3DPrinter for Begginers has writtten a review about Tripodmaker, and they wanted more, so they have interviewed Pieter-Jan Vandendriessche, the creator. Hereby an excerpt from the interview:
Surely some people will say: here we go, yet another 3D printer. What’s the big idea behind the Tripodmaker? What makes it different from other 3D printers?
Pieter-Jan: There are a lot of 3D printers around, that’s a fact. The problem is that most of the machines are developed by students or hobbyists. These machines might be working perfect, but aren’t devices ready for the big audience. Within Tripodmaker, we have put a tremendous effort in building a machine that can be maintained on the long run with a focus on the ease of use and reliability. This means our machines are not the cheapest around, but performance and precision comes with a prize.
We use only high quality components, to assure our users print quality. We made sure the printer looks aesthetic while being functional. We developed easy to use software that allows users to focus on printing their projects. We integrated features, like auto bed levelling, so you can get started right away, without the hassle of tinkering with the printer.
Could you briefly present the Tripodmaker? Why did you opt for a delta architecture rather than a cartesian architecture when designing the Tripodmaker?
Pieter-Jan: Our first Tripodmaker Classic delta printer developments started in 2012. At that time, no delta printers where readily available, except for some DIY kits. The biggest advantages we saw in the technology were:
- the static build plate
- the light weight moving components
Where as the static build plate eliminates the z-wobble, the light weight print head removes the ability of x- and y-resonances due to rapid movements. The set-up also allows to create bigger printers which don’t become bulky, while a cartesian printers gantry would become utterly heavy to overcome the bending to cover larger print areas.
Adding our automatic calibration, including electronics to recover your print after a power failure and improving the mechanical design resulted in our latest version: the Black Edition.
What specifically does differentiate the Tripodmaker from some of the other Deltas that are already commercially available?
Pieter-Jan: When comparing our device to competitor delta printers, we definitely stand out based on price to volume ratio. Second, we offer the one and only delta printer, which includes a designated software called “Prisma”. The Prisma software simplifies the 3D printing process a lot. Additionally, we offer one of the most appealing open designs, which is truly captivating to watch. Our prints have also an outstanding quality.
What were some of the biggest hurdles in bringing the Tripodmaker to market? How long did it take you to develop the Tripodmaker?
Pieter-Jan: The black edition design is truly different when compared to our competitors. We have put the biggest effort in combining functionality in only a handful of though components. This makes assembly easier and faster. It took us nearly a year to develop the Tripodmaker Black Edition and put it into production.
What are some of your key learnings from designing and manufacturing the Tripodmaker? Are there things that you would do differently if you had to do it again?
Pieter-Jan: Looking back at the design process, you always develop stuff that doesn’t end up in the final product. The main reason is because some designs just doesn’t meet the desired goal and we had to start from scratch and rethink them. If we had to redesign it, we would probably do the same, but hopefully faster =)
