SD3D Printing brings a new concept to the 3D printing industry — a 3D printer farm. Think of it as a stable for your 3D printer, only instead of your horse you’re leaving your printer in the hands of professional 3D printer handlers.
The reality of 3D printing is that even if you’re a maker or someone well versed in the world of technology it can often be very frustrating to use 3D printers. Even the well-known “plug and print” machines are still notoriously touchy and prone to misprints, parts wear and down time can become frustrating. Moreover, many of the larger 3D printing manufacturers like to gloss over the fact that 3D printers have alarmingly high failure rates if they are used by under or poorly trainer users in less than ideal conditions. Many smaller businesses simply can’t afford to hire a dedicated 3D printer technician, so unless you happen to have a maker in the office, 3D printing can often cause headaches and frustration. A San Diego 3D printing company has recognized this fact and created what looks to be a rather industrious solution.
The Printer Farm is a service that offers a space for independently owned 3D printers to be stored, maintained, monitored and operated by trained technicians. Your printer will have experts in charge of the upkeep on your machine, making sure that the rods and bearings are lubricated, the belts tightened and the nozzles cleaned. Not only will this increase the lifespan of your printer, but it removes the need for an in-office expert to keep the machine running. In terms of cost, with material, monitoring a single print the size of an iPhone case would cost a little over $7.00. Once your print is complete, it can be picked up locally, or SD3D Printing can have it shipped wherever you need it.
SD3D Printing says that they are able to keep their costs down because they’ve created a set of proprietary equipment that will lower the amount of print failures and shorten the amount of time it takes to start a print. They call it ABE or an Adaptive Build Environment. The ABE is a protective enclosure that will fit almost any 3D printer. It not only reduces noise pollution and prevents print disruptions, but senses and adapts to the surrounding environment to maintain ideal printing conditions and temperatures. Additionally ABE provides auto bed levelling, a universal spool docking system, automated pre-selected material settings, vibration and moisture monitoring and air filtering so any toxic fumes will be captured and removed. SD3D Printing claims that by properly controlling the build environment it can reduce the wasted material and time spent setting up prints by up to 80%.
The best part of watching emergent technology be born is watching clever people find new and unexpected ways to use and enhance it. I’m not going to go far enough to call 3D printer farms the beginning of a new trend, although I’m sure they will have a few imitators, but it’s certainly a short term solution to a short term problem. Realistically 3D printing is going to get less complicated as time goes on, so the need for a service like this many not be there in a few years. And many of the things that their ABE does will most likely be integrated into future printers, just as things like auto-leveling and heated beds were. But a deft business will spot the ebb and flow of the needs of the industry that they service and they will adapt.
You can learn more about the Printer farm here, and you can get all of the technical specs on the ABE here.
Source: SD3D Printing
