Additive Manufacturing Project

These are whistles that were printed on five different types of 3D printers. The goal of this project was to learn and compare the pros and cons of each machine. Below are details on each.

Stratasys J826 PolyJet

I found that this printer offers the highest level of precision and the ability to create more fine details. It can produce full-color prints and uses soluble support material, which makes post-processing quicker and simplifies the finishing process.

FormLabs Form 3 SLA

This printer creates precise components. One drawback is that the resin contracts slightly as it hardens, which can affect final dimensions. To adjust for this, the digital model can be scaled up a bit before printing. The finishing stage requires several separate steps: rinsing the part, fully curing it under UV light, and completing any final surface work. This makes the post-print process longer compared to some other machines.

Markforged Mark 2 Composite

This printer reinforces parts by laying continuous fiber material directly into the print, creating significantly increased strength. However, it does not achieve the same level of dimensional accuracy as PolyJet or SLA machines, which makes producing very small or intricate features more challenging. Similar to SLA systems, the post-processing stage can be time consuming before the part is fully finished.

Stratasys 1200ES FDM

This FDM system does not match the tight tolerances achieved by PolyJet or SLA printers, resulting in slightly less precise parts. However, it features soluble support material that can be dissolved in water, reducing manual cleanup and making post-processing more efficient than with Composite or SLA machines.

Bambu H2D Pro

This machine offers good overall precision, but it doesn’t achieve the tight tolerances seen in PolyJet or SLA printers. Top qualities are its speed and dependable performance with standard parts. It also uses support material that is simple to remove, which helps make the finishing process faster than with many other printer types.