When purchasing a 3D printer one should ask himself or herself “Six 3D Printer Buying Decisions” questions before proceeding. The current array of buyable 3D printers is the largest in the history of the world, so having some parameters to make a decision is a good thing. The questions aren’t actually about 3D printers but rather about you. This is because the choice of 3D printer must fit its owner and that’s you.
Six 3D Printer Buying Decisions
Technical:
How technical are you? Are you comfortable building electronic and mechanical assemblies? How do you feel if a machine breaks? Do you feel excited about the opportunity to fix it? Or are you struck with fear and asking yourself, “who do I know that could fix this for me?” The answer will help you determine whether to purchase a 3D printer kit or a pre-assembled unit.
Time:
How much spare time do you have? How much of that spare time are you willing to put toward your 3D printing habit? If you don’t have a lot of time to devote to your machine, then perhaps you should seek machines that are pre-assembled and come with a reputation for reliability. On the other hand, if you don’t have very much time to spare, you might want to reconsider the 3D printing thing entirely.
Purpose:
What do you intend on making? Is it artwork (PLA suitable)? Is it Mechanical parts (ABS suitable)? How large might your desired objects be? If you can answer these questions, you will know the size and capabilities of your target machine.
Environment:
Where will you situate your machine? Is it in an area that can be ventilated outdoors easily? If not, then you should not be 3D printing ABS plastic indoors and might require a PLA-only machine. Also, consider how much noise you can withstand. While most current 3D printers are pretty quiet, there are still a few noisy ones available.
Wallet:
What’s your budget? CAD $500? $1000? $2000? The amount of money you spend on a machine will quickly narrow your choices, so long as they are compatible with the answers to the previous questions.
Operating System:
Most software’s for personal 3D printers these days is multi-platform, but sometimes it is not. Almost always you’ll find Windows compatibility and often Macintosh – but not always. Linux is more frequently left off the list. The moral of the story is: check out the software compatibility with your own equipment before you proceed, or you’ll be in for a surprise.
If you know the answers to these questions before shopping, you’ll have a much better chance of selecting a 3D printer that will succeed and meet all your needs.
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36 Fieldway Road,
Toronto, Ontario M8Z 3L2
Objex Unlimited is a 3D printing studio located in Toronto. We take pride in all of our products and services, offering the newest, and highest quality methods of production. With a highly skilled team of trained individuals we have no doubt that we can offer your business alternatives, which will save you work, time, and money. We use advanced 3D Printing Technology to produce Rapid Prototypes and highly detailed Concept Models directly from CAD Drawings. We can bring your CAD designs to life by creating real parts you can use and models that you can hold in your hand. Our commitment to you is to deliver in DAYS. Don’t let prototype production hold up your design cycle. Objex Unlimited is an Authorized Distributor of Artec 3D Scanners and 3D Systems Professional 3D Printers.
Phone: 416-233-7165
Email: sales@objexunlimited.com
Monday-Friday 10am-6pm EST