As FormNext quickly approaches, the 3D printer is released and the advancements multiply and multiply. Today, Prusa Research has announced the Prusa Core One L, a larger version of the magnificent Prusa Core One that I reviewed in January.
I was lucky enough to attend the announcement in Prague earlier this month and spend some time with the machine and the other releases that were announced at the event.
You can pre-order the Prusa Core One L by clicking here and using the code TechnologyRadar.
Main features of the new Prusa CORE ONE L
3D printing is now fully integrated into many areas of manufacturing and business, from the foundations of iterative design and prototyping to small-scale production runs.
This leads to the industry’s need for higher volume printers, and CORE ONE L increases print volume by 10% with a print area of 300 x 300 x 330 mm within a completely enclosed environment.
The move from open to closed frame has also meant an expansion in the type of materials that can be used inside the machine, and a new AC convection thermal bed allows for better printing with advanced materials such as PETG, Nylon and ASA.
While the heated chamber makes printing with special materials possible, it is also necessary to regulate the temperature inside the machine. In CORE ONE, this can be done using the simple manual vent at the top of the machine; The opening and closing of the vent has now been automated.
Surface quality is also an important factor, and PRUSA Research is known for driving major advancements for its printers through software. Indeed, with the Prusa Core One L the company has spent a lot of time weakening VFAs, taking the already smooth surfaces of prints to the next level.
Again, as with the Core One, the setup speed is fast, so if you don’t want to get bogged down in building the printer, or the length calibration process, then with the Core One L it’s all done for you.
All you need to do is take it out of the packaging, install the filament and turn it on. If there is a problem, Prusa Research is one of the only 3D printer companies that offers 24/7 technical support.
Double the print volume, not the size
Scaling with 3D printing is an issue as getting a significant print volume also adds stability issues and obviously a bigger machine usually means bigger and heavier. However, PRUSA Research went back to the drawing board and looked for ways to increase print size without effectively doubling the size and weight of the machine. The result is a machine that still offers the rigidity through the laser-cut steel profiles of the CORE ONE exoskeleton, but then uses aluminum for the side panels and a few other adjustments that have resulted in a machine that is 10% larger and 0.5kg lighter.
A heated 3D printing chamber makes a difference
Heating the print area is something that has become increasingly common with the move towards completely closed systems, and even more so with the increase in print sizes and the use of specialized materials.
The thermal stability of the print bed is also another consideration, and with the Core One L a thick block of aluminum has been used with a double-loop thermal element, which promises to offer a temperature variation of less than 2ºC across the surface. PRUSA Research has also worked hard on the AC convection current to actively heat the chamber, ensuring it can now reach a maximum of 60ºC when required.
This heated environment means that many high-performance materials are now much easier and more reliable to print, including ABS, ASA, nylon, and polycarbonate. When it comes to standard PLA that prints better in a cooler chamber, the vent at the top of the machine now opens automatically, helping to regulate the internal temperature and meaning there’s no need to leave the door open. If you are using the machine in an office or workshop, an optional HEPA filtration system can also be used.
Prepare for 3D printing production
Let’s face it, if you enter the world of 3D printing, the consumer has a wide variety of options. However, when it comes to business, that choice quickly narrows as precise, production-ready parts and dimensional accuracy become the most important purchasing factors.
Prusa Research has approached this in an interesting way, essentially refining and keeping things somewhat simple, to make on-site maintenance and adaptation possible.
The machine uses rigid CoreXY kinematics with a 360º cooling extruder that helps set filament quickly, reducing (but not eliminating) the need for supports. Through the PrusaSlicer, organic supports can be added that are much easier to remove than traditional support structures.
While the Core One L remains a single tool head machine (although you can install the MMU3 multifilament option), the company has worked to resolve vertical fine artifacts (VFA) with a new feature in PrusaSlicer called “Consistent Surfaces”, which has been designed to enable production-ready prints directly from the build platform.
It’s about business
Having tested and used Prusa Research printers for several years, reliability is the key to the company’s success, and for businesses, this reliability is at the heart of the Prusa Core One L.
With no setup or calibration required, anyone can get the machine up and running in minutes, and the path from files in SolidWorks, Autodesk Fusion, or STEP files to a physical print from CORE ONE L has been simplified.
If you are a company looking to learn more about 3D printing, Prusa Research is well aware that education is key, and here the company gives you access to the comprehensive Prusa Academy online course with every printer. This course delves into the world of workplace use and, for any engineering or product design study, is an invaluable resource.
Easy maintenance
3D printers, by their very nature, are complex, and when you look at many of the latest versions, any thoughts about fixing them yourself are generally out of the question. However, with deep roots in the open source community, Prusa machines are still designed for you to maintain. Nozzle changes, which are the most common maintenance goal, can be changed in about 30 seconds.
If something else goes wrong then everything can be stripped down and rebuilt, meaning the machines, even after thousands of hours of service, can be reconditioned to like new condition.
Prusa machines are one of the last manufacturers to allow this level of access and on-site repair and maintenance. If you get stuck or have a problem you can’t solve, technical support is available 24/7 in seven languages, staffed by experienced operators.
An open ecosystem
Prusa printers are part of an open ecosystem that allows you to integrate into printers and make them part of larger workflows, or remain safely isolated. PrusaSlicer has become the industry standard and iterations of the app are now used by most of the industry, and with EasyPrint you can even use an online slicer that works across platforms.
Because PrusaSlicer is so integrated with the industry, Prusa Research is also launching the Open Tag Print standard, an open RFID tag on all of its new spools that allows printers to identify the filament type, so there is no longer a need to enter material details into slicing software.
While this technology has been available for over a decade, this is the first time an Open Tag system has been launched and could have a dramatic effect on the filament market, with several manufacturers already adopting the format.
More from Prusa Research
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Prusa Signature Oak
In addition to the launch of the CORE ONE L, Prusa Research is also announcing Signature Oak, a limited-run premium 3D printer that sees the CORE ONE redesigned with an oak casing. This printer is exceptional, but really for the core Prusa 3D printing enthusiast. Limited to 250 units, it is priced to match and will be a must-have for all Prusa printer fans.
Silicone tool head
Developed for the original Prusa XL, this new tool head is unlike any other and will allow the machine to print silicone. The final release of the head is planned for soon and I will bring more updates on this as soon as I have them. From the initial impressions I’ve seen, it appears to be an interesting development and something that will definitely be of interest to the industry.
Prusa Research INDX Multi-Material System
Of course, now that the industry is heading towards multifilament machines, everyone is interested in the next steps. Following on from a tweet a few weeks ago about cooperation between Prusa Research and Bondtech, it looks like there will be a new multi-material INDX solution for CORE ONE machines to be announced at FormNext next month. I will bring you more details soon.
If you are interested in pre-ordering a Prusa Core One L, you can click here and use the code TechnologyRadar.
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