Tuesday 20 August 2019

Creality Ender 3 Pro: When Print Speed Matters!


              Printing speed is always served as a yardstick of a fast 3D printer. However, maintaining a fine line between print quality and the time taken to complete an object, is one that successfully differentiates a good printer from the masses. Falling prices and advancing technology has made cheap 3D printers all the more enticing. The level of the output one can obtain from these machines, makes for a compelling value proposition.

Among these range of popular and affordable 3D printers is the Creality Ender 3 Pro. A printer that does anything and everything you want without your bank in any way. Today, we`ll focus on the speed aspect of a printing setup and gloss over the important things that affect the overall print speed.

Printing speeds heavily relies on the type of material used. The material must undergo the required phase transition within the period duly required for binding uniformity. A detailed classification citing an ideal print setting for the given material used with Ender 3 Pro is given below:

PLA - derived from the plant materials is considered to be the most generic form of printable material. It delivers a print speed of 60 mm/s which remains ideal for everyday use.

TPU – represents a class of soft flexible materials, that is required to be printed at speeds, much slower than PLA or PETG. Considering the Ender 3 Bowden Extruder setup, printing at a speed of 20 mm/s to 40 mm/s should render a fine quality print.

PETG – is a set of filaments that prints at a temperature that is hotter than PLA. It can reach print speeds up to 60 mm/s, but the output may suffer from a stingy structure. Therefore, it's best to observe a print speed of around 40mm/s to alleviate the possibility of a feeble print.

ABS – is a hard and impact-resistant material. It necessitates an enclosed form to obtain a uniform and thorough print. Typically, a print speed close to PLA or PETG, (40-60 mm/s) is considered to be a safe bet.

Printer Characteristics:
The versatility of the Ender 3 Pro makes it potent to handle print speeds ranging from 30mm/s to as high as 200mm/s. However, the level of quality suffers as the print speed increases. Hence, an optimal print guideline specified by the Ender 3 Pro setup states 40-50mm/s for Detailed Prints & 70-80mm/s for rougher models.

Print Bed Settings:
The manufacturer states a max print speed of 200mm/s for Ender 3 Pro. However, speeds this fast is neither viable nor optimal for a fine quality print. This usually states the speed of motor travel rather than an extruder print speed.
One might find it difficult to ascertain a level bed, fit for good printing. This issue may exacerbate the conditions observed while fast printing. The enhanced forces of inertia involved in the translational motion, coupled with a wobbly or tilted bed might pose a serious risk to the machine.

Trial and Error Methodology:
Regardless of the brand of printer or its proprietary sets of features, users must themselves find ideal printer settings which suit their needs. Thus, finding the best specifications and settings remains a key part in an endless trial and error method that follows a continuous 3D printing process. The crucial things remain the iterative tuning and experimentation which renders the best possible experience. So, keep on trying and see what works for you the best!


Sunday 18 August 2019

XYZ Scanner 2.0 – An Overview!


               Designing a 3D model of a real-world object from scratch can seem like a daunting task. Thankfully, the world of 3D printing does offer a creative solution called the 3D scanner.

3DScanning – Is a simple process of capturing and mapping a real-world object using computer-aided photography to generate an identical model that is available for printing.


XYZ, a Taiwan based company makes some of the best handheld scanners in the 3D printing industry. The XYZ Scanner 2.0 is a compact and lightweight tool that helps users scan the minute details within an object. All the more, this device can serve a pivotal role in reverse engineering, body scanning and rapid prototyping.

The XYZ Scanner 2.0 employs the sophisticated Intel® RealSense™ technology to generate a raw 3D model from an object within minutes. It can easily map both large and small objects though its extended operating range of 25-60 cm & a scanning distance of 20-120 cm. The colour camera can produce scans at a resolution of 1920x1080p at 40fps (frames per second), while detailed depth images can be recorded at a size of 640x480 at 30fps. It also provides deep scans with a max resolution of 0.2-1.5 mm for object dimension up to 100x100x200cm (WxDxH).

The scanner is compatible with various software’s, as detailed scans can be exported in multiple file formats such as .stl, .obj, .ply, .fbx, among others. The company uses proprietary software called XYZScan to facilitate easy scanning. This software serves as a handy tool to quickly edit the model as per your needs.

XYZ scanner drastically cuts down the cost associated in replicating a printable object. It renders an exceptional 3D scanning experience though its detailed scans that facilitate economical 3D printing. Its versatile outlook and high-res scans make it a perfect companion for professions working on all fronts.

Thursday 15 August 2019

Creality Ender 3: Top features that make it stand out!


A growing community and an ever-rising need for economic options have impelled 3D Printer manufacturers to innovate and marginalize cost at the same time. Amid this fierce competition, Creality, a has made its way to the top. Its numerous offering comes at an excellent price point and observes a level of quality that comes through its innovative and cutting-edge engineering. With numerous accolades from industry veterans and seasoned specialist, Ender 3 – a low-cost 3D Printer has rightfully earned its place across the class of most prominent 3D printer kits out there. Buy on Amazon

Let's go through some important aspects which make the Ender 3 a formidable machine,

Supreme Design
Ender 3 is an FDM (Fused Deposition Modelling) Type printer which comes with a solid design borrowed from the Prusa I3 frame. It is packed with a V-Slot POM wheel that grants a smooth and noiseless motion with its rugged and durable built. The Ender 3 comes with a 0.4mm nozzle that can extrude a variety of filaments through its patented MK-10 extruder that neatly eliminates the possibility of plugging risk and bad extrusion.

Super-Size Bed
The printer comes with the best-in-class bed size of 220 x 220 x 250 mm, which facilitates the production of sizable prints. The layer height can be dialled down to a mere 100 microns which allow for detailed and quality print outputs.

Easy Assembly
The installation process is cumbersome for novice users but is a rather fulfilling process with its detailed and instructive assembly manuals. The entire process can be completed in under 20 mins as the hot end and base come preassembled which just leaves the assembly of frame and electronics to be finished.

Versatile
The extruder temperature can reach up to 255 which makes it compatible with a variety of printable materials such as ABS/PLA, TPU, WOOD, FLEXIBLE, Carbon fibre, PETG, HIPS, NYLON, among others. The Cura 3.0.2 slicing software can be interfaced via a USB or can be used to output final G-codes for printing through a microSD card slot. Lastly, the Ender 3 also lets you resume prints in case of undue failure of power or time constraints.

Performance

The Printer renders output within a dimensional accuracy of 1% which falls well within the workable tolerances associated with the printing industry. The exceptional speed of printing is given through its sophisticated price of engineering that observes few competitors in this margin.   

 

Economical
The price of the Ender 3 falls in line with competition as it sits roughly in the price bracket of 16,000-20,000 Rs. Users must be aware of the duplicate or fake products as the success of Creality range has spawned many clones across the industry. Bedsides its unbeatable price, the running cost associated with the printer which mainly includes filament cost and cost of spare is also low. Additionally, the Ender-3 can be used with 3rd party filaments without any issues.



The Ender 3 is an epitome of excellence, for the value it provides. The printer accommodates the character necessary to define a perfect printer like good bed size, better dimensional accuracy, and an affordable price point. These qualities make this a perfect companion to embark on your 3D Printing journey.