3D printers There has been a major change in industrial 3D printers in the past few years and they have become an obligatory instrument for any business that does rapid prototyping, product development or even small scale manufacturing. However, selecting one of the many models or technologies that have recently appeared in the market can be challenging.
Here are some of the main things to consider when selecting an industrial 3D printer:
Build size and speed.
Consider your application’s size and pick the maximum build volume the printer offers accordingly. More enormous volumes enable printing more significant parts or multiple smaller ones in one go. Besides, look at print speed measured in mm or inches per hour faster systems have greater mass production throughput capability. Desktop printers generally have reduced build volumes and slower speeds than professional-grade machines.
Software and connectivity
The software interface is critical when it comes to industrial 3D printers, as well as tool path programming capabilities. Search for slicer software to help you convert 3D model files into printer instruction code and change detailed print parameters. Preferably select software based on the experience levels of your team. Additionally, consider connectivity options, as many commercial point-of-use printers have WiFi, Ethernet, USB, or cloud connections that allow them to be used remotely.
Reliability and durability
Compared with desktop machines, industry 3D printers must be highly reliable. Check out the components that make up the printer under consideration together with what users have said about it in their reviews and whether any mean time between failure statistics have been reported already reviewed by other owners of these machines or not; sturdy metal frames, high-quality motors along with hardened steel rails and lead screws plus enclosed housings improve reliability too.
Customer support service.
Occasionally, even a sturdy industrial 3d printing equipment may require troubleshooting or repair. Most have service contracts covering routine maintenance visits and offering prolonged warranties on all parts. Preferably, a one-year full replacement warranty should be provided.
Operating costs
It is because the purchase price of a printer is only part of its total operating costs over its useful life. Some printers are among the most affordable technologies. However, the average annual cost of more expensive industrial printers can run into tens of thousands in terms of unique materials and replacement parts. Determine the total cost of ownership over five years by comparing purchasing costs with the primary consumables like raw materials and expected spares such as filaments.
In summary
No 3D printer can claim to be excellent in all aspects; hence, prioritizing requirements around print quality, acceptable materials, processing speed, accuracy, reliability, operating costs, and support availability is essential to identify the best system that matches your application needs based on your business budget.