Next up in our blog series on tips for building and operating a makerspace is a close look at 3D printers.
In the past we’ve looked at 3D printing best practices in the classroom and questions K12 educators should ask before buying a 3D printer. Now we’re updating our list of Things to Consider When Buying a 3D Printer.
Determine Your Material Options
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Perhaps the most important to consider how your part will be used and therefore what type of material your printer should be capable of printing.
Do the parts you plan to print need to be tough and durable for testing? Or should they feature fine textures and details? Or both?
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- ABS — The plastic used in Legos, ABS is tough, nontoxic and retains color well. It is good for making conceptual and functional models and in manufacturing such as for the production of gears or interlocking parts.
- PLA — similar to the material used in biodegradable plastic packaging, PLA is tough and resilient but not as heat tolerant as ABS. It works well for general manufacturing 3D printing and painted miniatures.
- Nylon — Good for printing utensils that contact food and plant pots that fill with water, Nylon has a high tensile strength (meaning it can hold a lot of weight without breaking).
- PETG — MakerBot’s recently announced PETG is the first advanced material for in the METHOD Specialty Material line. It’s great for producing functional prototypes, jigs and fixtures, and end-use parts.
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Elastomers — Stratasys offers elastomer material for its FDM 3D printers, giving you new levels of elasticity, durability with true soluble support.
There are several different 3D printing materials available depending on whether you’re looking at professional grade or hobby level printers. Take note of what is compatible with the systems you are considering. You can explore all of the materials available for Stratasys 3D printers here. Here is a list of material compatibility for MakerBot 3D printers.
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MakerBot Method
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MakerBot Replicator+
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MakerBot Replicator Z18
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- MakerBot Precision PLA
- MakerBot Precision Tough
- MakerBot Precision PVA
- MakerBot Specialty PETG
- more to come…
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- MakerBot PLA
- MakerBot Tough
- 3rd party materials available with the Experimental Extruder
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- MakerBot PLA
- MakerBot Tough
- 3rd party materials available with the Experimental Extruder
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Make Sure Your Expectations Match Reality
Dozens of 3D printing startups enter the market each year. Not all will make it. If you are purchasing an inexpensive printer from a startup, be aware that the company may not be around next year – no matter how slick their marketing video of the product looks on the crowdfunding website.
It’s also important to work with a manufacturer that can provide support in the short term and long term. Do you need a printer that will last two years? Ten years? Inexpensive printers will not last as long as professional grade systems – make sure you purchase a system with reliability that matches your needs and expectations.
Decide How Many 3D Printers You Will Need
When your lab is busy, the 3D printing backlog will become large if you only have a few printers available. Think about how many users may need the technology at the same time and purchase enough 3D printers to allow all of them to complete their projects in a reasonable amount of time.
Will you need several workhorse printers like the Stratasys F123 Series, which can quickly, reliably print job after job all day long? Or do you expect your users will mostly be interested in tinkering but there won’t be a backlog of jobs to be completed in a single day?
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Learn About Certification Options
Some 3D printing manufacturers offer certification for teachers and students. MakerBot offers its MakerBot Certification Program for Students as well as its MakerBot Certification Program for Educators. Both programs aim give users the confidence and skills they need to effectively learn and teach with the technology.
The Stratasys Additive Manufacturing Certification program helps schools become certified institutions that can offer a professional proficiency credential in additive manufacturing technologies, industries and applications, FDM and PolyJet materials, key technology specifications, design considerations from CAD to CAM, fabrication considerations and post-processing methods.
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We often hold both Stratasys and MakerBot 3D printing certification workshops and seminars throughout our territory. Contact us if you’d like us to offer a training for your school.
Leverage Curriculum Resources
There are several resources available for educators, including Thingiverse, which houses 100s of free lesson plans, and Stratasys’ 3D Printing Education Modules.
Consider an Exhaust System
While more research still needs to be done, some studies have shown that the fumes produced by high temperature materials, such as ABS, may be harmful over long periods of time of exposure. If you are concerned about 3D printing fumes, consider installing an exhaust system that provides effective fume extraction and filtration rates. BOFA offers compact units, with optional speed control, to maintain cleaner print area and returns ultra clean, filtered air to operator breathing zones.
For more information on what to look for when investing in a variety of MakerEd technologies, download our full Makerspace Checklist.
