Re: Buying good 3D Printer?
 

I would suggest buying a Taz 3 from Lulzbot (www.lulzbot.com). We also use a flashforge creator, but since acquiring the Taz, we have heavily used that printer. The printer has an enormous build volume of 11.7" x 10.8" x 9.8" and only costs $2000. The printer is designed to print all of the new filaments coming on the market, and the most fun has been the flexible filament, NinjaFlex. If you are going to be at the championship, swing by our pit in Archimedes and check out the printer and the things we have printed with the different types of filament. If you are not at the championship, I can email you more information and get you in touch with the company.

*disclaimer: Lulzbot is one of our new sponsors.

Re: Buying good 3D Printer?
 

Our Engineering class is also looking for a 3D printer. We got a $3500 grant for it and we're thinking about one with dual extruders (for dissolvable support material).

The Replicator 2x was the obvious first thing to look at but its been the only one in that price range I found that I've ever heard of before. Anyone know of any other good dual extrusion 3D printers (maybe with a bigger build space that the Makerbot)?

Re: Buying good 3D Printer?
 

The Taz 3 does not have a dual head extruder available commercially... right now. We will have the dual head extruder at St. Louis, or if you won't be there but want a sample print, just email me at wwerst@highlandersfrc.com. And as for the build volume, the Taz is massive. Once our bus gets to St. Louis, I will post some pictures of the printer set up in our pit.

Re: Buying good 3D Printer?
 

There is a 3d printing addict on YouTube who goes by Barnacules Nerdgasm. he uses the Ultimaker 1 and 2 along with a robo 3d printer and provides a lot of helpful tips and examples of 3d printing from the perspective of a tech savvy person without a profession in 3d printing.

Re: Buying good 3D Printer?
 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/123900281@N02/14005695953

These are wristbands printed out of flexible filament. This illustrates the xy size of the build volume. Each wristband is about 2-5/8" in diameter.

Re: Buying good 3D Printer?
 

Any ideas as to when the dual head version will be available and what it would cost? I will say I do like the build size and material options the Taz 3 advertises, so a dual head version would be great.

I'm also curious, in the materials brochure section about printing with Polycarbonate, it says "With modifications to the hot end, it can safely extrude and print.", I'm wondering if you might know what that modification entails.

Re: Buying good 3D Printer?
 

I am not sure when the dual extruder will be ready for market, but we do have a working prototype so it can't be too far away. As for cost, I am not sure.

For the polycarbonate, the hot end has to reach 290 degrees Celsius, so the modifications allow the hot end to reach this temperature.