What are the smallest workable parts, the X1 carbon is able to print? I need a printer which is able to create 1:87 model parts. Will I be happy with the X1?
Welcome to the forum.
Of trains (HO scale) and anything larger the X1C would probably work but anything smaller is just too small for FDM printing in general. If you are looking at small items cars etc, resin printing is probably more what you should be looking at.
Thank you for your answer! Since the technical spec says something about 7um resoluion, my hope was, that FDM printers have been improved in general. Or is was it just a senseless a marketing number?
Resin printing is ok, but currently most parts for H0 come from an SLS printer.
Take a look to what this translates to…
Around 10 to 12 µm is the spot size for a CO2 laser…
The real question would be what the required resolution for the part would be.
Take a spoked rim for a vintage car - no chance at this scale not even with a resin printer.
The later might do it but not with satisfying results and not without a lot of fine tuning…
A plane engine at 1:87 is already hard for a die cast model…
A resin printer can’t go any finer than the resolution/pixel size of the display below.
A FDM printer might be able to do lines of around 80% of the nozzle diameter but anything below is a hit and miss.
Here is an example of 1/87 model:
Thingiverse
As you can see the scale IS possible but whether or not you get the detail level YOU require is a different story…
These tiny people are 1:250 - so you should be able to get about 3 times as much detail as this at 1:87
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That will be a tough ask for any printer. A Bambu machine with a 0.2 nozzle should be able to make a reasonable attempt depending on the model. You can print at 0.06mm layer heights easily enough which is basically what most resin printers are doing in their fast modes. Even at the same layer height a resin printer will have a better surface finish than a FFF machine though. (Assuming prosumer level machines)