Getting back to the printer, Hackaday just started raising funds to get a 3D printer and from their evaluation, an Ultimaker is their ideal printer, if they can raise the funding. http://hackaday.com/2013/01/29/help-hackaday-buy-our-own-3d-printer/
Based on the current proposals, my vote is on an Ultimaker if we can raise enough. Otherwise, I think the MendelMax or the used printer would be good. I'm not terribly worried about getting a discontinued printer as it was very popular when it was supported and it was open source, so a lot of 3rd party upgrades/replacements were/are available. On Tue, Jan 29, 2013 at 1:42 PM, Justin Lacko <[email protected]> wrote: > That's why you have one of them too, right Ron? (-:|3 > > > On 29 January 2013 13:23, Ron <[email protected]> wrote: > >> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- >> Hash: SHA1 >> >> Well then! >> >> At my company's office in Seattle, all the desks are made of actual >> wood that our CEO cut down and prepared and stuff. It's pretty cool! >> >> Ron >> >> On 2013-01-29 13:14, Justin Lacko wrote: >> > See: http://www.takaji.ca/content/works/portfolios/ed4_tech_1.pdf >> > >> > I actually went to the forest to get my own lumber, and let me tell you >> it >> > wasn't that hard!! >> > >> > >> > On 29 January 2013 11:51, Ron <[email protected]> wrote: >> > >> > > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- >> > > Hash: SHA1 >> > > >> > > Question for Brian or Stefan or Ben or whoever: what's usually >> involved >> > > with assembly? Is it a couple hours or a couple weeks type thing (for >> > > somebody who's semi-competant)? >> > > >> > > That is, is it like building a desk from Ikea, or going to the forest >> to >> > > get the lumber for my new bookshelf? >> > > >> > > Ron >> > > >> > > On 2013-01-29 11:22, chris kluka wrote: >> > > > If someone needs a pair of hands to help them hold wires during >> > > assembly, I >> > > > could do that. >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > On Tue, Jan 29, 2013 at 11:07 AM, Brian Kulyk <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> > > > >> > > > > Thanks for the great input guys. I didn't have too much time to >> > > research >> > > > > all of the different options, and it sounds like you guys are >> > > > > more knowledgeable than I. I just wanted to make sure we were >> > > considering >> > > > > other options instead of buying the first thing that we saw. >> > > > > >> > > > > The Mendal Max looks pretty cool and it would be awesome if we >> could >> > > get >> > > > > it to server as a PCB mill also. >> > > > > >> > > > > The only concern I have with buying a kit instead of assembled is >> that >> > > I >> > > > > don't really want to see us spending weeks or even months >> building and >> > > > > tweaking before we can get our members using it. I would rather >> pay a >> > > > > little extra to make that the seller's problem. You did however, >> say >> > > that >> > > > > you had experiencing building printers so this concern may be >> moot. >> > > > > >> > > > > Thanks, >> > > > > >> > > > > B >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > On Mon, Jan 28, 2013 at 5:48 PM, Stefan H.A <[email protected]> >> > > wrote: >> > > > > >> > > > >> I was going to see if I could revive this discussion, but it >> seems Ron >> > > > >> has beat me to it. >> > > > >> >> > > > >> First off, I think we need to decide if we are looking to buy a >> fully >> > > > >> assembled ready-to-print printer or if we could get away with a >> kit >> > > > >> (possibly more than one kit, one for electronics, one for the >> > > Cartesian >> > > > >> bot, one for the hot end etc.). I believe if we are willing to >> do some >> > > > >> assembly then the money we've already raised is more than >> enough. If >> > > we >> > > > >> want something that is ready to print we will pay a premium for >> it >> > > and we >> > > > >> will likely have to raise more. I have built a printer and >> therefore >> > > know >> > > > >> all the parts required and how to fit them together. I am >> willing to >> > > > >> contribute my time and knowledge (for what that is worth) to >> > > assembling a >> > > > >> printer from a kit but am unlikely to be the driving force as I >> am >> > > not the >> > > > >> most motivated individual. If there is interest in building our >> own I >> > > can >> > > > >> put together a preliminary rough estimate of the cost of the >> parts. >> > > > >> >> > > > >> As for the choices of printers, in my opinion the mendal max is >> the >> > > best >> > > > >> choice. It was specifically designed to have a more rigid frame >> than >> > > other >> > > > >> diy printers, which translates into better print quality. I also >> > > wonder if >> > > > >> the Mendel max might not be rigid enough to also serve as a PCB >> mill. >> > > > >> >> > > > >> I don't like the idea of a closed source printer because then we >> are >> > > > >> limited to what the manufacturer thinks we should do with the >> > > > >> printer/software. Also, what happens when the manufacturer >> > > discontinues >> > > > >> this product. I'm sure you all know the problems with closed >> source. >> > > > >> >> > > > >> As for the printrbot, I have read some forum posts that state >> the z >> > > axis >> > > > >> isn't very stable and tends to move around a little while >> printing. >> > > This >> > > > >> small amount of movement in the z axis likely accounts for the >> > > printrbots >> > > > >> lower quality prints. Also, you want as much print area as you >> can >> > > get. No >> > > > >> matter how much area you have it is never enough. >> > > > >> >> > > > >> >> > > > >> >> > > > >> >> > > > >> On Mon, Jan 28, 2013 at 2:53 PM, Benjamin Bergman < >> [email protected] >> > > >wrote: >> > > > >> >> > > > >>> The Afinia looks nice, but I would prefer seeing an open >> hardware >> > > model. >> > > > >>> Also, lack of Linux support for me is a killer. >> > > > >>> >> > > > >>> The Printrbot is a nice price, but the quality example in that >> review >> > > > >>> looks kinda bad. >> > > > >>> >> > > > >>> MendelMaxPro looks like a good candidate. The resolution of the >> > > example >> > > > >>> print isn't great, but the quality seems good. >> > > > >>> >> > > > >>> Another candidate, though a bit more expensive ($1600), might >> be the >> > > > >>> Ultimaker http://ultimaker.com/ >> > > > >>> >> > > > >>> Review: >> > > > >>> >> > > >> http://blog.makezine.com/review/make-ultimate-guide-to-3d-printing/ultimaker/ >> > > > >>> >> > > > >>> Pros >> > > > >>> >> > > > >>> - Open source >> > > > >>> - ABS & PLA >> > > > >>> - large print bed 8.3 x 8.3 x 8.3 >> > > > >>> - ultra fast >> > > > >>> - high resolution >> > > > >>> - Mac/Win/Lin >> > > > >>> >> > > > >>> Cons >> > > > >>> - quality reduced at top speed (extra hanging strands that need >> to be >> > > > >>> trimmed) >> > > > >>> - price >> > > > >>> >> > > > >>> >> > > > >>> On Mon, Jan 28, 2013 at 2:07 PM, Ron <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> > > > >>> >> > > > >>>> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- >> > > > >>>> Hash: SHA1 >> > > > >>>> >> > > > >>>> Hey guys, >> > > > >>>> >> > > > >>>> First off, we've raised exactly $1000 for the 3d printer. With >> > > people >> > > > >>>> who said "I'm willing to put in $x.xx more if needed", we have >> > > $1200. >> > > > >>>> That's $150 from our goal! >> > > > >>>> >> > > > >>>> That being said, Brian has some serious concerns about the >> printer >> > > we're >> > > > >>>> looking at. Basically, it's not being made anymore, its wiki >> page is >> > > > >>>> gone, you can't buy parts directly, and it's more expensive >> than >> > > some of >> > > > >>>> the supported alternatives. >> > > > >>>> >> > > > >>>> Below, he outlines a few options that we may want to look at. >> > > > >>>> >> > > > >>>> I don't really have a clue in this, and I honestly only want a >> > > printer >> > > > >>>> because I think others will get great use out of it (it's not >> > > something >> > > > >>>> I'm particularly into). I'm happy to help campaign and to look >> > > after the >> > > > >>>> pledges, but beyond that, you're on your own! >> > > > >>>> >> > > > >>>> So, check out the options below and let's have some >> discussion! If >> > > one >> > > > >>>> makes a lot more sense, we'll get it, if there are multiple >> good >> > > > >>>> options, we can vote or something amongst the people who >> pledged or >> > > > >>>> everybody. We can figure out the details later. >> > > > >>>> >> > > > >>>> Ron >> > > > >>>> >> > > > >>>> - ----- Forwarded message from Brian Kulyk <[email protected]> >> ----- >> > > > >>>> >> > > > >>>> Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2013 13:07:15 -0600 >> > > > >>>> From: Brian Kulyk <[email protected]> >> > > > >>>> To: Ron Bowes <[email protected]> >> > > > >>>> Subject: Additional options for 3D printer >> > > > >>>> >> > > > >>>> *Afinia H-Series* $1500 http://www.afinia.com/3d-printers >> > > > >>>> >> > > > >>>> Review >> > > > >>>> >> > > > >>>> >> > > >> http://blog.makezine.com/review/make-ultimate-guide-to-3d-printing/afinia-h-series/ >> > > > >>>> >> > > > >>>> Pros >> > > > >>>> >> > > > >>>> >> > > > >>>> - Best in class ( $1000 - 2000 ) >> > > > >>>> - Easy to print - automatic slicing >> > > > >>>> - Easy to setup >> > > > >>>> - Reliable >> > > > >>>> - Most accurate in class >> > > > >>>> - Won Make's "Best Overall Experience" >> > > > >>>> - ABS & PLA >> > > > >>>> - Better print quality >> > > > >>>> >> > > > >>>> Cons >> > > > >>>> >> > > > >>>> >> > > > >>>> - Closed Source >> > > > >>>> - Mac & Windows only >> > > > >>>> - Small print bed - 5.5" x 5.5" x 5.3" >> > > > >>>> >> > > > >>>> >> > > > >>>> *Printrbot LC* $799 Assembled ($549 kit) >> > > > >>>> http://printrbot.com/shop/printrbot-lc/ >> > > > >>>> >> > > > >>>> Review >> > > > >>>> >> > > > >>>> >> > > >> http://blog.makezine.com/review/make-ultimate-guide-to-3d-printing/printrbot-lc/ >> > > > >>>> >> > > > >>>> Pros >> > > > >>>> >> > > > >>>> >> > > > >>>> - Best in class (< $1000) >> > > > >>>> - Open source >> > > > >>>> - ABS & PLA >> > > > >>>> - Very flexible - can be expanded >> > > > >>>> >> > > > >>>> Cons >> > > > >>>> >> > > > >>>> >> > > > >>>> - Additional adjustments >> > > > >>>> - Small print bed 6 x 6 x 6 >> > > > >>>> - lower quality print than afinia >> > > > >>>> >> > > > >>>> >> > > > >>>> *MendelMaxPro *$1295 >> > > > >>>> >> > > > >>>> Review: >> > > > >>>> >> > > > >>>> >> > > >> http://blog.makezine.com/review/make-ultimate-guide-to-3d-printing/mendelmaxpro/ >> > > > >>>> >> > > > >>>> >> > > > >>>> Pros >> > > > >>>> >> > > > >>>> - Open source >> > > > >>>> - ABS & PLA & PVA >> > > > >>>> - Large print bend 9 x 10 x 7 >> > > > >>>> - very fast >> > > > >>>> - based on RepRap >> > > > >>>> >> > > > >>>> Cons >> > > > >>>> >> > > > >>>> - Relativly noise >> > > > >>>> - lower quality print than afinia >> > > > >>>> - considerable amount of tweaking a dialing-in >> > > > >>>> >> > > > >>>> >> > > > >>>> Other printers and reviews: >> > > > >>>> >> http://blog.makezine.com/volume/make-ultimate-guide-to-3d-printing/ >> > > > >>>> >> > > > >>>> - ----- End forwarded message ----- >> > > > >>>> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- >> > > > >>>> Version: GnuPG v2.0.19 (GNU/Linux) >> > > > >>>> >> > > > >>>> >> iEYEARECAAYFAlEG2nwACgkQ2t2zxlt4g/TTGgCgkfgwJ8bu8vA6eqABBGtvFdZe >> > > > >>>> ausAoKbtpMIBjsLhc5a77nihvsIvlfMt >> > > > >>>> =Z1UZ >> > > > >>>> -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- >> > > > >>>> _______________________________________________ >> > > > >>>> SkullSpace Discuss Mailing List >> > > > >>>> Help: >> http://www.skullspace.ca/wiki/index.php/Mailing_List#Discuss >> > > > >>>> Archive: >> > > https://groups.google.com/group/skullspace-discuss-archive/ >> > > > >>>> >> > > > >>> >> > > > >>> >> > > > >>> _______________________________________________ >> > > > >>> SkullSpace Discuss Mailing List >> > > > >>> Help: >> http://www.skullspace.ca/wiki/index.php/Mailing_List#Discuss >> > > > >>> Archive: >> https://groups.google.com/group/skullspace-discuss-archive/ >> > > > >>> >> > > > >> >> > > > >> >> > > > >> _______________________________________________ >> > > > >> SkullSpace Discuss Mailing List >> > > > >> Help: >> http://www.skullspace.ca/wiki/index.php/Mailing_List#Discuss >> > > > >> Archive: >> https://groups.google.com/group/skullspace-discuss-archive/ >> > > > >> >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > _______________________________________________ >> > > > > SkullSpace Discuss Mailing List >> > > > > Help: >> http://www.skullspace.ca/wiki/index.php/Mailing_List#Discuss >> > > > > Archive: >> https://groups.google.com/group/skullspace-discuss-archive/ >> > > > > >> > > >> > > > _______________________________________________ >> > > > SkullSpace Discuss Mailing List >> > > > Help: http://www.skullspace.ca/wiki/index.php/Mailing_List#Discuss >> > > > Archive: >> https://groups.google.com/group/skullspace-discuss-archive/ >> > > >> > > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- >> > > Version: GnuPG v2.0.19 (GNU/Linux) >> > > >> > > iEYEARECAAYFAlEIDDkACgkQ2t2zxlt4g/SSJQCeIWzK5NsXQJILj8m9Q39Haa88 >> > > NjYAnApVRpbuTytwrEL0LO1RqRorm7sI >> > > =pjc5 >> > > -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- >> > > _______________________________________________ >> > > SkullSpace Discuss Mailing List >> > > Help: http://www.skullspace.ca/wiki/index.php/Mailing_List#Discuss >> > > Archive: https://groups.google.com/group/skullspace-discuss-archive/ >> > > >> >> > _______________________________________________ >> > SkullSpace Discuss Mailing List >> > Help: http://www.skullspace.ca/wiki/index.php/Mailing_List#Discuss >> > Archive: https://groups.google.com/group/skullspace-discuss-archive/ >> >> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- >> Version: GnuPG v2.0.19 (GNU/Linux) >> >> iEYEARECAAYFAlEIIaoACgkQ2t2zxlt4g/TPKQCgsXMBNspmd2bP57WugsXLvWI4 >> F5QAn2kWkN/cyv7Xkg8Y+7qAB77E18Xj >> =ewOo >> -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- >> _______________________________________________ >> SkullSpace Discuss Mailing List >> Help: http://www.skullspace.ca/wiki/index.php/Mailing_List#Discuss >> Archive: https://groups.google.com/group/skullspace-discuss-archive/ >> > > > _______________________________________________ > SkullSpace Discuss Mailing List > Help: http://www.skullspace.ca/wiki/index.php/Mailing_List#Discuss > Archive: https://groups.google.com/group/skullspace-discuss-archive/ >
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