We've added three new 3D printers to the shop: an Elegoo OrangeStorm Giga, a Bambu Lab X2D, and a Snapmaker U1. Each one does something our existing machines don't, so here's what they are, what they're for, and what they change about the projects we can take on.
The short version: the Giga prints parts up to 800 × 800 × 1000 mm in one piece, the X2D adds a second Bambu Lab machine to the floor, and the U1 handles multi-color and multi-material parts. One honest caveat: the Giga just arrived, and so far we've only printed a small figure on it, so there's no gallery of giant prints here yet.
The Elegoo OrangeStorm Giga: Our Big One
The OrangeStorm Giga is a large-format FDM printer with a build volume of 800 × 800 × 1000 mm, which is about 31 × 31 × 39 inches. We call it The Annoying Orange, the one exception to the Marvel naming theme we use for the rest of the fleet.
For scale, most desktop 3D printers can only build parts a few hundred millimeters across. Our Creality Ender 5+, Hulk, builds up to 350 × 350 × 400 mm, which is already big for a desktop machine. The Giga is more than double that in every direction, with roughly thirteen times the build volume.
Why a bigger bed matters
When a part is bigger than the printer, the only option is to cut it into sections, print them separately, and join them back together. That works, but it means seams, extra assembly, and a finished part that's only as strong as its joints. A bigger build volume lets us print many of those parts in one piece instead.
The jobs we're most excited about are the ones that used to be awkward: automotive parts, oversized props, and other big builds. If you want the full background on when large-format printing is worth it, we wrote a guide to large format 3D printing, and our large format 3D printing in Spokane page covers how we work.
What we can and can't tell you yet
The Giga is brand new to us. Our first print on it was a small figure, run straight out of the box with no calibration, and we're honestly happy with how it came out. It will only get better once we fully calibrate the machine.
A small figure doesn't show off the size, though, and we're not going to pretend to have a portfolio of giant prints we haven't made. As real projects come off the bed, we'll share them here and in our portfolio, including the awkward parts.
Bigger isn't automatically better, either. Very large prints take longer and use more material, and plenty of parts print better on a smaller machine. We'll match your part to the right printer, and if the Giga isn't the best choice, we'll say so.
Ultron: A Second Bambu Lab on the Floor
Ultron is a Bambu Lab X2D. It joins Silver Surfer, our Bambu Lab X1C, so we now have two Bambu Lab machines running side by side. More machines means more jobs can run at the same time, which helps when several orders land together.
We'll write more about what the X2D does best once it's put in some real hours. For now, it's extra capacity from a family of printers we already know well.
Thanos: Multi-Color and Multi-Material
Thanos is a Snapmaker U1, and it's our multi-color, multi-material machine. It's the one we'll reach for when a part needs more than one color or more than one filament, like a logo that's part of the print instead of painted on afterward.
New to FDM printing? Our guide to FDM 3D printing explains how it works and what you can make with it.
The Rest of the Fleet
The new machines join Hulk, our Creality Ender 5+, and Silver Surfer, the Bambu Lab X1C. Our two Creality CR-10S printers, She-Hulk and Iron Man, are resting for now while we sort out shop space, and they'll be back.
What Do the New 3D Printers Mean for Your Project?
- Bigger parts in one piece. Automotive parts, oversized props, and other large builds can print without being cut into sections, when the part suits it.
- More capacity. More machines means more jobs can run at once.
- Multi-color parts. The U1 handles parts that need more than one color or material.
- The same simple process. You still start with a quote request, and we choose the right machine for your part.
Send us your dimensions (or a file, or photos of the part) and what the part needs to do, and we'll confirm which machine it belongs on and recommend a material. No file? We can design or scan one. Get in touch or use the quote form to start.