3D Printer at RS for £500

**LINK**

Plus VAT of course. Looks a decent build unlike the strut and all thread builds but still using the same software as the crappy ones.

Who's going to be first to get one for a preview ?

"Model Engineers Workshop" should buy one, and then run a long term [and genuinely independent] test on it.

MichaelG.

Did a search on the name and found a video of it working.

However as usual it left more questions unanswered than it answered.

It needs to be connected to a web browser ? but does it need web access all the while.

They showed you then selecting a part by clicking on a file [ where from ? ] and it went away and printed.

What about where on the bed it needs to be ? Support matrix ? or % of support ?

Unless they come up with a better video or answers page I can't see many shelling out £500 notes.

I am very interested in this new technology but feel that I want to wait untill it has settled down, consumables seem a bit pricey, and as john says lots of unanswered questions.
bob

It must be safe to say that if RS are selling it for 500 quid, it will be available for a fair bit less out in the real world. Generally you have to be lazy (or corporate, valuing the convenience) to buy stuff from them. I've bought lots of stuff from them over the years - but not with my own dosh....

Merry

It looks as if the web browser on an attached PC (on USB port) is used as the user interface to control the machine, upload design files etc. The processor controlling the machine simply serves a web page to the browser.

"They showed you then selecting a part by clicking on a file [ where from ? ] and it went away and printed."

I imagine in the video they simply used the browser to find the file on the PC, which a browser can happily do. Internet connection not needed. Basically it avoids the user having to load any specific software on his PC, all the functional software runs on the printer's own processor.

"What about where on the bed it needs to be ? Support matrix ? or % of support ?"

Apart from the mechanical construction and the user interface it looks like the operation is basically the same as the RepRap and the same principles will apply.

Thank you John for that explanation which makes a lot of sense.

If this is the case then the RS one isn't for me because I have travelled a fair bit to meet people with these printers, RepRaps, Huxley's etc and to be honest none of them seem to be able to produce consistent quality parts.

I feel that because they all share this same open source common software that is the stumbling block. The UP Mini which you have to pay far more for has it's own proprietary software but quality is far better. So it boils down to the usual cost v quality issue again.

Cost of consumables isn't high given what they can do. Anyone priced steel bar lately ? Just had 1 length 1" round, 1 length 3/4" hex, one length of 20mm round.and one length of 30 x 6 flat. - Total with VAT and delivery - £87

I've ordered a 3D printer for work this afternoon, although not the one from RS. With a bit of luck it'll be here before Christmas.

Regards,

Andrew

What make Andrew ?

While on the subject of 3D printing there was an interesting post on MEM about printing nesting jaws to hold odd shaped work, starts here and continues over the page. Also worth looking at the CNC machined valve on the previous page.

J

PS. There is also a bit of thread milling for Andrew

Edited By JasonB on 04/12/2013 20:30:10

I narrowed the choice down to three machines; the Cubify CubeX, the Makerbot Replicator2 and the Ultimaker2. It panned out as follows:

CubeX: biggest build volume, but uses an expensive and small proprietary cartridge - no thanks!

Replicator2: Way too much 'bling' and 'cool' on the website for my liking and not much hard technical info - only uses PLA

Ultimaker2: Dutch, open source, and the one I went for

I bought via a UK distributor, as delivery is supposed to be quicker than ordering direct, and UK VAT is slightly lower than Dutch VAT.

Regards,

Andrew

I'm seriously looking at the UP plus 2 from Maplin.

Has anyone looked at theFelix 3. Also dutch.

Hi There

They won't buy me one. No point asking.

However, what computer do I need to run it from?

What else do I need to buy and where can I get ABS filament as RS only seem to do PLA.

I might buy one for my own use and write some articles as well.

What about software?

regards David