3D printers san francisco

FAQ's

How much does your 3D printing service cost?

The cost of your 3D printed parts depends on factors such as part volume, part complexity, choice of material, which 3D printing technology is used, and if any post processing is required. For more details on these cost factors, see our article on the cost of 3d printing. To check the cost of your 3D printed part, simply upload a CAD (.STL) file and select your material and 3D printing technology to receive a quote within seconds.

How do you guarantee the quality of my prints?

Your parts are made by experienced 3D printing shops within our network. All facilities are regularly audited to ensure they consistently meet the Hubs quality standard. We include a standardized inspection report with every order and offer a First Article Inspection service on orders of 100+ units.

We have partners in our network with the following certifications, available on request: ISO9001, ISO13485 and AS9100.
Follow this link to read more about our quality assurance measures.

How do I select the right 3D printing process for my prints?

You can select the right 3D printing process by examining which materials suit your need and what your use case is.

By material: if you already know which material you would like to use, selecting a 3D printing process is relatively easy, as many materials are technology specific.
By use case: once you know whether you need a functional or visual part, choosing a process is easy.

For more help, read our guide to selecting the right 3D printing process. Find out more about Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) and Stereolithography (SLA).

How can I reduce the cost of my 3D prints?

In order to reduce the cost of your 3D prints you need to understand the impact certain factors have on cost. The main cost influencing factors are the material type, individual part volume, printing technology and post-processing requirements.

Once these have been decided, an easy way to further cut costs is to reduce the amount of material used. This can be done by decreasing the size of your model, hollowing it out, and eliminating the need for support structures.

To learn more, read our full guide on how to reduce the cost of 3D printing.

Where can I learn more about 3D printing?

Our knowledge base is full of in-depth design guidelines, explanations on process and surface finishes, and information on how to create and use CAD files. Our 3D printing content has been written by an expert team of engineers and technicians over the years.

See our complete engineering guide to 3D printing for a full breakdown of the different 3D printing technologies and materials. If you want even more 3D printing, then check out our acclaimed 3D printing handbook here.

We have an extensive range of online resources developed to help engineers improve their capabilities.

Introductory guides

Design guides

Material guides

Applications

CAD & file preparation

Post processing & finishing

Our other manufacturing capabilities

CNC machining

CNC machining

Milling (3-, 4- & full 5-axis), turning and post-processing

• 50+ metals and plastics & 10 surface finishes


• Tolerances down to ±.0008” (0.020 mm)

• Lead times from 5 business days

See our CNC machining services

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3D Printer Saves Christmas

As an entrepreneur, engineer, teacher, and international speaker with a Ph. D. in Nanotechnology, there are a few things I'm good at doing. I'm great at solving problems. I can understand, design and create a complex technical device. I can inspire a class full of Japanese students to study science. I can find good sushi anywhere in this world. I can inspire people to change this world.

Unfortunately, this also means that I don't go to family and other holidays that often. More precisely, when you have to visit several different states, or even countries, in a month, it’s still good when I know what day it is, not like how many days are left until Christmas for shopping for gifts.

A month before Christmas, I went on a business trip to cities and countries such as Paris, Lithuania, London and Mexico City. When I got home, I immediately got on the train to my home in San Francisco with one desire - to rest.

And then I saw the calendar. It was Christmas Eve! He crept up on me again so imperceptibly? A few hours later I was scheduled to have dinner with my family, and if I had not done something immediately, they would have noticed that I came empty-handed. To make matters worse, my brother will arrive the next morning with his wife and two children, and they will definitely bring a huge amount of gifts that they have been choosing for several weeks.

I had three options:

I could immediately go to my parents and be a complete asshole who didn't even prepare a gift for anyone.

I could find some chain store, buy some presents, and be the asshole that showed up to dinner so late.

I could be creative and not be an asshole at all.

I love my family too much to show up empty handed or late. I chose the third option.

Without much thought, I drove into my office, grabbed a 3DSystems Cube printer I had recently been given, and drove north. An hour later, I congratulated my father with a hug and a handshake, my mother with a hug and a kiss. All I had in my hands was a 3D printer. My mom glared at him.

"What is this?" she asked.

I offered to show her. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a 3D printer should be worth at least a million.

A few minutes later we were designing a reindeer ornament with my mother's name written on it. Then I connected the printer and we started working. My parents were mesmerized by the way the printer's print head laid out our ornament layer by layer on the work surface. Mom even compared the sound of printing with music. Then we decided to break for preparations, and I noticed that no one even noticed that I did not have any boxes in my hands in holiday packaging.

So far so good.

Our ornament was ready before the food was baked. Inspired by her creation, she immediately hung it on a tree. When I returned, I noticed one really valuable gift for my mother in the kitchen - it was an ornament that I made with my own hands when I was little. I realized that you can make a really personalized gift for Christmas. An hour later, I already gave my mother a frame that was made with a special ornament on the printer, with my photo inside. She was amazed and touched. And I was able to relax. The 3D pinter saved my Christmas.

The next morning when my brother arrived, I showed my nephew the Cube printer. Not only did I manage to distract everyone from not buying anyone any gifts, but I also saved my parents from the chaos that could have ensued if my seven-year-old nephew started riding around the house on a skateboard that was given to him.

My nephew had already heard about the operation of a 3D printer and immediately showed that he already understood this. He started working with the Cubify program and quickly made a skull-and-bones motif like a pirate flag, engraved with his name and adorned with lightning bolts.

My five-year-old niece caught us in the printing process and decided to remind us that we are limited in time. I explained to her that this is absolutely not like playing Angry Birds or watching YouTube videos. We used this technology to create something. Then I helped her design and print a pair of amazing butterfly earrings. As she watched the jewelry being prepared, her skepticism completely disappeared.

At that moment, I realized that I underestimated the 3D printer. I realized its power to change the world of prototyping and modeling. But the main thing is that I did not realize how much it could bring us closer to the people we love.

I brought a 3D printer just to avoid the long queues for gifts at the store. But the whole family liked the things that I helped them create and print so much, and the experience that we shared, creativity and inspiration seemed like a real gift.

3D printer for architect and designer, pros and cons, examples of use

3D technologies are becoming good helpers in various fields. In architecture and design, 3D printers are successfully used mainly to create architectural models.

Illuminated layout

Architectural layouts can be divided into several types:

Layouts can be used for a variety of purposes:

• Visualization for buyers or to coordinate the project with the client. Many customers find it much more difficult to perceive a digital layout of a building or interior. 3D printing allows you to quickly and inexpensively produce, for example, a miniature apartment model with a furniture model. The client himself will be able to visually see a variety of interior options and choose the one he likes the most.

• Project presentation. A presentation with a beautiful layout looks much more colorful and effective, for example, a building or an entire microdistrict. But making an architectural model in the classical way is a long and painstaking, often manual, work. What if you need multiple layouts? A 3D printer can significantly speed up and reduce the cost of production of a layout.

The cost of the layout depends on several factors - this is the complexity of manufacturing and artistic value. The use of a 3D printer allows you to speed up and significantly simplify the production of complex and simple layouts. For example, making a layout of modern buildings with non-linear geometry becomes a real headache for layout designers. 3D printing allows you to quickly and accurately reproduce an exact copy of any building, regardless of its geometry.

Building model with non-linear geometry

FDM printers for architecture and design

FDM is a technology for layer-by-layer deposition of plastic to obtain a physical model. As a consumable material, a plastic thread is used - a filament.

FDM printers are very popular due to their large working area, printing speed and inexpensive consumables.

The choice of printer model depends on what needs to be produced. Some devices are poorly designed to work with some engineering plastics.

Pros and cons

pros

Models of 3D printers appeared with an “infinite” printable area along one of the axes. These printers use a conveyor belt instead of a printtable. Such printers are suitable for mass production.

For the manufacture of simple layouts, you can give preference to models with a single extruder. But if a 3D printer is required to solve a variety of tasks, then models with two extruders and a closed chamber should be preferred. Such devices are universal and can print on almost any material.

Minuses

Application and printing examples

Model of the city of Astana. Production took 1 month.

Building kit

Prefabricated house model

Layout San Francisco

Furniture and interior elements made on a 3D printer

Floor layout of the furniture building

Printer Rating

CreatBot D600 Pro

CreatBot D600 Pro

Features:

Print technology: FDM/FFF

Workspace size: 600x600x600

Number of extruders: 2

Max. extruder temperature: 420 degrees

Closed Camera: Yes

Heated table: Yes

Plastic type: ABS, ABS+, PLA, PLA+, PETG, Flex, Nylon (Nylon), ASA, Carbon, PEEK, Decorative plastics, others

CreatBot D600 Pro is a professional device that has many options that will be useful not only for a beginner, but also for an experienced user. Two extruders with a high heating temperature and a closed chamber allow you to print on all available types of plastics. And automatic table calibration using the BL-Touch sensor eliminates the need to level the table plane.

Raise3D E2

Raise3D E2

Features:

Print technology: FDM/FFF

Working area size: 330 * 240 * 240 mm - when printing with the 1st extruder

295x240x240 mm - when printing with 2 extruders

Number of extruders: 2

Max. extruder temperature: 300 degrees

Closed Camera: Yes

Heated table: Yes

Plastic type: ABS, ABS+, PLA, PLA+, PETG, Flex, Nylon (Nylon), ASA, Carbon, Decorative plastics, others

Raise3D E2 is a small device with unusual kinematics. Raise3D E2 has two independent extruders that allow the printer to work in several modes:

In addition, Raise3D E2 is equipped with a convenient touch screen, automatic table calibration, an assistant for calibrating the height of extruders relative to each other and other nice features that do not affect the final print, but make working with the printer easier and more comfortable.

Raise3D Pro2 and Pro2 Plus

Raise3D Pro2 left and Pro2 Plus right

Features:

Print technology: FDM/FFF

Stage size: Raise3D Pro2

305x305x300 mm - when printing with the 1st extruder;

280x305x300 mm - when printing with 2 extruders

Raise3D Pro2 Plus 305x305x605 mm - when printing with the 1st extruder;

280x305x605 mm - when printing with 2 extruders

Number of extruders: 2

Max. extruder temperature: 300 degrees

Closed Camera: Yes

Heated table: Yes

Plastic type: ABS, ABS+, PLA, PLA+, PETG, Flex, Nylon (Nylon), ASA, Carbon, Decorative plastics, others

As you can see from the specifications, the only difference between Raise3D Pro2 and Pro2 Plus is the size of the workspace in height. Pro2 Plus has twice as much.

The Raise3D Pro2 series has proven itself in various fields. These are reliable workhorses with a set of all the necessary options for high-quality printing, and the presence of two extruders allows you to make models of any complexity.

PICASO 3D Designer XL Pro

PICASO 3D Designer XL Pro

Characteristics:

Print technology: FDM/FFF

Working area size: 360 x 360 x 610 mm

Number of extruders: 2

Max. extruder temperature: 410 degrees

Closed Camera: Yes

Heated table: Yes

Plastic type: ABS, ABS+, PLA, PLA+, PETG, Flex, Nylon (Nylon), ASA, Carbon, PEEK, PC, Decorative plastics, others

PICASO 3D Designer XL Pro is a Russian-made professional printer with an enlarged working area. Designer XL Pro is equipped with automatic table calibration, plastic feed control sensor and other nice features.

Photopolymer printing in architecture and design

The principle of operation of a photopolymer printer is based on the illumination of a special resin using directional UV radiation. Photopolymer printers can work on one of three technologies:

Photopolymer printers allow you to get a product with an ideal surface. It is not for nothing that LCD, DLP and SLA devices are actively used in the jewelry and dental industries, where accuracy and the ideal surface of the finished model are important.

Currently, LCD technology has gained particular popularity due to its availability and inexpensive printers.

Pluses and minuses

pros

Minuses

• After printing, it is necessary to rinse and dry the product in a UV chamber. After printing, it is necessary to wash off excess polymer from the surface of the finished print. For this, isopropyl alcohol is usually used, although resins have now appeared that can be washed with plain water. In order for the photopolymer to gain the declared strength, it must be additionally illuminated under an ultraviolet lamp or in a special box.

Application and printing examples

Miniature model of building

Model of the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat (St. Basil's Cathedral)

City layout

Miniature “extras” for layout

Printer rating

Prismlab RP400

Prismlab RP400

Features:

Print Technology: DLP/LCD/SLA

Material: Photopolymer resin

Construction area size: 384x216x384 mm

XY positioning accuracy: 100/67/50 microns

Z-axis positioning accuracy: 100/50 microns

Prismlab RP400 is a professional photopolymer machine with a large printable area. Humidity and temperature sensors in the build chamber allow Prismlab to adjust print settings for the best print quality, while open source software allows the use of third-party photopolymer resins.

Peopoly Phenom XXL

Peopoly Phenom XXL

Characteristics:

Print Technology: DLP/LCD/SLA

LCD display resolution: 3840x2160 (23. 8", 16:9, UHD 4K)

Material: Photopolymer resin

Construction area size: 527x296x550 mm

XY positioning accuracy: 137 µm

The Peopoly Phenom XXL is a large format photopolymer printer with a huge printable area. The improved monochrome LCD matrix allows you to quickly and accurately produce large models or small batches of small products.

Phrozen Sonic MEGA 8K

Phrozen Sonic MEGA 8K

Features:

Print Technology: DLP/LCD/SLA

LCD resolution: 15" 8K Mono LCD

Material: Photopolymer resin

Build area size: 330 x 185 x 400 mm

XY Positioning Accuracy: 43 µm

Sonic Mega 8K is the first LCD printer with a matrix resolution of 8k, but the accuracy of printing depends on the resolution of the matrix. Sonic Mega 8K allows you to produce large models with amazing clarity, without “blurring” or smoothing small elements.

Construction printers

Construction printers are just groping for their niche for application, and the technology itself is still far from ideal. But the projects already implemented allow us to imagine a possible future where it will be possible to print entire houses.

Application and printing examples

Bridge in Shanghai.

In Shanghai, using a construction 3D printer, a whole bridge was printed and installed over a pond in the Baoshan area. The new bridge is 26.3 meters long and 3.6 meters wide.

Shanghai Bridge

Before making a concrete, full-size model, a reduced copy of the bridge 1: 4 was printed for testing the strength and safety of the structure. 3D printing took 450 hours. A load and deformation monitoring system was installed in the finished bridge. This allows you to explore the properties of printed concrete elements in real time.

Up close, you can see the concrete layers that appeared due to the peculiarities of printing

Bridge in Amsterdam

In Amsterdam, a printed steel bridge was installed. It connects the embankments of the Oudesijds Achterburgwal canal. The length of the finished bridge is 12.2 m, the width is 6.3 m, and the weight is 6000 kg.

Bridge in Amsterdam

Sensors were installed in the bridge to track the deformation of the structure and count the number of people passing through it. For the manufacture of a modern "crossing" 4 robots for 6 months layer-by-layer made a construction of stainless wire.

Bridge manufacturing process

Printed house in Germany

In Germany, builders built an entire house using a 3D construction printer. The house is designed for 5 families, the total area is 380 sq.m.

Almost finished house

In the model of the house, cavities are initially laid for all communications, which the builders will later install. Thus, while the printer is building walls, the workers are solving other tasks.

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