Dec.19, 2013
Typical 3D printers use a process called fused deposition modeling (FDM), in which a nozzle extrudes melted plastic filament, laying down material in layers. Traditional stereolithography uses a scanning UV laser to cure a liquid, called photosensitive resin, one layer at a time. A DLP printer is similar, but uses a a Digital Light Processing (DLP) projector to expose each layer. Once the first layer hardens onto a platform, the platform moves a little deeper into the pool of resin, and the projector shines a new image to harden the next layer.
Images: Nova 3D
Taiwanese company Nova 3D has recently developed a new low-cost DLP 3D printer. The NOVA DLP 3D Printer is able to harden a layer of 10x8 cm in 8-10 seconds without the typical moving heads that takes 30 seconds or more to finish.
The big benefit of DLP printing is the ability to make objects very detailed. The NOVA DLP 3D Printer can print layer heights of 100 microns (0.0039 inches). Check out some impressive 3D prints below:
Technical specs:
- Build envelope: 100x70x150 mm (0.1mm precision)
- XY precision： 0.1mm
- Z precision： 0.1mm
- Software: Snapshot version 1.0
- File print: STL
- Machine size: 212x310x600 mm
- Weight: 12kg
- Operating temperature: 0°-32° C
- AC input: 100-240V,~2A,50-60HZ
- Data input: USB
The NOVA DLP Desktop 3D printer is available for $999 at NOVA 3D's online store.
Posted in 3D Printers
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OK. But positioning accuracy is only a part of the puzzle. A Replicator or most FFF can't make a detail in XY that's much smaller than 500 microns, when plastic expands out of a nozzle, and the nozzle on your Replicator is 400 microns in hole size.
Genia wrote at 12/20/2013 11:35:44 AM:
@JD90 FDM printers have positioning accuracy in XY plane something like 1micron - that means you can make smooth arcs on it. DLP uses voxels that are visible in every axis, especially on small angles. You can make the look smooth but it decreases level of details. There is also minimum wall thickness much bigger than pixel size. I have both Replicator and B9Creator. It can make this model of Pisa tower so small that it will fit on this coin with the same level of details as seen here... 100x100 micron on DLP is a joke.
JD90 wrote at 12/20/2013 2:21:01 AM:
Genia, I'm almost absolutely certain FDM can't do 100 micron XY feature size. That requires a nozzle smaller than 0.1mm. There's no way even a 0.25mm nozzle can make a dot or line that's 0.1mm diameter / wide.
jd900 wrote at 12/20/2013 2:18:18 AM:
Still using an XGA projector. They can do better with a 1080p. I wonder if any of the DLP resin devices remove the color filters on projectors so it's not throwing away a two thirds or more of the light needed to cure..
Genia wrote at 12/19/2013 6:26:27 PM:
Another low-res DLP printer... 100x100 microns is NOT sufficient for jewelry. Good FDM can make it better.
Șap7e wrote at 12/19/2013 3:32:30 PM:
wow, this is a really accesible DLP printer! I would totally buy it if i din not have the Mendel90, it is perfect for jewelery. The only drawback is the resin price.
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