The Zortrax M300 is the biggest 3D printer Zortrax has ever made. It is not a replacement for the M200 model – instead, it sits alongside it in the Zortrax lineup and offers something that the M200 and Inventure do not: A huge build area.
If you already have a Zortrax M200 in your workshop or an Inventure in your Office, the fact is that the new M300 offers almost 3 times more build volume than the Zortrax M200 with the same reliability and dependability that you have come to love from the Zortrax brand. The M300 is, for all intents and purposes, the best 3D printer Zortrax has ever made.
Here’s everything you need to know about it:
Zortrax M300 Print Process
The M300 is a fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printer with a single extruder with a maximum operating temperature of 380°C (716°F). That high operating temperature is important, because it means that the M300 can print with materials beyond standard ABS. It means that it can utilise most of the incredible materials designed and developed by Zortrax, including Z-ULTRAT, which is a versatile plastic; Z-HIPS, a material that delivers a smooth matte finish; Z-GLASS, a material that’s semi-transparent; and Z-PETG, an extremely tough and hardy material with fantastic chemical resistance.
Related: WHAT IS RESOLUTION IN 3D PRINTING?
The M300 will print at a layer height of 90-300 microns, which is not the best resolution on the market. For the sake of comparison, the Ultimaker 2 Extended+ will print down to a layer height of 20-microns. However, the M300’s 90-micron resolution offers hands-down one of the most accurate printing experiences on the market. Parts printed at a 90-micron resolution look exceptional – and in many cases, they look far better than many 3D printers where a lower resolution setting is selected. This is the main strength of the M300; it prints consistently excellent parts, and as a result it is a very dependable machine.
Parts are printed within the printer’s enclosed chamber, and in the box you will also receive tinted side covers. These are designed to maintain a constant temperature in the build chamber to create more consistent parts. These side covers are also available for the M200 however they are a separate accessory (unless you buy an M200 from us, because we bundle them in the package). The chamber’s covers offer you a peak at parts while they are being printed, and the inside of the chamber is lit up with LEDs. The printer from a design point of view looks really nice. It’s flashy, but it also looks very professional.
Zortrax M300 Materials
As previously touched upon, the M300 uses a proprietary filament system with support for four key materials: Z-ULTRAT, Z-HIPS, Z-GLASS and Z-PETG. Below, we will take a closer look at these materials.
Z-ULTRAT
Z-ULTRAT is a versatile thermoplastic filament that offers a semi-matte finish. It is designed to capture intricate detail, so this filament is best if printing at a lower layer height. Objects printed with Z-ULTRAT are strong and stable and this material can be used for mechanical parts.
Z-HIPS
Z-HIPS is a thermoplastic filament with high-strength properties. It has high impact strength and high tensile strength. It is also extremely resistant to warping during the print process. This makes it ideal for parts with a delicate support system. Z-HIPS is also resistant to solvents.
Z-GLASS
Z-GLASS is one of the more intriguing filaments offered by Zortrax. It has a light-transmitting surface so parts printed with Z-GLASS are translucent. Applications for this material include prototypes where the final product will be manufactured from glass or translucent plastic.
Z-PETG
Z-PETG is the most chemically resistant filament offered by Zortrax. Highly resilient to salts, acids and alkalis, this is a very durable material ideally suited to prototypes of mechanical parts where resistance to oils, greases and lubricants is needed. It is also ideal for packing prototypes.
It is also important to note that the use of third party filament will void the warranty on the M300.
Zortrax M300 Key Features and Applications
The Zortrax M300 has an enormous build volume of 300 x 300 x 300 mm. Promotional videos for the 3D printer show that it is capable of 3D printing a motorcycle helmet in one sitting. As a result, the key application for this 3D printer is the manufacturing of large-scale prototypes. The types of prototype this 3D printer can create are unlimited, however it really excels with mechanical part prototypes and display case and packaging prototypes.
In addition to this, the M300 can be used for end-use projects. To see some of the impressive work people have done with Zortrax 3D printers, visit this page on the Zortrax website.
Another key feature of this 3D printer is its reliability. Of course, you expect such an expensive 3D printer to be reliable, however Zortrax as a brand is the one which we receive the least complaints about. We have extensively tested the M300’s little brother, the M200, and we can safely say that it is one of the most reliable 3D printers on the market. And bearing in mind that the M200 shares the same basic mechanical components as the M300, this puts the newer model in good stead for the future as far as reliability is concerned. All of which is to say, you can’t go wrong with a Zortrax!
Zortrax M300 Specifications
– Build Size: 300 x 300 x 300 mm;
– Technology: FFF;
– Materials: Z-ULTRAT, Z-HIPS, Z-GLASS and Z-PETG;
– Layer resolution: 90-300 microns;
– Software: Z-SUITE;
– Dimensions: 490 x 560 x 590 mm (with spool);
– File types: .STL, obj., dxf., 3mf;
– OS support: Mac OS X / Windows 7 and newer versions.
