How to Choose the Right 3D Printer

Do you need to buy a 3D printer? Well, the demand is currently high due to the many benefits these printers have. Before then, the 3D printers got purchased by large industrial companies for their production needs. Things have changed since the printers are now less priced and readily available even for individual uses. You can use 3D printers to print several tasks, including phone cases, figurines, musical instruments, and much more. You only need to have the print structure ready and the raw materials. What do you consider when choosing a 3D Printer? You need to look into a few things before committing your cash to purchase a 3D printer. Here are some of the things.

Types of 3D Printers

Like other product types, 3D printers come in different types. The term 3D is a broad term that represents different machines using different materials to produce different items. These machines include Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D Printers, Stereolithography printers, and the Selective Laser Sintering 3D Printers (SLS). The FDM 3D printers use the addition method, where the machine heats and extrudes to produce a model. These are the most available printers in the market, and you can easily find them in leading shops. The Stereolithography 3D printers, also known as resin printers, also use the additive process. It uses ultraviolet light to harden models from a resin. Why are 3D printers for Resin gaining popularity? These printers produce a better quality printout than the FDM 3D printers. Selective Laser Sintering 3D Printer uses laser and powders to produce a model. The laser melts the powder, which creates a layer to the printed material. These printers can print metals, a task not compatible with other printers.

Price

3D printers come at varying prices. This pricing depends on their type, size, and quality of the output. The higher the quality of the output, the higher the price will be. Some home-use best-quality printers can go over $1000, while commercial printers are higher than $2500. It all depends on your 3D machine budget and what you are planning to print. Experts advise buying the cheaper models before upgrading to the higher-quality output 3D printers if you are starting up. Only large companies could afford these printers before then, but competition has made the prices go down. There will come a time when you will get the best models at an affordable price. Another cost you need to consider is the printing materials. You will buy the materials separately, and it will help if you set a budget for them.

Printing materials

There are two main materials accepted in 3D printing. These include Poly Lactic Acid (PLA) and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS). All these materials comprise plastic and will melt to become soft and malleable under heat or become frozen when extremely cooled. The PLA materials are environmentally friendly and cool quickly. They are available in solid and translucent colors. This material’s disadvantage is that it deforms when heated extensively and is difficult to work with on models with joints or interlocking parts. The ABS materials are popular because of their strength and quality. They are flexible in interlocking models and have high melting points, thus don’t deform under extreme heat. The disadvantages of these printing materials are that they take longer to cool during printing and emit fumes in the process. You need to choose the best materials according to the products you will want to print. After getting these materials, you can then choose the best printer that goes with the materials.

Safety of the machine

Like other machines, you have to find a 3D printer that’s safe to use. You will work on hot plastics and parts. These parts and materials can cause severe burns if you don’t purchase a well-insulated and secured machine. Ensure you get a machine with enclosures and other safety features. You should also beware of the fumes. Although the fumes have no impact on health, it’s important getting a printer with fewer fumes or one with an extended outlet for the fumes. You should also note the materials and ensure they are food-graded if planning to produce household items. Ensure the materials have no additives, and if there are, they need to be food-friendly. You should also check if the machines are properly insulated and have emergency buttons in any abnormal occurrence.

Other factors you need to consider when buying these 3D printers are the quality of the machines and materials and the supporting files to create the models. You also need to check on the reviews and opinions from other users before making the final purchase. When all these factors tick, you will be sure of getting the right machine for your 3D printing needs.