3D printing machines are pretty affordable now since they are accessible globally. Still, one should be keen on spending. What will help you control the spending is having a definite expectation in mind on what type of 3D printer you want and expectations. The vital part is the quality of a 3D printer and the manufacturer.
When discussing the type of 3D printer online, we mainly mean the style in which the 3D printer creates the models. There are different styles of 3D printers. So, ask yourself what kind of 3D printer you need. Of course, the projects you often work on will affect your decision on the type of 3D printer.
- The material of the 3D printer
Filament printers, just like the name suggests, use filament from various materials. The standard filaments include;
- PETG – Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol. It is a food-safe plastic
- PLA – Polylactic Acid. It is a plastic derived from plants.
- ABS – Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene. It is a sturdy plastic.
- The style of 3D printer
There are four main styles of 3D printers, they include:
- A fused deposition modeling (FDM). It is where the filament is heated, fed through a tube, and then extruded into the desired shape along the axes like X, Y, and Z.
- A stereolithography printer (SLA) offers a chemical reaction that forms layers or a photo-solidification. This solidification is done when photons focus on specific points, hence SLA resin solidifying.
- Selective Laser Sintering (SLS). It is where the laser is focused on a point inside a vat of power and then makes patterns according to the design, which solidifies as the laser moves.
- The features of 3D printer
The Snapmaker 3D printer features include;
- User interface with the touchscreen interface, there is no need to navigate the rotary knob manually. This portable touchscreen has a Quad-core A7 CPU @ 1.1GHz running the Android OS. It will provide you with a premium user experience.
- A heated bed ensures the foundation of your 3D model is formed perfectly and sticks in place. Since the foundation of a print is essential to the final 3D image, it should be well managed. And so, a heated bed is meant just for that.