Industrial 3D printers are replacing the injection molding process such as CNC milling as the option that you need to go-to especially in the areas of small production runs and rapid prototyping. Two factors that are working in the favor of 3D printers are:
- The ability to make incredibly intricate and detailed small parts as well as full models.
- High-quality part production.
Unlike beginner-level 3D printers, industrial-level 3D printers are aimed at business targeting to develop faster prototypes, or lower the manufacturing costs with the help of 3D printing.
There are many cost variables available in industrial 3D printing. Starting from resin 3D printers such as Formlabs 3 priced at $3499.
They are able to print parts and functional prototypes that find application in the field of dentistry, education, medical, and jewelry. Followed by Ultimaker S3 and S5, Makerbot, etc that covers the professional consumers’ market!
Above this, there are industrial 3D printers costing anywhere in the range of $10000 to $100000, FDM 3D printers such as BigRep Studio, and Markforged Metal X.
There are also premium grade 3D printing systems that even cost more than $100000 such as the ones by EOS, Carbon 3D, and Desktop Metal.
Before starting with the list of best industrial 3D printers, allow us to take you through the general factors you must consider before making your industrial 3D printer’s purchase.
Factors to consider before buying an industrial 3D Printer
Amongst the very many factors that you must keep in mind, below mentioned are the few general ones that you can quickly refer to.
- Build Volume and build size: Your creation of part or functional prototypes on the industrial 3D printer would depend on these two terms and the dimensions that the printer has and manages to offer. Build size means the l*b*h of the printer, whereas build volume is the maximum l*b*h that you can 3D print on that printer.
- 3D printing technology: The most common 3D printing technology is FDM, based on which you will find a lot of cheap industrial 3D printers. As you move to SLA 3D printing technology, the choices will decrease and the rate would increase. Moving on even further to 3D printing technologies such as SLS, DLP DMLS, Binder Jetting, MJF 3D printing technologies, the options would be even fewer than before and the cost would be huge. In fact, after a stage you cannot call it an industrial 3D printer; you’d have to call it an industrial 3D printing system.
- 3D printing materials: The most general industrial 3D printing materials include PLA, ABS, or Nylon. A little bit higher choice of materials would be metal powders such as Aluminum, or Titanium. So, you must buy a 3D printer that supports the material you wish to print with.
- Print Speed and other features: It is a well-known fact in the industry that delta 3D printers print in a faster way than Cartesian 3D printers. Also, FDM is faster than SLA is faster or equivalent to SLS is faster than DMLS/Binder Jetting or MJF 3D printing technology.
- Resolution: Layer resolution offered by a 3D printer defines the print quality of that printer. Material Jetting and DMLS or Binder Jetting 3D printing technologies are known to offer great quality surface finish in parts or functional prototypes. A bit lower in terms of print quality is SLS, SLA and then in the end there is FDM 3D printing technology.
It’s time now to introduce you to the best 3D printers that rule the industrial 3D printing market.
Best Industrial 3D printers
Below mentioned are some industrial 3D printers that you can afford to have as small and medium-sized businesses.
FabPro 1000
This industrial 3D printer is the most affordable one that you will find on the list. It will cost you only $2475. It is able to offer you a build volume of 125 mm * 70 mm * 120 mm.
Weighing 27 kilograms, Fab Pro 1000 is able to accurately design and print accurate plastic prototypes which find applications in the jewelry sector for investment casting, dental models, and orthodontic splits.
The printing cost of Fab Pro 1000 is stated to be 22 percent lower than its competitors. While its print speed is 45 percent faster. It prints parts and functional prototypes using SLA 3D printing technology.
This industrial 3D printer is able to produce parts and functional prototypes with a minimum layer resolution of 30 microns.
Resin 3D printed parts and functional prototypes from this 3D printer will require post-curing.
And for all your queries related to the 3D printer, you have an amazing support team waiting to answer your questions. There is also a one-year’s warranty that comes with this industrial 3D printer.
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Raise3D Pro 2 Plus
Offering a build volume of 305 mm * 305 mm * 305 mm, Pro 2 Plus is priced at $5999. The printer weighs 52 kilograms and offers fantastic reliability, accuracy as well as versatility.
Being an FDM 3D printer, Pro 2 Plus is able to print intricate parts and functional prototypes with 100-micron layer resolution.
Its build plate is able to prevent part warping and a fully enclosed print chamber is able to keep the temperature inside consistent, which is much for the 3D printing process.
The printer features a dual extruder system that allows for multi-material printing. It also permits supports and rapid prototyping that requires two different colors.
The maximum temperature its extruder can withstand is 300 degrees Celsius.
This means that you’ll be able to print with 3D printing materials such as ABS, PLA, PETG, Nylon, Carbon Fiber infused, metal-filled, and glass infused filaments.
ideaMaker is the name of the slicing software that is compatible with this 3D printer allowing for easy control and monitoring of the printing process.
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Voxeljet VX 4000
This 3D printing system is also known as the world’s biggest industrial 3D printing system in existence. It’s because the printer has a build volume of 4000 mm * 2000 mm * 1000 mm.
But that doesn’t imply that this 3D printing system is not able to print parts or functional prototypes of small build volume. In fact, it does that with an unmatched layer resolution range of 300 dpi.
Voxeljet VX 4000 is based on Binder Jetting 3D printing technology that works by depositing droplets of binder agent for fusing the powder of material used for manufacturing parts or functional prototypes.
It permits virtually continuous production because of its interchangeable build. This also makes the printer suitable for metal casting, foundry, and molds.
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BigRep One V3
This is the third version of the BigRep One that has a build capacity of 1005 mm * 1005 mm * 1005 mm.
The complete 3D printing system of this industrial 3D printer includes modular print heads and a dual extruder that offers flexibility while undertaking any printing project.
You can print in two different colors or materials. For leveling the print bed of this 3D printing system, all you need to do is press a button.
BigRep One V3 print parts and functional prototypes based on FDM 3D printing technology.
Because of its open build design, the printer offers an unobstructed view of the 3D printing process.
You can print with BigRep’s proprietary filaments such as PLA, PETG, Pro, HT, and Pro HS.
back to menu ↑EOS P810
This industrial 3D printer is developed after EOS’s collaboration with Boeing. P 810 system is designed for use with HT-23 which is a high-performance, high-temperature plastic.
It is also the first-ever carbon-fiber-reinforced PEKK material that is to be used in connection with EOS systems and is able to produce high-strength and lightweight parts or functional prototypes.
P 810 is constructed in such a way that it is typically meant to be used with high-performance 3D printing material that makes it typically suiting the aerospace industry.
This is because; the requirements such as UV resistance and flame retardant are fulfilled.
This industrial 3D printer has a build volume of 700 mm * 380 mm * 380 mm and is based on Selective Laser Sintering 3D printing technology.
back to menu ↑ProX 950
Here is the largest industrial-grade SLA 3D printing system available in the market. It works by employing a laser source to cure and solidify the resin 3D printing material.
To decrease the overall printing type for producing a part or functional prototype, Pro X 950 uses two laser sources.
This industrial 3D printer has the capability of producing high-quality 3D parts up to a height of 1.5 meters in one go.
The maximum build volume that you can print on this 3D printer is 1500 mm * 750 mm * 550 mm.
The printer also produces casting patterns, jigs and fixtures, medical models, and functional prototypes from photocurable plastics, and composites.
It features a material delivery module for changing material quickly.
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Funmat HT Enhanced
This 3D printer is designed only for 3D printing PEEK material which can rarely be 3D printed. Funmat HT Enhanced has made special arrangements for ensuring effective 3D printing of PEEK.
It features a high-quality closed heated bed, high-temperature extruder, and all-metal hot-end. All in all, it has all the provisions for ensuring faster heating of various parts of the printer.
This arrangement also makes the printer suitable for 3D printing materials such as PEI or ULTEM.
It offers a minimum layer thickness of 50 microns. But the best part about it is its cost. It is available for a price as low as $6000.
Due to its ability to print with rare 3D printing materials, this 3D printer finds application in industries such as Aerospace, Automotive, Engineering, and medical sector parts.
back to menu ↑Ultimaker S5
Weighing 20.6 kilograms, this is perhaps the lightest industrial 3D printer on the list. Also, Ultimaker S5 is affordable.
Being an FDM industrial 3D printer, it is able to offer 20-micron layer resolution in parts and functional prototypes manufactured on it.
Even in objects that involve intricate designs, the printer is able to achieve dimensional level accuracy.
The specialty of this 3D printer is that it is able to 3D print with a high-strength glass and carbon fiber filaments even of 2.85 mm diameter.
The printer is open-sourced and hence allows for an open filament system.
Its 4.7 inch touch screen user interface is very intuitive and permits you to control various aspects of this 3D printer via simple touch.
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The Conclusion
It is hard when it comes to making bigger investments and for the same reason, it is said to plan for the long term while making so.
Some expensive industrial 3D printers mentioned on the list above would require you to do the same.
Large-scale 3D printing systems or industrial 3D printers do offer unique manufacturing solutions that smaller systems cannot achieve.
And for the same reason, they can produce large prototypes and parts like parts used in aerospace defense and even multiple series of smaller parts simultaneously. There are many advantages of large-scale 3D printing and industrial 3D printers.
For the same reason, this area is seen progressing a lot in recent years. It is important here to note that bigger doesn’t necessarily imply better.
Although large-scale industrial 3D printers do let you 3D print parts and functional prototypes of build volume smaller ones cannot.
But smaller ones can let you print an equivalent or even better layer resolution range of parts and functional prototypes, which is remarkable.
So, it’s best to decide on the basis of the application for which you want to buy an industrial 3D printer.
That would allow you to match the features and other aspects of these 3D printing systems with your need and then decide whether it falls within your budget range or not! A lot also depends on the choice of 3D printing technology you choose.
Editorial Team
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