Have you heard of the latest technology in the world of printers? In the past, printers were only used to print images or writing to media such as stickers, paper, plates, plastic or in the form of photos. But nowadays there is more advanced technology that is a 3D printers for creating or printing solid objects or 3 dimensions of the design that is available in digital format and made into a visible and touchable 3D form.
Of course, this technological advance becomes a very encouraging success because the need to print anything today, no longer just an ordinary white paper, but a variety of more unique forms, creative and limited edition of a product.
If used to the maximum then 3d printers can be used for small-scale industries, home industry, or even support your business with a large scale. And today, wishing to print a design with digital technology is no longer a mere dream. Everything has come true and it’s right in front of your eyes.
3D printers are proof that technology penetrates all aspects not just gadgets, lifestyle and work. The way this 3D printer works is to make the prints that are actually the same or similar to conventional printers that can be used to create layers or colored layers so that it will produce 3D objects that look like their original form.
In terms of 3-dimensional printing, the principle is that to produce 3d objects, you need 3-dimensional digital data. Usually the term is also known as CAD or Computer Aided Design. Where the form is an application but can display data in 3D format directly.
To create a model of a 3D object that will be created later, you have to use special software to be able to design its 3D model that can later be supported to the existing printer for the next process.
| Formlabs Form 2 | Ultimaker 3 | |
|---|---|---|
  |   |
|
| Product Dimensions | 21.06 x 20.08 x 18.7 inches | 21.25 x 11.5 x 11 inches |
| Shipping Weight | 28.66 pounds | 19.65 pounds |
| Best offer | Check price | Check price |
In order to create those models into reality, 3D printers are always needed. Well, you can find them based on your own needs and purposes. If you prefer a professional printer that could work consistently for a long period of time, then maybe you might end up in a more expensive, quality printers.
If you are the first time in the business, you could try the cheap ones first, you know, avoiding the risk on the way. It’s important to understand what you need and what you’re going to do when choosing a printer.
Today, we bring you the two 3D printers that were made specifically for both markets, and let’s see what are the interesting points that they have.
Formlabs Form 2 – $ 3,499
One of the best SLA 3D printers ( at the moment) in the market. With its incredible performance, no other printers could even come close to the Formlabs Form 2. It’s a great companion for professionals, incredibly expensive, but holds a generous amount of features that certainly can please everyone who uses it.
As a laser SLA printer, Form 2 can offer more features than others could give. First thing to notice is that the printer itself comes already assembled. You don’t need to change anything in order for it to work (except for filling in the filament). It has a study frame, offering strong durability that is expected from a printer with such a price. Enclosure can be easily removed without a tiring process.
You can also find the intuitive touchscreen which you can use for managing the prints. The printer allows long-distance prints via wi-fi connection, even though the process could be less smoother.
Inside, there’s the integrated resin system, allowing seamless operation between prints. This feature is the specialty of the Form 2. It automatically detects the resin type and adjusts the correct setting for that particular type of resin. Simply amazing, and this feature alone is what makes it wonderful to have the Form 2.
In the end, the hefty price will be traded with some pros, like a pleasantly good build volume, incredibly practical touchscreen, faster print speed, and integrated resin system. It’s certainly a good trade for its market, and should be considered as one choice in the bucket list.
Anycubic Photon – $ 239
Another affordable and high quality 3D Printer to date. Sitting below 1,000 dollars, Anycubic Photon’s performance shouldn’t be neglected, and it is able to give real results. The printer itself works amazingly to create miniature models with the highest quality possible, and even with relatively easy processes.
Right upon arrival, the Photon is already assembled, just like the Form 2. As soon as you fill it with compatible filaments, you can start printing right away. But first thing, you need to finish the setting, which seems complicated, but pretty easy once you follow the instruction thoroughly.
General specifications of Photon are almost similar with the Form 2. It has a strong and sturdy frame for great durability, and also the touchscreen interface for controlling and adjusting your prints.
However, with this amount of price you’re going into, you shouldn’t expect too high, or comparing it directly to the more specifically advanced Form 2. Please do remember that this is not a laser SLA printer. It’s a printer with DLP technology, which can be said to be alternative to SLA. Even though not granted the amazing SLA technology, the printer is still able to produce highly detailed 3D models with ease.
But since it’s pretty small, build volume is rather very limited. That could be troublesome for people who want larger space. Read also: Creality CR10 vs Prusa i3.
Formlabs Form 2 Vs Anycubic Photon
Verdict
From the little reviews above, we think it’s pretty clear that these amazing printers were built for different kinds of markets. As mentioned earlier, Formlabs Form 2 was created to meet the demand of professional creatives. It carries the SLA technology, with a simple yet very effective and convincing integrated resin system that could make it worth a couple thousand dollars higher. Every single thing was built with care and details in mind, so it’s not weird to say that Form 2 is a masterpiece.
The more affordable Anycubic Photon also couldn’t be taken lightly. Even though it only has the DLP method, it still works amazingly with fast performance and detail to create the top quality 3D miniatures.