Tag: 3D Printing

Join us for Food and Drinks at our Formlabs Fuse 1 Open House!

Post author By Dominic Filipponi
Post date July 18, 2022
Sticky post

Have you ever wanted to see some of Formlabs’ top performing 3D printers up close and in action? Be sure to join us on Wednesday, July 27 from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM CDT at our Lunch & Learn Open House to do just that.

Key members of our engineering and industrial team will be in attendance to go over any question that you may have on specifications, processes, or anything else you may want to know about the Formlabs Fuse 1 and it’s expanding ecosystem.

Don’t hesitate to register; spots are limited, and we anticipate meeting full capacity as many of our events have done in the past.

Tags 3D Printing, Form 3, Form 3L, Formlabs, Fuse 1, News, Showroom, SLS

3D Printing Education

The Benefits of 3D Printing in the Classroom

Post author By Dominic Filipponi
Post date February 15, 2022

Year after year, schools and their teachers search for the best educational techniques to bring excitement and learning to the classroom. You will achieve both goals with the hands-on learning experience of 3D printing.

Students benefit in many ways with the introduction of 3D printing to their curriculum. How?

Textbook based readings and standard homework assignments have always been a long-term strategy for learning. But, the on-screen to real-world nature of 3D printing truly sparks the engagement and creativity of students.

At least as far as Onfim in the 13th Century, students have strived to be creative in the classroom, either through their assigned homework and projects, or simply by doodling at their desk.

Bringing in the engaging technology of 3D printing allows students to exercise their creativity. Designing on their own and seeing it come to life can nurture that inherent creative spirit and push them to continue that mindset.

Studies have shown a high correlation between classroom 3D printing use and academic achievement.

A 2018 study found that students that worked with 3D printing were able to more quickly and decisively answer questions on medical examinations, which was correlated with higher test scores.

Spatial Learning and its benefits are widely accepted. Utilizing the advanced technology of 3D printing is an excellent way to practice this learning technique. It helps to engage with your students and increases their capacity to better understand their surroundings.

3D printing benefits students in the short-term, and it helps ensure that they will be able to retain those skills as they grow older.

Students that interact and actively use 3D printing technology gain valuable technological skills, but they will also derive other measurable benefits. By actively using new technology like 3D printers in group projects and presentations, students will increase social and communication skills.

A study, conducted at Texas A&M University, echoed that sentiment, stating that working with and designing for 3D printing projects has “a positive influence on student’s motivation, interests, mathematic skills, and real-life skills.”

As STEAM learning becomes more adopted, 3D printers have raced to the forefront of education. This approach has shown benefits in multiple ways, namely through the crucial impact it has had on girls.

An initiative demonstrating this remarkable impact is MakerGirl from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This program has shown great efficacy by providing workshops and educational material to girls age 7 and up.

When you take a look back at the technological advancements of the past century, it is truly incredible how much innovation has occurred. It is not essential for students to have access to 3D printers.

For an entire nation, its workers, and its students, having access to leading technology bestows a “first-mover” advantage that lasts for decades. Implementing 3D printing in your school can help to provide that critical experience, giving your students true opportunity in the economy of the 2020s.

How do I get started?

To kick off 2022, Dynamism created a brand-new EDU Purchasing Guide for our Nation’s educators to get a better idea of which items might help their classroom. Take a look at our guide by filling out the form below!

Tags 3D Printing, Education

3D Printing Education

Why 3D Printers are Right for Your Classroom

Post author By Dominic Filipponi
Post date February 7, 2022

We’re often asked if the kit-like 3D printers, usually marketed as a cool toy for consumers, and costing less than professional 3D printers, would be sufficient for a classroom. While these printers are okay for occasional printing in your garage, they don’t stand up to the rigor of daily use (whether by kids or adults), nor do they produce reliable and repeatable results.

Why Professional-Grade 3D Printers Save Money in the Long-Term

Investing in 3D printers designed for education will provide you the best long term return on investment, and reliably produce the best educational outcomes. The cheaper consumer-focused 3D printer is enticing, but they are typically only used for a few months before most realize they need a more robust tool.

Dynamism only sells professional-grade printers that will endure daily use, are easy to maintain, and generally modular–so if repairs are needed the vast majority are simple part swaps. Our printers are designed and manufactured for the heavy, everyday use in the educational 3D printer lab, classroom, factory floor, or engineer’s daily use. These are a larger upfront investment than consumer-focused printers, but a lower cost of long-term ownership, and immeasurably better ownership experience due to their reliability and accuracy.

Dynamism Makes 3D Printing Affordable for Education

In many cases we, working with our maker partners, can offer special Educator-only pricing. Fill out the form below to view your savings.

What Works for Schools

3D printing in education comes in three easy pieces: 3D printers, the consumable that is used for printing (filament or resin), and software.

There are many options when it comes to top tier 3D printers for school, but we have some top recommendations. For schools with the most budget flexibility, we recommend Ultimaker. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Ultimaker produces a beautiful quality and well manufactured 3D printer that is sophisticated, yet easy to use. They are simple to set up and run reliably.

As with any mechanical tool, occasional maintenance is needed. Ultimaker’s design makes this easy. And, our Warranty Plans can protect you against any unexpected cost for years to come.

Which Ultimaker 3D printers does Dynamism offer?

Ultimaker S5

Ultimaker’s best-seller is the Ultimaker S5. This printer also features Ultimaker’s largest potential print volume.

Be sure to check out the Ultimaker S5 Pro Bundle, which includes air manager (with filtration), material station (for easy changing of filament colors or types), and all the necessary software to get your curriculum running.

Ultimaker S3

Ultimaker S3 is very similar to the Ultimaker S5, but with a smaller potential printing area. It also uses less space on a tabletop. So, if space is a concern, or if you want more printers in a given budget, the Ultimaker S3 is an excellent option.

Ultimaker 2+ Connect

Out of the box, the Ultimaker 2+ Connect may be our most easy printer to start working with. The biggest difference between the 2+ and the S5/S3 is that it is a single extraction printer. This means that your prints will only be made with one filament type and may be less complex, but that can be a benefit depending on your classroom’s needs.

If you’d like even more functionality, we offer the Ultimaker 2+ Connect Air Manager Bundle which will help to filtrate your printing process.

Resin or Filament is the substance that your 3D printer uses to create an object. There are many 3D printing materials available, but if you would like to go with an Ultimaker 3D printer, we recommend Dynamism filament, or Ultimaker filament.

A Useful Filament Tool

An optional add-on for the Ultimaker S5 is the ever-so-useful Material Station. This add-on helps to ensure that your filament is stored in optimal humidity, automatically changes spools when necessary, and is included in the S5 Pro Bundle. Simply put, it’s an elegant solution.

Software can truly enhance your 3D printing experience. Some key programs cut down on time spent printing and materials used for your Software is a critical aspect of the 3D printing experience. Good software will configure your printer to achieve goals faster, and with less use of materials.

Which Software is compatible with Ultimakers, and how does it save money?

A lot of our Ultimaker bundles come with top of the line 3D printing software. Some bundles feature Ultimaker Essentials/Personal Software, but other Ultimaker printers give you eligibility for huge discounts on SmartSlice for Ultimaker Cura.

Ultimaker Cura

Ultimaker Cura is the world’s most popular 3D printing software. As a simple to use slicing software, Cura integrates smoothly with any workflow through their Marketplace plugins. With the needs of both beginners and engineers, Cura will make the most of your Ultimaker with a more speedy and reliable printing process.

SmartSlice

SmartSlice is a state of the art software designed for Ultimaker Cura that helps you optimize prints efficiently. By improving build instructions to the 3D printer, SmartSlice helps to cut down on the amount of time you spend printing and the amount of filament you use during your print, resulting in time and cost savings.

The Final Verdict

As you can see, there are many ways to gain efficiency with professional 3D printers. Although they are more expensive up front, they will save on overhead costs and give you back some much needed time for other tasks. Additionally, there are a plethora of materials, parts, and 3D printing software to limit waste and get more out of a given budget.

Whether you’re ready to start now, or you still have questions, check out our catalog of printers, materials, parts, and other useful tools. Or, if you want a more personal touch, reach out directly to one of our Product Experts at 1-800-711-6277 or sales@dynamism.com.

Exclusive Discounts & Detailed Recommendations

Tags 3D Printing, S5, Ultimaker

3D Printing Education

What to know before 3D printing in the classroom

Post author By Dominic Filipponi
Post date January 27, 2022

3D printing has exploded in importance in recent years, and now schools are starting to embrace the revolutionary technology. Still, 3D printing can remain a challenging technology to embrace for those without previous experience.

So, let our team at Dynamism walk you through the process, and we’ll start with answering some of the most common questions from educators.

What do I need to get started?

There are some key pieces of information that you need to know before you can start printing in your classroom. Take a look at our checklist below!

✅ 3D Printer

First is choosing the right 3D printer. Choosing the right 3D printer will have the largest impact on the rest of your experience. We can offer expert, unbiased, and detailed advice. As a start, we have a few recommendations below.

Which 3D printer will benefit my classroom?

Deciding which 3D printers to bring to your classroom can be confusing. Here are some tips from our extensive experience working with educators.

Grades K-6

For classrooms filled with eager kids, having printing bandwidth, easy accessible storage, and detailed plans to jump-start your learning are your keys to running a successful program. See which of our options is for you with our recommendations below.

Looking to get started with a fast and simple-to-use 3D Printer that comes with numerous bells and whistles? Our MakerBot Sketch Classroom Bundle comes with two printers, an abundance of extra filament, and over 600 educational lesson plans to keep you covered through your entire school year and beyond. Order this bundle to get a great plug-and-play, straight out of the box, experience.

Another excellent option for the classroom is our Dremel DigiLab 3D45 Education Package. It includes the Dremel DigiLab 3D45 printer, along with extra filament, 30 lesson plans for hands-on experience, and the opportunity to acquire 4 hours of Online Professional Development Credit through ISTE. To learn how to earn your 4 hours, please visit Dremel’s ISTE Certified PD Certificate Access Walkthrough.

Grades 7-12

For classrooms with students looking to expand their knowledge and get a little more serious with 3D Printing capabilities, here are excellent options.

If you’re ready to bring 3D printing technology used by thousands of professional engineers to your classroom, try multi-color dual-head extrusion with the Ultimaker S5. Here, students get hands-on and real-world experience creating industrial-quality parts using Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) printing.

Additionally, our bundle provides you with a seamless printing experience, with the inclusion of the Air Manager, Material Station, and professional grade software.

Generally, the Ultimaker Series is an excellent option for new and experienced users alike. Take a look at our catalog of Ultimakers to see what might fit your needs.

Many of our Dynamism printer packages come with useful tools, and the Formlabs Form 3+ Complete Package is no exception. The Resin Tank, Build Platform, Finish Kit, and other add-ons will provide you with extraordinary value to get the most out of your printer. To view our complete selection of Formlabs printers, please click here.

Do you have some more questions?

If you aren’t quite sure what products would be best for your classroom, please check out our buying guide for teachers, reach out to one of our product experts by phone at 1-800-711-6277, email us at sales@dynamism.com, or simply enter your information below and we will get back to you shortly.

✅ Filament & Resin

Think of filament or resin as analogous to ink in traditional printers. When printing, you’ll need the physical component that is transformed into your model. Generally speaking, filament arrives as a long thread on a spool, while resin is a liquid hardened in the 3D printing process.

Printer brands that use filament include MakerBot and Ultimaker, and printer brands that use resin include Formlabs and Nexa3D.

✅ Software

Having the right software for your 3D printer makes operating it so much easier. We recommend utilizing PrintLab’s Classroom Software. PrintLab’s software can serve the entire classroom or just the teacher. This software gives you everything needed to get your lesson plan rolling.

In short, PrintLab Classroom provides you with top-of-the-line teacher training, lesson plans, and certifications.

✅ 3D Scanner (Optional)

3D scanners are not a classroom necessity, but they’re a remarkable luxury.

Using pinpoint laser technology, these scanners create truly remarkable 3D models of real-world objects. Scan any object you want to use in your project, and print it straight away. To view our handheld 3D scanner guide, please click here.

What if I need Technical Support?

Whether you’re a beginner or a veteran, 3D printing can be challenging. At Dynamism, we pride ourselves on providing you with unparalleled, unlimited, and always free support by toll-free phone, email, or chat.

In addition to unlimited free support, we also offer paid support options that include setup and training by videoconference or on-site, at your location. You can book a session with an expert from our staff to walk you through your product set up, and can even provide step-by-step instructions in real-time on any complications that you may be experiencing.

Where do I find things to print?

You can either design your own files to print, or you can utilize online communities to download designs. If you’re looking for creative projects to print, check out some of these links:

Thingiverse by MakerBot: As an open and completely free community, Thingiverse is a blessing to enthusiasts and professionals alike. You can search for specific builds, or sort by most popular prints if you just want inspiration.
YouMagine: YouMagine is an accumulation of designs, blogs, and collections that can keep you and your entire classroom busy for years. We especially like incredibly unique collections page!
3DShook: Although it’s not free, it is a very low cost way to purchase designs and packages of files. 3DShook is an excellent option for educators.
Pinshape: Pinshape combines both free and paid designs of 3D printing enthusiasts from around the world. Download print projects, comb through their online forum or take part in one of their many 3D printing contests. Additionally, you can take a look at projects, tutorials, and pre-designed lesson plans.
Instructables: As an online platform set to inspire creative designs, Instructables can keep you and your classroom occupied for the entire year. Instructables has a dedicated page just for teachers, including featured projects broken down by subject and grade level.

Exclusive Discounts & Detailed Recommendations

Tags 3D Printing, Form 3, Formlabs, S5, Ultimaker

3D Printing News

Coming to Chicago August 5th: Formlabs Fuse 1 Roadshow

Post author By Andy Goeke
Post date July 9, 2021

Formlabs Fuse 1 SLS

Dynamism invites you to join us for the Chicago stop of the Formlabs Fuse 1 printer roadshow!

Don’t miss this opportunity to see the Formlabs Fuse 1 SLS, along with the Form 3L Form 3 SLA systems in person, learn the workflow required to produce parts, and have your questions answered. Speakers will include Levi Smith from Formlabs, Rob Schick and Hratch Gasparyan from Dynamism, and professionals from the Chicago community who use Formlabs 3D printers as part of their work.

We will be hosting two sessions on the afternoon of August 5th, the first starts at 1PM and the second at 3PM. Space is limited, so reserve your spot at the link below today!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dynamism-x-formlabs-fuse-1-3d-printer-roadshow-tickets-162064191359

Tags 3D Printing, Form 3, Form 3L, Formlabs, Fuse 1, News, Showroom, SLS

Engineering Manufacturing

Yasuhide Yokoi and Final Aim Inc’s Autonomous Delivery Robot

Post author By Brent Imhoff
Post date July 6, 2021

Yasuhide “Yasu” Yokoi is the cofounder of design and technology firm Final Aim Inc., which works with laboratories, startups, and multinational companies to transform ideas into tangible solutions. There, he and his team use Ultimaker 3D printers to better enable rapid design iterations during the prototyping phase.

One of the company’s latest projects is the OSTAW Camello, an autonomous package delivery robot.

Revolutionizing Package Delivery

The Camello was designed to address issues in the delivery logistics chain in Singapore, which causes high shipment costs and operational complexities. Due to low loads and long waiting periods in loading and unloading bays, package deliveries are often inefficient – a fact exacerbated by high delivery volumes and tight delivery deadlines.

To tackle this challenge, Final Aim collaborated with a Singaporean robotics start-up OTSAW Digital PTE LTD, with the Camello being the final product.

The Camello is user friendly, featuring an ergonomic cargo space and sleek design – optimal for Singapore’s urban environment. Plans are currently underway for it to be used by various industrial key players, delivery companies, and retailers throughout Singapore, creating an improved ecosystem that provides smooth and efficient delivery to customers, while increasing profit margins for those businesses that use it.

The Birth of the Camello

As with any product, several phases were involved in Camello’s design, with the Ultimaker S3, Ultimaker Cura, and CAD software acting as Yasu’s and Final Aim’s greatest companions throughout the process.

First came the robot’s concept development and evaluation. From the initiation to ideation, he used both hand-drawn design sketches and CAD software.

Industrial designer Yasuhide Yokoi with the Ultimaker S3 and Camello prototypes

Once he developed the idea, Yasu began the process of presenting it to the higher-level management, frontline members, and end-users. This divergent approach allowed Yasu to gain as much feedback as possible, which he could then use to refine, improve, and further flesh out his concept.

A CAD design iteration, which can be 3D printed

Next came the prototyping phase. As Yasu now had numerous potential ideas, he needed to rapidly actualize them – often on tight deadlines. Luckily, this was a task that 3D printing was able to easily handle. Compared to other common prototyping methods such as sculpting or carving from Styrofoam, chemical wood, or industrial clay, 3D printing is much more efficient – freeing up time for Yasu to work on other design tasks.

“More than just cost-cutting, 3D printing has added value to my process,” Yasu said.

3D printed iterations of the robot, ready to be tested and compared

Finalizing an Intuitive Design

Yasu was also responsible for ensuring that the Camello’s final design was of excellent quality. As his works often incorporate organically curved surfaces and silhouettes, which are often difficult to implement, he needed to create numerous iterations. 3D printing technology utilizes the contour layers of printouts to analyze the curvature of surfaces – essentially an equivalent to the zebra mapping that CAD software performs.

“The Ultimaker S3’s double extrusion feature has [also] been essential to my everyday design applications,” Yasu said. “Together with Breakaway and PVA material, my printing experience has become exponentially more efficient. I am deeply satisfied with the resulting quality as it leaves behind no support structure remaining.”

Final design iteration prototyped on the Ultimaker S3

Production Camello delivering groceries in Singapore

For the Camello to be a success, its design had to be intuitive and accessible at first glance. The design process, therefore, involved divergent ideation, exploring all possibilities, which were then carefully narrowed in focus. Development speed was also critical for stakeholders’ requests.

3D printing enabled these stakeholders to see and touch a physical product, deepening their understanding of the Camello’s concept and design – and streamlining the decision-making process.

Tags 3D Printing, Engineering, FFF, manufacturing, S3, Ultimaker

3D Printing

Particle Emissions During 3D Printing

Post author By Brent Imhoff
Post date May 13, 2021

What are Volatile Organic Compounds?

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are natural or synthetic airborne chemicals with a vapor pressure above 0.1 kPa at 20 °C. While they are often detectable as smells or odors, scientific detection takes place by sampling air around a printer under controlled conditions and then analyzing the samples. Some VOCs are hazardous. But depending on the molecular structure of the VOC, its safe Threshold Limit Values (TLV) concentration can range from a few micrograms to several milligrams per cubic meter.

Are 3D Printed VOC Emissions Dangerous?

The key to stating whether 3D printing may be harmful to your health depends on safe TLVs. These limit values essentially measure the concentration of ultrafine particles (UFPs) in the air. The fewer particles in the air, the better the health outcome for the user. There are seven key factors to take into consideration when assessing health risks from 3D printing:

The room’s dimensional volume affects the TLV. Larger rooms have more air volume and will result in a lower concentration of UFPs.
The room’s air exchange rate affects concentration buildup. Faster/more frequent air exchange cycles of the room’s dimensional volume will reduce the UFP concentration.
How many 3D printers you are operating. Each printer will generate UFPs, and therefore more printers will produce more UFPs.
What material(s) you are printing. Different materials produce different levels of UFPs during normal operation of a printer.
How long you are printing. The longer you are printing, the more time UFPs have to accumulate in the room.
How close you are to the printer(s). The closer you are to a source of UFPs, the more concentrated they will be.
Whether there are other emission sources in the room. Additional emission sources can affect overall room air quality in addition to UFPs from 3D printing.

To dispel any concerns, if you 3D print under the recommended conditions, using any Ultimaker 3D printer and Ultimaker material, there is minimal concern for health risks. For current Ultimaker materials, a nano reference value of 40,000 particles per cubic centimeter (p/cm3) is relevant. Below this concentration, health risks are very unlikely.

This chart provides three average UFP concentration readings for three different print materials. These represent the low, mid, and high end range of possible particulate emissions when using an Ultimaker S5 with the standard configuration that does not include an Air Manager. Specifically, this is due to the level of UFP emission during printing for materials ranging from the low end (PLA) to the high end (Polycarbonate).

* Calculated based on the particle emission rate determined from independent test laboratory measurements and assuming a typical office room of 30.6 m3 with an air exchange rate of 1.8/hr

How Do I Mitigate 3D Printed Emissions?

While it is not possible to eliminate VOC emissions entirely while 3D printing, there are steps you can take to mitigate the particulates released into the local environment.

This chart shows the particulate emissions from the same three materials and printers, along with a second reading taken an Ultimaker Air Manager system has been installed on the printer. For each material, the particle emissions have dropped to less than 500 particles per cubic centimeter. In the case of Ultimaker Polycarbonate, this has reduced overall emissions by more than 95%.

The Air Manager uses a quiet, multi-speed fan to pull air contained inside the enclosed build chamber through a filter, creating an inside-out airflow. This results in nearly all air leaving the printer through the filter, with the exhausted air having the majority of particles removed.

* Calculated based on the particle emission rate determined from independent test laboratory measurements and assuming a typical office room of 30.6 m3 with an air exchange rate of 1.8/hr

Final Thoughts

An Air Manager fully encloses the Ultimaker S5 build chamber, providing users with the freedom to set up 3D printers in more locations – including areas where unwanted airflows would negatively impact print quality. Additionally, by providing a physical barrier that stops anyone from touching hot or moving parts, workplace safety is improved. Though it’s up to each individual user to assess the safety of their printing environment and make proper adjustments, adding an Air Manager or filtration solution to your setup mitigates risk substantially, while also improving overall print quality by providing a more consistent print environment.

Ultimaker 2+ Connect Air Manager

The Ultimaker 2+ Connect Air Manager (including front door enclosure) fully encloses the build chamber for a more stable printing environment, while preventing anyone from touching hot and moving components during operation.

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Ultimaker S5 Air Manager

An integrated filtration solution for the Ultimaker S5 printer, utilizing HEPA filtration while providing optimized airflow settings for all Ultimaker filament. Incorporate safety in your 3D printing workflow.

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BOFA 3D PrintPro 3

The 3D PrintPRO extraction system combines high capture performance with proven filter technology, ensuring the effective removal of hazardous particulate, gases/vapors, and odors associated with 3D printing methods. Requires an additional compatible print enclosure for proper operation.

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Considering 3D Printing?

Dynamism works with thousands of schools, companies,
and government organizations. We understand the challenges
with acquiring and deploying cutting-edge technology.

Just getting started? Know what you’re looking for? We’re ready
to discuss requirements and help you make an informed decision
about the products you need, all at the best prices available.

Tags 3D Printing, Filtration, White Papers

3D Printing

Desktop Metal to acquire EnvisionTEC

Post author By Beardslee Eric
Post date January 15, 2021

Announced today, two 3D printing powerhouses are to join forces with a definitive agreement for Desktop Metal to acquire EnvisionTEC, a market leader in photopolymer printing with an incredible IP and product portfolio. The acquisition will add a large portfolio of photopolymer 3D printers for end-use parts, dental and orthodontic applications, bioprinting, and casting markets such as jewelry. Dynamism is an authorized reseller of both brands, discover their available 3D printing solutions here.

In the industrial additive manufacturing market, growth has been driven by a shift from purely prototyping to dedicated solutions for end-use applications, an area where EnvisionTEC excels. Founded in 2002, EnvisionTEC boasts a large portfolio of over 190 materials and seven current 3D printers, which come in a variety of industry-focused configurations. Of notable mention, a recent material addition, EnvisionTEC’s E-3955 Thermal Cure exceeds material properties of Ultem1010, the strongest material currently available for material extrusion 3D printers (FFF/FDM). In addition, the EnvisionTEC portfolio includes a massive, high-speed 3D printer powered by an 8k DLP light source, printers 100X faster than legacy thermoplastic printers, a bioprinter, and several industry leading solutions for dental, jewelry, and manufacturing applications.

A complete look at the combined Desktop Metal and EnvisionTEC hardware portfolio

Through the acquisition expect “business as usual” for both companies. EnvisionTEC will continue as a wholly-owned subsidiary, maintaining the current organizational structure, with founder Al Siblani remaining as CEO, and the EnvisionTEC sales organization and channel program remaining in place.

Dynamism is an authorized reseller of both Desktop Metal and EnvisionTEC

Discover solutions from each company by clicking the logos below or reach out to sales@dynamism.com with your additive needs. Our dedicated industrial 3D printing specialist can work with you to discover how these complementary product lines can help your company with the digital manufacturing transformation.

DISCOVER SOLUTIONS

Tags 3D Printing, Desktop Metal, News

3D Printing

Tech Sessions: BCN3D Sigma D25

Post author By Beardslee Eric
Post date January 14, 2021

Independent Dual Extrusion System (IDEX)

Multi-Material & Soluble Support Printing

Dual extrusion is an important feature for professionals looking to 3D print complex shapes, designs with steep overhangs, multi-material parts, and objects with large internal cavities. One of the standout features of the BCN3D lineup is their innovative variation of the dual extrusion system, independent dual extrusion. Pioneered by BCN, the IDEX system is one of the cleanest dual extrusion variations due to the extruders ability to exit the build volume completely, preventing any oozing material or soluble support from making its way into the layers of your other material. Upon re-entry, the nozzles pass over a wiper, scraping off any oozing material and ensuring crisp lines between different materials. Combine this with an Open Filament Format, the D25 provides endless opportunities to innovate.

Duplication & Mirror Modes

Unlike other dual extrusion designs, the IDEX system also provides the ability to print in duplication mode and mirror mode. As you might have guessed, duplication mode enables the Sigma D25 to print multiple of the same part simultaneously. Inversely, extruders can work in opposite directions on the X-axis, creating multiple mirrored designs at the same time. These two features, paired with a massive 420x300x200mm build volume, makes the D25 a perfect 3D printer for improving productivity.

Premium Design & Components

BCN sought to create a high-quality 3D printing experience and delivered it throughout with premium components. From the moment the box arrives at your door, the quality of the Sigma D25 is apparent. The D25’s solid metal body, reinforced X-axis gantry, and large, 5″ full-color touch screen give the 3D printer a premium feel. The extrusion system features components from two of the best-in-the-business, e3D™ Hotends and Bondtech™ Extruders. Paired with filament runout sensors and a repositioned extrusion system, the D25 delivers exceptional single and multi-material 3D prints.

Improved Calibration & Operation

On setup, a large 5″ multi-lingual touchscreen guides you through the entire process, from calibrating the bed and extruders to loading filament. In addition, the BCN D25 comes with a WiFi dongle for a connected workflow. Easily upgrade to the newest firmware and manage print jobs directly from your desk. While some may scratch their heads at the use of a dongle, others may find this useful. Especially when your organization does not permit network connected hardware.

Final Thoughts

BCN has stepped-up their game, delivering a high-quality independent dual extrusion 3D printing experience with a massive build volume (Wow! That’s a mouthful). Furthermore, the Sigma D25 wraps all of this in a sturdy, gorgeous looking 3D printer that will have you wanting to place this front and center in your office. If you are looking to print large single parts or increase your 3D printing productivity, this printer is for you. If you like these features but need something bigger, check out BCN’s new Epsilon W27 and Epsilon W50.

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Tags 3D Printing, BCN3D, FFF, Sigma D25

3D Printing

Understanding 3D Printer Resolution

Post author By Beardslee Eric
Post date December 21, 2020

When you begin researching 3D printers one question often comes to mind: “What is the resolution of this 3D printer?” This is not an easy question to answer and has certainly led to failed expectations for the unsuspecting. So, before you let ‘resolution’ sway your next 3D printer purchase, let’s take a moment to define 3D printer resolution and some common misconceptions of the metric.

Just because a 3D printer data-sheet boasts a 1.25μ X/Y/Z resolution does not mean you can expect this from the finished part, nor does it guarantee a smooth surface finish.

What Is 3D Printing Resolution? It’s Not What You May Think.

Due to a lack of metric standardization in additive manufacturing, 3D printer resolution can go by a number of names including X/Y/Z resolution, positioning resolution, or theoretical resolution. In theory, this metric is a measurement of the smallest movement a 3D printer can achieve in each direction. Set by hardware and firmware, positional resolution is calculated by the number of ‘steps’ in a 360° rotation. These micro rotational movements are delivered by stepper motors and belts to drive the X, Y, and Z axes. The more steps, the finer movements a 3D printer can achieve. While this is important, manufacturers often provide a theoretical metric, unrealized by the user due to a number of factors including material shrinkage, belt tensioning, nozzle size, and more.

What You’re Probably Looking For…

For people new to 3D printing and even some tenured professionals, resolution is often misconstrued for one of two things, dimensional accuracy of the printed part and/or surface finish. These are both complex topics so let’s take a moment to analyze each. Keep in mind there are pros and cons to each 3D printing technology so this article should only be part of your overall assessment. If you need help, Dynamism’s 3D printing specialists are here to help.

Printed Part Dimensional Accuracy

Printed part dimensional accuracy is not solely defined by hardware. Instead, there are a number of influencing factors for each of the 3D printing technologies. Below, we break down influencing factors for two of the most common technologies.

Material Extrusion 3D Printers

For material extrusion 3D printers, the dimensions of your final part are influenced by positional resolution, nozzle size, die swell, belt tensioning, and shrink rate of the material. Material is a huge contributing factor here. Some materials have more die swell than others. Additionally, Styrene-based materials, like ABS, have high shrink rates which can result in parts smaller than intended. Thankfully, smaller nozzles can be added to most FFF 3D printers to achieve more accurate prints and smoother surface finishes but as a tradeoff, prints take longer to finish.

Resin 3D Printers

For stereolithography aka resin printers, dimensional accuracy is mainly determined by the material and laser spot size, or screen resolution for DLP 3D Printers. Some materials will shrink when undergoing the heat and UV curing process. Overall, SLA and DLP printers produce more accurate parts than material extrusion printers but as a tradeoff, most affordable market options have smaller build volumes and materials only emulate end-use materials, like ABS, Polycarbonates, and Polyamides. Exceptions do exist for build volume, like the Formlabs Form 3L and Nexa’s super fast NXE400.

Surface Finish

When looking for a smooth surface finish, SLA/DLP 3D printers provide exceptionally smooth finished prints. As mentioned above, the technology does come with some tradeoffs. For material extrusion printers, smoother surface finishes can be achieved with smaller nozzles and finer layers. Furthermore, some materials can be vapor smoothed, providing a surface finish that nears that of resin 3D printers.

Now That We’ve Settled That…

As you continue your 3D printer shopping journey, do not let 3D printer resolution sway your decision, as this metric is often theoretical and limited by other factors such as materials. If you need help selecting the right 3D printer, Dynamism’s 3D printing specialists are here to help. With a brand agnostic approach and large selection of technologies and brands, our goal is to get you the best possible solution for your application.

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