OMG - a New Belt Printer!

[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

I figured the concept of the Belt printer kinda Died off - but, seems I was WRONG! 

I saw this on FaceBook - then went to the Link - here is that printer:
IdeaFormerIR3 V2 Conveyor Belt 3D Printer | Infinite Z Axis, Auto Leveling, High-Speed CoreXY

-K

[Bryan Eckert]

We have the IR3 V1 at work, got it for continuous printing of small bumper plates the diecutters use that are constantly replaced.

We don't use it anymore as the H2D's crank them out so fast it's faster to use those than print on the belt printer. We can crank out 100 on the H2D's in the time it took that belt printer to do a dozen.

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[Jody Harris]

I wonder if it's one of those ideas that will keep recirculating and failing until someone finds that ONE little (usually incredibly simple in hind sight​) thing that solves the problem.... 

I don't hold out much hope for the "belt printer," but I'd love to be wrong. At this point, I have more hope for the progressive/swappable build plate ideas (batch print, move plate) than for the "infinite Y" belters.

It only takes one kid in a garage in the Philippines to turn the whole thing on it's head. ;)

-j

Think carefully

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[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

I think even Andy was saying, a WHILE back - when he was trying the printers - there was a problem with the 1st layers on the bed (I don't remember exactly) - but, that problem made it a fail. But, I would LOVE to have Belt printer that really WORKED - and could print continuously. But, if you consider most things need 2 heads or full contact supports - it's probably simply not viable on Belt printers...

Either way - since it popped up into my feed - I just wanted to share it here...

-K

[3D Printing Tips and Tricks]

The inherent problem we see with belt printers, where the gantry is tilted by 45 degrees, is for a significant number of shapes and geometries it will have issues with leading and trailing edges. At that angle these edges have overhangs which on a single extruder machine means the slicer will insert break away supports which creates a less the ideal surface on both leading and trailing edges. Ideally for a belt based machine to print optimally it would need to have a second extruder so it can do multi materials and full contact supports. I’ve yet to see that.

[Bryan Eckert]

Our V1 actually worked very well, the main issue with it is that it is slow as molasses. We used it enough to wear out the belt, then got rid of it because the H2D's just run circles around it.

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[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

When you say "We" used it - do you mean it's for 3D Printing at a co. where you work? I'm just curious...

-K

[LukeH]

Didn't the V2 come out in like 2024?

I mean, it is great that they still sell them, since they have a specific use case, but this isn't a new model.

[Bryan Eckert]

Yes, it was used to print small bumper plates for machinery in the plant. They are wear items, so they regularly need replacement. The actual plates are nylon and would last longer than the PLA ones we print, but were like $40 each. Each machine takes maybe ten? Over a half dozen machines. So we just change them more often, as the machines are down once a week for regular maintenance anyway.

The belt printer would just continuously crank them out. I think we save $50K a year over buying them.

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[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

Wow - savings of $50K sounds Great! But, I gotta say - why not print in a stronger material - like PETG - or even better - PCTG - since then they would have lasted longer.

Either way - Very interesting kind of use case in a company production type setting.  Mind sharing as to what kind of Machines required these types of bumper plates? I'm really curious.

I would Love to at some point get a Belt type machine. But, ONLY if they improved to the point that they don't have the kind of issues mentioned by Andy - and also had 2 heads - and also could print faster! Speed wise - it's always better to go slower on first layers - then faster on upper layers - but, that simply is NOT Possible on a Belt type machine...

-K

[Bryan Eckert]

The savings are more around $500K with all the other parts we print figured in. 

And we print them in PLA because they only need to last the maintenance period. They all get replaced regardless, as we can't have a machine down during production time to replace something like a bumper plate. The PLA plates last just long enough.

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[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

Very VERY Interesting - and you make some GREAT Points - not only about the viability of 3D Printed parts and how they can be used - but, ALSO - the viability of PLA printed parts!

NICE!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you Mr. Big Mutt for Sharing!

-K