This has been a topic of conversation lately. Slant 3D produces some of our own filament. But we have avoided selling it. We just haven't seen the need.

But recently, frustrations with the 3D Printing Filament industry has made us want to a take look. 

Since we are a print farm first we understand the product needed very well. And we know a few tricks that we would reccomend. 

Filament has a number of issues.

• The spools are the wrong size
• The filament materials are not evolving
• The Shipping is a slowdown
• Product Consistency is a problem in mass production situations
• And supply is overall an issue.
• There is no competition
• No filament producer makes filament explicity for Print Farms.

We know that we can address a few of these. But we are still thinking about it. What do you think. Should we start making and selling filament for the general population.

Farms often require the removal of parts and beds to complete the manufacturing process. However, removing them manually can be time-consuming and laborious. The implementation of robots for this task can be an effective solution. Here are a few examples of print farms that have successfully integrated robots to streamline their manufacturing process.

1. Autobot by CalmeeSwall: This robot utilizes QR codes to locate a machine and remove a magnetic build plate. This project was done by a student and is Ross-enabled.
2. Slant 3D Print Farms: This company is currently engineering a small mobile robot, Phil, to move around and deliver filament to different parts of the factory. Other robots are being developed to remove beds and collect parts within the farm itself.
3. Voodoo Manufacturing: In 2017, Voodoo Manufacturing showcased their print farm system that had a universal robots collaborative arm programmed to remove parts from individual machines within a node. However, the company went out of business in 2020 before the project could be fully realized.
4. Formlabs Form Cell: This system is an excellent example of integrating robots in resin systems. It can collect parts in a controlled manner and is well designed.

Using robots to remove parts and beds in print farms is becoming increasingly common in the manufacturing industry. The implementation of robots like Autobot by CalmeeSwall, Slant 3D Print Farms' Phil, Voodoo Manufacturing's collaborative arm, and Formlabs Form Cell has shown great potential in streamlining the manufacturing process. These systems can provide a cost-effective and efficient solution for print farms, reducing the need for manual labor and increasing productivity.

3D printing is a popular manufacturing process that can produce functional parts at scale. However, many people consider 3D printing to be expensive, mainly due to misconceptions about the process. In this blog, we will explore the main factors that contribute to the cost of 3D printed parts and provide tips on how to make them more affordable.
Raw Materials

1. The first factor that affects the cost of 3D printed parts is the raw materials used. This includes not only the plastic used to make the part but also the labor required to produce it. When submitting a part for mass production, it's important to know the desired material and its properties or have a detailed description of what the part needs to do. This will help the manufacturer recommend materials that are both functional and affordable. For example, ABS is a popular plastic used in 3D printing, but it can be more expensive than other materials like PETG, PLA, or others that are easier to work with and lower in cost.

Design

1. The design of the part is the single most important factor in determining the cost of a 3D printed part. Poorly designed parts with features like overhangs, warping, or failure modes can increase the cost of the part and lead to failures down the line. If you have an injection-molded design that you want to 3D print, it's important to understand that these are different processes and have different rules. 3D printing can produce functional parts, but they need to be designed differently than injection-molded parts.

Volume

1. The ultimate quantity of parts that you want to produce also affects the cost of 3D printed parts. Many people consider 3D printing to be a prototyping technology, but it can actually affordably produce tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, or even millions of parts. The cost of a single part can be high, but the cost per part decreases with increasing volume. When reaching out to a contract manufacturer, it's important to state upfront how many parts you want to produce so that the scope of the project can be properly defined and the cost can be calculated accurately.

In conclusion, the cost of 3D printed parts is determined by a combination of factors including raw materials, design, and volume. By understanding these factors and optimizing each of them, it's possible to produce high-quality 3D printed parts at a lower cost. If you're planning to mass produce a product, reach out to a contract manufacturer and set expectations early to ensure the best possible outcome.