3D printers have gained so much popularity lately and this is probably thanks to companies that promote the manufacturing method but, today you can find more than plenty of brands when it comes to 3D printing and its related tools, such as the LulzBot TAZ 6 Vs Prusa i3 MK3. These machines are simple and reliable, ideal for professionals or enthusiasts who want to have a good machine. If you are interested in having one, let’s see what they can offer below.
In this comparison, we are going to talk about:
- How FDM Printer Works
- What are LulzBot TAZ 6 and Prusa i3 Mk3
- How are the Machine of LulzBot TAZ 6 and Prusa i3 Mk3
- How are the Build Volume of LulzBot TAZ 6 and Prusa i3 Mk3
- How are the Building Bed of LulzBot TAZ 6 and Prusa i3 Mk3
- How are the Extruder of LulzBot TAZ 6 and Prusa i3 Mk3
- How are the Performance of LulzBot TAZ 6 and Prusa i3 Mk3
- LulzBot TAZ 6 Vs Prusa i3 Mk3
FDM Printers
Unlike the paper printer, 3D printers are not as widely used and while both are using the same term, they are not the same with the latter being more complicated and more inclusive to those who are interested in the hobby. Is this because the method is expensive? The answer is not because there are machines less than $200 but probably because they are a bit complicated to work with and this is because we need both the hardware and software skills.
When it comes to 3D printers, the most popular option will be FDM and it seems that this variant is also what most people are using as their starter to begin the journey. Fused deposition modeling is convenient because the material is made of solid plastic which is then deposited layer by layer. This process is probably what makes them called printers even though the technology is not the same. This type of machine is also very capable in making larger products.
The way they work is by using a heating system in which the filament will be fed and melted before being deposited. There is a part that looks like a tip of a pen with a very small opening to do this job and putting the layer one in each step. Typically FDM machines are based on Cartesian coordinates which means they are moving in all of the directions but the part that is responsible for these movements will be different, depending on the styling or mechanism of the machine.
For example the Creality Ender 5 Pro Vs Ender 6 are not keeping the building bed stay on the same level but makes it move along the Z axis while typical machines like Ender 3 choose to let the extruder move in this direction. FDM machines are available in a wide range of options based on the capacity, styling, features, as well as the level of construction because each part of the machines have their own role in deciding the print quality.
When it comes to FDM printers, you may want to consider lots of factors before deciding the option because not all machines are made the same. The capacity or print volume for example is very necessary and the quality of the component as well. If you are an enthusiast, it is probably great to get something that is open source so we can tweak the machine to match with your preference and need around the application in the makerspace.
| Lulzbot Taz 6 | Prusa I3 MK3 | |
|---|---|---|
  |   |
|
| Product Dimensions | 35 x 11.5 x 25.9 inches | 21.06 x 20.08 x 18.7 inches |
| Shipping Weight | 43 Pounds | 28.51 Pounds |
| Best offer | Check price | Check price |
About LulzBot TAZ 6 and Prusa i3 Mk3
If you are here then we assume that the perfect machine for your application is an FDM printer and as the product and mechanism is getting more popular, now the machine is easier to afford as you get to choose from a wide range of alternatives. For beginners, going with popular options like Ender is a great idea because it is more convenient and time saving but there are more to choose from when you are looking around.
For those with more experience, brands like LulzBot and Prusa are still solid options despite the amount of new and more advanced machines that we can buy or ready to use in no time. However, these brands are almost like a cult favorite so they must have their own reasons to stick and stay loyal to these brands despite the wide amount of more advanced and convenient machines out there. The machines from these brands are not cheap as well so we have to shop wisely.
Some of the most popular machines from these brands are LulzBot TAZ 6 and Prusa i3 Mk3. These are more on the enthusiast and professional or experienced users who want to have a reliable machine that they can work with. The best charm of these machines is not only for the open-source factor but also their rigid and robust performance. We all know that 3D printers are made differently and not every model is reliable in professional settings but you don’t have to worry about these machines.
The i3 Mk3 is available in two variants but today we are choosing the ready to use or assembled version which is more expensive than the kit version. If you are experienced in building a 3D printer, getting the kit version will be cost saving. In comparison both are very similar with decent build volume but we love their convenience the most because they gave some automatic features here especially the bed levelling which is a must if you want an easy to use and fast working printer.
LulzBot TAZ 6 and Prusa i3 Mk3 Design
Before getting into what the LulzBot TAZ 6 and Prusa i3 Mk3 can offer, let’s see the machines first and here both are also similar but different. In terms of mechanism they are standard like most FDM printers as the bed stays on the same level but moves on the Y axis while both X and Z axis are taken care of by the extruder. Unlike most printers however, the TAZ 6 is putting the components on the side of the machine instead at the bottom.
From the build quality the LulzBot TAZ 6 and Prusa i3 Mk3 are very robust because there is no flimsy part and we are also happy that the printers look neat making them suitable to be placed in a class or where many people can see and observe the printing process. While the rest of the machines are impressive, these two are still using the older small screen to adjust the settings and to navigate the printer’s functions.
LulzBot TAZ 6 and Prusa i3 Mk3 Capacity
Now for the most important part, let’s see what the LulzBot TAZ 6 and Prusa i3 Mk3 can offer starting from the build volume or capacity because this is very necessary to make sure that we are getting the adequate machine for the purpose. In this part these printers are more on the small to moderate size as they are only 280 mm x 280 mm x 250 mm compared to 250 mm x 210 mm x 200 mm. Some machines can use mod to improve the volume but most are fixed.
LulzBot TAZ 6 and Prusa i3 Mk3 Building Bed
Next is for the building bed and as you can see, these printers are using different surfaces but worry not because both are heated already to prevent warping and to make sure the model is sticking to the surface really well. The difference is that LulzBot is using a glass bed while Prusa is coming with a magnetic bed so in terms of ease of use the latter will be more convenient to put back and remove from the plate. The maximum temperature for the bed is 120 and 100 degree Celsius respectively.
Coming to our favorite part, the LulzBot TAZ 6 and Prusa i3 Mk3 are using automatic bed levelling system which is great to have since these are not cheap machine and while makers can level manually, it is an annoying process and depending on the machine, can be repetitive as well so we are glad to have this feature.
LulzBot TAZ 6 and Prusa i3 Mk3 Extruder
On the extruder part, these printers are also very reliable because as you can see they are made of all-metal which improves the reliability and filament consistency. For example the i3 Mk3 is using this Bondtech extruder which is very powerful to force the filament inside the extrusion system. It has this E3D V6 nozzle to allow you printing with various different materials and on the TAZ 6, this machine is using a hexagon style body with LulzBot V2 hot end.
LulzBot TAZ 6 and Prusa i3 Mk3 Performance
Lastly on the performance, both LulzBot TAZ 6 and Prusa i3 Mk3 are working impressively because the first print comes out beautifully. They handle overhangs really great and the level of detail is just beautiful. It seems that TAZ 6 has some issue with the slicer because printing at higher speed reduces the quality quite prominently. Overall on the print quality and performance part these printers are both capable and convenient but just like any printers, we also need to work with the software too.
Lulzbot Taz 6 vs Prusa I3 MK3
The LulzBot TAZ 6 and Prusa i3 Mk3 are an amazing machine with one prominent flaw and it is the price point as they are costly. In comparison the TAZ 6 is capable of printing larger objects, comes with a glass print bed, and also has different styling than typical FDM printers. In terms of print quality, both machines are impressive because the level of details they can produce is much better than many other cheaper machines. They also come with more features and automation for convenience.
Conclusion
The choice is all yours because not all of us will have the same preference but, in comparison we will recommend the TAZ 6 as it has the bigger capacity and overall the machine is working really good too with similar features and convenience.