3D Printer APB

[Netminder]

I’ve been tasked with locating a high quality 3D printer for our office. Many of the printers I looked into were $20K plus (Objet, etc). While the machine is probably worth every penny I need to do a cost/performance analysis of at least three machines. This can be found online but I was hoping for the human factor – those who have actually used ABS type (NO PLASTER!) printers, what brands, models and your own critiques.

The minimum requirements I need will be 1) Nominal Build Size 8x8x7”, 2) Positioning Accuracy .0010, 3) Minimum Layer Thickness .004, 4) Electrical required 110-240v, 5) Material ABS primarily – no plaster powder that has to be coated with superglue, 6) AutoDesk Inventor 2013, IBM and network compatible.

Again, some of this is available online but I’d like to talk to users not just read the hype.

Does anyone know about or have used the Leapfrog Xeed? There are some great printers out the in the Drafter-verse, I just want the manufacturers to be around for more than 6 months.

Recommendations?

[ReMark]

Check out this chart.

 

http://www.additive3d.com/3dpr_cht.htm

[Netminder]

REM, thanks for the link. I was pretty excited about the Leapfrog Xeed but now I see shipment will not be until October/November. Worse than that, because it is not available, I cannot find any user critiques. I'd hate to pre-order a machine that no one has been able to review and compare. The search continues...

Any other advice from the Inventor populous?

[JD Mather]

We use Stratasys and Dimension here (and zCorp powder machines).

I have not use Objet or 3D Systems, (actually we used to have a couple of 3D Systems printers).

 

I have not used any of the others, but I would be very very careful about lesser known companies.

 

I think your minimum slice thickness is going to cost you $$$.

[Netminder]

JD, so you would recommend the Stratsys and Dimension? A particular model? We've had the zCorp powder machine for a few years and it has been problematic from the start.

In order to validate our use of the 3D printer we have to show the owners that it can produce models with the very fine layer thickness. Some of the items that we would build are dimensionally extreme with tolerances that allow very little wiggle room. I think I can talk them into .01. That number (I think) was decided on by those who will not be using the machine.