Creating a Machine
Machines are the physical printers that you have available to you. You don't have to add all the printers you have, adding the different models is sufficient.
Different machines have different operating costs and can print with different technologies, materials and configurations, which is why it is important to add them to the platform.
Basics
Adding a new Machine is done from the Machines page under Machines -> Machines in the main header menu by clicking on the "Create Machine" button on the top right.
After giving your Machine a name and specifying the print process it uses, depending on the chosen technology you have to fill out the form. Uploading a custom Preview image for easier distinguishing is optional.
FFF Machine Properties
| Build Volume | |
|---|---|
| X (mm) | The maximum length of the print area in the X-axis |
| Y (mm) | The maximum length of the print area in the Y-axis |
| Z (mm) | The maximum height of the print area in the Z-axis |
SLA Machine Properties
| Build Volume | |
|---|---|
| Display Width (mm) | The width of the display area |
| Display Height (mm) | The height of the display area |
| Max Print Height (mm) | The maximum height of the print area in the Z-axis |
| Display Resolution | |
|---|---|
| X pixels (px) | X Display / Projector resolution |
| Y pixels (px) | Y Display / Projector resolution |
General Machine Properties
| Price per hour | The cost of operating the machine per hour (in your currency) |
| Startup cost | The initial cost for preparing the printer for each print (in your currency) |
| Startup time (min) | The time it takes to prepare the printer for each print (e.g. preheating) |
| Supported materials | The materials that can be used with this machine (options in the list depend on the chosen print process) |
| Configurations | The configurations that can be used with this machine (options in the list depend on the chosen print process) |
To get a better understanding of how the price per hour, startup cost and startup time affect the cost of a print, here are some practical examples:
FFF Machine - Enclosed printer
- Price per hour: 6 (electricity, maintenance, wear, etc.)
- Startup cost: 2 (consumables, preparation of print bed, etc.)
- Startup time: 15 minutes (preheating, bed leveling, etc.)
- For a 2-hour print, the cost would be:
(startup cost) + (startup time * price per hour) + (print time * price per hour) = 2 + 0.25*6 + 2*6 = 15.5
SLA Machine
- Price per hour: 3 (electricity, maintenance, wear, etc.)
- Startup cost: 5 (consumables, preparation of print bed, resin, etc.)
- Startup time: 0 minutes
- For a 2-hour print, the cost would be:
(startup cost) + (startup time * price per hour) + (print time * price per hour) = 5 + 0*3 + 2*3 = 11
Adding a Configuration to a Machine
In order for a Machine to be created successfully, you have to add at least one Configuration to it.
Note that you can add a Configuration to a Machine only if their Print Processes match.
Read more about Configurations and creating them.