LulzBot announced a new 3D printer this week: the TAZ 8, and it has one very unique feature.
The TAZ series is the flagship product for the North Dakota-based manufacturer, and the TAZ 8 is the latest 3D printer in that line. It’s an open-gantry device, offering a build volume of 285 x 285 x 285 mm.
FAME 3D, the company behind LulzBot 3D printers, explained that the TAZ 8 has a number of mechanical improvements that should make the machine even more robust than its predecessors.
The X and Y axes operate on linear rails, providing smooth and accurate motion. There’s now a BL-Touch probe that more accurately detects plate contours during automated leveling. They’ve also made a number of component upgrades to decrease backlash during mechanical movements, which should increase print quality.
They’ve moved away from sensorless homing back to physical limit switches, which they say should be more reliable. A new motherboard offers additional stepper channels and should boost performance. There are now multiple sensors to monitor filament progress, which can detect jams and out-of-filament scenarios.
The print plate is now magnetic and can be easily swapped, which is particularly useful when printing in different materials: match the plate to the material.
The toolhead is a bit more complex on the TAZ 8 because there are now five different options that are selectable at the time of purchase. These include:
- Twin Nebula 285: 2.85mm dual extrusion
- Twin Nebula 175: 1.75mm dual extrusion
- Asteroid 285: 2.85mm with 1.2mm nozzle
- Meteor 285: 2.85mm for flexible materials
- Meteor 175: 1.75mm for general use
There’s a capacitive touch screen for control of the TAZ 8, and the machine includes the usual (for LulzBot) easy maintenance and ingenious design features.
There’s one very interesting feature on the TAZ 8 that I haven’t seen on any FFF 3D printer: plate cooling.
It’s not clear how this is done, perhaps with a strategically placed fan, but the TAZ 8 is able to speedily cool the print plate. This is important because prints should not be removed from the print plate until it has cooled down: the plates are designed to hold the prints when hot, but release when cold.
FAME 3D said that this feature can speed up the cooling process by as much as 50%. In other words, you can get your TAZ 8 back onto the next print job with only half the delay for cooling and part removal. That’s a feature that should be on many 3D printers, but as of now it seems to be only on the TAZ 8.
The TAZ 8 is entirely built in the US, making it suitable for purchases by government organizations prioritizing domestic manufacturing.
Pricing of the TAZ 8 starts at US$5,395 and goes up to US$5,995 depending on the choice of extrusion system.
Via LulzBot
