Stratasys FDM 3D Printing

Created by Stratasys on 18 May, 2018

I really like my F370, but I can't figure out why Stratasys would limit a high-end FDM machine like this for PLA. I can see the sales & marketing angle of trying to drive users into using ABS / ASA material. But, I find that reason annoying at best.


Download MakerBot print and compare the options side-by-side to see how much more you can do with a machine at 1/10th of the price. I really like using PLA on the F370 for a variety of reasons depending on the project. But why lock-out options like infill density and support? Even if you pay extra for Insight, these options are all locked-out.


It also bothers me that this isn't necessarily made apparent up-front when you are considering paying the extra money for the PLA addition to the machine. The literature speaks to Draft Mode like it is a feature for making rapid albeit less precise models. This it is. But, they don't tell you that you a limited to this Draft Mode only.


Did I drink too much coffee this morning? Yes. Do I have a valid complaint? I believe so. PLA has it's advantages and it's disadvantages. I would still choose ASA for the majority of all my work. But, let me as a customer and engineer decide what is best for my model and my client and give me the same options you would give a hobbyist.


In addition to giving me a platform to rant, I'm sure that this forum can give me a reasonable explanation about why things are the way they are. Thanks!