LulzBot 3D Printers operates a massive 3D print farm. With over 300 3D printers, it is likely the largest 3D print farm currently operating in the United States. But why would the North Dakota-based manufacturer of LulzBot 3D Printers require such a large print farm? The COVID-19 pandemic. Like many other manufacturers, LulzBot found itself short on supplies due to complications with shipments and component providers. The solution: Build as many parts in-house as possible.
That required setting up a large 3D print farm, which uses its own LulzBot 3D Printers. The implication here is that LulzBots are printing themselves! John Olhoft, president of the company, described the farm setup:
- The 300 machines operate during multiple shifts
- Printers used in the farm are identical to those shipped to customers
- 60% of the farm is LulzBot Mini 2s due to their small footprint and reliability
- 20% is LulzBot TAZ Workhorse machines that can produce larger parts
- 15% is LulzBot TAZ SideKick machines
- 5% is LulzBot TAZ Pro machines that offer dual extrusion and can print more complex parts
- Each machine is fed by large 3kg spools of 2.85mm filament, with mostly ABS, PETG, and TPU being used, with rare use of ASA for specialized applications
- Monitoring and control is provided by a custom OctoFarm configuration that connects all machines
- Farm operators can control the printers from a workstation or use tablets to interface with OctoFarm as they move through the farm.
The farm produces a majority of the parts required to build the various models of LulzBot 3D Printers, drastically reducing any dependence on faraway suppliers, shipping companies, and even import paperwork. Instead, they print what they need right in the factory. The sophisticated setup of the farm includes standard operating procedures on how to clean beds, handle ghost prints, and more. This helps with print consistency and ensures a stream of reliable parts for LulzBot assembly.
This article was sponsored by LulzBot 3D Printers, a manufacturer of 3D desktop and bio printers.
