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What is your average print time over a month?

Posted by regpye 
What is your average print time over a month?
November 09, 2014 02:15AM
I am trying to work out what time is used for printing over a month by most users.
The reason is to see if I can base this amount on what life there would be in a printer (on average)
As new models are coming out all the time and many changes take place in a short space of time, I would think that the average printer life would actually be quiet short.
I know some would buy or build a printer and not change it ever, some others like myself would probably be changing often as new developments and ideas come in.
Personally I have a printer working nearly all the time as I have many things to print and machines to build.(I don't think this is a normal case, but I could be wrong)

I still have a working printer that I built over 3 years ago, not that I use that one much any more as there are now better machines in my collection, so it is really difficult to work out a life span of a machine when you have several machines, some not being used any more that are still almost like new.
So to get at a better understanding, users with only one or two machines would be best to base this calculation on.


[regpye.com.au]
"Experience is the mother of all knowledge." --Leonardo da Vinci
Re: What is your average print time over a month?
November 10, 2014 02:25AM
My printer is online about 8 hours a day. So roughly 240 hours per month Printing time is about 6 hours per day, the other 2 hours are used to fix them. (Normally I start in the evening trying to to fix it and then print over night.
Re: What is your average print time over a month?
November 10, 2014 05:14AM
I usually print only during the weekend, spending most of the time in the cad modeling. So I would say an average printing time of 30 - 40 hours per month.
Re: What is your average print time over a month?
November 10, 2014 10:12PM
I now print about 10 hours per week if I keep up this rate.

I'm also interested in the average working hours / lifespan of a printer.
Re: What is your average print time over a month?
November 17, 2014 09:33AM
76 percent 3D printer owners report high daily & weekly usage, finds new CEA study

[microfabricator.com]

The header seems to be a bit hyped up, since I can't actually find it in the report. Or is this just a media trick of make-believe?
Re: What is your average print time over a month?
November 17, 2014 06:08PM
Quote
BackEMF
76 percent 3D printer owners report high daily & weekly usage, finds new CEA study

[microfabricator.com]

The header seems to be a bit hyped up, since I can't actually find it in the report. Or is this just a media trick of make-believe?

An interesting read.
From my personal experience of other users around my area, they are using their machines almost daily too, some staying up most of the night and not getting much sleep ha..ha..
It seems like there are some people that are really pushing their machines a lot, so maybe they will be looking at either upgrading their machine or replacing it in a short time??
What are your thoughts on this??
I can't really go on my own example as I have many machines and all are slightly different due to wanting to perfect an idea and make an even better machine.


[regpye.com.au]
"Experience is the mother of all knowledge." --Leonardo da Vinci
Re: What is your average print time over a month?
November 19, 2014 09:11AM
It depends on how you approach it, i kinda like the idea of a printer that is going to be upgraded after a year or 2. The speed of technology is fast enough to have a better machine when you upgrade to a new one, and recycle electronics and rods of the old one.

in my opinion thats just as expensive as buying an expensive machine that needs to work 10 years to make itself pay back, but that expensive machine is after 2 years already 'old tech' and updating/upgrading is expensive for expensive machines, if something goes wrong it is even more expensive..

and if you have a cheap machine that is well build, then it might even work good for a longer time, then you can have multiple printers for a lower price, and thus prind twice as fast..

But it is about finding the right balance

Is 2 years to short? is 10 years to long? It's for every user different, and the good part is to have choice.

and there are hundreds of designs to choose from in all price ranges. That's also a thing to keep in mind. How to find the right machine. grinning smiley
Re: What is your average print time over a month?
November 19, 2014 08:01PM
Quote
BackEMF
It depends on how you approach it, i kinda like the idea of a printer that is going to be upgraded after a year or 2. The speed of technology is fast enough to have a better machine when you upgrade to a new one, and recycle electronics and rods of the old one.

in my opinion thats just as expensive as buying an expensive machine that needs to work 10 years to make itself pay back, but that expensive machine is after 2 years already 'old tech' and updating/upgrading is expensive for expensive machines, if something goes wrong it is even more expensive..

and if you have a cheap machine that is well build, then it might even work good for a longer time, then you can have multiple printers for a lower price, and thus prind twice as fast..

But it is about finding the right balance

Is 2 years to short? is 10 years to long? It's for every user different, and the good part is to have choice.

and there are hundreds of designs to choose from in all price ranges. That's also a thing to keep in mind. How to find the right machine. grinning smiley

These thoughts are similar to my own. I can't see the point in building a machine that has super refined parts that will not do any better job than standard parts.
There should be a balance between the parts cost and the parts functionality, because after a short time (12 -24 months maybe short) the machine is likely to be replaced or upgraded.
That is why I have been testing the Delrin bushes for replacement of linear bearings that I have found to be less than as good as expected. The linear bearings being very noisy, often jam and not a smooth as should be.
It is OK to say use super fine hardened rods with these bearings and they will last for many thousands of hours (something that has not proven to be true with me yet) that also comes at a high cost, just to be most likely out of date in a short time. On the other hand, the Delrin bushes that I have been testing have proved to be quiet, smooth running, and reliable. Although the tests have only been for a little over 600 hours continual use, they are still working as good if not better than the day I fitted them. The tests are still on going, and so far have printed ten full sets on machine parts with all the accessories, several test pieces, and several ornamental pieces, ALL with very good results and quiet.
I think that if using a machine built like this, the life will far outlive the working life of the machine due to the monthly hours of use indicated so far.
Going on my own experience of printer use life, mine are very short because I re-design for a better product several times in a year, so the printers although still virtually new and have done almost no work at all, are past their use by date due to being replaced by an even better model. I know that this is not the norm, and most people would buy or build a machine and expect it to last a long time before replacing, and depending on the user and the use the machine is put to, this time will vary a very lot from one individual to another.


[regpye.com.au]
"Experience is the mother of all knowledge." --Leonardo da Vinci
Re: What is your average print time over a month?
November 20, 2014 04:26AM
I had a bad experience with LM8UU, when the rods are not 100% parallel then the pressure on the bearings causes damage, bushings make a lot of sense to me.
600hours seems a good lifetime already.

Less damage, less noise, smooth operation. Well, let me place an order! I like to give it a try.
Re: What is your average print time over a month?
November 20, 2014 05:52AM
Quote
BackEMF
I had a bad experience with LM8UU, when the rods are not 100% parallel then the pressure on the bearings causes damage, bushings make a lot of sense to me.
600hours seems a good lifetime already.

Less damage, less noise, smooth operation. Well, let me place an order! I like to give it a try.

Wait a few days and I will have an order come in of a 1000 commercially made ones.
They take too long for me to make by hand on my lathe, so I have had them CNC machined.


[regpye.com.au]
"Experience is the mother of all knowledge." --Leonardo da Vinci
Re: What is your average print time over a month?
November 20, 2014 08:20PM
Please give me a sign when when they are available.

At what price are you going to sell them?
Re: What is your average print time over a month?
November 20, 2014 10:13PM
Quote
BackEMF
Please give me a sign when when they are available.

At what price are you going to sell them?

I will send you a PM soon Mano.


[regpye.com.au]
"Experience is the mother of all knowledge." --Leonardo da Vinci
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