Large Format 3D Printer
Problem statement
Since 2020, our client has been bringing his childhood dreams to life by making real-life Star Wars armor, droids, and helmets. He 3D prints all of these projects, before sanding them smooth and painting them to resemble the on-screen props. This project was embarked upon when the client wanted to design a machine that would allow him to make full-sized Star Wars armor and droids with less time spent sanding down seam lines from joining multiple parts together, giving him more time for the more fun parts of the hobby. There are many other 3D printing enthusiasts like him, who would also greatly benefit from having this machine. One of the major limitations of current consumer-grade 3D printers is their size. Anyone who wants to print anything larger than two feet in any dimension will have a difficult time finding a 3D printer capable of printing that piece in a single piece. Industrial-grade 3D printers can be found in sizes large enough to print a human in one piece, but those machines often cost more than $25,000 [1], and contain many features that a hobbyist would not want or need. Our group wants to build and evaluate the market viability of a consumer-grade large-format 3D printer. The aim of this machine is to allow individual creators to build projects of a previously unattainable magnitude. [1] “Treatstock – BigRep BigRep One,” Treatstock 3D Printing Services. [Online]. Available: https://www.treatstock.com/machines/item/300-bigrep-one. [Accessed: 15-Feb-2023].
Team members
Noah Williams – leader
Michael Wright – communicator
Lucas Bourquin – accountant
Tony Nardini – admin
Client
Noah Williams