Are you looking for a 3D printer for your home but do not know which features are the right for you? You will have to make an important purchase decision, both for the product itself and for the investment. Here you have 7 tips to consider for buy a 3D printer to make task simpler than it seems.
Identify Your Needs
Before embarking on the purchase of a 3D printer, you should ask yourself different questions: What do you want it for? What kind of use are you going to give it? Will it be a professional or personal? Will you make intensive use? Do you want to print in color? All of these questions will help you define exactly what type of printer fits you best. You may not even need to buy one, but simply contact a 3D printing service sporadically.
Make A Budget
Once you have well defined your needs to know what type of printer you are looking for, it will be best to be very clear how much money you are willing to invest in it. The prices of a home printer differ greatly from those of a professional, so if you blindly invest the joke you can outweigh it more than necessary. Similarly, buying a lower-level printer than you really need can be even worse, as it will hardly meet your expectations.
Know The Materials That Are Most Used
When you learn about the subject, you will see that not everything is reduced to ABS and PLA, although they are the most common. Many printers use other materials such as LayBrick (stone-like texture), Laywood-D3 (wood look), Soft PLA (for flexible objects), Nylon (reusable) or Bendlay (transparent). For its part, ABS is one of the most versatile and best-working materials, while the PLA is made from corn and therefore stands out for being ecological.
Check Print Speed
3D printers usually have two types of speed: the speed of movement, which marks how quickly the head of the tool moves without printing between the different areas; and the speed of printing, which is calculated by seeing the millimeters per second that it is able to print. Of course, the type of material you choose to use and the size of the design will affect the speed of printing.
Ensures Software Compatibility
The software of the printers is not related to the design, but with the preparation of the piece at the time of printing: the position of the object, print speed or density, among others. Again, you will have to weigh which software is best suited to your needs, since they exist from the most complicated to the simplest. Above all, keep in mind that the software that fits the most is compatible with the printer you have thought to buy.
Rate The Print Quality
3D printing is divided into layers that are printed on top of each other. The thinner each layer, the more quality and accuracy the result will have. An optimum size is that it is at least 0.1 mm thick. Print quality is also related to the alignment of the three axes (XYZ) and calibration, among other things.
After-Sales Service and Warranty
The technology of 3D printers is progressing faster, so it is highly recommended that you ensure what type of warranty the manufacturer offers, whether there is the possibility of purchasing expansion kits, whether to include assistance in any problem or if make repairs or replace parts.
