using a perforated plate. I’ve become a huge fan of the perforated plate. It works reliably over and over again, preventing warpage and lifted prints that plague so many desktop printers. The only downside is it requires you to print a raft every time, but not a big deal IMO. I’ve used BuildTak before, as have many users here. You’ll find the reviews are mixed, it’s a love it or hate it solution. When it works, it works great. But sometimes plastics don’t stick and lift. Other times they stick too well and you end up tearing the sheet trying to remove your part. Since BuildTak typically will cost you about $5 per sheet, this cost can quickly add up. I burned through a 5-pack in about a month and a half. It’s also a major pain peeling off the old sheet and installing a new one. I’ve literally never had to do anything to the Zortrax perf plate. Just scrape the part off when finished, and start a new print!

Raise3D does offer a small price advantage over Zortrax, but I don’t think it’s enough to use as your final determination. You should pick the printer that’s right for your needs.

Hope that helps,

Good luck!

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Again, I offer to print the same model, same resolution on both the Zortrax M200 and Raise3D N1 or N2 to show that the Raise 3D DOES PRINT BETTER and the supports come off easier than any printer I have ever worked with - PERIOD.

I will keep the rafts and supports on both prints so you could see for yourself.

Just send me the .STL file to 3dhubs@petermake3d.com and I will print for free and ship for free.

Let us see which printer actually prints better!

Regards,

Peter of PeterMake 3D

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I have several Zortrax M200 at work and personally own the Raise3D N2+ at home. I think JouleThief gave a very detailed and accurate comparison between the 2. With that said I’ll take the Raise3D N2 over the Zortrax any day. The build volume is huge, enclosed print chamber, WiFi control, 7" touch screen, no proprietary material/cartridge.

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Thank you for all the advice. I decided to go the safe root and got the Zortrax and I am very very very impressed and over the moon happy.

For a beginner I have made the right choice BUT the next buy will definable be the Raise3D when I am a bit more comfortable with the 3D printing business.

Quite a learning curve but great experience.

Enjoy

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We have a Raise3D N1 in the office and it is amazing… The quality of the print is like no other that I have seen, and the support comes off really cleanly and easily. I am so impressed with this printer that I will be getting one for home as well.

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Good day people

Me Again

What alternative would you suggest for the Raise3D N2 - 305x305x305

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Hi there,

if some people still interested in this topic:

We have both printers in action. Much experience with Zortrax M200 machines. And Raise3D N2 Plus in action scince 8 weeks now. Works like a charm. I was really expecting M300 because of the build volume and ease of use, but I was very very disappointed, that ABS is no longer available for M300 machine. HIPS is the new default filament. Such a limitation (no PLA and no ABS) and the price Tag of 4800€ (which is even more than N2 Plus … 4300€) made it impossible for me to decide in favour of zortrax.

Both machines make perfect quality. For Raise3D you need BuildTak, while Zortrax has perforated durable plate (which is good as long as it is not crooked/warped itself). Zortrax CANNOT print without raft. However, this is a good idea for some prints!

Raise3D slicer is not complicated but powerful. If not sufficient, you can use S3D. Z-Suite still very limited settings.

Both have very stable chassis.

Both 1.75mm Filament and direct Extruder … very little clogs.

Zortrax is a little bit faster.

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To any Canadians who are looking to opt for the Zortrax 3D printer, we might might have a great deal for you.

We are currently having a sale on the m200 model, and we also guarantee a free 2-day shipping all across Canada, with even an option to save $100.00 if you’re willing to pickup at our office in Ottawa.

Not like this was enough, we’ll also include a set of Official side covers at no additional cost when you purchase the Zortrax m200.

For any further details, do not hesitate to contact us.

David

info@openforge.ca

+1 (819) 208-5721

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Well very interesting reading all this. Hi everybody…

I owned a Raise3D N2 and switched over to a Zortrax M300. The Zortrax is by far the better machine imho (it arrived, it was setup in 15’, it’s printing since then… no issue). The N2 has so so man flaws. All the nice looking things are just nice looking and not sooo useful and all sophisticated features have their flaws (touch display, UPS etc…).

My N2 had (or still has I’m giving it back to the reseller this moment) a problem with a rattling bearing and came with a very unleveled bed (the bed is fixed to the frame with tons of screws and that’s really a pain). The Zortrax has 3 screws and the V2 plate is absolutely sturdy.

The Dual Extruder on the N2 is much to heavy for only one x and one y shaft. Well… the genuine extruders suck anyway… lots of N2 users have to upgraded to Bondtech… nad that means new problems (steppers too hot etc.).

Just go over to the Raise3D forum and read through the posts… lot’s of problems. The machine can print with a very high quality IF it works and it could be THE best 3D printer but it isn’t… the Zortrax is for me the leader so far… still not perfect but I wouldn’t give it back!

The only two issues that matter a little for me concerning the Zortrax M300:

- Z-Suite is pretty slow and some features are really missing

- Removing the Print is a little difficult (but at least it doesn’t get loose during printing)

PS: The Zortrax is now opensource (latest firware I guess 3-4 days ago released… I already tested it).

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Hi Everybody

Also considering doing the same. I am on my 2nd Raise3D N2. First one lasted 4 hours and physically broke the connector from the motor to the rod.

Got it fixed but then the head was biting from the middle to the right side.

Eventually got it replaced with 2nd N2 but from start it had a rattle like you wont believe. We determined it might be the bearings that is warn, ordered the bearings a more than month ago - still waiting. In the meantime we have found screws that fell out from somewhere???

Comparing with the Zortrax - as far as I am concerned there is no comparison. Not one days issue or problem with the printer - it just prints. Now that the slicer is open for other filament brands - the M300 seems the way to go.

Also considering the Prize tag - it cost me ± US$ 5000 to buy and get the Raise3D delivered in South Africa. Purchase Price + DHL cost + VAT.