Toward Better 3D Printers: A New Test From Autodesk and Kickstarter
Kickstarter has announced, in collaboration with Autodesk are addressing a challenge that Kickstarter creators and backers face: lack of a common standard to assess the performance of FDM 3D printers. (Fused Deposition Modeling is the standard layer-by-layer process that you’ve probably seen even if you’ve only encountered a few 3D printers.)
Kickstarter, with generous help from Autodesk, is releasing a new open-source printing test for Kickstarter creators.
Autodesk research scientist Andreas Bastian has developed a test procedure designed to help creators better calibrate their machines and showcase their printers’ capabilities to backers on Kickstarter. He developed a single, consolidated STL file that tests a printer’s dimensional accuracy, resolution, and alignment. For example, poor execution of the “bridging” feature shown below will lead to a saggy and stringy print. A well-calibrated printer will make the horizontal feature with fewer of those issues.
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