I have no idea what I would do with this but I want one so bad.
That is large enough volume for serious automotive interior parts, like that could make entire center consoles, trim, or inserts, pretty much anything exterior except the bumper covers. I think it really needs to run 2.85mm or 3mm filament and a 1mm+ nozzle by default. Heating that bed will require massive power too.
I work at an automotive OEM. We’ve used large scale 3D printed prototypes for longer than I’ve worked here (~15 years). Most of our prototype parts are SLS nylon. SLS has the benefit of having free/built in supports.
Automotive parts are deceivingly large. Yeah, you could print a lot of parts with this volume but most exterior parts, and a lot of interior parts, would need to get split. For example, the first gen miata, which is a pretty tiny car, has a hood that’s 36" x 41" and 45" long doors.
This isn’t to say that there’s no space for 3D printing in automotive. It could be a good match for lower volume parts or parts that are designed to be 3D printed (most traditional parts aren’t). Another good use case might be spare parts: https://newsroom.porsche.com/en/company/porsche-classic-3d-printer-spare-parts-sls-printer-production-cars-innovative-14816.html
My first thought is bezels for aftermarket radios
3D printing at that scale is just too damn slow and prone to failure for serious manufacturing. It’s one thing for prototyping, but it’s not really viable for at scale manufacturing.
There’s a significant cost to making the stamping and casting molds that produce these parts but once they’re made, they can produce dozens of units per hour with minimal waste.
Printing a single bumper would take days. And there would be so much waste on support structures, I would guess must of the material cost is waste.
The advantage would be printing rare/hard to find parts, especially for vintage cars.
I don’t think this printer would even fit through my door.
Take out the old door/frame and print yourself a new, bigger one.
A hobbit door would fit the space perfectly.
I’ve had previous jobs where they installed industrial ovens in buildings not made for industry. They just tore a hole in the wall and patched it up later, lol.
Elegoo, hunh? So, you’re into random parts failing and then waiting 6+ weeks for replacements from coastal China? Elegoo barely made a viable resin printer with a similar “bigger = better” inspiration, and people are really that excited to throw their money at the same removed in a different dress? 🤦🏼♂️
Oh, they’re that poor quality? I’ve never had an Elegoo.
They’re not bad machines, per se, but the company’s been pushing the shitty practices envelope in an apparent rush to compete with a shrinking barrier to entry and attempting to create a sub-market for “elite” hobbyist machines (in size only) without increasing the quality of parts but certainly upcharging on them… I currently have 8 Elegoo printers (2 Mini 4Ks, 4 Saturn 8Ks, and 2 Jupiters) as both Phrozen and Anycubic are notably worse in a number of ways. To wit, replacing the Jupiter screens is $250 apiece, whereas the Saturn screens run less than $50 and are not ⅕ the size or value. It’s genuinely disappointing, and I have less than zero confidence that this FDM machine won’t shit the bed right out of the gates.
All this aside, I recommend you look at established brands in the FDM space that are less likely to be making a cash grab outside their comfort zone.
Hm, I have had an entirely different experience. Phrozen has been by far the best and most reliable printer I have ever owned, and I’ve had 6 different brands of FDM and resin over the years… the Phrozen resin printer is still going after 2 years of printing almost daily and I never have to mess with it, it just prints perfectly every time, assuming I don’t cock up the supports.
Looks like a Bambulabs nozzle/hotend…
Don’t buy it (right now). Wait for reviews.
When you see it in person, you realize it’s not finished. It would be fine for an early prototype, but Elegoo thinks they’re past that point, which means they’ll probably ship an unfinished product.
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