3D printing enables anyone to design and manufacture high-quality, three-dimensional models and parts for any application. Add a large build volume to the mix, and you have a tool that can print realistic life-size models.
Builder is the best-known large-format Fused Filament Fabrication 3D printer manufacturer, with their Extreme series boasting huge build volumes and fast print speeds to fabricate large, single-piece models the same day.
3D printing a swan display
With a 1100 x 500 x 820 mm (XYZ) build volume and fully enclosed chamber, the Builder Extreme 1500 PRO offers the perfect print environment for manufacturing long prototypes and models as one piece.
This is the printer Dutch 3D printing service company 3D Printing Prototypes used to make unique marketing displays for a customer.
Their assignment was to make a life-size, realistic swan for a promotional display. Only the head of the swan was printed separately, with the body and neck printed as one piece for a seamless, solid marketing display.
Nozzles, infill and post-processing
The swan’s body was 3D printed with a 0.8 mm nozzle, 0.5mm layer height and 5% infill to create a robust but lightweight model. The head was printed with a 0.4 mm nozzle and a 0.3mm layer height to capture more detail.
The head was glued to the body, the joint and body sanded, and the model primed and painted before being polished.
At 1,000mm long and 600mm high, the swan is identical in proportion to a real swan, while the print quality captures the swan’s natural
form beautifully.
The Builder Extreme 1500 Pro is an industrial-grade large-format 3D printer with an uninterrupted power supply, filament runout detection and a fully enclosed build chamber that is perfectly heated to optimise print quality.
In addition to ABS, PET, PLA, PVA support material and flexible filament that mimics rubber, the Builder Extreme 1500 Pro can also print ColorFabb woodFill and bronzeFill and other speciality filaments, boosting its usefulness.
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Case study: Builder 3D.