3D printers compared
| Company name | Solidscape | Mcor Technologies | Stratasys/HP | Z Corp. | Objet | 3D Systems | 3D Systems |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product line | Solidscape 3D Wax Printers | Matrix 300 | Dimension, uPrint, uPrint Plus, DesignJet 3D | ZPrinter 650 | Objet24, Objet30 | Bits from Bytes, BotMill | V-Flash, ProJet |
| Technology | Two wax ink-jet processes: Drop on demand and smooth curvature printing | Paper-based | Fuse deposition modeling | Inkjet 3D printing | Polyjet matrix resin-based ink jet printing | Plastic jet printing | Film transfer imaging |
| How it works | Two materials are jetted simultaneously to produce layers that form the 3D object. | Builds 3D object by alternating layers of ordinary printer paper and adhesive; tungsten carbide blade automatically cuts away excess material that is removed using fingers or tweezers; waste material also supports the object as it's being built. | Melts ABS plastic fillament and applies the melted material using an extrusion head to build up the 3D object in layers. The melted layers fuse together as they are added. | A thin layer of powder is spread across the surface area; inkjet print heads then deposit a liquid that binds the powder, creating the layers that form the 3D object. The powder layers provide support for the object. | Printer jets a liquid resin and uses a UV light to cure it. | Melts and extrudes filament layers of plastic that fuse together as they cool. | Applies layers of resin, which cures using UV light emitted from a modified digital light processing (DLP) slide projector. |
| Primary attributes of the technology | Very precise, high-quality surface finish; wax melts away easily for mold creation. | Green technology: Waste paper is recyclable and water-soluble glue is eco-friendly. Offers smooth finish without sanding or other post-processing. | Durable ABS plastic, good surface finish. | Full color printing, relatively fast with low operating cost. | Can use a range of materials from rubber-like material to polyprolylene-like material or blends. Can have rigid or soft material in the same part. | Fast, affordable, color, ABS material relatively strong. | Excellent quality, smooth surface finish |
| Application(s) | Models used to make castings for jewelry making or other parts that require a high-precision surface finish. | Architectural renderings, medical, dental models. | Building design models and prototypes for visualization or testing. Production of one-off or very limited production run parts. | Building design models and prototypes; some custom, one-off or low-volume manufacturing. Suitable for concept models and some functional testing. | Prototypes for fit form and function verification. Dental, automotive, medical, consumer electronics/consumer goods, industrial manufacturing. | Education, hobby, do-it-yourself. | Building design models and prototypes for visualization or testing. |
| Max. printable area | 6 x 6 x 4 inches | 10.6 x 7.5 x 5.9 inches | 8 x 6 x 6 inches | 10 x 15 x 8 inches | 8 x 12 x 6 inches | 9 x 10.75 x 8.25 inches | 6.75 x 9 x 8 inches |
| Color support | No | Can use any color paper; can vary color in an object by using different colors in the paper stack. | 8 colors on uPrint Plus. Ivory only for uPrint. DesignJet 3D supports 9 colors. One color per print job. | Can produce full-color parts; multiple colors per print job. | No | Supports a wide variety of different colors but allows only one per extruder or print head. Can make a two-color part. | Supports up to 6 colors, one with an increased build speed, one color per part. |
| Build material | Wax compound | Paper | ABS plastic | Mix of plaster or gypsum-like ingredients with some polymer added | Acrylic-based photopolymer resin | ABS, polylactic acid (PLA) | Proprietary material |
| Support material | Wax compound with lower melting point than build material | Paper | Water-soluble plastic | Object supported by layers of reusable waste powder surrounding the object | A gel-like material that can be washed away with warm water | PLA and soluble, translucent PLA | Same as build material |
| Post-processing | Completed object inserted into a warm liquid solution that dissolves the support material (melting point 122 degrees F) without melting the build material (melting point 212 degrees F). | Very short. Excess paper can be pulled away with fingers. | Finished object must be transferred to a warm water bath that dissolves the support material. The system requires a water feed and drain. Total post processing time: About 2 hours. | Object inserted into special station where a technician uses a small air gun is used to remove excess powder, a fine brush to finish. The object may then be soaked in a clear resin or glue solution to add strength and brighten the finish. | Uses high pressure water to wash away residue. Typically takes less than 10 minutes. | Remove supporting material by breaking off or soaking in warm water for 48 hours. Requires light sanding. | Wash and remove supports. |
| Price | $30,000 to $55,000 | Subscription price $16,000 per year including unlimited adhesive and carbon blade consumables. Users provide the paper. | $25,000 to $33,000; DesignJet 12,500 to 16,200 Euros (approx. $16,000 to $21,060) | Monochrome starts at $15,000; color starts at $25,000 | Starts at $19,000 | $1,300 for a build-your-own 3D printer kit; $3,900 fully assembled | $9,900 to $14,500 |
Sources: Vendor websites; Computerworld reporting