3D printer large build area

"Easy to Assemble, Beginner friendly, but a limited print platform"

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Technical Specifications

The Dremel Digilab 3D20 is a great choice of an entry-level printer that any beginner looking to have an amazing first-time 3D printing adventure. It is easy to use and produces respectable printing results.

Not to mention that it requires no customization and has a reliable support network that you can fall back to anytime you run into issues.

The overall peace of mind you get when using this 3D printer can impress even the more experienced 3D printer handlers.

If you are looking for a printer that offers consistent quality and ease of use, try the 3D20 and experience the simplified process.

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7. Xinkebot Orca2 Cygnus

The Xinkebot Orca2 Cygnus is like a better, high-end version of the Creality CR-10S, as all of its parts are higher-quality. It’s not as popular as the CR-10S, so there’s not much of an online community for it. It does, however, come with an actual customer support service.

The Orca2 comes in an easily-assembled package, which is especially important for beginners since the original Orca model proved too difficult to assemble.

The instruction manual for the Orca2 is not as good as it can be, but it comes in a semi-assembled package so you should have no trouble setting it up on your own.

The Orca2 Cygnus features a dual extruder setup and has automatic bed leveling making for an easy bed calibration process. It also features a touch screen interface which is located near the print bed, and the cable management is very clean.

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"Dual Extruder, auto-leveling heated bed. On the pricier side"

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Technical Specifications

Like the Dremel Digilab 3D20, this 3D printer has an interface at the base, giving it a more modern appearance than 3D printers equipped with the old school knob- or button-operated LCD interface. Though most users prefer the usual USB and SD card setup, BIBO has opted for the WiFi options, although you can still get the USB and SD card reader if you wish.

Equipped with dual extruders, the BIBO2 includes a heated print bed, which opens the door for a variety of plastic filaments. The build plate is detachable, allowing for easy removal of 3D models. The BIBO2 is a well-built 3D printer oozing with features. Once you’ve set it up and configured the settings, it's simple to use and produces great quality prints.

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8. Ultimaker Extended 3

The Ultimaker Extended 3 is just that, an extended version of the Ultimaker 3, one of the best Large 3D printers designed for professionals and printing enthusiasts alike. It is a semi-enclosed fully assembled 3D printer that takes less than one hour to set up.

The Ultimaker 3 extended comes in a sturdy metal frame, it includes USB ports and an LCD interface but no SD Card slot, unlike the Ultimaker 2. It can connect to a Wi-Fi network, and it is equipped with an onboard camera for remote monitoring.

The main difference between the Ultimaker 2 and Ultimaker Extended 3 is that the Ultimaker Extended 3 features a dual extruder setup in one print head. This setup allows you to print soluble supports for more complex 3D prints and also allows you to print with two colors.

However, due to the heavy load that the Ultimaker 3 carries, the print time is significantly slower than its previous models.

"High-end large 3D printer, slow print time"

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Technical Specifications

RESOLUTION	100 microns
BUILD VOLUME	8.9″ x 5.8″ x 5.9″
FILAMENT SIZE	1. 75mm
FILAMENT TYPE	PLA/ABS
DISPLAY	Mono LCD
CONNECTIVITY	USB
HEATED BED?	Yes

The Ultimaker 3 Extended is highly praised for it's precision and accuracy, even in low settings, it still produces detailed prints. When it’s set on the highest settings, the Ultimaker 3 Extended completely outperforms most other printers. And although it needs an enclosure for high-temperature printing, it can consistently print using different materials.

The Ultimaker 3 Extended comes at a price, but you definitely get your money’s worth with it. This printer is recommended for professionals or hardcore 3D printing enthusiasts.

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Note: The printers listed in this review, are by nature all open form printers. If you are not able to run one of these, due to having small kids around the 3D printing room for example, then consider our review on fully enclosed 3D printers, as we also focused on models for large build volumes!

Last update on 2022-10-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

How to create models that are larger than the print volume of a 3D printer

Don't have a large format 3D printer yet? When evaluating the capabilities of a compact desktop 3D printer, do not limit yourself to print volume. Many objects, like your smartphone or a bridge over a river, are made up of many individual components. Therefore, splitting the model into smaller parts that can be aligned after printing is a great solution for 3D printing large objects that do not fit on the platform.

Also, splitting the model can be a great way to get a high quality result, even if the whole model fits on the platform. This makes sense when multiple or opposing surfaces must be free from support structures, when the model has complex ledges, or contains cavities where liquid polymer can remain.

3D printing of various parts opens up new possibilities, for example, the creation of prefabricated structures from various materials or the combination of rigid and flexible parts to simulate the overmolding method.

When choosing a gluing method, it is necessary first of all to take into account the required degree of strength of the glued joints, which depends on the purpose of the models:

• chemical: use adhesive on artwork, scale models, and complex shapes that are not intended for functional use and should not be impacted;

• Mechanical: Provide threaded holes or sockets for attaching parts that require a secure mechanical connection, or repeatedly detaching and attaching components as needed.

This tutorial focuses on building large, prefabricated 3D stereolithographic (SLA) printed models with chemically bonded components. Read on to learn all the steps in this process, from model separation to post-processing for a professional finish.

Formlabs Form 3L is the first affordable, easy-to-use large format 3D printer optimized for reliable production of industrial-quality models. The Form 3L stereolithographic 3D printer features a huge print volume of 30 x 33.5 x 20 cm and unrivaled cost-effectiveness.

Meet the Form 3L

We recommend two ways to separate models: adding features to the design that will allow the parts to fit together, or separating the model with straight lines, which will require them to fit together properly during the bonding process.

Regardless of which method you choose, if you have a lot of parts, it's helpful to add a unique identifier (letters/numbers) for each one to make assembly easier.

Use CAD software to split a 3D model and add basic centering components such as slots, pins, slots, notches, and tabs, or more complex features such as dovetails and slots to match model folds.

Adding centering components to the design makes it easier to assemble parts.

Ideally, these components should make it easier to align and assemble parts, but can cause problems if they differ even slightly from your 3D models, preventing perfect centering. Therefore, it is best to use centering components only when the printer can print parts with accurate dimensions that are not subject to deformation.

Splitting a 3D model along straight lines requires less effort than adding components to center it. With this separation method, there are also fewer problems if the parts are slightly deformed or differ in size.

Adding IDs for each part makes the assembly process easier.

On the other hand, parts separated by straight lines can be time consuming to assemble, as each part must be manually centered and ensured that they all remain in the correct position until the adhesive is completely dry.

By default, when printing on a stereolithographic 3D printer, solid models without voids are obtained. Depending on the design, different requirements may apply to the manufacture of large items. In such cases, 3D printing the outer shell or converting the structure into a hollow is a great way to save a lot of material and time. When printing hollow models on a stereolithographic 3D printer, be sure to add ventilation holes to avoid creating cavities filled with air and pressurized resin.

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Converting a model design to a hollow saves a lot of time and material because the printer only needs to print the outer shell.

Learn more about how to save materials and time by hollowing out 3D models.

Depending on the size of the details and the purpose of the model, we recommend three mounting methods:

	Epoxy glue (5-30 min)	cyanoacrylate (CCA, Supercollah)	Resin
Square.	Large	Small/Medium	Small
Paintable	Yes	Yes	Yes	Medium	Low	Low

For large parts and maximum adhesion, use 5-30 minute dry epoxy. It takes longer to dry than other adhesives, allowing you to fit large 3D printed parts but slows down the assembly process. Most 5-minute epoxy adhesives stop changing shape in as little as five minutes and cure by about 75% in less than an hour.

For large parts and maximum adhesion we recommend using epoxy adhesive.

The next option is cyanoacrylate (CA or superglue), which quickly forms a strong bond, ideal for small to medium sized parts. Thoroughly clean the part before applying CA to the surface, because contaminants adversely affect the quality of the connection. CA has a moderate impact strength, but is not recommended for models that require high strength.

For small models, you can simply use liquid resin from a stereolithographic 3D printer. Pour a small amount of resin into a tray from a bottle or cartridge, pick it up with a pipette or syringe, and place it on the surface to be bonded. Connect the parts and wipe off excess resin that may spill around the edges. Aim a 5mW (405µm wavelength) UV laser pointer at the contact area to cure the resin and bond the parts.

This method produces a chemical bond similar to 3D stereolithography printing, but is only suitable for bonding small surfaces as a low power light pointer cannot penetrate the model deep enough to create a strong bond.

Note. Protective equipment must be worn when working with polymers, including proper eye protection and gloves.

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After assembling the model, it's time to move on to post-processing. This step includes geometric correction of the model to provide a smooth surface that matches the original 3D model, and aesthetic finishing to obtain a uniformly colored surface.

Depending on the precision of the printer and the size of the printed parts, there will almost always be slight voids or mismatches at the contact points. Automotive sealant (e.g. Bondo 907) adheres well to polymers, therefore, to eliminate such inconsistencies, it is recommended to apply it in a thin layer on the surface. Lightly sand the surface after each coat has dried to bring the model to its final shape.

Sealing models with automotive sealant (red area in image) will help eliminate small gaps and inconsistencies between parts.

Sanding helps remove traces of support structures and remaining inconsistencies in the model. Gently start sanding the surface with 150-grit sandpaper to remove traces of support structures and smooth edges where parts meet. Once the surface is smooth, sand it wet using 320 grit sandpaper to remove any remaining layer lines. Sand the surface in random motions so as not to leave marks. In most cases, these two methods will produce a fairly smooth surface, but you can continue to increase the grit of the sandpaper up to 2 times and, after wetting it, sand the entire model until the surface is reasonably smooth.

Power sanding is great for large flat surfaces, but can ruin fine details. Grinding of small models is recommended to be done by hand, and for large ones, a combination of manual and mechanical grinding is recommended.

Machining large parts with mechanical and manual grinding saves a lot of time. Power sanding is great for large, flat surfaces, but can ruin the fine details, sharp corners, and subtle contours that are typical of stereolithography. As a result of mechanical grinding, a lot of dust is also generated, so before starting processing, it is necessary to prepare the working area.

Note. The use of power tools requires full attention and the use of protective equipment. The surface can be damaged very quickly without even realizing it, just by leaving the sander without moving.

When finished sanding the model, rinse it in soapy water to remove dust and debris and dry thoroughly before proceeding to the last step.

The primer helps the paint adhere to the surface and can indicate areas where additional sanding is needed or removal of traces of supports that you may have missed. The Universal Matte Gray Plastic Primer shows these spots exceptionally well. For best results, apply it to the surface in several thin coats. Sand critical areas and reapply a thin coat of primer. Repeat this process until the entire surface of the model is level.

Note. Use protective equipment during priming and painting, including a respirator to protect against paint fumes.

All-purpose matt gray primer for plastics is exceptionally good at showing fine details and helping to identify areas that need to be sanded down.

Find out more about sanding and priming in our detailed guide.

When painting with multiple colors, protect the model with a temporary coat. First, plan the order in which you will paint the model, depending on the color, transparency, and size of the area of ​​a particular color. Start with small details so that fewer of them can be protected when painting with the main color. Apply painter's tape to the edges and corners. To quickly cover large areas, attach sheets of paper to them. Ribbon guides (laser cut) can also be useful for creating straight lines, circles and complex shapes.

When it comes to masking, figuring out the correct order is your first priority. In our case, the parts were first painted silver and the sections that would remain silver on the final part were then covered with painter's tape to hide them from the next l

painting. In our case, we first painted the parts silver and put masking tape on the areas that should remain silver in the finished model so that they do not get paint of a different color.

As with primer, several thin coats of paint should be applied for optimal results rather than one thick coat. Most spray paints will achieve the best color in warm and slightly damp conditions in the absence of wind. In this case, you must always follow the manufacturer's recommendations, which can be given on the paint container or in the technical documentation.

Consider the time the paint needs to dry: Allow layers to settle before applying the same color and allow the paint to dry completely before applying a new color.

The area where we applied masking tape is still silver.

Become an expert in painting 3D models with our detailed guide

Already wondering what your finished model will look like?

"Sorry sir, that R2-D2 over there is in excellent condition and inexpensive."

Formlabs optics designer Adrien Tanner created this R2-D2 model from 105 parts printed on a Formlabs stereolithographic 3D printer. It even has working electronics borrowed from the Form 2 printer - a galvanometer drive for sound reproduction, a cartridge dispenser for lamps, and a Z-axis drive for dome rotation. 9The 0003

Form 3L is the first large-format 30 x 33.5 x 20 cm 3D printer for producing massive, industrial-quality models.

Reduce order processing time when outsourcing or manual work when assembling large-scale 3D models. Now you can print large 3D models in their entirety on the Form 3L, the first affordable large format SLA printer.

Want to see how stereolithographic parts work? Explore our resources to learn more about stereolithographic resins, or request a free sample to evaluate print quality for yourself.

Request a free print sample

17 Real 3D Printed Buildings - The Future on vc.ru

3D printing technologies are developing extremely fast and are being used in various areas of human life.

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Recently, much attention has been paid to the printing of buildings, and printed houses are increasingly appearing in recent years in different countries of the world - in the USA, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, France, Russia, the United Arab Emirates and others. I have prepared a list of existing 3D printed buildings for 2020.

What is a 3D printer for construction.

Today's 3D construction printers differ in designs and wall construction methods. The most common printers are portal construction, two- and four-support construction, based on a manipulator arm or a circular design. The equipment allows you to create small architectural forms and elements of structures for their subsequent assembly on site, or allow you to print the entire building on the construction site. The height and dimensions of the printed building depend on the specifications of the printer being used.

How the printing process works.

The extruder extrudes a quick-hardening concrete mixture with various additives. Each subsequent layer is applied on top of the previous one, due to which a vertical structure is formed. The concrete layers below are thus compacted, thereby increasing their ability to withstand the next layers, and hence the entire weight of the structure. To strengthen the structure, it is reinforced, which can be both vertical and horizontal. The laying of the horizontal armored belt is carried out between the layers, the vertical reinforcement is installed after the composition has hardened, and then it is poured with concrete.

Advantages of 3D printing over other construction methods.

3D printer fabrication opens up great opportunities for construction and related industries. Practical applications have revealed the following advantages of additive manufacturing:

• It removes the limits from the imagination of designers and architects who design buildings, as it provides opportunities that are not available with the construction methods we are used to.
• High speed of construction of buildings and structures.
• Complete process automation.
• Low power equipment.
• Significant savings compared to classical construction methods by reducing labor and energy costs and accelerating construction time.
• The formation of waste building materials is completely eliminated.
• Minimization of human intervention in the construction process not only allows building in places inaccessible to people, but also eliminates the human factor in ordinary areas and reduces the likelihood of error.

1. June 2014. China. China's Shanghai WinSun Decoration Design Engineering Co has unveiled 3D printed houses at an industrial park in China's Jiangsu province. A total of ten houses were created, each of which cost a little more than three thousand pounds sterling. Over the next ten months, the technology improved and the company produced several different types of buildings for the exhibition, the tallest of which has five floors.

2. August 2014. USA. Company Totalkustom Andrey Rudenko printed the lock. The printing took a total of 2 months. The machine's printing speed was 50 cm in 8 hours. The main part of the castle, measuring 3m x 5m and 3.5m high, was printed as a single unit, and the towers were then printed separately.

3. July 2015. China. Chinese company Zhuoda assembled a two-story house in record time. The modular home, made up of six 3D printed modules, was assembled on site in less than 3 hours. Of course actually about 90% of the work was carried out in the company's workshops, and on the site they were only assembled into a single building.

4. September 2015. Philippines. Andrey Rudenko's company Totalkustom built apartments on the territory of a hotel in the Philippines, 10.5 mx 12.5 m in size and 3 meters high. The building was built using local materials - sand and volcanic ash.

5. May 2016. UAE. Chinese company Shanghai WinSun Decoration Design Engineering Co printed prefabricated structures for the subsequent assembly of an office building in Dubai. The area of ​​a one-story building is about 250 square meters. m.

6. March 2017. Russia. Apis Cor introduced the first 37 sq. m.. The printed house has an interesting shape, but as the participants themselves say: this is just to show the flexibility of printing technology, the shape of the buildings can also be the usual square. Compared to other construction 3D printers, this printer is very compact (4×1.6×1.5 m), weighs 2 tons, and can be easily transported to the construction site.

7. October 2017. Russia. In Yaroslavl, Spetsavia presented the first residential building in Europe and the CIS, built using construction 3D printing technology. Construction of the house began in 2015. The box of the building was printed by a portal printer piece by piece and then assembled on the foundation in one month in December 2015. In the summer of 2017, the roof was completed and the bulk of the interior finishing work was carried out.

8. March 2018. France. Yhnova presented a five-room one-story house with an area of ​​95 square meters. For its construction, the engineers used a large manipulator, at the end of which an extruder for polyurethane foam is fixed. While working, he applied the foam in accordance with the 3D model of the building loaded into it. After applying the foam, the builders periodically filled the erected part with concrete, and also inserted the frames of doors and windows.

9. March 2018. USA. American Company Icon has built a prototype house in Texas to prove its technology works. The area of ​​the building was 32 sq.m., printing was performed by a portal type 3D printer moving along rails installed on the site.

10. July 2018. Spain. Be More 3D printed a 24 m2 concrete building. For the construction, a two-support 3D printer was used, the width of which is 7 meters and the height is 5 meters.

11. September 2018. Denmark. 3D Printhuset printed a 50 square meter office in Nordhavn. The 3D printer used for printing is of the portal type and has a size of 8 x 8 x 6 meters. Print speed 2.5 meters / min. Each layer is 50-70 mm. The print material is concrete made largely from recycled tiles and sand.

12. October 2018. Italy. Company Crane Wasp using a three-bearing construction 3D printer erected a building in ten days. The house uses passive solar heating technology and natural ventilation. The composition for printing was created on the basis of waste from rice cultivation (it was 25% local soil (clay and sand), 40% straw, another 25% - from rice husks and 10% - from hydraulic lime).

November 13, 2018. Italy. Company Arup in collaboration with the architectural bureau CLS Architetti erected a building in 1 week with an area of ​​100 sq.m. The building was printed in segments with subsequent assembly at the construction site.

November 14, 2018. Saudi Arabia. The Dutch company CyBe Construction has completed the construction of a building with an area of ​​80 sq.m. It took about a week to 3D print the necessary elements, and a little more than a day to assemble. The walls are made up of 27 printed blocks, and the parapets needed another 21 blocks to make.

15. August 2019. USA. S-Squared 3D Printers (SQ3D) showed a prototype residential building that can be built from floor to roof in just twelve hours. The house has an area of ​​46 m2. During the printing process, a 3D printer of a two-support design was used.

16. October 2019. UAE. Apis Cor has announced the completion of the world's largest 3D printed building. Located in Dubai, the 650 sq. meters has a building height of 95 meters and entered the Guinness Book of Records as the largest building printed directly on the construction site.

17. December 2019. Mexico. US-based Icon has completed two residential buildings for New Story, a non-profit organization, in southeastern Mexico. The imprinted buildings have a flat roof, curved walls and an area of ​​46. 5 square meters

As can be seen from the impressive list of completed projects, progress in the field of construction 3D printing clearly does not stand still, new techniques are constantly being introduced, various materials are being created, including from recycled raw materials, and high-tech equipment is being developed. In a short period of time, the technology has attracted the interest of a large number of enterprises that are engaged in the development of equipment, special building mixtures, libraries of structural solutions for designing buildings for 3D printing, as well as the preparation of a legislative, regulatory and regulatory framework.

I am sure that in the future the entire construction process will be able to become fully automated, without human intervention, not only when printing foundations and walls, but also when printing ceilings and roofs, automatically install utilities, doors and windows. Also, perhaps in the future we will not be limited to printing houses of 2-3 floors, but will be able to move on to multi-storey construction.

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