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Does your business involve production? Would you benefit from having a 3D printer? 3D printing technology has opened up many opportunities for small businesses. Many small businesses today rely on 3D printing for designing and creating prototypes, building custom tools to improve efficiency, creating models and other consumer products as well as providing services for the customization of items.
If 3D printing is a major part of your business, you may be contemplating investing in a 3D printer for your small business. In this article, we discuss some tips to help you find the best 3D printer for your small business.
Hire or Purchase a 3D Printer, Which is Best for Your Small Business?
Before taking a look at how to identify a good 3D printer for your business, it is important to determine whether making the purchase will be beneficial for your business. Without a doubt, 3D printing technology has become more widely available. Modern 3D printers are now more compact in design and more affordable. The materials used for 3D printing are also becoming more varied and more readily available. Many small businesses and individuals are now investing in these incredible machines to create their own products.
While 3D printing technology is more widely available and more affordable, you would still need to make a significant investment in order to own a high-quality 3D printer. As a small business, you may want to avoid these upfront costs by hiring a 3D printer. If you choose to hire a printer, you will only have to pay for the period that you use the printer. You won't have to worry about maintenance and other overheads.
However, this can become expensive if 3D printing is central to your business. Hiring a 3D printer can cost thousands of dollars. You would be better off investing in a 3D printer for your business and ensuring you are able to meet the demand.
How to Find the Best 3D Printer for Your Business
There are various options available for 3D printers in the market today. It may be challenging for you to make a decision about which 3D printer to purchase for your business. Below, we provide a step-by-step guide to help you identify the best 3D printer for your business.
- Learn about the different 3D printing technologies available
3D printing technology has evolved. There are now different types of 3D printing technology available. It is important to learn about the different types of 3D printing technology as well as the benefits and drawbacks of each.
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) printing technology is one of the most popular 3D printing technologies available. FDM printers use a plastic filament. This filament is melted in the printer and extruded through a nozzle onto a printer bed. The molten filament is laid down layer by layer to achieve a 3D print. There are different types of filaments available made from different materials. These filaments also come in a wide variety of colors and can provide various finishes.
Stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing technology is also quite a popular choice. These printers make use of resins instead of plastic filaments. The resins are exposed to UV light which results in the hardening of the resin through a process known as photopolymerization.
- Determine your application for the 3D printer
What exactly will you be making using the 3D printer? You should take some time to determine how the 3D printer will be applied to your business. This will help you narrow down your options in terms of choosing a type of 3D printer and deciding on other specifications of the 3D printer.
For example, if you are a small business that will be designing and producing figurines, an FDM printer would be a good choice for you.
- Determine the type of material you will use
It is important to choose a printer that is compatible with the 3D printing materials you will be using. For example, you may already have narrowed down your options to FDM printing technology. However, did you know that there are a wide variety of 3D printing filaments? Did you also know that not all 3D printers are compatible with all types of filament?
Therefore, it is important to identify the type of filament you will be using. This will help you determine which 3D printer to go for. It is best to choose a printer that is not only compatible with your choice of material but is also compatible with various other materials. This will give you more options for creating 3D prints in the future.
- Consider the print quality
The print quality is not only influenced by the type of filament you use but also by the printer itself. The first thing to consider is the resolution of the printer. This is determined by the nozzle diameter as well as the minimal print layer height. A good nozzle diameter should be around 0.4 mm. This will provide great precision with details. A high-quality printer can provide layer resolution in the range of 50 to 300 microns.
Print quality is also affected by the construction of the printer. You will want to reduce the 'noise' resulting from the construction quality of the printer. An all metal 3D printer would be a great investment. A metal printer is stable and sturdy. You will have better quality prints with a sturdy machine.
- Consider print speed
You will also want to consider print speed too. This will affect how quickly you are able to produce your prints. It is important to be able to find a good balance between speed and quality. You shouldn't compromise the quality of your prints in order to print a great volume in a shorter time. You also don't want to spend days printing. You may not be able to meet your customers' demands.
Which printer is best for your business? Consider the factors outlined above to find the best printer for your small business.