"High Rest Desktop 3d printers" Topic

Been looking at the Form 1 3d printer that was recently kick-started and am wondering if it is high res enough to serve as a miniatures printer for making masters. From their description it can be used to make lost-wax castings.

Min. Feature
300 microns
(.012 inches)

Min. Layer Thickness
25 microns
(.001 inches)

Build Volume
125 x 125 x 165mm
(4.9 x 4.9 x 6.5 inches)

formlabs.com/pages/our-printer

Here's one of the material sheets from Shapeways:

link

They produce minis with details of 0.2 mm, which is roughly 0.08 inches. If Formlabs specs are accurate, and if they don't have problems with layering artifacts (the way the original MakerBots did), then they should work.

For comparison's sake, here's the current bottom-of-the-line MakerBot: link

Sounds to me like it would work, if it can really print to that resolution, cleanly.

Have you considered the b9creator.com B9 creator. Similar technology. I has also just completed Kickstarter and is cheaper.
I have no business links, but I am on the same yahoo group as the creator. That is how i was aware of it. Thinking of getting one my self in the far future – for making miniature masters.

b9 actually sounds better due to offering a higher resolution… just better hope it gets assembled it right :p

Though there is the problem of it not offering the software that provides auto-scaffolding…

Good point. B9 is just one guy basically. Where as formlabs seem to be a bit more organised.

Auto support generation is the hot topic at the moment.

Oh, ugh. Formlabs has managed to involve Kickstarter in a patent war.

link

I was torn between waiting for the Formlabs printer and getting a Replicator 2. In the end I wanted to the printer at that time (November) so I could learn the ins and outs.

Even though the Replicator 2 has had problems (google 'air printing' and Replicator 2), I'm glad I didn't wait. I figured then that if Form Labs was successful, I could buy the second model after they release to market and have some of the kinks worked out.

I'm glad I did this as I was able to learn quite a bit. The replicator 2 is capable of making some really seamless 100micron (.0039 inches) layer prints that are amazing. 3D printing is as much art as science, though, and I have a pile of prints gone wrong from my learning curve. I've used my printer to make tokens and game bases, game pieces, and an awesome dice tower amongst other things (including a 1/1200 Mikasa style pre-dreadnought).

I'm going to do a test game of ACTA Star Fleet Battles so I modeled and printed some 10mm long Shuttlecraft to use and they turned out pretty good at 130 micron layer printing.

There IS a learning curve, and it does some things better than others, and no two prints are 100% consistent.

No matter what printer you go with (the Form Lab one isn't done yet to my knowledge, but soon if the lawsuit doesn't stall them), keep in mind that you will be in for some learning and experimenting. 3D printing isn't ready for prime time just yet, but is very useful, even at the hobbyist level.

Yes 3d systems do hold a very large numbers of patents in this field. They have acquired quite a few smaller patent holding companies too