Hello Guys, I have to make a project for college and I am thinking to build a 3D printer in that project. I am absolutely new to this field and all I know about this field is how the printer works. I did some research and I found this printer. It will cost about Rs. 22,000 (or $350). As I said, I am absolutely new to this field so I need help.
What should I look for while making a 3D printer?
Is there anyone living close to me who can send me parts to build one?
What major parts am I looking for?
Explain stuff to me like you'd explain it to a five year old: in a simple and easy manner.
I am not an expert. However I am not an expert. However I did a lot of research before I bought mine and while waiting for mine to arrive.
Some things to look for are
How hit the hot end can go. One of Taulmen3d’s new filaments needs to be printed at 270 degrees.
The types of plastics you want to print with. This depends on what you want to do with your printer.
PLA is usually easy to print with, but it goes soft at temperatures that are reachable in the real world, such as in a car parked in the sun. However, it is biodegradable.
ABS is more difficult to print with because it teams to warp if it cools too quickly. It prints best on a heated bed in a closed printer. While printing ABS can release fumes which may or may not be dangerous.
Nylon prints sort of like ABS. Nylon can be stronger than ABS and also more flexible.
Most plastic filaments absorb water from humidity in the air. Nylon is especially bad that way. It is possible to make a simple drying cabinet, but this may not be needed.
The build volume, the hot end and resolution are the key values. The build volume is how big it can print, the hot end it’s the metal part that heats the plastic and squeeze it to make the print and resolution is the smallest detail you can get.
3D printers can also make parts for a bigger one, but can’t make a new hot end or the stepper motor.
There are a couple more in that price range as well and they are not all equal. One of the most important things to look for is support! If you are absolutely new to 3d printing, there are going to be a lot of issues you will need to figure out to get the perfect setup, configuration and print. There is a lot of configuring and tweaking involved with a 3d printer.
Look not only for support from the manufacturer/designer, but an active user based forum. If you have any issues with assembly, electronics or software, this will be more important than any other issue. Public user forums for a specific printer will be a lifesaver as a newbie, but twice as important if you wish to upgrade parts to change it to a larger or faster printer by printing parts. Any issue you could have, someone else will have already faced and probably shared the solution on a printer support forum. Check the user forums for a specific printer before purchase and you will see how people actually like it, any problems with the machine or company and will give you an idea if it is capable of doing what you want it for.
Most printers at this price range will come equipped to ”get your feet wet” and start printing with 1.75mm PLA. Some are absolute waste of money, only useful for the parts. More expensive machines will come with heaters, higher amp PSUs and larger, more powerful extruders. All of these can be purchased later on when you are familiar with the operation and use of your printer. Most people wouldn’t recommend a starter printer to a newbie to try with ABS or other specialty filament. It takes a little more experience and a well calibrated/working machine. PLA is inexpensive, biodegradable and I believe one of the easiest to print with.
I use Printrbot printers, (3 of them) so of course that is what I would recommend.
