Hello gCreators !
I'm a happy ultimaker user. I have two of such machines. the result is great. I have not purchased any gMax as of today, but i am more and more considering this option.
I'm using the ultimakers for prototyping and then send validated 3D files to third party companies to get quotes for CNC milled pieces. We would request batches of say 50 to 150 units. Therefore printing such quantities does not really make sense, at least with my ultimaker printers.
But with gMax, it may be entirely different and it is the reason why i'm posting this.
For instance, with my latest project, using a 0.150mm layer height and about 25% infill, it takes about 24h printing to get one single unit ! And due to the size of that unit, only one can fit in this printer at a time.
Requesting third party companies for milling does not come cheap either in europe where i live. Besides, the time it takes for : (1) gathering all the quotes + (2) getting my company to select the right supplier + (3) having the selected supplier purchase the material + (4) validating the first batch + (5) having the rest milled ==> is quite long too. many weeks in fact.
I have pushed the gMax settings as a new printer in Cura in order to calculate printing time and how many units would fit in.
According to Cura, using 0.15mm height +20% infill + 4 units at a time + 2.2kg spool from colorfabb => I have observed that such a batch takes about 48h, so it would be easy to start a batch on monday morning, then on wednesday morning, then on friday morning.
so all in all, I could get 12 units per week per gMax.
i need 144 units. so with 2 gMax, that make 12*2=24 units produced per week, which would be a perfect rhythm for later integration.
In 6 weeks : 6 * 24 = 144 is the quantity i need
Guess what : 6 weeks is exactly the time our best supplier can offer to mill our 144 units...
+ the investment to buy those two gMax units + the material (PLA from colorfabb) ==> is even cheaper...
ok, I have not taken into account the time to wait for delivery of gMax parts + assembly + tests + some failed prints.
All in all, i would pretty much break even on this very project alone, and I know for sure i have about a dozen of such requests to come in the near future.
I am concerned about
1. the reliability of gMax ==> can it print almost 24/7, for weeks long without disappointing me on quality like the ultimaker does ? Can it catch fire for instance? will i have a lot of maintenance ?
2. printing such quantities hursts my common sense here => what do you think of this ? is it such a bad idea ? can i have a honnest thrid party opinion please ?
thanks
fourchette
I'm a happy ultimaker user. I have two of such machines. the result is great. I have not purchased any gMax as of today, but i am more and more considering this option.
I'm using the ultimakers for prototyping and then send validated 3D files to third party companies to get quotes for CNC milled pieces. We would request batches of say 50 to 150 units. Therefore printing such quantities does not really make sense, at least with my ultimaker printers.
But with gMax, it may be entirely different and it is the reason why i'm posting this.
For instance, with my latest project, using a 0.150mm layer height and about 25% infill, it takes about 24h printing to get one single unit ! And due to the size of that unit, only one can fit in this printer at a time.
Requesting third party companies for milling does not come cheap either in europe where i live. Besides, the time it takes for : (1) gathering all the quotes + (2) getting my company to select the right supplier + (3) having the selected supplier purchase the material + (4) validating the first batch + (5) having the rest milled ==> is quite long too. many weeks in fact.
I have pushed the gMax settings as a new printer in Cura in order to calculate printing time and how many units would fit in.
According to Cura, using 0.15mm height +20% infill + 4 units at a time + 2.2kg spool from colorfabb => I have observed that such a batch takes about 48h, so it would be easy to start a batch on monday morning, then on wednesday morning, then on friday morning.
so all in all, I could get 12 units per week per gMax.
i need 144 units. so with 2 gMax, that make 12*2=24 units produced per week, which would be a perfect rhythm for later integration.
In 6 weeks : 6 * 24 = 144 is the quantity i need
Guess what : 6 weeks is exactly the time our best supplier can offer to mill our 144 units...
+ the investment to buy those two gMax units + the material (PLA from colorfabb) ==> is even cheaper...
ok, I have not taken into account the time to wait for delivery of gMax parts + assembly + tests + some failed prints.
All in all, i would pretty much break even on this very project alone, and I know for sure i have about a dozen of such requests to come in the near future.
I am concerned about
1. the reliability of gMax ==> can it print almost 24/7, for weeks long without disappointing me on quality like the ultimaker does ? Can it catch fire for instance? will i have a lot of maintenance ?
2. printing such quantities hursts my common sense here => what do you think of this ? is it such a bad idea ? can i have a honnest thrid party opinion please ?
thanks
fourchette