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3D Printing

Understanding 3D Printer Resolution

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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3D Printing Entertainment News

3D Printed Rainbow Road + Augmented Reality Mario Kart Wins The Internet

September 3rd, 2020 marked 35 years since Super Mario Bros’ first launched. To celebrate, Nintendo announced an innovative new augmented reality version of the beloved Mario Kart series, Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit. Utilizing a camera-equipped Kart synced to a Nintendo Switch, the game puts you directly in the driver’s seat, navigating whatever course you can devise around the home. The innovative game format has given rise to some pretty insane courses. One of notable mention, a 3D printed recreation of the classic SNES Rainbow Road course, more information below.

Created by Additive Manufacturing Specialist, Antonio Aranzana and a fleet of BCN3D 3D Printers, the roughly 17′ by 18′ course is comprised of 4,434 PLA pieces. The course was completed in just three short days on BCN3D’s new Sigma D25. A feat hard to match with other 3D printers, made possible by their innovative Independent Dual Extruder (IDEX) technology. The IDEX system utilizes two, independent extruders to offer mirror and duplication printing modes, cutting the production time to half that of other single head 3D printers.

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Designed for a 0.6mm nozzle, each tile can be printed in 9 minutes. Visit Thingiverse to find the design.

While creating a Mario Kart track may be fun and games, BCN3D’s IDEX system points to a growing trend as additive manufacturing transitions from simple prototyping to low-volume production, mass customization, and end-use parts. Click the button below to learn more about BCN3D’s 3D Printers.

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3D Printing Manufacturing

Creating An Inventory Of Digital Parts

Maintaining an inventory of indirect machine materials associated with manufacturing and production can be essential to business continuity. Insert the “Take One, Make One” (TOMO) model, a new style of inventory management that leverages additive manufacturing and a digitized inventory of high wear-and-tear items to reduce physical inventory and machine downtime while streamlining parts supply.

Created by Azoth, a Dynamism customer and a member of the EWIE Group of Companies (EGC), TOMO transforms physical inventory into digital inventory that can be manufactured on-demand using 3D printing. Every time a replacement part is pulled from physical inventory and deployed for use, another is printed and stored for the next time that part needs to be replaced. The result: critical machine spare parts that traditionally would have taken six to twelve weeks to replace are able to be manufactured in hours or days.

I’ve seen processes that can have a hundred parts ready for you quicker than some companies can cut a purchase order, send it to their suppliers, and receive back into their system.

– Cody Cochran, General Manager of Azoth.

What parts are great candidates for the TOMO model? So far jigs and fixtures, gripper fingers, blow-off nozzles, and gage handlers have made ideal parts for moving to a digital inventory, although this is just the start. The TOMO model has much to be explored. Like traditional manufacturing tools, each 3D printing technology has unique traits, strengths, and weaknesses that make it ideal for different applications. Understanding additive manufacturing technologies and part requirements is one of the most significant hurdles to implementing TOMO. This is where Dynamism comes in, with a large selection and deep understanding of the various additive manufacturing technologies. For help selecting the right 3D printing technology, contact us here.

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3D Printing

New Website, New Ways To Discover The Best 3D Printing Technology

A leader in tech and 3D printing solutions for over 20 years, Dynamism unveiled a new website this week, delivering an easy-to-use shopping experience and knowledge base. “Discovering the best 3D printing solutions for your application shouldn’t be difficult.” said company owner, Douglas Krone, “We want professionals, educators, and home users to be successful with their hardware. For us, that starts with offering best-in-class brands, superior support, and learning resources that enable shoppers to select the right technology.”

Leaders in tech since 1997

Founded in 1997, Dynamism was founded to deliver cutting-edge tech to professionals. In 2012, Dynamism entered the 3D printing industry, becoming the first official reseller of Makerbot. Since then, Dynamism has grown to become the leading 3D printing solutions provider in the United States with offices in Chicago and Denver, and four national showrooms. Dynamism is the country’s largest seller of FDM-leader Ultimaker, the national launch partner of ultra-fast Nexa 3D, and key solution provider for cutting-edge 3D printers from Desktop Metal, Formlabs, and others. When working with Dynamism, you can rely on unbiased, expert-level, answers to your 3D printing questions, as well as white-glove after-sales service and support.

Nexa3D’s world-class selection of printers, materials, and tools brings rapid printing to businesses.

A one-stop-shop for 3D printing

Dynamism’s new website offers a number of ways to discover, shop, and learn about 3D printing including:

  • Intuitive filters allow shoppers to easily shop 3D printers based on price, build volume, technology, and more.
  • One-page checkout with extremely fast shipping makes getting hardware and consumables a breeze.
  • Get quotes fast on most products across the website.
  • Discover white papers, case studies, applications, webinars, and more in the new learn portal.
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3D Printing

Dynamism CEO & Founder Appointed To All3DP Editorial Advisory Board

Douglas Krone, right, shows off one of Dynamism’s four national 3D printer showrooms. This showroom, located in Ann Arbor, Mi., was opened in February of 2020.

Founder and CEO of Dynamism, Inc., Douglas Krone is one of 10 industry experts selected to serve on the inaugural Editorial Advisory Board of All3DP Pro, the online magazine for the business of 3D printing.

This distinguished group of 10 key additive manufacturing thought leaders, who represent a cross section of the industry, will contribute their expertise and deep knowledge to the growth of the publication’s industry coverage. 

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Douglas Krone, right, shows off one of Dynamism’s four national 3D printer showrooms. This showroom, located in Ann Arbor, Mi., was opened in February of 2020.

Founded in 1997, Dynamism set out to deliver cutting-edge tech to professionals. In 2012, Dynamism extended that goal by entering the 3D printing industry and becoming the MakerBot’s first official reseller. Since then, Dynamism has grown to become the leading 3D printing solutions provider in the United States with four national showrooms, over 20 best-in-class hardware brands, and countless materials. 

Krone says, “It’s humbling to be named a thought leader by All3DP, the 3D printing media platform with the widest global audience of engineers, entrepreneurs, and 3D printing professionals.  Our focus will be on 3D printing technologies that are ready to adopt, and to deliver value, now. We’re excited to help organizations move toward Industry 4.0.”

All3DP Pro, launched in early 2020, is the professional and industrial side of All3DP, the world’s most popular online source for 3D printing information with more than 2 million visitors every month. All3DP Pro offers a unique focus on innovation, influencers, and technologies in additive manufacturing (AM).  

“These AM industry giants will serve as our sounding board and source, advising us on the most important issues affecting our broad audience of anyone who wants to understand and profit from the business applications of 3D printing,” says Mathias Plica, CEO and co-Founder, All3DP. “They are our eyes and ears out in the field, and they ensure that our content remains cutting-edge, informative, and accurate.”

These 10 industry veterans’ expertise spans decades in additive manufacturing and covers all the bases, from printers and materials to software and business strategy. As All3DP Pro delves deeper into the business side of 3D printing, editorial board members will serve as stewards of All3DP’s editorial standards — guiding and advising on the most pressing issues and innovations.  

Editorial Advisory Board members serve a one-year term, beginning Oct. 1, 2020.

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3D Printing

Dynamism Launches Robotic Virtual Showroom

Dynamism, a leader in professional 3D printing solutions, now offers ‘virtual 3D printer showroom’ visits via a Double Telepresence Robot in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

[Click & drag to preview the showroom]

Dynamism, a leader in professional 3D printing solutions, announced today that they will open a digital showroom where shoppers can browse best-in-class hardware and meet face-to-face with 3D printing specialists via a two-wheeled telepresence robot. The announcement comes on the heels of Dynamism opening a new showroom in Ann Arbor, Michigan as part of an initiative to make 3D printing more accessible for businesses and educators.

An experience made possible by Double Robotics, visitors can freely roam the showroom using a keyboard-controlled two-wheeled robot. An onboard iPad will allow shoppers to meet face-to-face with specialists, attend demos, ask questions, view 3D printed objects, and more. Solutions available for viewing include Desktop Metal, Ultimaker, Formlabs, Nexa3D, Rize, EnvisionTEC, Einscan 3D Scanners, and Glowforge Laser Cutters.

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3D Printing

Dynamism Opens New Best-in-Class 3D Printer Showroom

Douglas Krone, right, shows off one of Dynamism’s four national 3D printer showrooms. This showroom, located in Ann Arbor, Mi., was opened in February of 2020.

Dynamism, a leading provider of 3D printing solutions, has announced the opening of its latest additive manufacturing (AM) showroom, at the Azoth AM facility, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The showroom features everything from desktop 3D printers to metal, SLS, and ultra-fast industrial 3D printers. Customers can see a remarkable array of best-of-class 3D printers in one showroom.

Azoth is a member of the EWIE Group of Companies (EGC), a family of brands specialized in reducing the operating expense and improving the efficiency of manufacturing plants around the world. Azoth is focused on transforming the physical inventory of these facilities, into digital inventory printed on demand. Azoth is particularly well suited to manufacture precision metal parts through world-class binder jetting technology. In addition, Azoth has a complete polymer AM offering that can be utilized to replace traditionally manufactured components. These components consist of jigs, fixtures, end of arm tooling, gripper fingers, and other blueprint details that are commonly found on shop floors. Azoth can not only manufacture these components but also has a defined system to help customers identify AM opportunities and implement their own digital inventory.

Dynamism’s curated selection of best-of-class 3D printers, in collaboration with Azoth’s extensive manufacturing expertise, enables customers to fast-track implementation of additive manufacturing to reduce operating costs and improve production efficiencies.

“For companies leading the transformation to digital manufacturing, seeing the most innovative 3D printers operating side-by-side is an invaluable experience,” Tim Ruffner, Vice-President of Enterprise Solutions at Dynamism said. “We’re so pleased to be working with Azoth 3D, a leader in helping some of the world’s largest manufacturers transition to on-demand factory parts and toolings.”

“Azoth is focused on implementing a new inventory management model that we call TOMO™ (Take One Make One). We are able to transform customer inventory into digital libraries of parts ready to be printed on demand.” Cody Cochran, Key Account Manager at Azoth said, “Through our manufacturing expertise, we ensure that quality end-use parts are manufactured every time and that it is ready for the shop floor. TOMO is more than 3D printing parts, TOMO is a lean manufacturing process focused on quality and reducing operating costs”

Technologies available for viewing in the Detroit showroom include Bound Metal Deposition, Fused Filament Fabrication, Stereolithography, Selective Laser Sintering, Augmented Polymer Deposition, Lubricant Sublayer Photo-curing, and 3D scanning.

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3D Printing

World’s Fastest 3D Printer Maker Taps Dynamism to Spearhead US Channel Sales

VENTURA, Calif. –(BUSINESS WIRE)–

Nexa3D, the maker of ultra-fast stereo-lithography production 3D printers, announced today that it is partnering with Dynamism, a veteran global leader in additive manufacturing solutions and services, to lead its North American channel sales. Dynamism joins Nexa3D’s already-thriving partner ecosystem with the aim of enabling Nexa3D to more rapidly expand its North American footprint by reaching Dynamism’s broad and savvy additive manufacturing customer base.

Nexa’s LSPc Technology 3D prints a complex print in under 4 minutes.

Nexa3D’s factory automation-ready production system is slated to be the fastest on the market. It prints at up to 6 times the speed and 2.5 times the build volume of all other comparable products. The company’s flagship NXE400 3D Printer can continuously print up to 16 liters of part volume at speeds of up to 1Z centimeter per minute. The NXE400 also features optional washing and curing units that together automate and reduce the time to produce ready-to-use functional prototypes and production parts from hours to just minutes. Nexa3D printers are powered by the company’s proprietary Lubricant Sub-layer Photo-curing (LSPc) technology and patented structured light matrix that in combination are capable of reaching speeds of 1Z centimeter per minute.

Since 1997, Dynamism has built one of the most successful and celebrated reselling channels for best in class additive manufacturing brands like Desktop Metal, Formlabs, Ultimaker and more. The company’s track record of reliability and excellence, coupled with unparalleled customer service, have made Dynamism the industry leader and buyer’s choice in additive manufacturing.

Nexa NXE400 vs. Carbon M2 3D Printer Comparison →

Douglas Krone, Founder & CEO of Dynamism, stated: “We have been tracking Nexa3D’s development for more than a year, and we are still wowed when watching its remarkable speed. Nexa3D’s speed is analogous to the introduction of 5G wireless – it will enable engineers to develop new applications and workflows that would have been unachievable in the past. And, watching detailed parts get created in minutes definitely feels like the future.”

Krone continued, “Dynamism is wholly focused on bringing the very best, market-leading, AM tools to our customers, who are often focused on the transformation to production-scale additive manufacturing. Nexa3D is an essential part of that toolkit. We are truly excited to be working together.”

“Dynamism is a recognized industry name in additive manufacturing, and we’re thrilled to partner with a company of such caliber, reputation and demonstrated performance,” noted Avi Reichental, Executive Chairman & CEO of Nexa3D. “We look forward to a mutually beneficial and long-lasting relationship as we together bring Nexa3D’s products to market – meeting the growing demand for industrial-grade additive manufacturing,” he concluded.

About Nexa3D

Nexa3D makes ultra-fast industrial-grade stereo-lithography 3D printers affordable for professionals and businesses of all sizes. The company’s printers are powered by proprietary Lubricant Sub-layer Photo-curing (LSPc) technology and patented structured light matrix capable of reaching top speeds of 1Z centimeter per minute, drastically reducing 3D printing cycles of precision functional parts from hours to minutes. To learn more, visit www.nexa3d.com.

About Dynamism

Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Chicago, Dynamism is a leader in supplying 3D printers and additive manufacturing solutions to governments, universities, institutions, companies, and individuals worldwide. The company offers the best 3D printing brands in the world, and focuses on giving great advice and solutions to customers. For more information, please visit www.dynamism.com.

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View source version on businesswire.com.

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3D Printing

Ultimaker Introduces New S5 3D Printer

One of the best professional 3D printer brands just got better and bigger! Released today, the new Ultimaker S5 boasts a large build volume, intuitive touch screen, and reliable dual extrusion system. Already relied upon by tens of thousands of businesses, the launch continues Ultimaker’s dominance in the professional desktop 3D printing market.

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Ultimaker S5 New Features

The Ultimaker S5 is a large leap from its predecessors with major changes across the board, delivering an easier and more reliable 3D printing experience. Here’s what’s new:

Build Volume: One of the most obvious changes is the spacious 330 x 240 x 300 mm build volume. In addition, the print area is now behind a set of tinted glass doors. These help to regulate temperatures during the printing process, minimizing warping and cracking.

UI/UX: The S5 features a new 4.7-inch (11.9 cm) full color touchscreen. An intuitive user interface enables users, both new and tenured, to easily control the machine, load filaments, run calibration sequences, and monitor prints, no experience required. In addition to the new touchscreen, Ultimaker added new automated leveling sequences to ensure perfect first layers and bed adhesion.

Connectivity: In an increasingly network connected world, the new S5 is no different. Onboard wifi and a built-in webcam seamlessly integrates with Ultimaker’s Cura Slicer, allowing users to easily send prints to the 3D printer from the comfort of their desk.

Materials: Included print cores enable the Ultimaker S5 to print an impressive range of materials out of the box. Going even further, the S5 now has an optional CC Red 0.6mm print core upgrade, enabling users to 3D print abrasive, high-strength materials, such as carbon fiber-filled and glass filled nylons.

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3D Printing

Dynamism Becomes First MakerBot Reseller With New Replicator 3D Printer

Dynamism is proud to announce the addition of the all-new MakerBot Replicator 3D Printer to our lineup of cutting edge technology, becoming the first official reseller of MakerBot. The Replicator promises to bring 3D printing to the masses with a unit able to fit on office or home desk at an affordable price. Like many of Dynamism’s other products, 3D printing promises to be a transformative technology, enabling businesses and home users to create just about anything.

What is 3D Printing

Unlike CNC machines, where a material block is cut away to create an object, 3D printing starts from the bottom and builds an object one layer at a time. To do so, a strand of plastic is fed through a heated nozzle. The nozzle is guided through a set of coordinates, depositing the plastic one layer at a time until the final object is created.

The New MakerBot Replicator

Recipient of the Best Emerging Tech Award at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show, the MakerBot Replicator was released January 2012. The printer features one of the biggest build volumes available at ~9”x6”x6”, roughly the size of a loaf of bread, a significant increase over the cupcake sized build volume of MakerBot’s previous model. The printer comes in two configurations, a single extruder or dual extruder, for two color prints, and can print in either biodegradable PLA plastic or ABS.

With the growth of this new promising technology, Dynamism looks to add new 3D printers in the coming year, such as Robox and CubeX

To learn more about the MakerBot Replicator visit our webstore here.