One of the things I don’t like about 3D printing is the time it takes to print. So I decided to see how fast this thing would go and see print time go down on the Unicorn file from Thingiverse.
Especially with the infill a lot of time is saved. The layer thickness for this print is 0.25mm printing this at 0.4mm would speed it up even more.
Update: the feed rate in this print is 150 mm/s, printing about 41.4 cc per hour (for measure, this would (theoretically) allow you to print a full 1100 cc RepRap Mendel set in 28 hours). The Unicorn STL was scaled up a factor of 2, so it has 8 times more volume to print. The limiting factor to speed still seems to be a software (firmware) related issue, not a hardware limitation of the frame (mechanical). Of course, you do need to have a well oiled machine to print at speeds like this, but it’s definitely possible. The shape would just fit in a 8 by 9 cm big. The raw material and electricity costs of this print are about 40 eurocents.
I love the random color change in the middle of the print.
So, what was the total build time compared to regular build time for that object? It looks pretty good, I’d just like to get some actual numbers on this.
As a normal print speed we used a feedrate of 50mm/s its now at 150mm/sec, roughly from three hours to one.
Wow! 150mm/s! That is really fast! I would love to be able to print that fast on my Makerbot. Are these standard steppers and drivers? What stepper RPM does that translate to? Just wondering to compare to a Makerbot.
(Somehow my earlier response got lost, sorry.) These are fairly standard NEMA17 stepper motors, not especially high torque, but a little more quiet than the Makerbot motors. We actually could accelerate much faster than 150mm/s. Read this wiki page for details…
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Excellent initiative! I love my makerbot cupcake, but always find myself wanting to print something larger and faster. Once you guys post the drawings, I’ll likely convert my cupcake. I guess the electronics are fairly compatible.
heated / automated build platform will also be much easier to implement.
What is the weight of the complete printhead? I guess there is a straightforward relation between max print speed and print head mass.
So when can I buy a kit? I’m new to the 3d printing thing and almost ordered a makerbot but researched a bit more b/c I dont like the small size of printing. I’m hand making models of anatomic structure, then casting with platinum silicone. It’s a tedious process. If I can design on a computer, print it out and cast my models, life would be so much easier. My real job is cardiac medicine but I’d like to start my side business when I can get this production thing down and educate people on how to prevent heart disease. With the final cut studio video editing, dvd authoring, web design learning curve. It’s been nearly 2 years.
What is your timeframe?
Excellent initiative. and its speed is 150mm . Its fast to the other printers. Thanks for sharing with us. Thanks for this post.
Its really great that the feed rate of this print is 150 mm/s, printing about 41.4 cc per hour. Thanks for sharing
Hey Erik,
Are you running MXL belts at this speed? do you think the different belt profiles like HTD make any difference?
I believe the MXL belts (that we indeed use) should be able to handle much higher speeds and also more torque. You’re right that HTD makes sense for high force applications, but when you’ve held the moving parts in one hand, they’re not at all heavy.
Hi, I would like to know if the Ultimaker uses 1,75mm or 3mm filament, or if it could use both. Also, I would like to know if the material thickness would have any impact on the parts detail. Could you get smaller and more detailes parts using 1,75 plastic?
I would use the machine to make prototypes of injection molded parts, so I need at least 0,015mm max tolerance
I would appreciate any info
Thanks
Adrian
Hi Adrian, at Makerfaire people were telling us that it was incredible that we got the results with 3mm filament. We do have the option to include an (experimental) 1.75mm brass barrel on request.
The stepper resolution is about 80 steps per millimeter. This makes the theoretical accuracy around 1/80 mm. It would border on what you need, but it also really depends on the kind of object how well it would turn out. I think you can get really good results with an Ultimaker.
Erik, thanks for your reply. But, does the filament thicknes have any influence on the finished product detail? Could you make a smaller object with a thinner filament, or is the nozzle diameter the key there? If so, do you have smaller nozzles? Or could I make and change them on my own , should I get an ultimaker?
Why is Makerbot and also Botmill offering 1,75mm now?
Also, tell me a bit more of your 1,75 brass barrel, is that charged separately. could I order with that instead?