3D Printing Expo Showcases Printers for Businesses Large and Small

by Todd R. Weiss

A popular home and school printer, the Da Vinci Jr. 1.0, at $349, is a basic, affordable 3D printer that is easy to use for beginners and has 100- to 400-micron resolution for quality printing. Items can be printed on the device with a build size of up to 5.9 by 5.9 by 5.9 inches.

XYZ Printing’s Da Vinci AiO printer includes a built-in dual-head laser scanner so users can scan the item they want to duplicate and then print it, all from within the same device. The machine is an easy-to-use Windows or Mac plug-and-play printer with a 7.8-by-7.8-by-7.5-inch build size.

With a 6-by-6-by-6.2-inch maximum build size, the LulzBot Mini is a desktop 3D printer that’s perfect for home users, designers and anyone else looking for a simple-to-use desktop 3D printer. It also includes a low maintenance polyetherimide (PEI) print surface for easy setup and use.

Retailing for about $2,200, the LulzBot TAZ 5 is a desktop 3D printer for industrial users that includes a spacious 11.7-by-10.8-by-9.8-inch print area and a new LulzBot Hexagon all-metal hot end that lets the machine print using a variety of plastics and other materials.

This machine will print using any available material using its new Hexagon all-metal hot end extruder that gives users lots of creative options for materials and print quality. The Robo 3D R1 features a build area of 10 by 9 by 8 inches and is capable of 100-micron print quality.

Instead of rolls of plastic filaments, the Form 1+ machine prints using high-performance liquid photopolymer resins, which can build items with incredible detail. The Form 1+ has a build area of 4.9 by 4.9 by 6.5 inches, and it can create layers as thin as 25 microns.

Recycled 20-ounce plastic soda bottles are used for the filament materials used in the Ekocycle Cube 3D printer from 3D Systems, which also sells commercial 3D printers. The Ekocycle’s 6-by-6-by-6-inch build area lets users create a wide range of items for home and personal use.

The MarkForg3D Mark One printer can print with Kevlar and carbon fiber, as well as with Fiberglas, giving users capabilities with super-strong materials. The Mark One, with a 12.6-by-5.2-by-6.3-inch build area, is $5,500 alone or $8,799 with Kevlar and other supplies.

The popular MakerBot Replicator features a 25.2-by-19.9-by-15-inch build area and a 100-micron layer resolution that gives users lots of flexibility in producing quality 3D items. The printer includes a new MakerBot Replicator Smart Extruder that prints smooth-to-the-touch surfaces.

Instead of extruding items out of plastic filament, the Mcor Iris prints using standard reams of office paper. The Iris, which is aimed at commercial users and sells for about $50,000, prints in more than 1 million colors and works only with 64-bit Windows XP or later operating systems.

Aimed at commercial and industrial users, the Stratasys Fortus 250mc prints using ABSplus-P430 plastic and is capable of printing in layers ranging from 0.013 to 0.007 inches in thickness. The Fortus 250mc, which sells for about $55,000, has a build area of 10 by 10 by 12 inches.