Choosing the right 3D printer for your project depends mainly on your goals. Check out these descriptions and comparisons of our 3D printing options. If you’re still unsure, contact us and a member of the Sears think[box] team can advise you.
3D Printing Options:
| Characteristic | Desktop | Industrial FDM | SLA | PolyJet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $ | $$ | $$$ | $$$$ |
| Bring Your Own Material | Yes | No | No | No |
| Materials | PLA | ABS, PC, ABC-PC, TPU | General Resins and Select Engineering Resins [see all] | Many [see more] |
| think[box] Color Options | 13 Colors | 7 Colors | White, Clear, Black, Gray | Many |
| Multi-Color Print | No | No | No | Yes |
| Finest Slice Height | 0.0007” (0.018 mm) | 0.010” (0.254 mm) | 25, 50, and 100-micron layer thickness |
0.001” (0.030 mm) |
| Finest Resolution Tolerances | ± 0.005” - ± 0.0095” (0.127 - 0.241 mm) |
25-300 microns | ± 0.008 inches (± 0.200 mm) |
|
| Adjustable Rigidity | No | No | No | Yes |
| Glass Transition (Tg) (Warping) Temperature | 140-149 °F | ABS - 226 °F PC - 284 °F ABS-PC - 257 °F |
No Tg. See Material Data Sheet for HDT (heat deflection temp)
|
Rigid (Vero) Flexible (Agilus) |
| Support | Breakaway | Dissolvable |
Breakaway, Easily Removable |
Dissolvable |
| Build Envelope | 8.6” x 8.6” x 8” | ABS/TPU 12” x 10” x 12” PC 16” x 14” x 16” |
145 × 145 × 175 mm | 15.3” x 19.3” x 7.9” |
Choose this option when you want to be the one to set up and print your own part, learn about 3D printing capabilities, or prototype a part prior to ordering a professional print.
Our self-serve desktop fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D Printers use polylactic acid (PLA) plastic to produce relatively simple models quickly and on a budget. Easy to use, and with a wide array of open source 3D models available for download, the Desktop 3D printers are a great entry to making at think[box].
Many think[box] users create all of their FDM 3D prints just using these desktop 3D printers. Others prototype their designs on our desktop printers prior to ordering think[box] 3D Printing Services. This is a great way to iterate, check designs, and make changes in a more cost-effective and timely way.
With a lower material cost as well as a self-initiated turnaround time, one can prototype, iterate, and learn at your own pace about the capabilities and limitations of FDM 3d printing through design exploration and gained printing experience. Complex and/or stronger prints are possible but often involve design and print experimentation as well as post-printing clean-up for optimal success. Technicians are always available to give advice and troubleshoot designs.
New to think[box]!
Order SLA 3D Printing Services from think[box] when you want a high-detail, highly accurate 3D print made in resin. Our team prints, washes, and cures all SLA resin prints so all you have to do is remove the printed supports upon pickup.
Our Desktop SLA 3D Printer is offered as a service to think[box] users wanting to print in resin at higher resolution and accuracy than the FDM printers can provide. Parts can be printed in a variety of materials offered. Orders print with easily removable supports. For more information and to place an order, visit our Desktop SLA 3D Printing Services page.
Order Industrial FDM 3D Printing Services from think[box] when you want a high-quality 3D model printed in ABS, TPU, or Polycarbonate. These parts are printed with soluble supports that our team washes away for you for a high-quality finish and minimal post-processing.
Our Industrial FDM 3D Printers use the same FDM process as the desktop, but at a larger scale. Parts can be printed out of high-performance plastics like acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonate (PC), and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). Additionally, these printers use dissolvable support materials to produce complex structures with ease. This option is also excellent for those who do not have time to print and troubleshoot their parts at think[box]. For more information and to order a part, visit our Industrial FDM 3D Printing page.
Our Industrial PolyJet 3D Printers use a different process, combining photo-senstive resins to produce a spectrum of material properties—all in the same print! Leverage combinations of flexible, transparent and colorful materials to produce high performance, precise and sophisticated parts. For more information, read our Industrial PolyJet 3D Printing Guidelines.