3DTouch™ 3D Printer (Double Head)
Make personal color manufacturing a reality with the 3DTouchTM Personal color 3D Printer. It is easy to set up and easy to use with a touch screen user interface, and is ideal for desktop 3D printing in the home, classroom and office. Create prototypes, models, RC parts, toys…the list is endless!
3DTouch™ 3D Printer - Double Head
Bring your 3D models and CAD drawings to life with the 3DTouch™ 3D printer. With its clear and open design and simple interface, the 3DTouch™ 3D printer is ideal for the home, classroom and office environment. Create prototypes, models, RC parts, toys…the list is endless!
BFB 3D printers are based on additive layer manufacturing (ALM) methods. Using thermoplastics, a BFB 3D printer heats the material through the extruder (or print head). The extruder then pushes out a very fine plastic thread which is applied layer by layer according to x and y co-ordinates, building a solid, 3D object.
Our newest, simplest 3D printer
- Brand new touchscreen display and control panel.
- Quick to set up out of the box.
- USB storage and connectivity.
Perfect for the office, classroom or home environment.
- Clear and open design.
- Clean, tidy nozzle and purging area - easily removable.
- Can be placed and operated anywhere (with power). Files are read from USB drive; no PC connection required.
Complemented by BFB Axon 2 software.
- Purpose-written software easily converts your STL files ready for printing.
- Friendly and familiar user interface.
Print complex geometries without compromise.
- Large build platform enables a wider range of 'one-print' parts.
- Multiple print heads enable multi-material prints - support material can simply be 'snapped off' (or dissolved away) resulting in a cleaner, more accurate finish.
Easy to use and maintain, no need for maintenance contracts.
- One piece heater barrel allows easy material change.
- Minimal set up and simple calibration process.
Simple and cost-effective machine upgrades.
- Electronics configured to accommodate up to three heads - a single head machine can be easily upgraded to a two or three head unit affordably.
- Free firmware upgrades - benefit from software developments at no extra cost.
Designed and engineered to be accurate and robust, yet simple.
- Extremely rigid, durable frame providing excellent mechanical stiffness.
- Increased z move speed and accuracy
- Ultra-compact extruders deliver material with control and precision.
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MAXIMUM BUILD SIZE |
3DTouch™ |
3DTouch™ |
3DTouch™ |
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X axis |
275mm (10 ¾ inches) |
230mm (9 inches) |
185mm (7 ¼ inches) |
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y axis |
275mm (10 ¾ inches) |
275mm (10 ¾ inches) |
275mm (10 ¾ inches) |
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z axis |
210mm (8 ¼ inches) |
210mm (8 ¼ inches) |
210mm (8 ¼ inches) |
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Please note print size will vary from build size and is dependent on print material specifications We recommend that you limit ABS prints to 100mm (x) by100mm (y) and PLA prints to 200mm (x) by 200mm (y). Larger prints may be accomplished within the constraints of the machine depending on geometry. |
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Z axis resolution |
0.125mm (0.005” / 125 microns) |
0.125mm (0.005” / 125 microns) |
0.125mm (0.005” / 125 microns) |
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Print tolerance |
x and y axis +/- 1% of object dimension or +/- 0.2mm (0.008” / 200 microns) whichever is greater z axis +/- half the processed z resolution Shrinkage and warpage can occur on models and is purely geometry dependent. |
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Print speed extruded volume |
Maximum 15mm3 (⁹⁄₁₆th”3 ) per second print and polymer dependent |
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Power requirements |
110 - 240v AC |
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Approximate weight |
36kg (79 Lbs.) |
37kg (81.5 Lbs.) |
38kg (84 Lbs.) |
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Overall dimensions |
515mm (w) x 515mm (l) x 598mm (h) (20 ¼” x 20 ¼” x 23 ½” inches) |
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Maximum operating temperature at extruder tip |
280oC (536oF)
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Support material |
PLA / ABS / Soluble Clear translucent PLA |
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Support removal |
Break away support material with pliers and cutters or just fingers where appropriate. Clear translucent PLA is soluble in a sodium hydroxide solution used with a heated ultrasonic tank - care is required with this option. |
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The 3DTouch™ dual head 3D printer usually takes around an hour to set up. This is quite similar to what you need to do with any kind of ‘normal’ printer – unbox, remove all protective packaging and unlock the moving components which were secured during transit. There is some minor levelling and calibration involved and of course, it’s a good idea to download the Axon 2 conversion suite from the supplied memory device.
All BFB 3D printers include complimentary Axon 2 conversion software. This application converts your 3D model into layered slices (G-code), ready for printing on your machine. Other features and uses of Axon 2 include:
- Clear, familiar and easy to use interface
- Scaling, rotation and movement of parts on a simulated print bed
- Proven default settings for all BFB 3D printers
- Ability to create custom profiles as needed
- Imperial / metric conversion available
- Combined part and toolpath viewer
- Built-in STL file verification
- Profiles for multiple material / support material
Software upgrades can be downloaded from the BFB Technical Resources hub.
- 3DTouch™ dual head 3D printer
- Tool kit
- Memory device with sample print files, Axon 2 and Set-up Manual
- Clear nozzle box
- Power adaptor
- Unpacking instructions
The BFB 3D Touch printer
The BFB 3D Touch printer performs well since first installation in oktober 2011. Delivery was performed through the newly appointed BFB-supplier WIA in Rhoon, Holland (Rotterdam area). Both Wia and BFB have shown to be professional partners.
The shipment box is outstanding. The carton fits into a stationcar. The claimed "Unpacking and printing within one hour" includes making photo's and a cup of coffee. The printer was running smooth immediately.
We did have a little delivery-mishap with one of the three material-cooling fans. When securing the printheads for shipment one of the tie-rips was erroneously also placed over the power lead of the fan. Tightening the tie-rip apparently tore off the wire during the factory-packing process. We still haven't looked into it as the remaining two fans manage well. It is a standard fan and will be easily replaceable. (see note about service later-on).
Though the printer really is 'Ready to Run' it takes some time to get acquainted with the plastics. Both PLA en ABS tend to shrink a little. This meant some trial and error for accurate results to the tenth of a millimeter. This off-course is not printer-dependant but universal; the BFB has no flaws in accuracy. The printer design shows a lot of caring about the product. No costs were spared and the design and materials used are a treat to the eye. The printer runs without attached computer; it reads its files from memory-stick. This is a big plus, no connections needed.
SERVICE Using third party PLA-filament (BFB-PLA was yet not available in Holland at the time) posed the first real problem. The PLA tended to snap when left in the printer overnight. The BFB manual tells clearly how to tackle this issue and it turns into routine quickly. It really went wrong when a small part of broken filament got stuck beyond reach, close to the nozzle. We have the BFB-version with two nozzles so continued printing with the other head and made a 'service-ticket' on the BFB website, just before Christmas. To our surprise we instantly received a detailed spec sheet (thank you Mike) for dismounting the extruders.
Just to make sure every possible problem could be tackled by us ASAP we also received a spare extruder free-of-charge by priority mail!
Dismounting takes some guts and some time but turned out to be a three hours job. The filament was removed and the printer was cured. We forgot to mention the damaged fanwire in the ticket but I am convinced that it would have been shipped too without hesitation. The firmware and software do have some imperfections. We dented the bed because once we forgot to check if the nozzles were clean before printing. The printer starts up quite agressively (why??) by testing the bed-position first. Any left material is quite damaging to the bed with this action. The bed however is two-sided so we print on flipside now.
Updating firmware was the second problem we encountered. A mis-interpretable text in the PDF put us on the wrong foot. A second 'ticket' was made and again promptly answered (thank you Mike). Update was a five minute job then. The reward was a more flexible menu in the printers' touchscreen. The firmware-update PDF manual will be improved on this point -it probably is by now. Axon software comes with the printer to convert STL files to (readable-ASCII) printer-instructions.
Axon version 2.0 does a good job in making this real user-friendly. It does show some curious behaviour when processing a two-material part. Is it a fault on our side -unlikely- or will Axon 3 be more mature? some two-material parts turn out fine, other parts fail because of various problems (incomplete file, floating layers, non-existing 3rd extruder appointments). This is no fair reason for complaint as we haven't made a ticket for this yet and the problem may well be on our side, using (free!) Sketchup with SKP-to-STL converter plugin. You do not post an extensive review unless you hate or love a product or service. This posting results from merely positive findings;
BFB deserves a big applause for both product and follow-up. Jan 27, 2012 Steven Rotterdam-Holland