3D Printers and Printing

So far, I’m very pleased with the unit. It worked as I expected it would. Easy to use and good print quality. The software is better than expected. I like the way it builds its own base below the actual print. My 10 year old daughter imported a cat into sketchup. We exported it into an STL, using a free plugin and it printed perfectly, without any tweaking. I’m looking forward to using it for more serious jobs. Reviewed by: Kai Kaletsch from Saskatoon, Canada. on 1/13/2013 [Read more…]

I am a Mechanical Engineer with 23 years of product development experience. I have worked at several fortune 100 companies and have used several different kinds/brands of expensive 3d printers. The AFINIA H479 3D printer works very well and the output is comparible to machines I have used. I was very surprised and amazed at how the printer and software handled a small helical gear (1.25″ dia. X 0.375″ tall X 48 teeth.) Printed gear was functional. Start up kit was complete and set-up straight forward. Software occasionally hangs up when sending a print job from the PC to the printer, but a reset of the printer resolves the issue. [Read more…]

Very satisfied with Afinia 3D printer. Software works well. Machine does a good job making models. Accuracy is excellent based on this printing technology. Setup took a bit of time getting the platform level and printing height set. Have made many models for engineering school and old car restoration. Best to withdraw filament after a printing job. Have had filament stick and had to drill out nozzle. Reviewed by: Jerry Craig from St. Louis Missouri. on 2/10/2013 [Read more…]

When I first started researching 3D printing, I noticed that a lot of the 3D printing community were very into making their own printers, tweaking, upgrading, etc. I realized that while this was cool, I really just wanted something that worked out of the box. 3D printing is a means to an end for me, and I really appreciate that Afinia offers an affordable, high-quality, and easy to use printer for those of us that just want to print stuff. I really don’t think you could make it easier to get excellent results so quickly. If you’re not interested in spending valuable time building your own printer, then this is [Read more…]

…I bought one thru the Makershed. Finally a 3d printer that just prints when you hit print. [Read more…]

Great printer! We’ve been using the printer in our office nearly non-stop for prototype construction. [Read more…]

by Aaron H. Pratt, VP Marketing – Microboards Technology/Afinia Almost exactly one year ago, we made the decision to enter the fray of 3D printing. What we saw then, and what we see now, was a disruptive technology, positioned to change business, that was beginning to make its way into the desktop market. Technologically speaking, we knew we were a late entrant. 3D printing, sometimes called Additive manufacturing, had been around for 30 years in one form or another. But marketwise, we saw a window of opportunity. Suddenly, garage tinkerers and back-room hobbyists were beginning to produce a product that met the economic requirements and piqued the interest of a [Read more…]

I’m fairly new to 3D Printing and got involved via our work with the folks at Afinia. We brought a printer over to the office, set it up and started using it within 45 minutes. Initially, we made models from Thingiverse that we used in videos and photoshoots. I have to admit, I moved the printer into the warehouse so that I wouldn’t gawk at it while it was working. As I started to think about other applications, one came to mind (Duh-OH!): I have a bunch of melted, broken and missing parts for things around our home that have never been replaced. I recall searching an hour on a [Read more…]

Great printer with great print quality! 🙂 [Read more…]

Damon Swanson is a Circus Model Builder. Our guess is that you don’t know anyone who does that sort of thing. It was a first for us, as well. He purchased his Afinia H-Series 3D Printer in late 2012. He likes to create his models in 1/8” scale (1/8” = 1 foot) and his existing 3D printer would only create suitable models down to ¼” scale, which wasn’t small enough. No stranger to 3D printing, Damon ran an engineering and design group at Honeywell and was able to convince management to buy a Stereo Lithography system 20 years ago. That system was the second one installed in Minnesota. He was [Read more…]

Set-up was a breeze! Printing the test.stl as I type! Wow, Love Afinia! [Read more…]

It is amazing how perfect the Afinia has been out of the box. [Read more…]

On my very first try at using this printer, I printed an awesome little dinosaur! This printer rocks! Meredith Foster [Read more…]

Got my Afinia this weekend, love it! Jason Carlisle [Read more…]

By the way, pass it up the ladder that this little H series Afinia 3D printer is the greatest machine I ever bought. About a 15 on the 1-10 scale. John Domville – EST Communications [Read more…]

Your best prints start with a solid foundation. Many of our forum users have been discussing various ways to prepare the print surface for use with their ABS and PLA filament, and we’ve compiled the best information in a handy PDF, available for download from our Manuals and Guides page. [Read more…]

Ethan Broadway is a Radiographer with Edumation who works with a company that has developed a synthetic bone graft substitute. Ethan’s quest was to determine a better way to show potential clients how their product performed after surgery, other than using CT scans. Ethan has followed 3D Printing for a few years, beginning with some of the popular kits available at the time. As an amateur astronomer, he knew that a desktop 3D printer would be a good way to create parts to improve his designs. “The only reason I didn’t buy a kit was I’d spend so much time assembling the thing and getting it running that I would [Read more…]

Bracelet Design by Christina Chun It’s been said that 3D Printing is a disruptive technology – maybe so, on the high-end where it challenges traditional manufacturing. At Afinia, we believe 3D printing is an enabling technology that opens the door to desktop manufacturing for people who could’t participate before. It reminds us of what has occurred in the music and publishing industries where authors and musicians no longer need a record label or publishing house to get their work to market. After all, our parent company, Microboards Technology, has been a world leader in providing technology that puts the power in the hands of the content creator. There are many [Read more…]

We’ve received some inquiries via social media regarding perf-board build platform alternatives. Here’s a day-in-the-life account from John Westrum, VP of Afinia: I went to Ace Hardware in Chanhassen and had the guy at the key duplicating desk cut and edge-polish 3 pieces of 3/8″ glass (5.5″ x 5.5″). I asked if they had tempered glass, but they would have had to order that from St. Paul and it was going to be more expensive. The 3 pieces of glass cost $12. The glass does wear out from heating and cooling because very small chips pop off the surface. We have one sheet with a couple of chips and I’m [Read more…]

Color-changing ABS Filament from Afinia Value Line We just launched three new varieties of our Value Line ABS Filament, including transparent and color-changing filaments! Check out these new filaments in our store. Afinia’s Value Line ABS filament has excellent melting point and durability properties, all at a more affordable price. Save a ton over competing filament, and get the highest quality prints that only Afinia can provide. Happy printing! [Read more…]

Afinia has recently announced that we’re offering a $150 Microboards Visa® Prepaid Card to people who purchase the Afinia H479 3D printer between November 23, 2012 through January 1, 2013. To claim your reward, visit the reward page, then download and mail the form and a copy of the receipt. Terms and conditions apply, see details on the bottom of the form. [Read more…]