[ZiiS]

So 500 cycles on the injection moulding machine and 42 across the 4 3D printers. Yes, this is super impressive; yes, if I wanted <1,000 of something I am probably going 3D printer (cheaper, more flexible, less lead time) but it is still 50 times slower.

[lbotos]

I don't understand your last sentence. If "you want less than <1000 of something you'd choose a 3D printer but it's slower." What does that mean?

Isn't it 3d printing end to end from idea to existing faster than injection molding for smaller runs?

Isn't the entire point of this video that for a 1000 part sample 3D printing/Injection molding run time were actually more comparable than one might think?

[ZiiS]

The video chooses a very slow injection moulding machine; creates a mould that only produces two parts per cycle even though the machine could clearly handle far more; then has to use four of their machines and a human to match its pace.

Yes, 3d printing is vastly faster if you measure the time for me to get a part from the machine on my desk vs ordering a mold and shipping the results from Shenzhen. But that was true of the Form 3 et al. The speed of the printer makes no real difference, and they are bing disingenuous in suggesting it is approaching the throughput of the machine they are comparing it to.

[kanwisher]

What is the problem with 4 machines? its still 4x cheaper then the injection molding machine. you could buy 16 for same price

[ZiiS]

They don't want to focused on price if one machine is using bulk pellets and the other UV resin. It is many orders of magnitude more then 4x and much larger over the lifetime then the initial purchase price. Not to mention an injection molding machine would be expected to run at least 20 years; which seems high for a Form 4 still being in full use.

[mrguyorama]

Seriously, that injection molding machine is slooooooow, and I produced parts faster in middle school in our shop class with an injection molding machine that was entirely manual and looked to be from the 20s, the 1920s.

They are printing a full bed of parts for each 3D printer run, but only two per injection cycle? And what's with that giant spike of flash on their injection molded parts? This video is so disingenuous.

[abdullahkhalids]

The video says 24s per injection molded part I think. What is a fast time?

[ZiiS]

Depends on the plastic and the wall thickness of the part. We don't know what the requirements actually are, but I bet they would be a way to make 4 times as many parts in a cycle half as long if you had to.