Tumaker Big Foot Pro - Pellet 3D printer

The Big Foot Pro is a large format FDM/FGF 3D printer created by Tumaker, a manufacturer of industrial 3D printers that combine reliability, versatility, robustness, user-friendliness and aesthetics. The Big Foot Pro comes in various sizes, without or with enclosure (with fan and HEPA filter), and with single or dual direct extrusion for filament, pellets or both.

In order to give the users a 3D printer that best suits their additive manufacturing needs, Tumaker offers the Big Foot Pro printer in various sizes, thus varying the build volume between models. While the print bed size remains the same (500 x 470 mm), the user can choose between a height of 350 mm or 500 mm. 

Image 1: The size comparison of the Big Foot Pro 350 and Big Foot Pro 500 models. Source: Tumaker.

The total print volume also depends on the extrusion system chosen. In order to consult the specific build volumes for each variety of the Big Foot Pro printer, please consult the Technical datasheets available in the Downloads section as well as the Specifications section.

Video 1: The Big Foot Pro 3D printer performs well in environments with shocks, movements, vibrations and dust. Source: Tumaker.

The Big Foot Pro 3D printer is a robust and durable 3D printer that is capable of delivering excellent quality despite shocks, movements, vibrations or dust. In fact, it was designed to perform in these kinds of environments. Its components manufactured and assembled in Europe give the Big Foot Pro maximum reliability and productivity over time.

Tumaker extrusion systems

Different manufacturing needs require different extrusion configurations, and Tumaker answers those needs by lettign the user choose between 5 different extrusion systems:

1. Single Direct Drive HR extrusion for filament.
2. Single extrusion for pellets.
3. Dual Direct Drive HR extrusion for filament.
4. Dual extrusion for pellets.
5. Dual Direct Drive HR extrusion for filament and pellets.

Single Direct Drive HR extrusion for filament

The Direct Drive HR extrusion system for filaments features a professional printing head with a state-of-the-art double mechanical gear system with a 10 kg push force. This amount of force ensures correct filament flow towards the nozzle and helps avoid jams or underextrusion. This extrusion system, in the single or dual version, is ideal for users who work exclusively or mostly with flexible filaments. 

Video 2: 3D printing with the Big Foor Pro 3D printer. Source: Tumaker.

The Big Foot Pro filament extrusion system can work at a maximum temperature of 300 ºC for filament, which allows the use of high-temperature filaments such as ASA, ABS, PETG, HIPS, PC and flexibles. Many nozzle diameters can be used with the Big Foot Pro filament extrusion systems, ranging from 0.15 mm to 0.8 mm. The nozzle can heat up to the maximum temperature of 300 ºC in around 2 minutes and the unique ANS ultra-fast nozzle change system allows for a straighftorwad nozzle change.

Image 2: The Big Foot Pro series of 3D printers includes models with various extrusion systems. Source: Tumaker.

The Fig Foot Pro utilizes Tumaker's unique EMAXX2 extruders for filament. These extruders provide the highest strategically distributed double traction force, and the industrial strength TB6600 power drivers (up to 4A) allow to obtain the maximum power with the best guarantee and reliability. 

Dual Direct Drive HR extrusion for filament

As far as the Tumaker Dual Direct Drive HR extrusion system, it opens up a world of possibilities for using different colors and materials in one print or the 3D printing of complex structures with support materials, without the risk temperature contamination. The Big Foot Pro 3D dual extrusion printers also use the EMAXX2 extruders in an IDEX extrusion system, which means there are two extruders that move independently of one another on the X axis. 

Video 3: Materials compatible with the Big Foot Pro 3D printer. Source: Tumaker.

The extruders incorporated into the Big Foot Pro extrusion system are fully machined, which ensures reliability and durability. The Big Foot Pro IDEX extrusion system also allows to print in different modes to duplicate objects or create two mirrored versions of the same object, which significantly increases productivity.

Image 3: Big Foot Pro 3D print head and nozzles. Source: Tumaker.

Furthermore, the incorporated end-of-filament sensor ensures safe 3D printing as it enables the user to pick up the interrupted printing session where it ended once new filament has been loaded. Another feature of the Big Foot Pro printer that boosts productivity is the fact that it can work with large-format spools. This solution avoids up to 8 filament changes, which reduces the need for user intervention during the printing process and lowers the risk of failed prints due to lack of filament.

Single and Dual extrusion for pellets

When it comes to single and dual pellet extrusion with the Big Foor printers, it is yet another step to making additive manufacturing more accessible and efficient.

Image 4: Parts 3D printed from pellets with the Big Foot Pro 3D printer. Source: Tumaker.

3D printing with pellets opens up barriers to using materials that perhaps not available in filament format, testing self-developed materials or printing with certified pellets for the food industry, railway, automotive, medical sector,  and many others.

Image 5: The Big Foot Pro pellet extrusion head. Source: Tumaker.

The Big Foot Pro dual extrusion system for pellets (capable of reaching up to 350 ºC) features a print head designed by Tumaker, with a double integrated temperature sensor. The recommended material are circular pellets of a 3-5 mm diameter.

Dual extrusion for filament + pellets

Tumaker has gone yet further by introducing a fifth printing mode - a dual mode in which one printing head extrudes filament and the other works with pellets.

Image 6: The Big Foot Pro dual pellet + filament extrusion mode. Source: Tumaker.

This level of modularity and versatility makes the Big Foot Pro an extremely valuable and powerful additive manufacturing tool that allows the user to adjust the Big Foot Pro printers to the current manufacturing needs and experiment with the complexity of the 3D printed parts as well as with the types and formats of the materials used.

Table 1: The extrusion temperatures and compatible materials for the Big Foot Pro 3D printers. Source: Tumaker.

Thanks to the high maximum extrusion temperatures and the possibility to 3D print with pellets, the Big Foot Pro 3D printer allows for the use of an extremely wide range of materials, from standard commodity plastics, through flexibles or engineering materials reinforced with fibers, to ceramic and metallic polymers, and advanced high-temperature polymers from the PAEK family.

User-friendly and efficient design

The Big Foot Pro 3D printer is equipped with a 32-bit processor that ensures printing stability and allows for reaching fast printing speeds. The innovative TMC2660 drivers make Big Foot Pro ultra-quiet, with a 44 dB noise level (40 db with the enclosure door closed). The high precision ball screws allow for an increase in the speed of displacement of the printing heads, and the 45 mm aluminium frame ensures the highest possible stability.

Image 7: The user interface of the Big Foot Pro 3D printer. Source: Tumaker.

The fast heating build plate of the Big Foot Pro 3D printer incorporates a continuous semi-automatic calibration system. The printing head performs a manufacturing basis measurement once the initial calibration is done, which allows Big Foot Pro to automatically correct without the need for manual adjustments.

Image 8: The Big Foot Pro 3D printer comes with a perpetual Simplify3D lincence. Source: Simplify3D.

Big Foot Pro offers various connectivity options (depending on the model): USB, WiFi, Micro/SD card or Ethernet. The user interface is a 5" color touchscreen and Big Foot Pro can be controlled via a PC, a tablet or even a smartphone. The software that comes with Big Foot Pro is Simplify 3D, and it comes with a perpetual licence for use convenience.

Boost your performance

The Big Foot Pro by Tumaker is certainly a revolutionary 3D printer, designed especially for industrial performance. Big Foot Pro breaks barriers to accessible, efficient and versatile additive manufacturing. With its fast heating semiautomatic levelling build plate, quick change nozzle, many available nozzle diameters, safety features and an excellent user interface, Big Foot enables effective and efficient printing with a wide range of materials in filament and pellet format. The various available sizes and extruder options make the Big Foot Pro a truly user-friendly 3D printer that will produce high quality complex and big parts even in busy and demanding manufacturing environments.