14 DAY TRIAL // Many FDM 3D printers (Fused Deposition Modeling), which push plastic through an extruder to overheat it and build objects drop by drop, sell for well below $1,000 / €750 - €1,000. That's not the case for Airwolf's new AW3D HDL though.
Indeed, that is not true for any of the 3D printers in Airwolf's collection, mostly because this particular company does not cater to the needs of hobbyists at all. Instead, it is more focused on the professional sector.
Thus, it pushes quality higher than other FDM printer makers usually do, because it has no price-performance concessions in need of making. The assumption is that professionals will have both the money and incentive to spend it without Airwolf trying to charm them through other means.
It might not be all that obvious from all the sample pictures posted online, but many FDM printers make objects wrinkly or fail to print something properly the first time. It's a common but under-advertised hazard.
The Airwolf AW3D HDL printer should have a much lower print failure / malformation rate, as well as a higher resolution.
Specifically, the layer resolution, or thickness, is of 80 microns. Not the best we've ever seen in an FDM printer (that honor goes to 50 microns), but very good for the price point. Said price point is of $2,295 / €1,718 - €2,295.
The build volume of the 3D printer is 1,150 cubic inches, or 12 x 8 x 12 inches / 300 x 200 x 300 mm, give or take a few mm here and there.
The layer resolution, as we said, is or 80 microns, or 0.08 mm thickness, while the print speed is of 150 mm/2. Pretty slow, but it's not like every 3D printer can boast a 700 mm/s blinding speed. Besides, more print speed usually translates into lower quality.
Moving on, the nozzle diameter is of 0.5 mm, while the maximum extruder temperature is of 260° C / 500° F. On that note, the supported materials make up the following list: Biodegradable PLA, Soft PLA, TPE, TPU, LayBrick, LayWood, and BronzeFill filaments.
As for design, the Airwolf HDL 3D Printer is a closed-chamber model (more or less), with transparent paneling and green or yellow junction couplings (though some other colors may be available too). Sales have already begun, but if you're not sure about spending so much money, you can wait until August 22 or 23. That's when a demo will be held on Seattle at the 3D Printer World Expo.
