RE: Prusa 3D lays off nearly twenty five percent of developers due to financial issues
Probably dragging it off topic but where I work, we've had many parts made with SLS over the last 6-8 years. I can say that without exception, every one has been a disappointment in terms of material properties. Maybe things are better now, but that was one of the things that pushed me (and the company) towards filament!
RE: Prusa 3D lays off nearly twenty five percent of developers due to financial issues
Interesting. I don't have any direct experience with SLS. The INDX Founder's Edition will be SLS printed parts. Interesting to see how they turn out. I would assume at least since you can stack the parts in 3 dimensions it would be a lot more economical (and faster) to produce. I guess though one is limited in the types of materials you can use.
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Yes, the SLS precision has been teasing me all along. FDM with small nozzle doesn't even seem that far off but print time is excruciating and strength suffers. In comes INDX... eventually.
I'm not that patient so I got a toolchanger with one dedicated head for precision - short hotend, dual-drive CNC extruder with 8t stepper (whether that wins over 10t remains to be seen, gear backlash might spoil the party but it's a €30 experiment). Let's hope the insights eventually transfer over to INDX core One with a significant cost advantage. And that those nozzles cool down as quickly as they heat up so there is less need for purging stale material.
PS laying off people then (possibly) rehiring doesn't seem unusual in industry, just the usual cycle, corporations swimming with the flow (not saying I like it but it's like complaining about the weather)
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Speaking of SLS precision, I had nerf blaster flywheels done in SLS by a reputable company, and they came out worse than FDM ones. The FDM wheels have marks on them from the Z-seams but they spin level and accuracy was OK, and I would print more if I couldn't afford the nice factory-made ones (or I needed a different size). The SLS wheels, they did not spin straight and level, accuracy was just bad; the blaster did not put foam where I pointed it.
RE: Prusa 3D lays off nearly twenty five percent of developers due to financial issues
I know Prusa makes an SLS printer but I know nothing about it, other than it's expensive! We found SLS precision was good, especially from some specialty "micro" SLS companies, but micro parts were crazy brittle and some flexible parts shrank over time. We shipped them and they failed in customer hands months later. I think sometimes warpage was an issue, but the thing that really puts me off is the post processing. There's also a toxicity concern both with the process and the finished parts. I've read that you should wash your hands after even handling an SLS part!
I'd love to see a niche market FDM printer designed for micro parts. It would use 200 micron and smaller nozzles, have a build volume of maybe 50x50x50 mm and be optimized for that kind of work. The small volume might lend itself to a design for very high temperature operation. Remember, without the unreasonable man (and women) there would be no progress with anything!
RE: Prusa 3D lays off nearly twenty five percent of developers due to financial issues
Speaking of toxic... SLA resin printing. I can't go near my printer now without a full PPE setup.
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I'd love to see a niche market FDM printer designed for micro parts. It would use 200 micron and smaller nozzles, have a build volume of maybe 50x50x50 mm and be optimized for that kind of work. The small volume might lend itself to a design for very high temperature operation. Remember, without the unreasonable man (and women) there would be no progress with anything!
Given that the motors etc are a major expense, would it really be cheaper?
If you want a good small printer, build a Positron. It's essentially a Voron that fits (kind of) into a filament spool box.
edit: I just looked at it, I am not sure if it is derived from Voron or not.
RE: Prusa 3D lays off nearly twenty five percent of developers due to financial issues
Speaking of toxic... SLA resin printing. I can't go near my printer now without a full PPE setup.
If it helps there are tents, basically modified plant grow tents, that the printer can be placed in, and these tents have a fan, hose, and duct, to vent the fumes from out of the window. You would only be very briefly exposed when opening the tent to retrieve your model. (Though you should probably use PPE for that, too),
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Speaking of toxic... SLA resin printing. I can't go near my printer now without a full PPE setup.
If it helps there are tents, basically modified plant grow tents, that the printer can be placed in, and these tents have a fan, hose, and duct, to vent the fumes from out of the window. You would only be very briefly exposed when opening the tent to retrieve your model. (Though you should probably use PPE for that, too),
The printer is outside on a covered patio. If I get even a drop of resin on my skin I get contact dermatitis
RE: Prusa 3D lays off nearly twenty five percent of developers due to financial issues
I'd love to see a niche market FDM printer designed for micro parts. It would use 200 micron and smaller nozzles, have a build volume of maybe 50x50x50 mm and be optimized for that kind of work. The small volume might lend itself to a design for very high temperature operation. Remember, without the unreasonable man (and women) there would be no progress with anything!
Given that the motors etc are a major expense, would it really be cheaper?
If you want a good small printer, build a Positron. It's essentially a Voron that fits (kind of) into a filament spool box.
edit: I just looked at it, I am not sure if it is derived from Voron or not.
I thought of building a Postitron but it's kind of a one-trick pony. Can only really print small PLA or PETG things on it. Looks neat though.
RE: Prusa 3D lays off nearly twenty five percent of developers due to financial issues
[...]
I do agree that Prusa needs to do some R&D pretty quickly, and I don't understand why they print printer parts instead of using a factory.
Because it's in their DNA - Rep-Rap, The Road to 100,000 Original Prusa 3D printers. Furthermore injection-molding tooling are not cheap - depending on quality and complexity. You also can 3D print parts you are not able to get from injection molding...
[...]
One thing many people, typically US and EU, seem to ignore or not realize, is that the PRC has some very advanced manufacturing technology. The interview in Forbes you mention is a case in point where Mr Prusa talks about the unfairness of government money and cheap labour, but doesn't mention how fast the average Chinese factory can re-tool, or any of the other institutional knowledge they possess. Many US or EU companies also receive significant amounts of government funding. Ford and GM have massive subsidies from the US government, and their EV are still lower quality. This is a technology problem as much as it is a government problem. (Each nation is more or less advanced in certain areas; there is not a single number rating that encompasses everything).
The reason behind "government money" in CN is completely different from that subsides in EU - you will find the answer in Josef's Forbes interview. In EU it's mostly to save companies - "Too Big To Fail"...
The advanced manufacturing technology in CN roots in western company bringing technology to CN or CN companies just "cloned" them. A good example is Meyer Burger, the Swiss company which exported technology/machinery for solar cell production to CN. After some years CN companies exported the "cloned" and further developed technology to the world and the CN government has classified solar technology as a key technology = no technology export. Meyer Burger is gone by the way...
Another big, big problem are patents. When you are for your product in need of a patented technology to follow up, but you don't get it or have to pay prices beyond your mind and financial status, you are forced to work around. This costs time, time costs money and the outcome is many times not so smooth like the patented technology. But sometimes new, better innovations come out of this process.
Yes, China has an endless workforce and also a considerable brainpower. It's a daily fight to survive - there is no welfare as we have in (some) EU countries. You learn/study well or you fall in the shark tank (factory assembly line). There are not just a handful people applying for a job - no there are hundreds for one job position. Now, who will get the job? The one which accept the conditions and especially accepting the a job/work contract is just paper, nothing else. And the companies will squeeze you as worker as far as possible. Do this in EU/US - you get to know workers union. In CN you have "connections" to local government and everything is fine...sometimes KTV...paying travel trips etc. A Taiwanese factory owner (a not so small company producing RC toys also for german brands) told me one time - "Here in CN, you know who you have to pay at gov level to have a peaceful time...".
In CN you pay the gov, in EU you pay for the wellfare and bureaucracy...guess what increases the sale price of a product more...
Why should a US car manufacturer switch to EV, when gas price in US is at a price level we EU citizen can only dream about it - ok, nowadays things changed at price levels. They did it because in markets like EU where they are active don't have such low gas prices and so open or in need for new technologies, besides environmental reasons. In case of EV's it's too late for US companies and maybe also some manufacturers around the globe - from my POV. But...this is a political issue and we have to ask our politicians...but they don't listen...they just looking for marks on ballot paper...
Let's see what the time after April 7th brings...besides an increase of sale price(es)...
Core One L
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i just heard about the Muon3d, which is coming to crowdfunding very soon (they have a website). Limited to 260C at the nozzle however. Difference with poisitron is that it's pre-assembled with high end parts. Available with battery pack for off-grid use.
I thought of building a Postitron but it's kind of a one-trick pony. Can only really print small PLA or PETG things on it. Looks neat though.
RE: Prusa 3D lays off nearly twenty five percent of developers due to financial issues
i just heard about the Muon3d, which is coming to crowdfunding very soon (they have a website). Limited to 260C at the nozzle however. Difference with poisitron is that it's pre-assembled with high end parts. Available with battery pack for off-grid use.
I thought of building a Postitron but it's kind of a one-trick pony. Can only really print small PLA or PETG things on it. Looks neat though.
Yep, saw a YouTube on that (maybe at SMRFF) Anyway, I’m not into 3D printing enough that I need one to take on the road with me.
RE: Prusa 3D lays off nearly twenty five percent of developers due to financial issues
Based on what medical experience is that statement? Resin should not be eaten or come in contact with the skin.
Some dental labs use resin print for dental guards. Once cured, at least some are fine.
Speaking of toxic... SLA resin printing. I can't go near my printer now without a full PPE setup.
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Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog
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Based on what medical experience is that statement? Resin should not be eaten or come in contact with the skin.
Some dental labs use resin print for dental guards. Once cured, at least some are fine.
Yes, once cured it's fine. However uncured resin is known to cause contact dermatitis. How do I know this? I experience it every time my skin is in accidental contact with uncured resin. It's simply a fact that PPE need to be worn when working with SLA printers and resins.
Three-dimensional printing: A new source of exposure to (meth)acrylates in a dental technician
https://ameralabs.com/blog/resin-safety-myths-3d-printing/
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It really depends on how sensative you skin is. Many have never had an issue. Contact dermatitis is not a toxicity. It is a reaction to an irritant.
Based on what medical experience is that statement? Resin should not be eaten or come in contact with the skin.
Some dental labs use resin print for dental guards. Once cured, at least some are fine.
Yes, once cured it's fine. However uncured resin is known to cause contact dermatitis. How do I know this? I experience it every time my skin is in accidental contact with uncured resin. It's simply a fact that PPE need to be worn when working with SLA printers and resins.
Three-dimensional printing: A new source of exposure to (meth)acrylates in a dental technician
https://ameralabs.com/blog/resin-safety-myths-3d-printing/
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Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog
RE: Prusa 3D lays off nearly twenty five percent of developers due to financial issues
OK, I'll agree methyl acrylates are not toxic if not ingested but I have developed a severe sensitivity to them and cannot work with uncured resins without wearing PPE.
It really depends on how sensative you skin is. Many have never had an issue. Contact dermatitis is not a toxicity. It is a reaction to an irritant.
RE: Prusa 3D lays off nearly twenty five percent of developers due to financial issues
Away from the tangent. I think Prusa will be fine. They need to focus on their successful products. The Core Ones are great printers. Prusa will never be a Bambu. Bambu is more of a 2-year and disposable printer.
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Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog
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Prusa will never be a Bambu. Bambu is more of a 2-year and disposable printer.
Citation required? P1S is still running fine. Even p1p parts are still available because it's compatible with P1S.
Only bambu with issues is A1 that melts, through this is a very cheap machine.
Also these days a printer will probably be obsolete within a few years anyway. Buying a mark 3 now would be weird. Indx needs to be soon and working because of snapmaker u1.
RE: Prusa 3D lays off nearly twenty five percent of developers due to financial issues
... Also these days a printer will probably be obsolete within a few years anyway. Buying a mark 3 now would be weird. Indx needs to be soon and working because of snapmaker u1.
Will it? I hope not. At least I've just bet >3k on the assumption it won't (if I'm wrong I'll be happy for everybody else but I doubt it). Looking where the money went, is's largely mechanics, no revolution there in sight. Also, enthusiasts are pushing the limits e.g. "all wheel drive", 48V and the odd bit of titanium but the ROI seems marginal.
Industry does its best stirring that pot to sell but where would be the technology breakthrough? AI, sensing, usability and user experience - sure but I see the full magic unfolding only in the land of articulated dragons. "Serious" users may want to keep the strings in hand, manage their own workflow, process and and recipes.