Prusa announced its HT90 printer for printing high temperature engineering filaments. Chamber temperature goes to 90C (hence the name). Even claiming they can print PEEK (see earlier discussion above regarding the feasibility of that). Unfortunately, the asking price is: $9,990. As we discussed earlier in the thread above, there aren’t many alternative machines on the market aimed at enginneers, so Prusa can effectively use quasi-monopolistic pricing and charge almost anything it wants.
One pretty cool feature shown in the video below is that the cooling fan is always running, but there’s a fast opening/closing flap that can react in milliseconds. This is a really great feature that I wish my X1C had, as I’ve lately been printing various parts that have sharp overhangs.
I watched a lengthy youtube video about the Kobra 3 last night by someone who owns both the Kobra 3 with the multi-filament add-on as well as the Bambu A1 with Lite AMS. He was fairly unhappy with the Kobra 3. Summarizing his complains: unlike the Bambu A1, he didn’t think the Kobra 3 was a “it just works” kind of printer. Instead, he thought it would take extensive and nearly perpetual tuning to get good prints out of it. My impression: He recited a litany of examples, so I think he’s probably right. It might yet get there, but at the moment it seems to very much be a work in progress.
Kobra 3, well i think about a second but than the dryer unit can`t by used autonomy just with the Printer itself, so way they have TPU on the display? So nothing at all since on the end you will throw the printer with the AMS “dryer”.
HT90 was once discussed - it’s amazing that it took so long to get there. On the other hand, a lot of advertising with VW, which is a company that doesn’t exactly stand for innovation - more for old money that no longer needs to move. So very fitting and nothing for the private or semi pro marked. More for people who can no longer get good suppliers and have to do it themselves and then have to pay for it or taking suppliers which have no other choice than to deliver there. So whether printing speed would play a role at VW - everything is in a deep sleep anyway. So you should probably call it the “perfect match”, even though there is certainly some innovation behind it (to be fair).
Elegoo Centauri Carbon. That could possibly be a price killer with AI - but I think it will probably go back to 220x220. It will probably be on topic: Just a little off is in the ended being missed the target as well…
A rally interessting Video with the co founder o phrozen about the Arco with 110 clicks only… amazing how don’t be afraid of personal contact to there existing customers … when the printer gains momentum and has confirmed itself, it will be brutal for the competition… as always, the power of silence will become brutal?
And for the printer’s maximum temperature: 350C maximum chamber temperature on the webpage, there are many other industrial printers with high chamber temperature.
I also found many printers operating at lower temperatures and different values for PEEK crystallization temperatures, likely indicating different material blends and low TRL.
Interesting, though, never occurred to me.
But now that you mentioned it, wouldn’t you wait, too? When every competitor still aims to compete with your model, would it be wise to release a new model (assuming it exists) and show the latest features?
I’m not waiting, I’m printing Of course it would be important for Bambulab to deliver a newer model - but I don’t have to care about Bambulab interests… that’s there problem. And the A1 problem will now cost them a lot… the timing is gone.
The X1 has its tasks, but I don’t think it will stop doing them soon.
Multicolor is nice, but would I spend more money on it? No. And if i would, I just would pick a Kobra 3 combo for those few prints. Of cours if i could add. the existing AMS to a A1… but i can`t so bye bye. If, then I would become a real stubborn head with principles
AI with monitoring yes, the lidar is great for printing over several days. Thats the X1 task. The Lidar makes the X1 spechal.
Would I spend money on a faster printer? That would be a big no. Twice as expensive would have to be three times as fast, otherwise there would just be two printers. Solar was installed, which makes electricity savings also uninteresting.
Bigger printers, you don’t have to wait for that anymore.
Multi-material was once important, but has become obsolete. Somehow I just don’t have the problems on my office desk for this topic. It was interessting for TPU - now the parts are simply printed more massively with harder TPU. So Multimatirial is on my case also gone too.
So what else do I have to wait for? Prusa XL tool changer, expensive vulnerable toy for prototypes… plus very rare sustainable use cases. I think Bambulab can manage it, but I already know that I won’t pay for it… More than 1000 USD for a FDM printer, those days are gone.
So there is only one reason leaft over for me to wait for a new model: the associated drop in prices for the current generation.
The Flsun S1 and T1 may be the most interesting new printers announced so far this year. S1 allegedly has a print speed of 1200mm/sec and an acceleration of 40,000mm^2. Heated chamber tops out at only 50C, but at least it has a heated chamber.
These two are very interesting with their super high speed. BUT… and it’s a big but, some reviewers are suggesting its quality is crappy at its highest speeds. Seems like some reviewers are holding back on the critical info, you have to slow it down significantly for quality and reliability. Once slowed down for equal quality, it’s much more competitive (though it still has a noticeable speed advantage over the X1C). Also, there are some cool advancements like the filament dryer/chamber heater and the 90DB fan has some crazy air volume. Yeah… 90DB operation is kinda unusable, but it does boogey.
For those looking at the Kobra 3, hold out. By some accounts, it’s just not ready yet.
Elegoo is generally good about releasing a finished product, but this one has me wondering if it was rushed to market. We’ll have to wait and see. I just ordered a Saturn 4 Ultra, so know that I am a little brand vested. But I’m still curious to see if their FDM offering is on the same level as their resin printers.
I’ve just pre-ordered Saturn 4Ultra (the full package), and expecting it to be delivered as stated on their website, and already confirmed by their customer support, in a few weeks.
Probably. Try and run a bambu at its highest speed and see how good the quality is though. If the s1 will do decent quality over 300mm/s its beating the bambu IMO
EDIT:
I was just thinking about the benchy speed and quality. It has me thinking that theres going to be a higher need for excellent tuning to use the high speeds properly. I only really see flow rate of the nozzle and filament quality as the true barriers.
I been slicing files in half the time on Chitubox, that alone made me perk up. Personally, I haven’t felt the need to upgrade from my original Saturn until now, but this one gave me a reason. This one seems to be easier on the release of the FEP too, so I’m expecting much more reliable printing. Not to mention it no longer need tons of tuning (lift and retract speeds).
I am a little annoyed at how messy the new build plate seems to be, but that’s not the end of the world.
I think it will print about 20-25% faster at similar quality, so that’s not nothing. It’s just some reviewers were stating some pretty wild claims (doubled speed) with no downside except the noise. Others are showing the speed can be used, but that comes with low reliability.
Of course it would be important for Bambulab to deliver a newer model - but I don’t have to care about Bambulab interests… that’s there problem. And the A1 problem will now cost them a lot… the timing is gone.
