When it comes to 3D printing, I often run across two different types of users – those who want reliability and those who are eager to experiment.
Those who want reliability go with turnkey 3D printers in which you don’t have to alter settings within the printer to know your prints will come out exactly as you’d expect each time you press print. This includes entry level users as well as experienced users who are looking to produce reliable parts but don’t necessarily have time to configure the different settings needed to print their parts. They simply want their prints to come out as intended.
Turnkey 3D printers offer the reliability and functionality needed for complex applications because the work has already been done to determine the settings necessary to achieve a specific type of print with a specific material.
On the other side of the coin, those who want to experiment – or hack their 3D printer – have more flexibility within their design process and timelines. They are willing to fail more often as they make their own changes to a 3D printer (oftentimes a hobbyist level 3D printer) to get the specific outcome they desire.
The variables most often altered include:
- Materials – The need for varying materials is often the reason why individuals will hack their 3D printer in the first place. Perhaps you need for a certain type of material for a very specific application that cannot be achieved with the standard settings that came with your 3D printer. Perhaps you want to use an aftermarket polycarbonate or a flexible material like NinjaFlex. There is a huge array of open source 3D printing materials available today.
- Extruder nozzles – The most important part of the 3D printing process is extrusion. Not all extruder nozzles are created equal. They come in different shapes and sizes, which can drastically alter your output. Extrusion is also affected by temperature.
- Temperature – The melting point of different materials varies depending on the printer you own. If not melted at the proper temperature, the material won’t extrude properly, which can cause bubbling, webbing, clogged print heads, imprecise parts, and a whole host of other issues. Hackers need to experiment with varying temperatures to find what works best for that material they are using.
Ultimately, going open source makes sense when you need to step outside the limitations of your device and when you have a lot of time to alter your printer’s settings until you get the desired result.
On the other hand, this time and effort has already been taken care of for you when you go with a turnkey printer. These are designed to be simple to operate. Although you are limited to using factory branded material, every time you hit the print button, your print will come out as desired.
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