Aleph Objects Rolls Out the Lulzbot TAZ 4 3D Printer

If additive manufacturing (AM) has a workhorse, it has to be material extrusion printers. The systems that rely on a spool of filament and extruder head probably make up the vast majority of 3D printers in operation around the world. Few other systems are as easy to use or maintain as a material extrusion system, making them ideal for many rapid prototyping and promotional needs, along with the occasional end-use product.

The number of manufacturers producing material extrusion systems is similarly high, with more showing up all the time. It takes work for one of these companies to distinguish itself, but Aleph Objects has managed to accomplish just that. Although the company’s first system was little more than a RepRap clone, each new iteration of the TAZ has shown improvements, and the Lulzbot TAZ 4 continues that tradition.

“We are dedicated to bringing the latest technology to market as quickly as possible,” said Jeff Moe, president of Aleph Objects. “We re-engineered the machine for performance, particularly the drive rod system and electronics case. We also upgraded the power supply and now include a standard extruder fan. These improvements ensure our users are investing in a workhorse desktop 3D printer built to thrive with heavy use.”

The specs for the TAZ 4 are as follows:

• Build Envelope: 298 x 275 x 250mm (11.7 x 10.8 x 9.8in.)
• Print Volume: 20,500cm³ (1238 in³) of usable space
• Top Print Speed: 200mm/sec (7.9in/sec)
• Print Tolerance: 0.1mm (0.0039in) in X and Y axes. Z axis is dependent on layer thickness
• Layer Thickness: 0.075mm to 0.35mm (0.003in - 0.0138in)
• Usable Filament Sizes: standard 3mm (0.1in)

Build envelope and layer thickness make the new system a solid addition to the material extrusion market. The TAZ 4 is able to print in a number of different materials including ABS, PLA, HIPS, PVA, and wood filaments. The new system also includes improvements to the extruder head to make it easier to use various accessories with the TAZ 4, or to switch to Aleph Object’s forthcoming dual extruder head.

The TAZ 4 is priced at $2,195, which is fairly reasonable for what it offers. As is the case with many things in life, you get what you pay for with an AM system. At this point it seems Aleph Object’s biggest competitors in the US are MakerBot and 3D Systems, with the Cube.

Below you’ll find the TAZ 4 launch video.

Source: Aleph Objects