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February 13, 20233D Printers & Accessories / Prusa ResearchORIGINAL PRUSA MINI+
3D printing has become an increasingly popular hobby in recent years, and there are now many options available for people looking to get into the field. However, few 3D printers offer the combination of affordability, ease of use, and quality that the Original Prusa MINI+ by Prusa Research does.
The MINI+ is a compact, plug-and-play 3D printer that can be up and running in just minutes. It features a sturdy metal frame and a spacious build volume of 18 x 18 x 18 cm, making it ideal for hobbyists and makers who want to create small to medium-sized projects. The MINI+ also features a heated build plate and a filament sensor, making it easy to use with a wide range of filaments, including PLA, PETG, and ABS.
Small yet powerful and very easy to use!
One of the standout features of the MINI+ is its ease of use. The printer is designed for beginners and experts alike, and it comes fully assembled, so you can start printing right out of the box. The MINI+ also features a color touchscreen display that makes it easy to navigate the printer’s menus and adjust settings. Plus, the included PrusaSlicer software is user-friendly and intuitive, making it easy to slice your models and prepare them for printing.
Another advantage of the MINI+ is its quality. Prusa Research is known for producing high-quality 3D printers, and the MINI+ is no exception. It features a 0.4mm nozzle and a minimum layer height of 0.05mm, ensuring that your prints are smooth and detailed. The MINI+ also features automatic bed leveling, which helps ensure that your prints stick to the bed and are of consistent quality.
In conclusion, the Original Prusa MINI+ by Prusa Research is a top-quality 3D printer that is ideal for hobbyists and makers. Its compact size, ease of use, and high-quality prints make it an excellent choice for anyone looking to get into 3D printing. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced maker, the MINI+ is an excellent choice for your next 3D printing project.
Get your Original Prusa MINI+ from the Official Prusa3D Webshop! Just CLICK HERE and you are where you need to be. The best thing of all is that I will earn a small percentage and this will cost you nothing extra. In this way you are supporting me a lot and I will love you forever. [...]
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October 6, 20203D Printer Reviews / UncategorizedI have to be careful with this review. LOL. Many of you know that I am an official BETA tester for Prusa Research. I assure you I don’t get any form of compensation for this review. Yes, I am a huge fan of the Prusa brand and that obviously has a reason. Josef Prusa and his incredible team create wonderful 3D printers. They even have there own in-house filament production facility where they create some of the very best filaments on the planet. I think that is something we can only applaud.
I did visit Josef Prusa (and my buddy Jennes) just last year. We had had an amazing time there. But enough of this, time to talk about my Original Prusa i3 MK3S with MMU2S (Multi-Material Upgrade v2S).
Original Prusa i3 MK3S
The Original Prusa i3 MK3S is the successor of the award-winning Original Prusa i3 MK2 3D printer. It has a newly designed extruder with Bontech drive gear, many sensor upgrades, and a new magnetic MK52 heatbed with replaceable PEI spring steel print sheet which is available in both smooth PEI and textured powder coated PEI. Frame stability has improved through aluminium extrusions for the Y-axis. It has a power panic feature which gives the ability to finish active print jobs after a power loss. The EINSY Rambo motherboard with super silent Trinamic2130 drivers also is a nice piece of technology.
It is very silent during operation even in “normal” printing mode. The board can even detect skipped layers and layer shifting so failed prints are “almost” a thing of the past. One of the most important advantages of buying an Original Prusa 3D printer is that you will also have access to great customer care directly from Prusa Research technicians and also the ever-growing online Prusa Community. There are so many experienced users from all around the world. And many of them are able and willing to help out with any questions or problems. The connected MMU2S (Multi-Material Upgrade 2S) gives you the ability to print models with up to 5 colours, and/or materials.
Just finished a multi material Anatomic Heart in five colors using the MMU2S.
Beta Testing For Prusa Research
As I told earlier in this post, I am an official “external” BETA tester for Prusa Research which means that I test many different aspects of their printers. I test normal customer experience, new 3D printers (SL1/MINI), new Firmware versions, print settings, and so much more. I can say I am an experienced Prusa printer user and tested many different configurations.
The Original Prusa i3 MK3S performs better than any printer I used in the price range below €1000,-. Because it can print in temperatures of almost 300 degrees Celcius it can print most materials available today. Some materials tend to behave better when printed in an enclosure. Most common materials like PLA and PETG perform great without enclosure on the MK3S. I also print many hard to print materials such as carbon-filled PA and architectural stone- or clay infused filaments so I needed to create an enclosed environment form my MK3S.
Prusa IKEA Lack Enclosure v2
Luckily there is a cheap solution for the i3 MK3S with MMU2S. You can download files from the PrusaPrinters site. After that, you’re able to print the parts for the Prusa IKEA Lack enclosure v2 (for MMU2S). You can actually build a good enclosure out of a cheap IKEA Lack table. Just add 5 acrylic sheets and some PETG printed parts. It looks great and works amazingly well too. The temperature in my printer room is around 19 degrees Celcius most of the time. Sometimes it reaches much higher or lower temperatures. When my enclosure is completely closed off the level is around 33 degrees Celcius inside it with the build plate set at 95 degrees. This is perfect for PA and other materials prone to warping and cracking.
The Original Prusa i3 MK3S with MMU2S in the “IKEA” enclosure.The enclosure in open position for printing PLA.The PTFE tubes from the MMU2S to it’s buffer under my workbench.I really love how clean this looks. The MMU2S buffer under the workbench.The Prusa i3 MK3S’s Power Supply outside the enclosure.The Original Prusa i3 MK3S with MMU2S in a cheap “IKEA Lack table” enclosure.
It’s All About Proper Calibration
Most of the time when I’m printing multi-material objects I’m using PLA. PLA is very easy to print on any 3D printer. It is available in many colours and performs very well in the MMU2S unit. Some users are experiencing issues when using the MMU. In my opinion, it really is a matter of proper calibration. When following the steps in the 3D Printing Handbook by Josef Prusa and using the advised (and calibrated) filaments you are able to achieve amazing things on your Original Prusa i3 MK3S with MMU2S.
How Does The MMU2S Work?
The MMU2S works as follow. You slice your 5 colour model using PrusaSlicer. Let’s say you’ve imported a model with 5 different colours. You can import the model in PrusaSlicer as 5 separate files. After this, the software will ask you if you would like to handle the model as a multi-material print and for this example, we choose yes. After this, it’s time to feed your 5 prefered colours of PLA through the 5 PTFE tubes and the filament buffer. Your Original Prusa i3 MK3S 3D printer has one single extruder.
The MMU unit has a selector that moves left and right to select one of the 5 inputs. Ones the correct input is selected the unit pushes the material via a single tube to the extruder of the iMK3S. A sensor picks up when the filament hits the extruder gear and takes over from the MMU unit. It first wipes previously used material out the nozzle printing a purge block. When the new colour comes out and resumes printing the chosen section of the model. To do all this, the MMU2S unit uses 3 stepper motors and an extra controller board connected to the EINSY Rambo board of your printer.
RepBox For The MMU2S
Source: Repkord.com
Another cool thing to mention is that Pooch from Repkord was a guest during last weeks PrusaLive YouTube episode. Jo Prusa asked him about the possibility to include the handy RepBox as an option in the Prusa webshop. Pooch from Repkord loved the idea so we might see an Original Prusa RepBox in the official Prusa webshop soon. It would be a nice addon for MMU(2S) users. The RepBox is perfect to house your filaments for single extruder 3D printers too. I am going to buy one the day it gets released.
Conclusion
I made many incredibly beautiful prints using the Original Prusa i3 MK3S with MMU2S by Josef Prusa. One thing to consider before buying the MMU2S is that you really need to be a bit more experienced user that knows how to fix issues for this upgrade to work properly. Jo Prusa is very honestly telling this on his website and social channels. Another “downside” for some makers might be that your print time will increase with multi-material models. This is because of all the tool changes and colour wipes the 3D printer needs to do.
And yes, these colour changes cost a lot of material as well. There are ways to minimise the amount of waste by using features as “wipe into infill”. There will always be waste material when printing multi-material objects in this manner. Sometimes the weight of the purge block is two times the amount of the printed item itself. That only is in extreme circumstances making thousands of tool changes. You sometimes need all 5 colours in one layer. If that is the case from the bottom to the top of the model it costs more material. These really are the only downsides of the MMU2S I can think of.
For me, the Original Prusa i3 MK3S with MMU2S is still the number one choice for multi-material 3D printing. PrusaSlicer and the Hardware work together seamlessly. The Firm- and Software are updated continuously. 24/7 Customer Service and Support is the best I’ve seen. And the Prusa Community is always there to help out and is rapidly growing.
When buying an Original Prusa i3 MK3S, you have two options. You can buy the 3D printer built and tested by Prusa technicians. There is also the option of purchasing the kit version. Building the printer yourself is great fun. Also, you will get to know your i3 MK3S in the best possible way. The incredibly detailed (online) manual makes the assembly super easy.
The MMU2S unit is only available in kit version. Assembly of the MMU2S is not very hard. It also comes with detailed manual and instructions.
A nice selection of prints made with the Original Prusa i3 MK3S with MMU2S.
Are you considering buying an Original Prusa i3 MK3S printer with MMU2S, just the printer or a different Original Prusa product? Then please use my affiliate link to the ONE AND ONLY OFFICIAL Prusa Research webshop! In this way, you are supporting me big time and this helps me a lot in future projects.
PRESS HERE FOR THE OFFICIAL PRUSA RESEARCH WEBSHOP [...]
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May 29, 20203D Printers & Accessories / Creality 3D / Creality CR6-SE / UncategorizedCreality has released yet another 3D printer and named it the CR6-SE. This Chinese manufacturer is well known in the 3D Printing Community all over the world and sold a massive amount of machines to makers and professionals everywhere. Normally Creality sells their 3D printers via platforms like AliExpress, BangGood, or the Creality website but this time they choose a completely different path.
Creality chooses to do a Kickstarter for the Creality CR6-SE which makes this the first-ever crowdfunded 3D printer for the Chinese manufacturer. Some members of the online community were complaining a little bit about this move from Creality but after only two days they managed to get funded over ten times the set goal of €90,817. So many other 3D printing enthusiasts do not mind that Kickstarter is the chosen path for the CR6-SE. At this point, the new 3D printer got funded for €3,039,671 by 8,795 Backers which is pretty amazing.
About CREALITY Official
Shenzhen Creality 3D Technology, founded in 2014, focuses on design, research, and production of 3D printers, and 3D printing-related products. Consisting of professional researchers and skilled engineers, the Creality R&D team constantly strives for creative function and excellent user experience. The company’s R&D investments on 3d printing cover FDM/resin 3D printers, 3D scanners, filaments, resin, as well as 3D printed drones and robots that back up STEAM education.
CREALITY CR6-SE Specs & Other Information
The Creality CR6-SE is built from Aluminium and very easy to set up because of the modular design. The frame is simple yet robust and holds a handle on top for easy transportation. The CR6-SE is easy to use and is equipped with leveling-free technology for superior accuracy. The printer has a nice 4.3″ inch Full-Color Touch Display and uses the latest silent Trinamic drivers for noise reduction. Feeding filament into the hotend is simple with the new reliable extruder, and the printer is equipped with an easy to maintain modular nozzle.
The brand new Creality CR6-SE
Specifications
We can see that the Creality CR6-SE has a nice large build-volume of 235x235x250mm, it needs 1.75mm filament, and has a maximum nozzle temperature of 260°Celsius. It has a 32Bit Motherboard and silent Trinamic TMC2209 stepper motor drivers. (These are installed because Creality already exceeded some of their goals) The heated-bed can be heated up to 110°Celsius and the printer can reach a max print speed of 80 to 100mm/s. According to Creality, it is possible to print almost any material on the CR6-SE like PLA, PETG, ASA, ABS, Wood, and even flexibles like TPU. I wish I had a unit to test all this for myself but we have to believe our friends from Creality for now. The printer also comes with a filament sensor and can resume printing after a power outage. The supported languages are Chinese and English and you can use every Open Source Slicer on the market like PrusaSlicer, Repetier Host, Cura, and many others.
On the right side of the printer is where you can see the 4.3″ inch touch screen, and on the right side sits the spool holder. Another cool thing about the Creality CR6-SE is that it is equipped with an embedded tool/nozzle drawer under the build platform. And I also think that the leveling-free technology on this new Creality 3D printer must be something similar to the Automatic Mesh Bed Leveling on Original Prusa 3D printers and if that’s the case I am sure I would love to use this printer myself. The CR6-SE comes with a carborundum glass build plate which is similar to the Anycubic Ultrabase system. I personally never used a build plate like this but I’m sure it performs very well. When I started 3D printing I used glass build plates most of the time and they worked great also.
Should you back the Creality CR6-SE on Kickstarter?
I clearly can’t answer that for you but what I do know is that I am pretty certain that you will get a very good 3D printer for a very good price. The final retail price of the Creality CR6-SE will be around €400,- but if you are willing to back this printer on Kickstarter now you will pay a lot less and will be rewarded for your support. The Early Bird price is only €290,- or $319,-.
If you would like to support this project after reading this blog post then please be so kind as to use THIS LINK. This will take you to the Creality CR6-SE Kickstarter campaign page and when you buy something you will also support me a little bit in my work and I will be very grateful for that. The link will be available until June 6, 2020, so better decide quickly. [...]
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April 20, 2020Prusa Face Shields / Prusa Research / UncategorizedAround the world, we all have to deal with the effects that the Coronavirus brings with it. Like many other countries, here in the Netherlands, we have to deal with the virus too. And we all have to deal with the shortage of personal protection equipment these days. It was amazing to see how fast some members of the community started to think about solutions for this problem. Some designed new valves or other parts for breathing equipment in hospitals, others worked on hands-free door openers. Czech 3D printer and filament manufacturer Prusa Research came up with a great idea. Josef Prusa and his team started to design Protective Face Shields that are cheap and easy to print. A large part of the Prusa print farm in Prague is now used for the production of the face shields and they managed to make 55000 pieces in under 3 weeks. Prusa Research is donating the masks for free to people in the frontline, fighting Covid19.
ColorFabb’s first delivery of 12,5Kg PETG Economy
I also started a campaign and I’m currently printing the Prusa Face Shields around the clock for over three weeks. First, I contacted the Dutch Red Cross to ask if they required face protection in the fight against the coronavirus. They told me the idea was great but they can’t take them in because of European Laws. However, they did point out to me that local organizations would be able to make good use out of the shields. The next thing was searching for sponsors. I contacted ColorFabb filaments and they were more than willing to help out and offered 17,5 kilograms of PETG Economy. Leiden’s H.L. Druckerfonds offered me their maximum of €250 to help me buying the needed supplies like Bio-Ethanol for disinfection, and elastic bands. And De Laser Frezer donated 500 PETG custom made, laser cut visors to finish the shields.
I already handed out over 400 Prusa Face Shields to doctors’ offices, pharmacies, dentists, a home for the elderly, tattoo shops, beauty salons, police, and our Royal Military Police. So the first 500 Shields are almost finished but after some attention from our local newspaper Leidsch Dagblad, and national BNR Newsradio, I get more and more requests from all over the country. I’m now shipping boxes all over the country and even one to the other side of the world.
All of the face shields were handed out for free so far. This was only possible because of the help of the sponsors named earlier in the story. Luckily, some of the people who received the shields were so kind as to make a small donation. I’m very thankful and this is the only way to keep going after the 500 shields are distributed. My friends from HooksInk079 also needed shields for when they are allowed to open their shop again and offered me a huge donation of €100 to help me buy new materials. A huge thank you is the least I can do.
With reporter Martijn de Rijk from BNR Newsradio
I will keep making as many shields as I possibly can. Because of all the help, I am still able to print on my two Original Prusa i3 MK3S printers using the materials I still have. In the beginning, I was able to run one more printer at the same time but all my PETG spools went into the project so at this point I’m down to two. I am receiving a new 4.5Kg spool of ColorFabb PETG Economy, and 2Kg of Orange Prusament for PPE soon. I also ordered a new spool of elastic band and contacted De Laser Frezer to see if we can make new PETG visors. There is a huge shortage of PETG sheets in 0.5mm at the moment because the whole global 3D printing community is using the Prusa Face Shields, but we are looking into other options.
I hope you and your loved ones will be spared all the misery that the coronavirus brings with it. We all have to deal with what probably is the most difficult time in our lives. But you need to keep in mind that for many of us this outbreak might be even worse. Think about the people that actually have to deal with the virus face to face. All the people in the supermarkets and other businesses that keep our communities going. I am doing everything I can to help as many of these heroes as possible and many others in the 3D printing community with me. If you would like to support this project and help me out by doing a small donation, then please send me an email at info@de3dprintman.nl and I will send you all the information you’ll need.
Thanks for reading.
Stay safe! [...]
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February 19, 2020UncategorizedDutch 3D Printer manufacturer FELIXprinters released their desktop BIOprinter this January and I am delighted to tell you more about this amazing new product that literally can save lives soon. The greatest importance of bioprinting lies in the resulting tissue-like structures that mimic the actual micro- and macro-environment of human tissues and organs. With this new technology, we can reduce the need for animal trials for example. The main goal is tissue repair and organ replacement using BIOink. Using BIOink instead of donor material also have the benefit of being much more ethically justified.
So what is BIO printing?
Bioprinting is a 3D printing process where biomaterials such as cells and growth factors are combined to create tissue-like structures that imitate natural tissues. The technology uses a material known as BIOink to create these structures in a layer-by-layer manner like the FDM 3D printers you already know. In this instance, however, a living cell suspension is utilized instead of a thermoplastic or a resin. When working with BIOink and BIO 3D printers, having a sterile printing environment is crucial for maintaining accuracy in complex tissues, requisite cell-to-cell distances, and correct output. The process principally involves preparation, printing, maturation, and application.
BIOprinted human ear.Source: Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine
FELIXprinters approach to BIOprinting
The FELIX BIOprinter can be used for medical, scientific and research applications. The FELIX BIOprinter is flexible and adaptable and is characterized by:
1. Dual head printing: The FELIX BIOprinter operates a dual syringe system that allows the users to print with two different material types within the same print. Alternatively, this system set-up also permits Petri dishes to be filled with multiple objects using different materials in a single print run, which can speed up specific research activities and avoid time-consuming material changeovers.
2. Retraction mechanism: High precision motor offers significantly improved material dosage and more accurate material flow vs traditional air pressure systems.
3. Build plate: specifically designed to secure Petri dishes and wells for stability and accuracy.
4. Compatibility: compatible with all viscosities and wide range of materials
FELIX BIOprinter printing BIOink
5. Open source system: The FELIX BIOprinter consists of a flexible & adaptable ecosystem to ensure it can meet the needs of a wide range of research applications without generating unnecessary costs. The FELIX BIOprinter has been designed to use any standard 5 ml syringes, meaning it is not restricted to expensive branded products that drive up operating costs. Similarly, standardized Petri-dishes and culture plates are easily accommodated ensuring no limitations on the type of instruments and materials to be used. Modular system – caters to your needs (e.g. the UV light, bed add-on, cover unit)
6. Automatic bed leveling: The bed leveling system works via physical probing of the nozzle against the print surface. Different lengths and size nozzles/needles can be used and easily exchanged to meet specific needs. A perfectly calibrated print bed results in a perfect first layer, leading to accurate results.
7. Sterilization protocols: Print heads are easy to clean, keeping them sterile, for the ideal environment that you demand. The heads are modular units that can easily be exchanged. Additional print heads on-hand simplify quick change-overs to print different materials in quick succession.
FELIX BIOprinter complete with optional enclosure at Formnext 2019.
The FELIX BIOprinter frame and functionality is based on the existing and established FELIXprinters product line. FELIXprinters leveraged the current trusted technology to minimize the cost of development, making the FELIX BIOprinter accessible to a wider user base to deliver exceptional value. The FELIX BIOprinter is launched with the same reliability and strong 9- year reputation FELIXprinters has earned. The user-friendly touch screen provides intuitive navigation of each print job and project. [...]
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November 18, 2019Manufacturing partners / PartnersA while ago I was contacted by Prototype Hubs to be a part of the beta test team for the new Prototype Hubs website. The nice thing is that they started around the same time I was changing from 3d printing as a hobby to a legit business with 3D printing services, web-shop and as a journalist/blogger in the 3D printing industry. I was already looking into this topic for a while, so I was very excited to start working with the cool people from Prototype Hubs. I was ones a part of the 3D Hubs system, but they decided to stop working with hobbyists in general and are only working with professional 3d printing services, so ultimately I had to quit providing my services through them. Many people (including me) thought that it was a shame that 3D Hubs stopped working with hobbyists and that we did not have a proper option anymore to provide our services on one central site. Luckily the people behind Prototype Hubs came in and started a brand new platform where everyone is welcome, even hobbyists with a small print farm- or CNC cutting shop.
The brand new PrototypeHubs website.
Prototype Hubs Beta test
During the beta test period, users got to test all features on the new website from the registration process to test orders. I have to say that these guys have built a brilliant website and everything worked great from the start. Sure, there were some issues but nothing out of the ordanary. We just had to point out the things that were not working like they were supposed to or when we found links or buttons that didn’t work properly. The only thing I’ve experienced problems with was that I could not find A REAL PROBLEM. All the issues they had were gone before the launch of the Prototype Hubs website which is awesome. It is always great fun to be part of a test team to be able to help out by providing feedback for new companies like this.
My profile page on PrototypeHubs
What is PrototypeHubs
Prototype Hubs is a new global manufacturing hub for 3D printing and CNC cutting. In other words, a marketplace for manufacturing partners providing their services to a worldwide audience. This can be anything from 3D printing, laser cutting, CNC carving and much more. Whether you need rapid prototyping, 3D printed figurines or a nice wooden CNC cut nameplate for your front door, there will always be a partner available to help you out. You can get instant pricing and select one of the trusted partners for your job. The process is super easy and the best part of it all is that anyone can apply, from 3D printing professionals to makers/hobbyists with one or two smaller 3D printers which is great in my book! So even if you own a three-in-one machine like the Snapmaker Original, or something similar with 3D printer, laser cutter, and CNC carver you can become part of this great new community of manufacturers. Also, Prototype Hubs is the ONLY web-based platform that lets manufacturers list their services and communicate directly with clients.
The Registration Process For Manufacturers
The registration process is easy for both clients and manufacturers. If you’re a manufacturer you’ll need to press Log In in the top right corner of the site or go to the bottom of any page on prototypehubs.com and press “become a manufacturing partner“. This will bring you to a new web page where the “Sign up now” button is located. You’ll need to fill out some forms including your address, what kind of machines you use for your jobs and you can use Stripe to receive payments for your work. Prototype Hubs guarantees your transactions are secure and your uploaded designs remain protected. After completion of the registration process, you’ll need to a few photos of a Prototype Hubs test model for verification. The model needs to be manufactured on the machine you will be using for your Prototype Hubs jobs.
Creating a new client account is a piece of cake too. You can push the Get Started button in the top right corner of the screen, which will bring you to a page where you can choose to start a new 3D printing– or CNC cutting project.
Using The Prototype Hubs Site
Ok, so you now have access to your manufacturing partner account dashboard after logging in. Here you can find the manufacturer’s knowledge base, support links, and you can submit feedback if you like. But the most important thing is your profile setup. This is where you can add, change, or delete your machines, materials, and post-processing. You can edit your public profile here as well and add some pictures of your work. AND…… This is also where you can find your orders! So make sure your profile looks good and check if all your information is displayed correctly so potential costumers feel at home when they find you. The layout of the dashboard is great and it shows your order information and requests. You can see how many new messages there are and the total account revenue in the blink of an eye.
From a client’s perspective, the site is very easy to use as well. Clients will upload their desired files and the files will get checked for faults. Once the files are checked, you can press “configure order” and from the online file viewer screen the client can choose the material, color, infill, and layer height, as well as another technology like SLA instead of FDM. After that process is completed, they can find the nearest manufacturer and send the order so they can find the order request on their client dashboard.
The Prototype Hubs manufacturing partner dashboard.The manufacturing partner orders screen.This is where you can edit your machines, materials, and post-processing options.Manufacturing partner messages tab.The Prototype Hubs manufacturing partner knowledge base.Customer support page.The part upload screen for clients.Client dashboard.This is where clients upload the part files.The file viewer browser tool. where clients can choose their settings
The complete process is very easy for both manufacturers and clients, with all the features I tried working great. I am sure that Prototype Hubs is going to bring many people together. I am very happy to be manufacturer on the site already and I can’t wait to get my first order. It’s great that Prototype Hubs is here for anyone who loves to make stuff and not only for the pros. An Original Prusa i3 or an Anycubic Photon can do a great job at a hobbyist level, you just have to know your machine and materials like with any other type of work. Huge respect for the team behind Prototype Hubs for all the hard work they have put into the concept. I will keep you updated on everything they do in the future and I hope to print something for you sometime.
LINKS
Prototype Hubs
De3DPrintman on Prototype Hubs [...]
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May 10, 2016TripsThis trip was on my bucket list for a while already. Visiting Prusa Research in Prague, the factory where all the awesome Prusa printers and the spools of Prusament come from. I’m a huge admirer of what Josef Prusa and his team did and does for the international 3d printing community and obviously, for the city of Prague. Many people don’t know this but Josef actually started with 3d printing because he wanted to build his own designed add-ons to his Dj set and because he needed a 3d printer for the job he also builds his first Mendel. In 2010 he made his own heated bed and finished the design of the Prusa Mendel, a simpler design of the normal Mendel 3d Printer. In 2011 he had designed and built the second iteration of the machine called Prusa Mendel I2 and in February 2012 the time had come to start his own small business and Prusa Research was founded and the rest is history! From Hanka, the first Prusa Research’s employee to now a large 3d printer and filament manufacturer with over 450 employees. That’s pretty impressive in my book.
In front of the Prusa Research facility.
We (Me and my wife Erica) arrived in Prague early in the morning on Monday, August 26 and because we couldn’t check-in in the hotel until midday so we decided to go to the center of Prague for some breakfast. We took a long walk through the old center and after that, we walked to the Prusa Research building for a picture. It was great to see the headquarters in real life for the first time and after the photos were taken we walked all the way back to the hotel for some well-deserved rest.
The second day we had an appointment with Jennes de Schutter from Prusa Technical Support. I got to know Jennes after I contacted Prusa for a minor issue I had with my Original Prusa i3 MK3 and after that first talk we had on the chat we became friends and had several long conversations about 3d printing related stuff. The crazy thing was that when I told him that we were coming to Prague he shared the news with us that he was going to leave Prague after two great years at Prusa Research. He is born in Belgium and it was time for him to go back and start a new career back home so it was great to meet him in Prague in his final week there. He gave us a tour through the awesome PrusaLab, the incredible maker space with everything available from the Prusa SL1, Prusa i3 MK3, CNC machine, laser cutter, and more impressive tools.
The lab was closed for a renovation during our stay but we could have a tour around the place anyway which was really cool. After the Lab, we went up in the building to the Prusa Print farm where over 500 Original Prusa i3 MK3’s print all the parts for the new machines. The Print Farm is one of the most incredible places you can visit if you love 3d printing (and Prusa Research) as much as I do so a dream came true for me. He also showed us the top-level where Prusa Technical Support is based and all the cool stuff he printed while working there. I’ve seen some amazing prints during my stay and a couple of my favorites were the awesome weaponry Jennes printed.
The cool thing is that next to the amazing 500 printers in the print farm, there are another 400 Prusa i3’s placed throughout the building, and Prusa employees are free to use them whenever they like. Obviously a great way to test new printers and materials too. And with the in-house Prusament production lines there’s always enough material to test and use for awesome projects. They also print many cool things for events like MakerFaire which is awesome. I would be so happy to work in a place like that. It’s like Charlie’s Chocolate Factory but even better.
After we saw the Technical support department it was time for us to leave so we went back to the hotel for some food and went back to visit some beautiful sites in Prague. From Prague Castle to Charles Bridge and from the Jewish Cemetary to Vyšehrad we have seen it all. But thats another story! Also, I highly recommend to visit Prague yourself one day if you haven’t done that already. It’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve been to and I want to go back so bad.
On the third day, we had to return to Prusa Research ones again for a meeting with Josef Prusa himself. When we arrived at the HQ we went up to the 3rd floor to meet Josef in his office. We shook hands and he introduced us to his personal assistants and after that, we went for a drink on the rooftop terrace and enjoyed the views for a bit. After that, he gave us another tour through the complete factory and showed us everything. I also finally met a couple of people I got to know during the Prusa SL1 beta testing which was great. We were in contact for quite some time already but never talked face to face. I can’t show you anything more about the tour because some parts of the factory are closed off for the public but luckily the amazing Joel Telling aka. The 3D Printing nerd made an awesome video for his YouTube channel during his stay in Prague for the Prague Maker Faire. He had kinda the same tour so please take some time to check out his video if you would like to know what ive seen. Joel is much better at video’s than me and he’s more handsome too.
Prusa Factory Tour with Joel Telling aka. 3D Printing Nerd
We also went to the studio where the guys at Prusa Research shoot all their awesome content for the websites and social channels. I think you’ve seen the studio on video a couple of times before like myself but being there in person is just something else. Great time for a photo with Jo.
De3DPrintman & Josef Prusa in the studio at Prusa Research
After the tour, we had seen the Filament production lines, SL1 department, Development, PrusaLab, The Prusa i3 manufacturing facility, Technical support and everything else in the building so it was time for us to say goodbye.
We had the greatest time in Prague and the Prusa Research building and I’m sure we will go back next year to visit Prague Maker Faire and our friends over at Prusa Research. We want to thank Josef Prusa, Jennes, Ondrej, Simon, Lubomir, Vladimir and all the other great people who took some time to meet us. You guys are the best at what you do and it was an honor for us to come and have a look at your work. I became even more obsessed with the Prusa brand and have mad respect for these guys. [...]
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