3D Printers

A 3D printer is an additive manufacturing machine that specialises in creating custom parts with accuracy. 3D printers add material, layer by layer, to form a 3D object. Available in a variety of shapes and sizes, 3D printers have the ability to print with many plastic variations, metal and even carbon fibre composites.

3D printers work by making use of a computer-aided design to create objects layer by layer, continuously adding material until the final design is complete. 3D printers use a combination of top-of-the-line software, powder-like materials and precision tools to produce a three-dimensional object from scratch.

Two world-leading metal 3D printer manufacturers are offered at Emona Instruments.

Markforged

Emona Instruments is proud to be the leading Australian reseller of Markforged Industrial 3D Printers and 3D Materials. Markforged is one of the few 3D manufacturing companies leading the industry with the innovative technologies of metal 3D printers.

At Emona, we offer the Marforged Metal X, a Metal FFF printer that delivers a user-friendly end-to-end metal 3D printing solution that produces usable metal parts. The Metal X is the most innovative metal 3D printer on the market today. Even with limited training, users will be able to easily print a wide variety of materials, from stainless steel to copper.

The Metal X is made to be accessible and safe for all fabricators. It is 5-10 times less expensive than powder-based metal 3D printing systems, and it does not require a dedicated technician, powder management system, or specialised PPE. Markforged integrates best-in-class tech, materials science, and an integrated motion system to produce industrial-grade components consistently.

Optomec Inc.

Emona Instruments is also a proud supplier of Optomec Inc., who offers a full range of Laser Engineered Net Shaping (LENS) metal additive manufacturing solutions. Which use directed energy deposition (DED) high-powered lasers to build parts layer by layer directly from powdered metals, producing fully dense parts with excellent mechanical and durable properties.

LENS systems result in a high-speed, high-quality and affordable metal 3D printing process making complex metal parts easier, more precise, efficient and affordable to produce and repair. Direct Energy Deposition (DED) can be 10x faster and 5x less expensive than Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) for certain metal parts.

Optomec LENS systems are laser-safe, atmosphere-controlled, robust multi-axis systems with additive or hybrid capabilities. Using "art to part", Optomec metal printers offer a user-friendly interface, advanced tool path generation from CAD files, the ability to process non-reactive and reactive metals, familiar machinist G&M codes, and advanced closed-loop software for process control.

If correctly utilised by small businesses, there are an abundant number of benefits that can ensure business success. From reducing costs, optimised business efficiency and enhanced product construction, providing a competitive advantage ahead of industry competitors.

3D printers can allow a business to climb its industry, but the common misconceptions surrounding 3D technology often discourage small businesses and entrepreneurs. While some believe the technology is too futuristic, expensive and hard to use – but in reality, 3D technology is becoming more accessible, better quality and cheaper. With commercial 3D printers, your business uses fewer employees, less equipment, and fewer resources – keeping most of your manufacturing line in-house.

Since 2015, Emona Instruments has offered industry-leading Additive Manufacturing Products and 3D Printing Materials to industries Australia-wide, we know exactly how small companies could benefit from this form of technology.

For more expert knowledge, check out Emona's recent article to discover how five early adopters of Industrial 3D Printers improved their business models and optimised their scope of production.

Emona 3D printing is a service that builds on our expertise and partnerships with the market leaders in high-strength composite 3D printers, Markforged. We are also able to provide thermoplastics parts printing through our partnership with Airwolf 3D, specialists in high temperature and large build volume thermoplastics 3D printing.

We look forward to supporting our commercial, government and educational customers with our high-quality 3D printing services.

The cost of desktop 3D printers and industrial 3D printer prices are a significant distinction when choosing between the two devices. With the growth in popularity of desktop 3D printers, the cost of owning and operating a hobbyist printer has dropped substantially. But as a buyer, you must consider not only the cost of the machine but by the materials and maintenance it requires. For example, well-made, better materials are less expensive because they tend to be replaced less often.

Furthermore, the best 3D Printer for you should be determined by which printer will save you money in the long term. For example, there is a way to save money in the long term by spending more initially, with the Markforged Mark Two.

Designers and engineers will use the Mark Two to substitute machined aluminium tooling with stronger parts for a fraction of the cost. Incorporating commercial 3D Printing with unique continuous carbon fibre reinforcement and distinctive software with flexible parts that are ready to use right away and have up to 26 times the strength of normal 3D printing products like ABS.

Thus, the best 3D Printer price depends entirely on what you wish to achieve. For factory and production manufacturing, High Accuracy, large format printers would best suit. For engineering designs, you'll need to decide if a higher-performance printer is worth the extra few thousand dollars. For smaller-scale shops like jewellery designers or sculptures, resin SLA printers can produce fine and intricate details.

As 3D printers are popular among hobbyists for leisurely uses, it can be difficult to sift through the cheaper printers to find a machine that fits professional and industrial needs. Emona's range of 3D Printers and Scanners satisfies a range of budgets and requirements; stocking 3D printers capable of plastic, resin and even metal output so that you can create almost anything.

The best industrial 3D printer depends entirely on what you wish to achieve. For factory and production manufacturing, large format printers would best suit you. For engineering designs, you'll need to decide if a higher-performance printer is worth the extra few thousand dollars. For smaller-scale shops like jewellery designers or sculptures, resin SLA printers can produce fine and intricate details.

It is crucial to source a high-quality 3D printer and understand the quality of printing relies on the quality of your printer's accessories and materials. With Emona's large inventory of globally trusted 3D printers and market-leading 3D printing materials, it is possible to upgrade your printer to the highest quality.

Here we have broken down Emona's top two types of 3D printers Australia:

FDM 3D Printer

Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM), also known as Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF), is the most common form of 3D printing at the consumer level. It is often the first type of 3D technology people are exposed to.

In FDM printing, objects are built by melting materials through a heated nozzle in a pre-determined method layer by layer. The primary materials used include thermoplastic filaments, such as ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) and PLA (Polylactic Acid). The type of materials used will affect the mechanical properties, accuracy of parts and total production prices.

FDM 3D printers are the most cost-effective way to produce custom thermoplastic parts and functional phototypes, best suited for prototyping and some non-commercial functional applications. FDM is fundamentally anisotropic, as its system produces vertically layer by layer; therefore, this type of 3D printing is not recommended for mechanically critical components.

SLA 3D Printer

Stereolithography (SLA) is the second most popular type of 3D printer on the market. SLA is a type of additive manufacturing that uses a light source – a laser or projector – to form liquid resin into hardened plastic. This 3D printing process has become popular quickly for its ability to produce highly accurate and high-resolution smooth surfaces. Fine features and mechanical attributes, like isotropy, water tightness, and material versatility, can also be achieved.

However, SLA's main benefit lies in its versatility, offering a wide range of optical, mechanical and thermal properties. SLA technology has come very far, with today's small-format desktop printers producing industrial-quality objects at substantially more affordable price points and with unmatched versatility.

The Formlabs Form 2 3D printer is the industry's leading desktop SLA 3D printer. With two high-precision models, the Form series offers a high-quality surface finish that isn't possible with other desktop printers. Emona is proud to be an authorised Formlabs Australian distributor. As well as the product, we provide factory-trained technical support and service to support your Formlabs investment.