Frequently Asked Questions

3D printing or additive manufacturing is any of various processes of making three-dimensional solid objects from a digital file. The creation of a 3D printed object is achieved by additive processes, instead of traditional machining techniques (subtractive processes) which mostly rely on the removal of material. In an additive process, an object is created by laying down successive layers of material until the entire object is created. The 3D printing technology is used in the fields of aerospace, architecture, automotive, apparel, construction, creative, government, industrial equipment, manufacturing, medical, education and many others.

Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) technology builds an object by depositing a line of material on top or alongside the same material in order to create a joint by adhesion and/or heat.  The material used is usually a thermoplastic, wax or similar material.  FFF is an additive manufacturing technology commonly used for modeling, rapid prototyping, and production applications.

The term “open source” most commonly refers to a program or programs in which the source code or design/manufacturing prints are available to the public for use and can be modified from its original design.  3D Platform’s printers are not open source.  3D Platform may occasionally use some open source components in our machine design – but only after they have been thoroughly tested and if we find that it benefits our customers.  (For example, the nozzles for our ‘Volcano’ extruder are ‘open source’ and their prints can be found online). The term ‘open market’ means that customers (machine owners) have a choice when it comes to materials used with the printer.  3D Platform’s machines run on G-Code and Filament [or pellets] and our customers have a choice where they get these two items from – they are not locked into only buying from 3DP.  This provides a cost-effective and easy-to-use interface to the printer.

Yes.  Our factory is not open to the public, but potential customers are able to come visit our factory to see the assembly of 3DP’s printers and to have deeper discussions about your their specific applications. Please contact your local reseller or salesperson to arrange a factory tour.  If you’re not sure who to contact, please contact our marketing department by email: marketing@3dplatform.com

3DP does not act as a service bureau.  If you need your part printed, we have several customers who own our machines and their entire business is to print customer parts (“Service Bureaus”).  3DP supports our customers and will not compete with them by taking on Service Bureau work. 3DP will print parts for customers that are seriously considering the purchase of one of our printers in the event that a proof-of-concept print is required to verify at our printers will work for your application.  This is done as part of the sales process and not as a stand-alone business/department or profit center.

Yes.  3DP’s printers can print ABS… …. But just because you can do something, doesn’t mean that you should. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) is a common thermoplastic material.  ABS is amorphous and is known for its impact resistance and toughness.  ABS was first introduced in the late 1940’s. It’s important to remember that 3D Printing is an additive manufacturing process.  ABS was originally designed for injection molding and line extrusion.  While ABS has been adapted to 3D Printing, there are many more modern materials which may be suitable for your application. Please consider using modern alternatives like ABS-X or ABS-M in place of pure ABS as these materials have many of the same mechanical properties as plain ABS, but less shrinkage.  Or you can look at alternate materials, like Polycarbonate materials or Polymaker’s advanced PLA’s which achieve similar mechanical properties. If you choose to print ABS on a large format printer, your success will depend on part geometry and environment.  A heated enclosure is recommended for ABS printers. Also, please be careful when printing with ABS and a glass bed:  ABS likes to ‘bite’ into glass.  Cooling the part too quickly or having your first layer too low may result in broken glass.

Material will shrink with all FFF 3D printers – it’s a function of basic thermodynamics.  As material heats up, it expands and when it cools it contracts.  Since the FFF process requires that material be heated to ‘liquify’ it for extrusion, the material will shrink as it cools back down to room temp. Shrinkage is a material dependent variable and can be affected by print bed temperature, room temperature, and size of the 3D print. In general, PLA is relatively stable and has low shrinkage, whereas ABS shrinks slightly when it cools and hardens.

On average, a 1 kg (2.2 lb) spool of PLA filament costs anywhere from $20 – over $110.  Filament cost varies by supplier and filament types.  Less expensive materials may work fine on a small desktop printer, but we strongly encourage that anyone attempting to print on a large format 3D printer make sure they use high-quality filaments from a supplier with a good quality control process. Many prints on a large format printer will require more than one spool to complete a print and if the material is not consistent from spool to spool then the print can possibly fail.  We caution against using the lowest cost materials found on auction sites and online markets as many are not consistent from spool to spool. For more details, please visit Accessories + Materials page.

Our 3D printers utilize an open market platform, which is capable of printing most materials created for Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) provided that material meets the following criteria: The material type/shape matches the extruder.  (e.g. filament or pellets) The diameter of the material matches the diameter of the extruder (typically 1.75, 2.85 or 6.0 mm).  For pellet extruders, this is a maximum size of the pellets. The melting point (“print temp”) has a melting point that is equal to or less than that of the extruder (typically 290°C). The maximum bed temp (typically 145°C) is within the limits of the material. The air temp (sometimes called “chamber” or “oven” temp) of the machine is within the limits of the material. This includes, but not limited to PLA (Polylactic Acid), ABS(Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), Nylon, Ninja Flex, HIPS (High Impact Polystyrene), TPU, Wood or Metal filled materials, Nylons, some Polycarbonate materials. Note: Some materials may require increased bed and nozzle temperatures, as well as additional ventilation.

Material can be purchased directly from 3D Platform or from many open-market vendors.  There are many suppliers of 3D printing materials suppliers on the market, for a list of 3D printing material suppliers; please refer to https://reprap.org/wiki/Printing_Material_Suppliers. To ensure print quality and an extend printer nozzle life cycle, we strongly recommend using consistent, good quality filament supplied by a reputable vendor. Poor quality filament is one of the TOP root causes identified by our service team.  Please make sure you purchase your filament from a high-quality source (and not the least expensive source found on an auction website).

Yes.  3DP’s printers can print ABS… …. But just because you can do something, doesn’t mean that you should. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) is a common thermoplastic material.  ABS is amorphous and is known for its impact resistance and toughness.  ABS was first introduced in the late 1940’s. It’s important to remember that 3D Printing is an additive manufacturing process.  ABS was originally designed for injection molding and line extrusion.  While ABS has been adapted to 3D Printing, there are many more modern materials which may be suitable for your application. Please consider using modern alternatives like ABS-X or ABS-M in place of pure ABS as these materials have many of the same mechanical properties as plain ABS, but less shrinkage.  Or you can look at alternate materials, like Polycarbonate materials or Polymaker’s advanced PLA’s which achieve similar mechanical properties. If you choose to print ABS on a large format printer, your success will depend on part geometry and environment.  A heated enclosure is recommended for ABS printers. Also, please be careful when printing with ABS and a glass bed:  ABS likes to ‘bite’ into glass.  Cooling the part too quickly or having your first layer too low may result in broken glass.

Material will shrink with all FFF 3D printers – it’s a function of basic thermodynamics.  As material heats up, it expands and when it cools it contracts.  Since the FFF process requires that material be heated to ‘liquify’ it for extrusion, the material will shrink as it cools back down to room temp. Shrinkage is a material dependent variable and can be affected by print bed temperature, room temperature, and size of the 3D print. In general, PLA is relatively stable and has low shrinkage, whereas ABS shrinks slightly when it cools and hardens.

On average, a 1 kg (2.2 lb) spool of PLA filament costs anywhere from $20 – over $110.  Filament cost varies by supplier and filament types.  Less expensive materials may work fine on a small desktop printer, but we strongly encourage that anyone attempting to print on a large format 3D printer make sure they use high-quality filaments from a supplier with a good quality control process. Many prints on a large format printer will require more than one spool to complete a print and if the material is not consistent from spool to spool then the print can possibly fail.  We caution against using the lowest cost materials found on auction sites and online markets as many are not consistent from spool to spool. For more details, please visit Accessories + Materials page.

Our 3D printers utilize an open market platform, which is capable of printing most materials created for Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) provided that material meets the following criteria: The material type/shape matches the extruder.  (e.g. filament or pellets) The diameter of the material matches the diameter of the extruder (typically 1.75, 2.85 or 6.0 mm).  For pellet extruders, this is a maximum size of the pellets. The melting point (“print temp”) has a melting point that is equal to or less than that of the extruder (typically 290°C). The maximum bed temp (typically 145°C) is within the limits of the material. The air temp (sometimes called “chamber” or “oven” temp) of the machine is within the limits of the material. This includes, but not limited to PLA (Polylactic Acid), ABS(Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), Nylon, Ninja Flex, HIPS (High Impact Polystyrene), TPU, Wood or Metal filled materials, Nylons, some Polycarbonate materials. Note: Some materials may require increased bed and nozzle temperatures, as well as additional ventilation.

Material can be purchased directly from 3D Platform or from many open-market vendors.  There are many suppliers of 3D printing materials suppliers on the market, for a list of 3D printing material suppliers; please refer to https://reprap.org/wiki/Printing_Material_Suppliers. To ensure print quality and an extend printer nozzle life cycle, we strongly recommend using consistent, good quality filament supplied by a reputable vendor. Poor quality filament is one of the TOP root causes identified by our service team.  Please make sure you purchase your filament from a high-quality source (and not the least expensive source found on an auction website).

3D Platform utilizes best in class open market 3D printing software. The two most common software programs used by our customers are Simplify 3D and Ultimaker Cura. Simplify3D is an easy to use program used to import, repair, slice, preview, and print all from the same application. Ultimaker Cura prepares your model for 3D printing. For novices, it makes it easy to get great results. For experts, there are over 200 settings to adjust to your needs. And integration with major software platforms makes 3D printing even simpler.

The open source software such as Ultimaker Cura or Repetier Host are free to download.   Simply3D costs around $150 per license. Please note that the software is not included with the printer purchase.

Yes, 3D Platform has a standard 90 day warranty. The warranty covers replacement parts but not onsite service. This warranty excludes normal consumable or expendable parts (such as nozzles), repairs or replacement during the warranty period because of abnormal use, misuse, neglect, or improper or unauthorized service. Extended warranties are available for purchase separately.  On-Site setup and basic machine training by a factory certified technician are required in order for an extended warranty to be purchased.

In addition to the extensive user manual, video tutorials, and 3D printing tips blog posts, 3D Platform provides live video support or written explanations via email. 3D Platform also provides on-site installation support with additional charges. You may contact us here.

For the fastest response time, we encourage all customers to visit our support portal: https://support.3dplatform.com The support portal has user manuals, downloads (firmware, print profiles, etc.), FAQ’s, articles and much more information that may provide an immediate answer to your question.  If an answer cannot be found, please click the ‘Submit a Ticket’ link to create a new request.

Due to the unprecedented increase in shipping costs, it is no longer viable for 3DP to continue the ‘Crate Buy Back’ program. Therefore, we have discontinued the program until further notice.  In the event that shipping costs return to pre-COVID levels, we will reinstate this program.  We apologize for any inconvenience, and thank you for your understanding.