Resolution

[joecnc2006]

What is the actual Resolution of the Rostock Max with the 0.5mm nozzle and the 0.35mm nozzle?

I think most refer it to microns. 100um

The Makerbot prints 100um layers and has an X/Y positioning precision of 11um, and Z of 2.5

[lordbinky]

The X/Y the resolution vary across the build area which is a function of being a delta style printer. As for the Z resolution or layer height, I've had mine to 50 micron within a 120mm square (for lithopanes) for a short time and I was unsure if I was imagining 20 micron. Getting it to that point is more of an exersize than a useful thing to do, and required alot of tuning that can (and did) easily get undone. The lower limit of the height of your layers isn't directly determined by the nozzle diameter either. At such small layer heights, your line width is actually the full metal circle of the tip. Otherwise you're extruding so little filament you're going to have a tough time keeping it a continous piece from the stretching forces. At least that's what I found from my experience.

[atoff]

The product specs has it listed as 50 microns, but this is something I've been confused about as well, which is why I was hesitant in purchasing a delta style printer. Is the print quality not as refined then, with delta printers? Say compared to an Ultimaker 2. How well would it compare in terms of repeatable print quality?

[Eric]

We're getting marketing blurbs confused with reality here. There are only numbers for a particular hardware/software/filament/speed setup, which marketing blurbs rarely detail. Just remember that 1000 microns is 1 mm and you'll have no problem understanding that the 500 micron or the 350 micron nozzles are unlikely to produce a 100 micron bead....there's a reason they included the word "layer height" in their statement. But you could get a 200 micron nozzle if you want improved resolution (and increased print times). Tradeoffs, there's always tradeoffs.

[Generic Default]

People who are used to digital cameras, inkjet printers, computer screens, cell phones, ect usually use the term resolution.

In 3d printing there are better terms;

Layer height
Nozzle orifice diameter
mechanical slop (backlash, stick-slip, ect)


All of them add up to what would normally be called tolerances in manufacturing

For our stock Rostock Max printers, we get 18 micron positioning resolution with 16x microstepping. If you upgrade to 400 step/rev steppers, you get 9 micron positioning resolution. This is probably more like 25 and 15 micron positioning after mechanical error depending on your setup.


If you count rounded corners, surface waves, thermal expansion/contraction, differences in starting layer height, filament diameter inconsistency, ect. then our printers have terrible tolerances, in the area of 1mm perhaps.

The nozzle diameter is really what limits your tolerances more than anything else. I use a 0.25mm with trimmer line nylon and I get sharp corners. Layer height is critical to surface finish.


If you have the answer the resolution question in one sentence just say, "A few thousandths of an inch usually". I typically hold <0.005 inches of medium sized prints.

[lordbinky]

^^ Nozzle diameter does determine the detail you can do in the X/Y plane of a single layer. Hop into photoshop/gimp/paint, and try to draw a star with a circular brush, then again with a brush size half as small. Regardless of how high your resolution you make the image (800x600 or 2560x1400 for example) if the brush size is still the same size in respect to the image area, it isn't going to make the larger brush more detailed in any practical way.

To me resolution refers to the discrete coordinates that are generated in software, and positioning accuracy (mechanical error) is basically the ability of the hardware to match those coordinates. After installing a smoothie board and then moving to .9° steppers, I gotta say the stock body of the Rostock is fantastic (like I always believed), and the electronics are the limiting factor deltas in general. I'll do a post on that when I can give it the time it deserves.*

*for those interested I'm not sure when that will be, my friend has my plate full with refinishing my bass, helping him get setup for 3d printing *cough*fighting fedex*cough*, refining a jig to make bows from PVC, introducing him to mold makeing and casting with urethane resins which is a precursor for our umpteenth side project of making custom tattooing equipment...he adds to the list every day lol.