Ķm (1,600 DPI). XĖY resolution is comparable to that of laser printers.
The particles (3D dots) are around 50 to 100 Ķm (510 to 250 DPI) in
diameter. For that printer resolution, specifying a mesh resolution of
0.01Ė0.03 mm and a chord length ? 0.016 mm generate an optimal STL
output file for a given model input file. Specifying higher resolution
results in larger files without increase in print quality.
Construction of a model with contemporary methods can take anywhere from
several hours to several days, depending on the method used and the size
and complexity of the model. Additive systems can typically reduce this
time to a few hours, although it varies widely depending on the type of
machine used and the size and number of models being produced
simultaneously.
Traditional techniques like injection moulding can be less expensive for
manufacturing polymer products in high quantities, but additive
manufacturing can be faster, more flexible and less expensive when
producing relatively small quantities of parts. 3D printers give
designers and concept development teams the ability to produce parts and
concept models using a desktop size printer.
Seemingly paradoxic, more complex objects can be cheaper for 3D printing
production than less complex objects.