Two replies here: From: Andrew <pkm...@gmail.com> > > > The olde Stratasys that I had access to at work (I have since left) > > produced items about 1,000x better than I ever got from my home printer, > > despite weeks and weeks of tweaking the home printer. > > > > Do you mean FDM Stratasys? > What was so good about it (or so bad about your home printer)? >
Stratasys: Yes, an older FDM machine. Cost (CA $$) well above 40,000.00. It would print in two materials so one could make overhangs without printing supports on same material. It generally printed the shape you wanted. The Home machine - Printrbot Simple. The wooden kit. The Dremel sanding disks with fishing line for the X and Y axes actually worked quite well. The wooden print bed was not flat. The machine had "droop" when arm was way out away from body. The first power supply was DOA. The main board eventually gave up the ghost (z axis) but was replaced for reduced cost. The coupling for the acme screw for Z axis wobbled, so the z axis would produce "ripples" or "waves" on what should be flat surfaces. Eventually got the aluminium extruder, and printed the bits for toothed-belt X and Y. Oh, also some thermal issues - zero the Z axis, print for a couple of hours, and Z axis was out. Zero it when hot, and when cold, it was out the other way. BUT (and, I can understand Andy's comment) it was an interesting learning experience, and produced some useful parts. > From: Chris Albertson <albertson.ch...@gmail.com> > > I see the argument as going like this > > One group says these 3d printers are worthless because they can't be used > to make the stuff I am now making. For example "I can't print an exhaust > valve for a diesel truck motor." > 3D Printers are most definitely the way of the future. But, sometimes it pays to contract out what one could do at home; car oil changes I have done, but I'll let someone else do it, especially when it's -40c outside. I do have more ties to on-line 3D Printing services than I want to put into email. I have watched one of the industry leaders go from a start-up to, well, the industry leader, from the vantage point of watching someone I knew quite well go through the experience. Another ex. colleague of mine designs antennas, and prints them. Seeing an antenna printed on mylar, that actually works, is really neat. What is printed is amazing, and will continue to evolve. No doubts about that. Back to work; thanks for ALL of the discussions here. John. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Check out the vibrant tech community on one of the world's most engaging tech sites, Slashdot.org! http://sdm.link/slashdot _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
