Best Large Format 3D Printer: A Small Guide

In this competitive era, leaving your competitors behind requires you to rely on advanced technologies. One of such technologies is 3D printing, which has had miraculous effects upon various industries. In fact, large format 3D printers have enabled businesses to create larger, more complex, and highly detailed objects.

This page will give you valuable information about large format 3D printers, such as their business benefits, tips for large-scale 3D printing, and some industries that benefit from it. Aside from that, you will learn about how you can choose the best large format 3D printer.

Business Benefits of Large Format 3D Printers

The following is a list of advantages offered by the large-scale 3D printer:

Cost-efficient Prototyping: 

When you print large prototypes in-house, you can save outsourcing costs and reduce speed times.

Customization: 

The printer is flexible enough to create custom, large-scale products as per specific requirements.

Innovation: 

If a business relies on a traditional manufacturing method, it will be impossible or too costly for it to produce complex geometries and intricate details. However, large format 3D printers produce complicated geometries and intricate details.

Scalability: 

With the printers, creating large parts and assemblies in one piece becomes possible. Thus, there is no need for multiple prints and assembly. 

How to Choose the Best Large Format 3D Printer for Your Project?

When it comes to choosing a large-scale 3D printer for your project, you must take into account several points. If you don’t do it, you will buy an unsuitable printer for your project.

The following are some tips that can help you buy the perfect printer for your project:

Pay Heed to Print Quality: 

Evaluate the print quality of the printer by checking sample prints or reading customer reviews. You should look for a printer that can consistently produce high-quality prints, with good accuracy and detail.

Consider Features: 

Take notice of extra features like automatic bed leveling, filament detection, and print resume after power loss. These features can play a huge role in improving the printing experience and reducing the risk of failed prints.

See the Large Format Capabilities: 

You must determine the maximum build volume of the printer. Aside from that, make sure that it fulfills your requirements for the size of objects you need to print.

Ensure Reliable Support and Warranty: 

Find a trustworthy manufacturer that can offer excellent customer support and a warranty on the printers. Doing it is a must, as you may need assistance for any issues or technical difficulties. It’s a very important point to enable yourself to find the best large format 3D printer.

Tips for Large-Scale 3D Printing and Prototyping Designs

To make designs for large-scale 3D printing, you need to focus on factors like size, support structures, and print orientation. Let’s know each one of them one by one:

Support Structures: 

Be clear whether your design needs support structures for successful printing or not. Intricate details and large overhangs may need support structures for the prevention of sagging or collapsing in the process of printing.

File Format: 

You must save your design files into a format that is in harmony with the large-scale 3D printer’s software like OBJ or STL.

Size: 

Make sure that your design is fitted within the maximum build volume of the printer. If the object is too large, it may need to be printed in multiple parts and assembled after some time.

Print Orientation: 

Take into account the best orientation for your design to reduce the need for support structures. In addition, it will help you achieve the strength and surface finish you want. 

Some Industries That Benefit from a Large Format 3D Printer

Large format 3D printing, and all other additive manufacturing technologies, is still developing, but many industries are actively using it. Let’s see how the large build volume 3d printer is used in the automotive, entertainment, and advertising industry.

1. Automotive Industry 

The large format 3D printer allows the manufacturers of the automotive industry to print customized life-sized prototypes. In fact, it helps them print even end-use parts like body panels and bumpers. These printers also support traditional manufacturing techniques, as they produce jigs, fixtures, and other components.

With 3D printing, automotive manufacturers can explore new possibilities, for example, a team developed the first fully 3D-printed motorcycle.

That’s why automotive industry professionals are always in quest of the best large format 3D printer.

2. Entertainment Industry 

The entertainment industry relies on large-format 3D printing for the creation of props and stage pieces for theatre plays, musical shows, and Hollywood and indie movies. The machines make it possible for artists and sculptors to affordably and quickly build installation pieces that feature more complicated geometries in comparison to manual or traditional production methods would allow.

3. Advertising Industry

A large 3D printer allows creation of complex, striking, and easily customizable pieces for an advertising company from materials that can withstand long-term deployment outdoors. Some options in the advertising industry include 3D printing giant replicas of small products or lettering for business building facades. 

Conclusion

With a large-scale 3D printer, businesses can create custom and large-scale products, produce complicated geometries and intricate details, etc.

If you are looking for the best large format 3D printer, you should focus on the print quality, features, and capabilities. Aside from that, do remember that its manufacturer must provide you with satisfactory customer support to cope with technical difficulties and a warranty.