Editor's Pick: New Desktop 3D Printer Focuses on Rugged Reliability

A company known for synthetic human and animal models that has used 3D printers extensively in its manufacturing for years is now a 3D printer manufacturer. The SynDaver Avi is the company’s first model. 

“When we designed this printer, we incorporated the best features from every other leading printer currently available, fine-tuned them to ensure the printer works amazingly well, and made it rugged and remarkably reliable,” says Curt Ketner, vice president of SynDaver. 

The target market is for any user who needs 3D printing in a desktop form factor for high quality work, whether professional or hobbyist. “We even took security into consideration, so this can be immediately adopted and deployed by the military while maintaining operational security,” says Ketner. 

The SynDaver Axi features a large color touchscreen; a heated, automatic self-leveling and removable bed plate and an E3D Hemera toolhead. It can print large volume builds to the full size of the print bed with edge-to-edge printing capability. The company says the Axi is quiet in use. It features a 3-year manufacturer’s warranty, free U.S.-based customer and technical support, and is American made.

The Axi supports a wide variety of filament types,  up to 290°C, including polylactic acid, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polyethylene terephthalate glycol-modified, carbon fiber filled, fiberglass filled, metal filled, wood filled, nylon, polycarbonate, flexible thermoplastic polyurethane and more.

The Axi can do edge-to-edge printing within its 280x280x285 mm (11x11x11 in.) build volume. The toolhead uses a 1.75-mm dual-drive extruder with a hardened steel nozzle integrated with a custom cooling fan.

The Axi uses a touch probe to create a 25-point mesh, used to create a uniform base for printing. SynDaver says this improves bed adhesion and print quality. Axi offers a fully heated bed plate, which the company says “ensures good print adhesion to the build plate and layer adhesion throughout the build process.”

Removable and Flexible Build Surface

The Axi features a removable and flexible polyethyleneimine-coated build surface, for material adhesion and detachment. It retails for $3,250; it can be purchased directly from SynDaver or through one of the company’s official channel partners, including IT-Works 3D, Makerwiz, Midwest Technology, 3D Printlife and Printed Solid.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.