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3D printing is a modern marvel, providing you with the ability to print original creations and designs by other users out of all sorts of different materials. Best of all, there’s no need to go anywhere to get it done – a 3D printer fits right into your home or office workstation, connecting to your computer via USB or WiFi, and letting you see what was just a blueprint a few minutes ago now coming to life right before your eyes.
How Do 3D Printers Work?
The best 3D printers share many of the same intrinsic features as a regular paper or photo printer, but with a few notable differences. Here’s what you need to know.
Kits: A kit is a 3D printer that you assemble yourself, and it can take anywhere from a few hours to a couple days to set up for a beginner. On the upside, this is the absolute best way to get to know a 3D printer literally inside and out, and can help you troubleshoot if anything goes wrong in the future. But if you just want to get printing right out of the box, it’s best to avoid the kits and go with a pre-assembled model (which will be a little more expensive). Note that there’s most always going to be someassembly required, but tightening a few screws is entirely different than starting from scratch. Deciding if your printer is going to be for professional use or just a fun hobby is a good first place to start.
Material:PLA (polylactide) is a common build material for beginners, as it doesn’t warp easily, or require a heated bed. However, at a certain point, it can’t stand the heat, and starts to lose its structure around 140ºF. ABS and PETG are some other options for stronger material, but for those you’ll definitely need a heated bed.
Heated Bed:For printing with materials like ABS, a heated bed is a must, and can get hot – up to 284ºF. A heated bed gives you greater control over how the cooling process might affect your creation, and can cut down on things like warping and collapsing. But if you’re not planning to use ABS materials, you may not even have to worry about having one.
Size:Consider the size of what you’ll be printing and make sure there’s room for it. Printers can range from 110mm to 500mm and upwards, with some even featuring adjustable headroom. 200mm (in all directions) is around the most common, which is fine for small things, but for larger parts, you’ll have to think big. Also keep in mind that plastics such as ABS have a tendency to shrink too.
Extruders:The extruder is the nozzle from which your printing material is sent through in order to create your final product. If you’re looking to print something intricate, with two colors or two materials at the same time, a printer with dual extruders is the way to go – even though it’ll take longer and likely cost more. Since the nozzle is what regulates the flow of your pre-loaded material, size matters here too: wider nozzles mean more material in higher layers for a faster print, while thinner nozzles take longer but are better for finer details.
Axis and Accuracy: A quick refresh here: X is side to side, Y (often times the printbed itself) moves back and forth, and Z moves up and down. These coordinates are not only important for planning how to print your product, but be aware that an unstable unit can wobble and shake, risking unwanted results on your final creation as it works its way up. Stamina is another aspect to think about too, especially if you’ll be printing products around the clock.
A 3D printer is a total game changer, giving manufacturing power to the average consumer, along with the opportunities to create things at home which were impossible only a few years ago. We’ve selected four units here to start printing your ideas to life.
