Comparing Extrusion-Based 3D Printing Technologies

Not All 3D Printing Technology is Created Equal 

In an independent research study* comparing Stratasys® F123™ Series 3D printers with four other desktop 3D printers, the F123™ Series came out on top by a wide margin. With every manufacturer nowadays touting reliability, ease of use, and price it is important to truly understand what you are getting when deciding on which extrusion-based 3D printing system to bring in-house. In this study, five entry-level fused deposition modeling 3D printers were compared for a variety of attributes, including reliability, production quality, and ease of use. Each 3D printer was used to print a range of design geometries which were then analyzed for quantitative measurements such as Tensile Strength and Feature Position Accuracy. Reliability was also quantified by comparing the parts completed to parts attempted, and a visual inspection was also performed.

In this study overview we will explore:

• Reliability of the different 3D printers measured as a percentage of parts completed versus parts attempted
• Part quality in regards to accuracy
• Printing complex parts and geometries

The full study is also available through a Proto3000 representative.