So You Wanna Build a GIANT 3D Print Farm?

In this video, we delve into the trials of building a massive 3D printing farm. From managing machine maintenance and material supply to dealing with high electrical demands and staffing. We explore the challenges and solutions for scaling up a 3D printing operation. Join us as we share insights, strategies, and best practices for tackling the hurdles of large-scale 3D printing production. Whether you're an entrepreneur, engineer, or maker, this video will help set the expectation for the challenges you will face while running a giant 3D printer farm. Watch now to learn more!

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About Slant 3D

🏭 High-Volume 3D Printing: Scalability Meets Flexibility
Slant 3D's Large-Scale 3D Print Farms utilize 1000's of FDM 3D printers working 24/7 to offer limitless scalability and unparalleled flexibility. Whether it's 100 or 100,000 parts, our system can handle it reliably, while still allowing for real-time design updates, ensuring products evolve with the times. This adaptability is key in today's fast-paced world.

🌿 Sustainable Manufacturing: Eco-Friendly Efficiency
Embrace a system that drastically reduces carbon emissions by eliminating carbon-intensive steps in the supply chain, such as global shipping and warehousing. Our approach minimizes this footprint, offering a more sustainable manufacturing option.

⚙️ Digital Warehouses: Parts On-Demand
Think of print farms as a "Digital Warehouse", meaning we can store your parts digitally on a server rather than physically on a shelf. parts are available on-demand, reducing the need for extensive physical inventory.

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My understanding is that Prusa has been using their own printers for their own 3D print farm for years now. They're using the same printers that they sell to customers for their own print farm that runs 24/7. I would guess that is why they notoriously reliable compared to Creality for example.

[repalmore]

1:07 I agree with you mostly. Prusa is about the ONLY printer that I know of that the manufacturer tried to kill their machines by using them for printing....their machines. Every Prusa factory tour includes racks and racks of Prusa printers going at it making more of themselves. They have steel rods and steel ball bearing guides and have proven that they can handle daily use. Others like Creality, well I love both of mine and can't see them earning more than the cost of repairing them.

[JeffMartin]

Prusa i3 printers are designed for use in print farms. So it's not true that you can't use a printer 'off the shelf'. I've used my i3 MK3 printers for thousands of hours of printing with absolutely minimal maintenance required. And maintenance is extremely easy in most cases.

[orange-micro-fiber]

This sounds very similar to the talk a brewery owner gave me. It's not just goofing off printing random things. There are logistics and scale and reliability issues that just don't happen to individuals.

[stormbowman]

The stigma of 3d printing is often "the layer lines". I am just a hobbyist with an Ender 3v3, but I have found that when I think layer lines into the design of my stuff, I can use them as a design feature or esthetics. Which is kind of cool in itself. At least to me. 😊

[tyotee]

I found myself agreeing with ~half of what you are saying here, for starters Prusa makes a printer that is designed around print farms so the first point is already kinda null. I can see what you are getting at with Creality and those types of printers, definitely true in that case. Additionally you CAN go to businesses around you and ask if they want parts printed, that's how a print farm/design business can get off the ground locally. And the power issue really depends on the scale, because as you said a print farm of 50-100 printers might not need that much power. Most small print farms are 20-50 printers, which is plenty to be called a print farm. By the time you need to worry about power draw you are already making enough money to afford it.

Overall good video, but several points were definitely overexaggerated, you don't need to develop your own machine to get into the farm business lmao.

[padelx]

You covered a prusa print farm in your other video, why are you not recognizing the mk3s/4 as a printer off the shelf ? Is the some kind of shady marketing video for your company?

[ScytheNoire]

Not completely true with the off-the-shelf comment. A Prusa MK3 is designed and used in print farms. Better if you can build it yourself so you can clean and properly pack the bearings with lube, but it can print non-stop. With a few aftermarket printed replacement parts to make maintenance easier, they can go constantly with very little maintenance downtime. This is one reason you pay a premium for Prusa printers, they are designed for durability and low downtime.

[harambeexpress]

Not trying to build a farm, but it was good to hear clarification on the issue of spreading myself too thin. Gotta pick my niche(s) and give them the focus they deserve so that I don't flounder fail.

Half the reason I'm looking at a career change in the first place is being spread too thin!

[Alshafi]

I am curious to dive deeper into knowing why you had to make your own 3D printers. How can I find out more?
I am sure you know Prusa already uses their own 3D printers in their own farm. what problems did you solve that prusa did not. That would be a great case study actually. Thanks

[SquareOneFarms]

Running any corporation is hell. You’re running a large corporation, yet 99% of people watching this are trying to make 10-40k extra a year. Those are still farms. Not a single person watching ever considered moving into a train station. Although your points are valid for a ridiculously sized 3d print farm, your audience is typically not interested in that scale. Don’t dissuade the entrepreneurs wanting to get in to the trade.

[aglobal]

On Point ! I just built up an printingfarm in Germany with +200 printers. Our two main challanges: Maintanance and „stigma“.

[GregorifElfeNoir]

"Do you take a phone book and go down the line, saying 'Do you need 3D printing ? But you cant !"

Wellfor a start, I would not know where to get a phone book anymore XD

[repalmore]

When you showed the train repair shop I thought I recognized it then I looked at your website and sure enough. I've never been in that building but know right where it is.

[allthingscyre]

Would love to hear about your in-house printer development. Interested in the filament production, too, but the custom machines are very interesting. I saw some 80/20 in the B roll I think? Do you use a generic microprocessor?

[shawnhicks]

Compared to this company I have a print garden. And I have off the shelf printers that are highly modified and upgraded except the Bambu printers and the resin printers. And even what I have is a challenge. But I’m not sure I want to get much bigger then I am now. As long as I’m making satisfactory parts for my clients and making a profit I’m happy. Of course I’m eyeballing retirement too so I have some incentive to not get to big. And I classify what I’m doing as a side gig though it does take a considerable amount of time.

There are many advantages to 3D printing but, depending on the part, I’ll have a hard time believing it’s cheaper then injection molding at least for mass produced items. An example is those little 3m hooks you stick on the wall. Have I printed them? Yep, but it would have been faster and likely cheaper to just go buy them. Not sure how many you could print in a day, but I’m well aware how many you can injection mold in a day. Lots.

But I can see a day in the not so distant future where 3D printing could replace mass produced items. Instead of going to a store you’ll buy a file and create what you need.

3D printing is likely going to have a strong future, and we are fortunate that we have the ability to make and build the things we do at home with what’s available now. I see it only getting better, though I do see there being growing pains and hiccups along the road as we are already seeing.

I think it’s cool these guys are making their own filament too, like he said that puts a lot of quality control in their hands.

[SneakyJoeRu]

I have a 3dprinter in my closet and I just occasionally print orders that people were unable to delegate to bigger local makers. It doesn't bring a lot of money as I barely have customers, but it kinda covers the filament and I just do it for the love of the process rather than for the money.

[stephenbeale]

Super curious on if you give tours of your facilities and get some insight on how to start out with a 3D printing business. I am in the same area and would love to learn more. By the way, I love how you took over a Motive Power building, that couldn't have been an inexpensive budget decision.

[davidzhao]

@Slant 3D Great video, my thoughts are the same as yours. I am a factory that makes 3D printers. Due to market changes, our production direction has shifted from personal home FDM machines to 3D printing farm-specific machines. The main focus is convenience, easy maintenance, and machines Stable, and can print a variety of different consumables

[jamieprocter]

I am working on designing a belt printer specifically for print farms and was curious on what your main pain points were on those off the shelf printers?