At DiveDesign, we use the Dremel DigiLab 3D45 3D Printer for prototyping iterative models as well as high-fidelity prototypes for demonstrations with clients. The high fidelity of the prints allows us to present our models with precise detailing so that we can provide our clients with more communicative visuals, and save time on finishing, as our prints have required little-to-no post-printing refinement thus far.
Within 5 minutes of our Dremel DigiLab 3D45 3D Printer printer being out of the box, it was calibrated and ready to print. Our first go was with a provided test print, using the Dremel-brand nylon filament. We found that both the printer and the filament did very well. The print quality was very clean, due in part to the printer auto level feature, which is a sensor that drops down automatically and finely calibrates to create smooth and level layers within the part. When the print was done, the supplied glue allowed it to pop off the removable bed easily, not to mention the support material surprisingly easy to remove.
Throughout our time using the Dremel DigiLab 3D45 3D Printer, we have created numerous models, two notable prototypes being a very large organic model and a works-like prototype we created for a client presentation. The organic model that we created had many delicate curved thin walls. Previously, we were unable to print a shape that organic or complex with our existing printers because of print layer issues.One detail that we noticed with the organic print was the Dremel DigiLab 3D45 3D Printer layer height consistency. At a rounded-out portion of the model, the separate layer heights along the curvature were virtually invisible, something we had never seen with our prints with desktop printers before. Our works-like model was a fairly simple one, however it was important for the sake of time that the individual pieces fit together perfectly. The precision of the printer allowed for pieces to perfectly snap and twist into each other easily and without any post-printing refinement.
One of the features of the Dremel DigiLab 3D45 3D Printer that benefited us the most has been the amount of control that we have over our prints, which has allowed us to efficiently create prototypes for various stages of the design process. If we want to show many three-dimensional concept iterations, we can easily adjust the time settings to make multiple quick prints without compromising quality. If we want to show a client a reaction or adaptation to a comment they made during a meeting in the form of a physical prototype, we can print a high fidelity model that allows us to take it directly to the client without the need for finishing. If we creating a model for a final client presentation, we can print an accurate model that communicates fine detail and and finish it with paint, etc so that every aspect of the design can be accurately portrayed to the client.
Another feature that has benefited us is the Dremel DigiLab 3D45 3D Printer interconnectivity, which has allowed us to streamline our prototyping process. The printer is able to connect to the internet so that the user can start and stop prints remotely, and includes a camera in the printer so that the user can watch the print in progress remotely. Once a print is finished the user can create a .gif of the whole print. We often find ourselves outside of the office, so it is nice to have the option to start a print as soon as the CAD model is finished, regardless of our location at that moment. The ability to start and stop prints remotely has also saved us time and money, as we can see if a model is printing incorrectly and stop the print before it finishes, saving on filament as well.
Overall, the Dremel DigiLab 3D45 3D Printer has greatly influenced the way that we do business. We are now able to print models more efficiently and at a much higher quality than ever before, which has allowed us to have reliable physical prototypes throughout all points of the design process rendering us very effective as well. The specialized benefits of the Dremel DigiLab 3D45 3D Printer including the remote capabilities, customizable settings, and high quality reliable prints has set the Dremel DigiLab 3D45 3D Printer apart from other printers that we have owned in the past. Based on our experience, we can confidently say that the Dremel DigiLab 3D45 3D Printer has proven to be a valuable addition to our consultancy.