3dconfny16

2. 3D Printing Reliability
How to test the most advanced
desktop 3D printer for reliability

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What is Reliability?
And why should you care about it?

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Print-to-print repeatability within the same
printer.
Printer-to-printer variability.
Print success rate in individual printers as well
as the Form 2 in general.

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Reliability starts with good
engineering and system
architecting.
This is an early prototype
showing off the new peel
process used in the Form 2.

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A dismantled galvo, optics board and heater board

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Testing

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The product is guilty
until proven innocent
-Bill Drislane, Dragon Innovation

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Testing lasers for lifetime and performance

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Testing precision
galvanometers

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Testing motion
stages for millions of
cycles.
*googly eyes optional

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This is a dust testing chamber

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And this is a Form 2
after it has been
through the dust testing
chamber

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Print testing real parts

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Challenge parts

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3D printing test parts

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Snippets from the formlabs design guide

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So how reliable is the
Form 2?

25. 76% 100%
Form 1+ Form 2
Print success* of test
part printed 10 times on
10 different printers for
a total of 100 prints
*Success is completion of print
without any major errors or
flaws

26. Most
Challenging
Least
Challenging
Most
Challenging
Least
Challenging
Large performance improvement in building thin walls

27. Printer to printer variation
is markedly reduced in
this test

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Questions?