Product Design and Development

platform seemed fine – the sea creature was even and centered. After subsequent prints, the platform began to tip forward and, the extruding nozzle gouged into the glass bed, effectively tearing up the Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) base material with each print attempt. After diagnosing that it wasn’t a software issue, I returned the following day with a level.

The leveling process consists of bolts on any of the four corners - trying to find that perfect spot where the platform has a consistent, and level, Z-orientation. A peg on the left edge of the bracket, which moves along the Z-axis, also has to be adjusted so it hits a sensor when the extrusion nozzle is a paper’s width off of the platform – again, lots of trial and error.

Once the platform was leveled, all operated well with the TAZ, though the PLA material had a similar quality to that of the cheaper ABS from Saelig/Afinia – sticking with quality (and pricier) ABS seems to be completely justified, unless print accuracy is negotiable.

The unique thing about TAZ, is the Libre Hardware concept. The company welcomes users to improve upon and tweak the hardware – i.e. It will never be locked. Locking hardware was been a popular practice among corporations, and it manages to keep users from fiddling with the components or changing coding. In fact, LulzBot offers a bill of materials and replacement components on their website, and most of the plastic elements are 3D-printed themselves – making replacement fairly cheap and simple.

While the printer can manufacture incredibly large and precise models (down to 75 microns per layer, with the stock nozzle), the software makes it a challenge to get much done without a struggle. Like the Libre Hardware concept, the TAZ utilizes open-source software for printer interaction and model slicing. Model slicing is required once you have an STL file, so the printer can interpret how to print each layer individually, effectively layering several 2D files into a completed 3D print.

The open-source movement has much to
offer, but the 3D printing software (even the
software recommended by LulzBot – Slic3r
and Printrun) leaves a lot to be desired. For
instance, there were several files that I had
hoped to print, but the Slic3r program con-
sistently crashed while exporting g-code (the
file type used by 3D printers). That’s not to
mention the clunkiness of the program when
changing support layout or adjusting the
size of a print. Afinia’s proprietary software
is easier to navigate, operate, and use to just
plain print.
The TAZ did not encounter the same issues
that the Afinia had with prints lifting off of
the platform. The Afinia uses a heated plat-
form, with porous holes that help prints
stick, but even when leveled there were still
some print-peeling issues. The TAZ uses
a more standard glass heated platform
that is covered with a PET material to help
prints adhere to it. As an extra precaution,
and as a recommendation from the many
LulzBot forums, I used an ABS/Acetone slur-
ry to keep prints from lifting. In only a few
instances, the print warped or lifted off the
platform once the print was started.
LulzBot, using open-ended software and
hardware, fittingly produces their own fila-
ment, which includes an array of experimen-
tal materials for FDM printers. Beyond the
standard ABS and PLA filaments in varying
colors, LulzBot also offers a variety of unique
filaments as part of the company’s lineup.
Whether you’re using a Libre Hardware
printer, which will improve as time goes on,
or a commercially designed, professional-
ly distributed desktop 3D printer, it can be
said with conviction that we are still in the
infancy of desktop 3D printing. Both of these
printers displayed great strengths, but heavy
weaknesses as well. For the engineer looking
to rapid prototype at their desk, these print-
ers are good for basic concept designing and
seeing a part or product first-hand. When
it comes to printing parts that operate and
pieces that fit together, the Afinia H479 is the
way to go, but for large prints and experi-
mental concepts, the LulzBot TAZ provides
lots of freedom.

— Open-source, downloadable software
— 24. 25 lbs
— 680 x 520 x 515 mm ( 26. 8” x 20. 5” x 20. 3”) footprint
— Printing envelope: 298 x 275 x 250 mm
( 11. 7” x 10. 8” x 9. 8”)