will the real taz 4 build volume please stand up

[kenhara]

@jepmn

Thanks, folks. It’s still a great build volume but I have to admit I got a bit pumped up over the thoughts of 12x12. I have a project where I’m printing widgets that are 11.5 x 11.5 and 12x12 would have been a godsend to avoid having to piece the widgets together after the fact (and thus have to limit my designs). But I expect unless I find another machine I can afford that has this desired build volume and fits in my budget and had everything I was digging with the TAZ, I’ll come back.

I apologize again about the confusion over build volume and fully recognize why that matters for your application.

All LulzBot products are fully Libre/Open Source hardware, so you could upgrade it to a larger bed on your own if you wanted to! The full bill of materials for the printer is available here: http://download.lulzbot.com/TAZ/4.0/production_docs/TAZ-BOM-Guava.ods.

By identifying the relevant parts, you can contact the suppliers and purchase the upgraded parts to expand the machine. We have a customer about to undergo upgrading their 2 TAZ printers to 24"x24" print beds Here are the assembly instructions for the standard machine that you could use for reference: http://ohai-kit.alephobjects.com/group/guava/.

@jepmn

Another question if you have the time: one of the “must haves” on my list is dual extruders (I want to do some multicolor stuff and some stuff where the ability to print supports in PVA/HIPS would be handy). The sales person I talked to said that a plug-and-play dual extruder was in the works and would be released “soon”. Any idea about when “soon” is at this point (or when it isn’t)? Not to cast any sort of doubt on a company that looks quite lovely from what I’ve seen, but I’ve been burned so many times in the past with hardware and software promising extended capabilities that never come that I just can’t let myself believe it until I can actually see it on the shelf, so to speak.

Dual Extruder release is right around the corner! As we show in the TAZ product announcement video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6olcxV9AmI), the electronics are equipped and ready for a dual extruder.

We are currently testing thinner motors (that allow for a smaller profile dual extruder, thereby maximizing the print area because when coupling two extruders onto the carriage there is some sacrifice on build area that we are trying to minimize as much as possible). Once the motors pass testing, we’ll be shipping the Dual Extruders out the door! We are aiming for within the next month, but we have to put them through the wringer first.

The first Dual Extruder will come equipped with two of our standard Budaschnozzles. You can see all the development files on our site here: Index of /TAZ/accessories/dual_extruder/dual_extruder-1.0. Photos of the assembly process (including final product) are available here: Index of /TAZ/accessories/dual_extruder/dual_extruder-1.0/images/Assembly.

Here’s one illustrative side angle shot:

With this Dual Extruder you will be able to print with traditional plastics like PLA and ABS, then use HIPS as support material as you mentioned. Or, if you don’t want to wait, you can use the source files to make your own! Several people on the forum have done this Follow progress on the product’s development here: Dual Extrusion at AOHQ

Sample prints below:

Later this summer we’ll be introducing the Dual Extruder with a Flexystruder. You can see the development files for this product on our site here: http://devel.lulzbot.com/TAZ/accessories/Dual_extruder_w_flexy/. With this product you will be able to print with traditional plastics like PLA and ABS and use a flexible filament like PVA for support, or you could create products that fuse strong flexible filaments like NinjaFlex with hard filaments like ABS.

Sample print (NinjaFlex blue inside, ABS black outside) below:

(BTW, we completed this print and ran over the golf ball-type printed item with a forklift and it survived. The ABS shattered but bonded so tightly with the NinjaFlex that the item maintained its physical integrity… Pretty crazy.)

Then after that, we’ll be introducing a Dual Extruder equipped with two Flexystruders… After that, who knows? Muwahaha

Seriously though, hope this is informative!

Edited for clarity, apologies for being long-winded!