Buyer’s Guide | Fused Filament Printers | Ultimaker 2

ULTIMAKER 2

Best in Shootout for overall print quality

WRITTEN BY ELI RICHTER

Available at bit.ly/ultimaker-2-printer

Brian Kaldorf

Ultimaker | ultimaker.com

Price as Tested $2,499

Build Volume 230×225×205mm

Bed Style Heated glass

Temperature Control Yes

Materials PLA, ABS (others encouraged)

Print Untethered? SD card, OctoPrint compatible

Onboard Controls? Yes

Host Software Cura

Slicer CuraEngine

OS Mac, Linux, Windows

Open Software? Cura/CuraEngine: AGPLv3

Open Hardware? Auxiliary design files: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0

ALTHOUGH ULTIMAKER’S SECOND OFFERING RECENTLY CELEBRATED ITS FIRST BIRTHDAY, its performance in our Shootout was head and shoulders above the rest of the FFF machines. This is a great machine for those who want to load a model and print without spending hours setting up and tweaking parameters, but it still gives the advanced user enough control to get even more out of the Ultimaker 2. Ultimaker also maintains its own integrated 3D-printing ecosystem, with an online model library at YouMagine.com and web-based modeling tool UltiShaper 3D.

GREAT OUT OF THE BOX

The Ultimaker 2 ships almost entirely preassembled and ready to go. Simply remove the (awesome) glass build plate from its protective bubble wrap, and secure it with the premounted aluminum clips. Snap on the filament holder, power it on, run the leveling procedure, load the filament, and this bot’s ready to go. Bed leveling is performed manually using the familiar “paper thickness” ritual, and onboard menus on the OLED screen quickly guide the user through the process. While auto-bed leveling would be a welcome feature, the 3-point system (versus a 4-point system where two knobs must be adjusted in tandem) works very well and the adjustment knobs turn smoothly, making fine-tuning a breeze.

Models are prepared for printing with Cura, Ultimaker’s open-source software, and files are written directly to an SD card. Software configuration is simple: Just select your printer from a list of preconfigured options. For those who want to just load a model and print, Cura’s default streamlined “Quickpoint” mode displays three basic print quality options: fast, normal, and high quality. More adventurous users can switch the software into “Expert Mode,” which opens up a multitude of tweakable settings. Normal mode works great for most prints, but it can be a bit fast for smaller models. Prints are run directly from a computer SD card using the onboard controls.

Using the stock settings, this printer was at the head of the pack for most of our test prints, notably those that tested the physical stability of the machine. Tests with lower scores, such as the Overhang and Bridging prints, were hurt by the aggressive speeds and could be vastly improved with some minor tweaking.

FEATURE PACKED, OCTOPRINT COMPATIBLE

The Ultimaker 2 has all of the features one should expect of a class-leading printer: a heated glass build platform, illuminated build area, onboard controls, two PLA cooling fans, with a frame that is sturdy and attractive. It’s also OctoPrint compatible, so wireless printing (and slicing via Cura) is possible with the user addition and setup of a Raspberry Pi and a wi-fi dongle. Absent from this feature list is an autoleveler and second extruder, which though in development, was not yet available as of press time. If a dual extruder is on your immediate must-have list, then you may want to wait. However, Ultimaker has always included a spot in their extruder carriage for the possible addition of a second one, so upgrades of this machine are feasible.

NOT QUITE PERFECT, BUT DARNED CLOSE

One has to dig deep to find things not to like about the Ultimaker 2. During the Shootout, we had two thirds of the build area LEDs fail (I told you, we’re digging deep). Feeding material into the extruder can be tricky and the fans on the hot end assembly are a little loud — unfortunate for this otherwise quiet printer. Ultimaker was responsive when we anonymously contacted their support about the faulty LED strips, offering advice to troubleshoot and replacement units.

CONCLUSION

Makers on a tight budget may want to look elsewhere, but few machines can beat the Ultimaker 2’s combination of high-quality, hassle-free printing with easy-to-use software and an attractive, compact package.

Buyer’s Guide | Fused Filament Printers | TAZ 4

TAZ 4

Thoughtful construction, great prints, libre hardware

WRITTEN BY MATT STULTZ

Brian Kaldorf

TAZ 4 | lulzbot.com

Price as Tested $2,195

Build Volume 298×275×250mm

Bed Style Heated glass

Temperature Control? Yes

Materials ABS, PLA, HIPS, PVA, and wood filaments

Print Untethered? SD card, OctoPrint compatible

Onboard Controls? Yes

Host Software Printrun

Slicer Slic3r

OS Mac, Linux, Windows

Open Software? Third-party software

Open Hardware? GPLv3 and CC-BY-SA 4.0

THE LULZBOT TAZ 4 WAS HIGH ON MY LIST OF PRINTERS TO TEST THIS YEAR. I have always been impressed with the engineering and attention to detail that LulzBot has put into its machines. Having spent some time on the original TAZ during last year’s testing, I wanted to see what improvements had been made. I expected a printer that the hackers would love — capable of producing large prints that are perfect for demos and parts. I didn’t expect a machine that would print high-quality prints on par with any other machine on the market. I was pleasantly surprised!

MINOR ASSEMBLY, FOOLPROOF CONNECTORS

Unpacking the TAZ 4, you will find the printer mostly assembled but with a few of the parts packed separately for easy shipment. You will also find a quick-setup guide, a larger manual, a spool of filament, and an excellent toolkit. Assembly is a snap — the TAZ 4 uses high-quality connectors that make the wiring foolproof. Most of the parts can be assembled by hand, but the few that can’t are easily completed with the included toolkit. With the help of the quick-start guide, you will be up and running with your first prints in about an hour.

BY ENGINEERS, FOR ENGINEERS

In a field of printers that are starting to spend a serious amount of effort on their design aesthetics, the LulzBot TAZ 4 isn’t going to be winning any beauty pageants — it’s been designed by engineers for engineers. The creators took time to not only figure out how to do the things they wanted but how to do them the best way. The spool holder is hinged to hide away during transportation or storage, but swivels down and locks in place for use. The filament guide snaps onto its holder and can adjust with the movements of the machine. In most printers we find that screw holes are either tapped directly into the plastic or have nuts on the backside to hold the bolts in place. The TAZ uses press-fit brass threaded inserts that ensure all connections stay rock solid. Instead of using the standard steel roller bearings for linear motion, the TAZ uses igus polymer bushings. These bushings run quieter and without lubrication, resulting in zero maintenance and a longer lifespan.

KEEPING IT OPEN SOURCE

As more printers hit the market as closed-source projects, LulzBot has continued its commitment to manufacturing a fully open-source printer. All of the files — their source files, schematics, and code — are available for you to fix, build, and redesign any portion of the machine. They also support a large number of the slicing and control software options that are available for the OS printers. LulzBot’s site includes config files for the popular open-source Slic3r engine tuned for numerous materials, making it simple to start printing in ABS, PLA, NinjaFlex, and others.

Even the printed manual that comes with the TAZ is open source. If you get nothing else out of this review, download (bit.ly/taz-manual) and take a look. Many sections are nonprinter specific and are perfect for anyone interested in 3D printing. If you use Slic3r this is a must-read!

CONCLUSION

So who is the TAZ 4 a perfect printer for? While I’m hesitant to say this is a printer for a first-time printer owner, the quick-start guide and manual make it easy for anyone to get this machine up and running. Makers, hackers, engineers, and artists will feel right at home with this machine. The large, heated glass build platform, ability to print untethered, and ease of modification will give them everything they are looking for. Sometimes it’s best to spend your time on engineering rather than good looks.

Buyer’s Guide | Fused Filament Printers | Printrbot Simple Metal

PRINTRBOT SIMPLE METAL

Last year’s portable “best value” returns with some serious upgrades

WRITTEN BY LUIS RODRIGUEZ

Available at bit.ly/printrbot-metal

Brian Kaldorf

Printrbot Simple Metal | printrbot.com

Price as Tested $599 (plus $39 for metal handle)

Build Volume 150×150×150mm

Bed Style Unheated steel (heated upgrade available)

Temperature Control Yes

Materials PLA (ABS if heated bed)

Print Untethered? MicroSD, OctoPrint compatible

Onboard Controls? No, but LCD add-on available

Host Software Repetier-Host

Slicer Slic3r

OS Mac, Windows, Linux

Open Software? Third-party software

Open Hardware? Auxiliary design files: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0

THE ALL-METAL CONSTRUCTION OF THE PRINTRBOT SIMPLE METAL feels more like a professional power tool than an entry-level 3D printer. The weight of this small, portable printer gives it a real sense of quality, and the inclusion of a now-standard auto-leveling bed makes it a real step up from its wooden predecessors. This printer is packed with features and rivals machines costing much more.

SAME GREAT VALUE, NOW ALL METAL

Upgrades from the original Simple (still sold as an upgraded “Maker’s Kit”) include a larger build platform that measures a healthy 150×150×150mm, a powder-coated steel frame, thicker polished guide rods, large linear bearings that are seated in machined aluminum carriage, and an all-aluminum, direct-drive extruder that includes a UBIS hot end with interchangeable tips. Our assembled review unit also came with an aluminum handle ($39 upgrade) with an integrated printed spool holder (free).

MANY OPTIONAL UPGRADES AVAILABLE

With the healthy-sized bed you can print many substantially sized items in PLA and nylon on the unheated surface. ABS is supported if you add the optional heated bed upgrade. In fact, the heated bed upgrade ($99) and the interchangeable tips (ranging from 0.25 to 0.75mm for $8 each) allow you to experiment with just about any material. You can print tethered via Repetier-Host, untethered via onboard microSD card, or add onboard controls with the Printrbot LCD control kit accessory ($65). Don’t forget to print the fan shroud upgrade, it enabled our test unit to attain perfect scores on the Bridging and Overhang tests.

IMPROVED DOCUMENTATION, GREAT SUPPORT

The Simple’s setup documentation is professional and thorough. Due to the amount of information presented, it can feel a bit overwhelming, but it’s a fantastic reference when needed. Printrbot also has a robust help site (help.printrbot.com) and community forum (printrbottalk.com), and it’s common to the see the Printrbot’s founder, Brook Drumm, answering questions directly. That’s a nice customer service touch. There’s also a great education section for teachers and students (learn.printrbot.com).

A FEW MINOR ISSUES

The Simple Metal is pretty great, but it’s not perfect. The initial adjustment of the auto-level probe is a tad cumbersome. It takes a bit of double-hand holding to adjust the probe while fighting the tension on the wiring in the close quarters around the adjustment nuts. The inclusion of a laser-cut wrench helps, and is a nice, sentimental reminder of Printrbot’s beginnings. In addition, it can be hard to tell if the printer is turned on until you notice the glow from underneath the machine. This was not immediately apparent in a well-lit room. We also had a serious nozzle clog issue during an 8-hour overnight print that resulted in the filament forcing its way out of the extruder in a bizarrely perfect, spring-like coil.

Although it’s a common open-source toolchain issue not directly related to Printrbot, it can be a frustrating experience for a first-time user to walk through Slic3r’s multiple setup screens and dialog boxes. I’d like to see Cura formally recommended as another open-source option, as the Printrbot community already recommends it. I also was not impressed with the “write to SD” function of Repetier-Host; I took the microSD card out and loaded it into the computer to transfer the file manually, although it’s a bit hard to access.

CONCLUSION

This printer is a joy and doesn’t feel like an entry-level machine at all. I recommend this printer daily to visitors to Science City, explaining it has many features of higher-priced printers (plus some they don’t offer). This resonates with educators and budget-conscious parents. It’s also perfect for my friends at the local hackerspace, many of whom have spent quite a bit more on machines that don’t have the print quality or the fit and finish of the Simple Metal.

Buyer’s Guide | Fused Filament Printers | Ditto Pro

DITTO PRO

Easy for beginners. Plus, attractive, affordable, and tinkerer-friendly.

WRITTEN BY JOHN ABELLA

Brian Kaldorf

DITTO PRO | tinkerine.com

Price as Tested $1,899

Build Volume 220×165×220mm

Bed Style Unheated glass

Temperature Control Yes

Materials PLA

Print Untethered? SD card, OctoPrint compatible

Onboard Controls? Yes

Host Software Tinkerine Suite

Slicer Integrated CuraEngine

OS Mac, Windows

Open Software? No

Open Hardware? No

BACK FOR A SECOND YEAR, VANCOUVER’S TINKERINE STUDIOS HAS ADDED a shiny new printer to their lineup, the Ditto Pro. We put the bright white machine through its paces and found that there’s a lot to like.

UNIQUE OPEN C FRAME

Keeping with the open design of their previous Ditto and Litto models, the new Pro has a very accessible “open C frame” build area. It’s great for demonstrations, as onlookers can easily see how it works. Fashioned from white Dibond panels, it features bright LED lighting and a built-in graphical LCD screen with an SD card slot. The extruder hot end is well designed, and the filament loading and changing was easy following the on-screen prompts.

The Ditto Pro is one of the few systems where the filament spool is kept within the confines of the printer. It’s a small detail, but a game changer when you’re pressed for space.

FOURTH HIGHEST IN OVERALL PRINT QUALITY

This machine scored the fourth highest overall print quality in our tests, with especially impressive performance in the Overhang and Surface Finish tests. The Ditto Pro’s build area of 215×160×205mm falls just below average size, and it comes equipped with a removable, unheated, glass build plate, making this machine PLA only. Leveling the build plate was easy using the on-screen direction and the three-point adjustment knobs, but our testers had problems with print adhesion until we began using glue sticks.

INTUITIVE BESPOKE SOFTWARE

Tinkerine supplies their own bespoke software for their printers, known as Tinkerine Suite. It provides a user-friendly interface while tucking away the more technical details, and uses Ultimaker’s open-source Cura engine under the hood. Many of our testers found the software to be intuitive and easy to use. There’s no provision for manually controlling the printer from the software, but it’s an available option in the LCD menus.

LACKING DETAILED DOCUMENTATION

One of the biggest improvements across the field of tested printers this year has been in the area of documentation; unfortunately this has not been the case for the Ditto Pro. The primary machine documentation for this model was a nicely designed, but extremely brief, quick-start guide and an 18-page Tinkerine Suite software manual. With other companies providing bound 50-100 page guides, supplying so little in the way of documentation is a significant shortcoming.

The FAQ section on the Tinkerine website covers some topics such as print adhesion, but it doesn’t offer concrete direction, instead suggesting only that something may be needed. Similarly, the FAQ suggests that in certain circumstances the stepper driver voltage may need to be tuned, but offers no direction about what the process entails or how to go about it.

CONTROL ISSUES

Throughout the course of our testing, the Ditto Pro performed extremely well, and did not experience any jams or clogs. However, testers consistently reported that the LCD control panel knob was way too sensitive, often making it hard to select the correct item from the menu. This ranged from a nuisance to borderline unusable throughout the weekend and was a source of frustration for many testers.

CONCLUSION

The Ditto Pro is a great-looking machine with print performance to match. It scored as well as some of the best printers we tested, while far less expensive than most of them. If the documentation were improved significantly, we believe that the combination of good design and easy to use software would make it ideal for new users. As it stands, the Ditto Pro is probably best for the user willing to get a little more involved in the care and feeding of the system — a tinkerer, and maybe that’s the point.

Buyer’s Guide | Fused Filament Printers | BeeTheFirst

BEETHEFIRST

Smartly designed consumer-grade hardware, with a little something extra

WRITTEN BY CHRIS YOHE & ANNA KAZIUNAS FRANCE

Brian Kaldorf

BeeTheFirst | beeverycreative.com

Price as Tested $2,172

Build Volume 190x135x125mm

Bed Style Unheated acrylic

Temperature Control No

Materials BeeTheFirst PLA only

Print Untethered? Unplug USB, wi-fi via BeeConnect

Onboard controls? No

Host Software BeeSoft

Slicer Integrated CuraEngine

OS Mac, Windows, Linux

Open Software? BeeSoft GPL v2.0, BeeTheFirst firmware GPL v3.0

Open Hardware? No

LOOKING FOR A TRULY CONSUMER-GRADE PRINTER THAT INTEGRATES LOOKS AND PORTABILITY WITH SMART DESIGN? You’ll find it in BeeTheFirst. Portugal’s BeeVery-Creative provides a fantastic out-of-the-box experience that allows anyone to painlessly enter the world of desktop 3D printing. Neophytes will be up and running quickly and this portable, polished machine is sure to look great on any desktop or coffee table, but even seasoned veterans will find some interesting software Easter eggs if they peek below the shiny surface.

BEAUTY AND BRAINS

Upon unboxing, it’s immediately clear that this is something new. But it’s not just the hip, modern, minimalist design, the clever built-in handle, or magnetically removable build plate that piqued our interest — we were impressed by the forward-thinking industrial and user-experience design.

OCCAM’S RAZOR

It’s refreshing to see a machine that’s been designed from the ground up with equal focus on aesthetics, ergonomics, user experience, and functionality. BeeTheFirst also defies the current trend of adding fancy extruder sensors and auto-levelers to solve common printer problems, instead applying the tenet of Occam’s razor: Good design solves problems in the simplest way possible, instead of cramming in more tech.

The cleverly integrated, magnetic/kinematically coupled bed with large accessible knobs is hands down the easiest we have ever leveled. The thick acrylic build platform sits upon a sturdy metal arm, which unlike the flimsy plastic parts present on many desktop machines, will never warp or twist. We popped it off and on dozens of times throughout our testing without the need to re-level.

CLEAR BEGINNER DOCUMENTATION

The user guide is well written, brief, and surprisingly informative. It gives a concise breakdown of the machine and clearly sets new-user expectations. There are also numerous troubleshooting videos on BeeVeryCreative’s site, including how to take apart the case (it’s easier than it looks) to clear a jammed extruder.

MATERIALS MATTER

Another interesting design feature is the tiny, magnetically attached internal spool that holds proprietary (but unchipped) filament. Like Afinia, BeeVeryCreative seeks to eliminate nozzle jamming by operating at higher temperatures of about 220°C. We fed ours non-OEM orange Ultimachine which produced part of a very stringy print before jamming completely. BeeVeryCreative materials have been limited to eight colors of PLA, but recent software update options reveal that more are on the way soon.

STRAIGHTFORWARD SOFTWARE, NO ADVANCED SETTINGS

When it comes to printing, they couldn’t have made it simpler. The custom BeeSoft host software has all of the standard placement, scaling, and rotation options, but the print dialog deliberately restricts layer height and infill to a few simple choices in order to streamline the experience. BeeSoft is in active development and provides both regular and beta releases frequently. Since the Shootout, the low (0.3mm) and high (0.1mm) slicing options have been expanded to include a 0.05mm setting and additional infill density options, plus the ability to print untethered after kicking off a print via USB.

Shootout prints run at 0.1mm ranked within the top third of printers tested. This machine also had very little Backlash, but had some trouble with Fine Features and scored poorly on the Tolerance test.

EASTER EGGS!

Hardcore enthusiasts don’t despair! While not advertised, there are plenty of software hacking opportunities under the hood. Here’s where it gets interesting: BeeSoft’s interface is derived from ReplicatorG and slices with CuraEngine. Both BeeSoft and the BeeTheFirst firmware are completely open-source and GPL-licensed: point your browser to github.com/beeverycreative and clone away!

They’ve also forked OctoPrint and created their own BeeTF variant of OctoPi that works with the BeeTF’s speedy R2C2 printer controller (ARM 32bits running at 100MHz) over USB native. They plan to offer their own BeeConnect Raspberry Pi kit, followed by assembled versions and mobile apps.

CONCLUSION

With hand-holding for beginners and a GitHub repo full of open-source software for advanced users, BeeTheFirst has something for everyone.

Buyer’s Guide | Fused Filament Printers | Type A 2014 Series 1

TYPE A 2014 SERIES 1

Integrated OctoPrint, but needs fine-tuning

WRITTEN BY MATT GRIFFIN

Brian Kaldorf

2014 SERIES 1 | typeamachines.com

Price as Tested $2,749

Build Volume 305×305×305mm

Bed Style Unheated glass

Temperature Control? Yes

Materials PLA

Print Untethered? Preconfigured OctoPrint

Onboard Controls? Limited

Host Software Cura for Type A Machines

Slicer Integrated CuraEngine

OS Mac, Windows, Linux

Open Software? Type A Cura: source released, license unknown

Open Hardware? Auxiliary design files, license unknown

TYPE A MACHINES’ 2014 SERIES 1 EDITION IS ITS FIRST SLEEK, TOOLED, powder-coated aluminum and acrylic paneled printer with the largest build volume (one cubic foot!) of any printer we reviewed.

EASY SETUP, MINIMALISTIC CONTROLS

Type A Machines invested considerable attention in crafting the documentation and unboxing experience. As a result — from setup to first prints — prepping the 2014 Series 1 was a piece of cake, one of the easiest setups I experienced in the Shootout. Physical interface elements are minimal, consisting of a handy glowing “machine halt” button and two knobs for manual platform adjustments (one raises/lowers the platform, the other fine tunes “Z-height” — a nice touch!).

INTEGRATED WIRELESS PRINTING

The Type A-branded out-of-the-box OctoPrint integration proved to be my favorite new feature. I was able to prep, monitor, and even pause the machine on my laptop from across the room while spending time servicing other printers. I had no issues setting up OctoPrint for wireless browser access, but a few testers had a harder time and walked away from this experience frustrated. There are a few “gotchas” along the way if you skim the Quick Start Guide too quickly.

“LOOKS FAST, BUT HOW’S THE RIDE?”

As one of the testers said wistfully, “a machine looking like this should print better.” The 2014 Series 1 delivered on ease of setup and operation, but in our Shootout weekend did not deliver the print quality to match comparably priced machines or meet the expectations established by the design-forward new printer body.

Sometimes the extruder would begin to underextrude, laying down wispy, brittle material — a sign of stripped filament, an overheated feeder, or a clogged nozzle. Also, the extruder fan, necessary for printing PLA, seemed to be poorly placed and directed. Studying the prints afterward, we could tell which side of the objects faced the extruder fan and which didn’t, which seemed odd.

CONCLUSION

Type A has integrated a number of clever and well-implemented machine design and software toolchain improvements into the Type A 2014 Series 1. Overall, printing was easy and consistent, but we weren’t as impressed as we had hoped to be given the ambitious resets and “tested and tuned in our factory” promise.

Buyer’s Guide | Fused Filament Printers | Afinia H480

AFINIA H480

Excellent out-of-the-box experience, great for educators

WRITTEN BY JOSH AJIMA

Brian Kaldorf

AFINIA H480 | Afinia.com

Price as Tested $1,299

Build Volume 140×140×135mm

Bed Style Heated perf board

Temperature Control? No

Materials Afinia PLA, ABS

Print Untethered? Unplug USB

Onboard controls? No

Software Afinia 3D

Slicer Afinia 3D

OS Mac, Windows

Open Software? No

Open Hardware? No

Available at bit.ly/Alfina-H480

AFINIA CONTINUES TO LIVE UP TO ITS “EASY TO USE” REPUTATION WITH THEIR UPDATED H-SERIES PRINTER. The H480 printer may appear identical to the previous model, but it now includes automatic platform leveling and nozzle height detection.

AUTOMATIC CALIBRATION

Leveling a print bed and setting the extruder height are two of the biggest challenges for beginners. The Afinia H480 uses a magnetically attached sensor to perform automatic platform level calibration. A sensor attached to the extruder probes the bed at 9 different points and a separate sensor determines the correct nozzle height. Even experienced users may be surprised at how reliable prints are when these important calibration steps are automated.

SIMPLE SETUP, GREAT PRINT SURFACES

The Afinia software is easy to use, providing all the essentials for slicing and printer control in an uncluttered interface. The software defaults create rafts and supports which, combined with the heated bed, gives great print results, although the built-in slicer didn’t fare well with very small positive Fine Features or Bridging. It excels at producing high-quality Surface Finish and did well with the articulated robot Tolerances. Other printers may have flashier interfaces or larger build volumes, but the Afinia’s Surface Finish and ease of use keeps it in the top 10.

NOW WITH (PROPRIETARY) PLA

The Afinia (and its Up brethren) lack user-controlled temperature settings and print ABS at a much higher temp (260°) than other printers. This requires Afinia-produced high-temperature filament to perform properly. Afinia has also begun to produce its own brand of specially formulated PLA, but color selection is (at press time) limited. It’s not recommended to use non-Afinia/Up filaments with this machine.

NOT FOR TINKERERS

The same features that make the H-Series a top “Just Hit Print” choice will steer hardware hackers away. The closed design means that there are limited options to tweak or tinker with the machine. The Afinia software only allows limited choices for layer height, temperature and percent infill.

CONCLUSION

Overall, the updated Afinia H480 offers a reliable print experience that should appeal to the growing ranks of new 3D printer users.

Buyer’s Guide | Fused Filament Printers | Felix 3.0 and DeeGreen

FELIX 3.0

Nice surface finish, but tinkering required

WRITTEN BY MATT STULTZ & YVES SINNER

Available at bit.ly/Felix-3

LAST YEAR THE FELIX 2.0 WAS OUR “SURPRISE HIT.” THIS YEAR’S MODEL, the fully assembled Felix 3.0 (also available as a kit) has been upgraded with injection-molded parts and a dual-extrusion option, but it retains its portability, minimalist feel, and excellent print surfaces.

This machine doesn’t ship with a printed manual, but their site provides a well-illustrated setup guide and configuration files for KISSlicer and SFACT. The tiny bed-leveling nuts are hard to access, but we liked the Felix’s two-part leveling and filament management systems.

There were some major issues: Our prints were offsetting/shifting to the side. Felix support said to tighten the belts, but the support forums diagnosis was improperly adjusted, overheating stepper drivers. Without the proper tools on hand we opted for an active cooling solution. Opening the electronics case and positioning a fan across the stepper drivers enabled us to complete our test prints.

DEEGREEN

Quiet, with very reliable automatic bed leveling

WRITTEN BY ERIC CHU

Brian Kaldorf

WITH AN ALL-METAL FRAME WRAPPED UP IN CLEAN ALUMINUM-POLYMER sheets, be3D’s fully enclosed DeeGreen is a consumer-centric printer with a touchscreen and fully automatic bed leveling (its best feature).

Each print starts with the servo-actuated, limit-switch sensor swinging down. The pointed tip on the sensor touches numerous spots on the glass build plate, then swings back up and the print begins with an extruder-priming bed wipe.

The auto-leveling was extremely reliable throughout the testing, but the unheated, removable, magnetic glass platform needs preprint glue stick application. Postprint, that glue can also make removal tough.

Although the printer uses premium materials, our review unit’s touchscreen was falling into the machine, and one of the acrylic windows fell off. Print quality was at the low end of printers tested, but it was one of just five printers to pass both mechanical tests.

Buyer’s Guide | Fused Filament Printers | Zortrax M200

ZORTRAX M200

Unique case and lots of extras

WRITTEN BY NICK PARKS

Gunther Kirsch

ZORTRAX M200 | zortrax.com

Price as Tested $1,990

Build Volume 200×200×185mm

Bed Style Heated perf board

Temperature Control? No

Materials ABS

Print Untethered? SD card

Onboard Controls? Yes

Host Software Z-Suite

Slicer Z-Suite

OS Mac, Windows

Open Software? No

Open Hardware? No

THE ZORTRAX M200 COMBINES SUPERB PRINT QUALITY WITH A LARGE BUILD volume, a built-in screen and SD card reader for untethered printing, and requires almost no maintenance. This machine comes with a large variety of useful extras including a complete hot end, two extra nozzles, and a toolkit that includes everything required for maintaining the machine.

ALL-ALUMINUM EXTERIOR, UNIQUE 8-ROD GANTRY

The build quality of this machine is absolutely amazing. The M200 is made entirely of aluminum, which allows the machine to be both light and rigid. It also has a unique gantry setup that uses four X-axis and four Y-axis rods, which also increases the machine’s rigidity.

The Zortrax doesn’t have auto leveling, instead the bed is equipped with five conductive squares that the M200 uses to level the bed and calibrate the nozzle height, prompting the user to either tighten or loosen the bed-leveling adjustment knobs. These features, coupled with the perforated board, allow the prints to maintain strong adhesion to the bed while printing.

NO TEMP CONTROL, ABS ONLY

The Zortrax software does not allow for user temperature control and is built for printing in ABS only. I’ve always found ABS to be smelly, warp-prone, and generally difficult to work with, but the M200 does a great job of preventing warping by using a perforated bed and raft system that holds the prints down tight.

Zortrax makes two lines of filament, Z-ABS and Z-ULTRAT, both of which are formulated to work well on the M200. The Z-ABS is just standard ABS filament that works well and costs only $20. The Z-ULTRAT has a high hardness and low elasticity level of deformation, but costs $50. We ran the test prints in Ultimachine ABS, which yielded beautiful prints, but I found that support material wasn’t as easy to remove as it was when using the filaments designed for the machine.

CONCLUSION

I recommend the Zortrax M200 to anyone looking for a machine that can print large, precise, and durable prints without requiring a lot of time to fiddle with settings or breaking the bank.

Buyer’s Guide | Fused Filament Printers | da Vinci

DA VINCI

Even China couldn’t build a 3D printer this cheap

WRITTEN BY MICHAEL CURRY

Brian Kaldorf

DA VINCI | xyzprinting.com

Price as Tested $499

Build Volume 200×200×200mm

Bed Style Heated glass

Temperature Control? No

Materials XYZprinting ABS filament cartridges

Print Untethered? No

Onboard Controls? Limited

Host Software XYZWare

Slicer XYZWare

OS Mac, Windows

Open Software? No

Open Hardware? No

AT $499, THE DA VINCI 1.0 BY XYZ PRINTING IS CURRENTLY THE BEST-SELLING PRINTER ON AMAZON. It’s made in Thailand, an important distinction, because I’m certain even China couldn’t build a 3D printer this inexpensive. The da Vinci’s spec sheet boasts features previously seen only on other company’s flagship models: an enclosed build volume, heated glass build plate, LCD Screen, assisted leveling, integrated nozzle cleaner, and front panel controls (although they are for changing filament and bed leveling only, not untethered printing). It’s packaged like a consumer product (no exposed wires) and the build volume is neatly enclosed behind translucent plastic. We tested the single extrusion version, but a dual has recently become available.

MICROCHIPPED, PROPRIETARY PLASTIC

Our package clearly had some serious international miles on it, but everything was well packed and in good order. Inside the box was a quick-start guide, basic toolkit, and one proprietary microchip-embedded cartridge of ABS filament (a 600g cartridge is $28, limited colors). Setup was easy, and the instructions for loading the filament are printed on the inside of the machine’s top cover.

PRINT LIKE IT’S 2010

XYZ’s software is geared toward novice users with intuitive controls, but the software has some quirks. Workflow is exclusively one-way. Once a model is sliced it cannot be adjusted — change anything and you’ll have to reload and start over. The software’s most glaring shortcoming is its slicer, which feels like an early prototype, indifferently laying down plastic with little regard to geometric conditions or input settings. Basic settings like layer height and infill didn’t seem to have any effect on the printed result.

The da Vinci’s print quality is roughly on par with what you would have seen from a kit-built machine in 2010. Its scores were consistently low in every category we tested. The immature slicing engine and low-quality gantry system make it difficult for the da Vinci to produce prints with fine detail or dimensional accuracy.

CONCLUSION

The da Vinci looks and prints exactly like the inexpensive consumer product it is. This is the disposable inkjet of 3D printing. It’s a cheap, (mostly) easy-to-use option for hobbyists and younger students.

Buyer’s Guide | Fused Filament Printers | Airwolf HD, HDx and HD2x

AIRWOLF HD, HDX AND HD2X

Big volume, bigger price tag

WRITTEN BY MICHEL SINNER

Brian Kaldorf

AIRWOLF | airwolf3d.com

Price as Tested HD2x:$3,995; HDx:$3,495; HD: $2,995

Build Volume HD/HDx: 300×200×300mm, HD2x: 280×200×300mm

Bed Style Heated glass

Temperature Control? Yes

Materials PLA, ABS, nylon, polycarbonate, PVA, and more

Print Untethered? MicroSD Card

Onboard Controls? Yes

Host Software MatterControl/Cura/Repetier-Host

Slicer CuraEngine / Slic3r

OS Mac, Windows, Linux

Open Software? Third-party software

Open Hardware? No

THE AW3D HD, HDX, AND HD2X ARE THE LATEST ADDITIONS TO AIRWOLF 3D’s ever-growing printer portfolio, clearly targeted at buyers with (very) deep pockets looking to print big in a wide variety of materials.

HIGH TEMP HOT END

Thanks to Airwolf 3D’s new proprietary JRx hot end with a 0.5mm nozzle, the HDx and HD2x are not only capable of printing at temperatures up to 320°C but also with a vast array of materials including PLA, ABS, nylon, HIPS, and polycarbonate (for the HD, maximum temperature is only 260°C, so Airwolf 3D recommends to refrain from using nylon/PC). They also have a massive build volume of 18,000 cm³ (only the Type A and TAZ are larger). However, these features come with a hefty price tag, making the Airwolf machines the most expensive FFF machines we tested.

With an external footprint of 610×445×460mm, the first thing you’ll need for these behemoths is lots of dedicated space and a sturdy desk or workbench. Airwolf now uses clear, 6mm-thick acrylic enclosures, which contributes to the printers’ sturdiness, but brings the weight up to a whopping 40 pounds, rendering portability close to zero. Setting up these machines is easy due to clear and well-illustrated documentation. The initial calibration guide makes bed leveling a breeze, but loading/unloading the filament can prove tricky.

SOLIDLY BUILT, BUT SOME MAJOR FLAWS

The HDx’s overall print quality was in the lower middle of the pack (its siblings were near the bottom) and didn’t fare well on Overhangs, Bridging, or Surface Finish. However, all models scored well on the mechanical tests (XY, Z Resonance) and Backlash tests, a testament to its sturdy, well-constructed frame. Additionally, users with big fingers will undoubtedly have problems using the VIKI front panel wheel and its microSD slot; both can be extremely fiddly. The HDx also integrates many 3D-printed parts: the joints between the acrylic panels, the spool holders, the top of the hot end, the extruder, etc.

CONCLUSION

The AW3D HD line — with their remarkable heated glass print bed (PET coated), their large print volume, high-temp nozzles, and beefy frames — have a lot going for them. However, the below-average print quality and the absence of premium features like auto bed leveling, a magnetically fixed glass bed (instead of binder clips), onboard cameras, and wi-fi connectivity doesn’t justify their exorbitant price tags.

Buyer’s Guide | Fused Filament Printers | Replicator 5th Generation

REPLICATOR 5^TH GENERATION

“Feature-packed” is putting it mildly

WRITTEN BY JOHN ABELLA

Brian Kaldorf

REPLICATOR | makerbot.com

Price as Tested $2,899

Build Volume 252×199×150mm

Bed Style Unheated plastic

Temperature Control? Yes

Materials MakerBot PLA

Print Untethered? USB Stick, wi-fi / networked app

Onboard Controls? Yes

Host Software MakerBot Desktop

Slicer MakerBot Slicer

OS Mac, Windows, Linux

Open Software? No

Open Hardware? No

Available at bit.ly/Replicator-5th

IT’S IMMEDIATELY OBVIOUS UPON UNPACKING THE MAKERBOT REPLICATOR that substantial engineering resources went into this fifth-generation machine’s consumer-focused hardware and software. It sports a large, bright, color LCD interface, mobile or PC app-controlled LAN / wi-fi printing, an internal print-watching camera and a magnetically attached, sensor-packed Smart Extruder. The onboard LCD interface was by far the most complex of all systems we tested. While printing, you can scroll through system status to see print progress, slicer settings used, a rendering of the finished piece, and even snap photos.

INTEGRATED 3DP ECOSYSTEM

The MakerBot Desktop software is easy to use and certainly the most comprehensive of all packages tested. In addition to allowing the user to prepare and print files, it has extensive integration with Thingiverse and MakerBot Digital Store. After login, designs the user has “liked” on Thingiverse or models purchased from the Digital Store are automatically populated in the software, allowing (almost) one-click printability.

SURFACE FINISH NEEDS WORK

The new Replicator’s print quality was at the higher end, especially on the Overhangs, Tolerance, and Backlash. However, it was near the bottom of the pack in our Fine Features testing. Testers also commented that the Surface Finish was a step down from the Replicator 2.

NOISY

Within the first few minutes of using the new Replicator we noticed that it’s not a quiet machine. As testers came over to watch it in action, the first thing mentioned was always the noise; the Z-axis movements sounded particularly pained.

RAZORS VERSUS BLADES

Use of non-OEM filament on the 5^th generation Replicator is aggressively discouraged through the inclusion of an internally mounted, unusually sized filament spool and will void the 6-month machine warranty. We voided ours with Ultimachine, and it printed without issue. While we didn’t experience problems with the Smart Extruder, it’s worth noting that it’s not user-serviceable. When jams occur after the 90-day extruder warranty period expires, a $175 replacement must be purchased.

CONCLUSION

Out of all the machines tested, the fifth-generation Replicator is the closest to a networked appliance. We just wish there was more for the maker in this ‘bot.

Buyer’s Guide | Ultimaker Original+ | Print-Rite CoLiDo & PowerSpec 3D Pro

PRINT-RITE COLIDO

This “clone” runs G-code

WRITTEN BY ERIC CHU

PRINT-RITE’S COLIDO 3D PRINTER IS A MAKERBOT REPLICATOR CLONE WITH A TWIST — it runs G-code instead of .x3g files — allowing for slicer interchangeability.

Print-Rite provided Slic3r profiles whose prints scored well on the Overhangs and Tolerance tests. The LCD interface allows adjusting settings on the fly — great for experimenting and fine-tuning.

It’s a good machine for hackers to tinker with. It has a solid gantry with very little backlash and although it’s single extrusion, it has a dual-extruder motor mount. The heated aluminum print bed is leveled with four wing nuts and comes with glass sheets that are held on with two binder clips. The extruder uses metal parts and has a spring-loaded bearing to tension the filament against the drive gear. Prints are great when printing with its included filament but I had jamming issues when printing with Ultimachine’s PLA, and there is no active cooling fan.

POWERSPEC 3D PRO

Dual extrusion for under $1,000

WRITTEN BY ERIC CHU

Brian Kaldorf

MICRO CENTER’S POWERSPEC 3D PRO IS ESSENTIALLY THE MAKERBOT ORIGINAL REPLICATOR (launched in early 2012, now retired), but it has a few design and materials improvements at half the price.

The black metal chassis of the printer is styled to mimic the Replicator 2X, but with hard composite boards with handle slots that cover the sides, with Replicator 2 style extruders. The directional buttons for onboard controls have been updated, providing tactile feedback when pressed. These details may seem minor, but they make the printer more enjoyable to use and easier to transport.

The included instructions step the user through setup of the outdated ReplicatorG, used with MakerBots until the release of MakerWare (with the painfully slow Skeinforge slicer). The 2X-style front lid doesn’t fully close, leaving a bottom gap and instead of a single-piece vacuum-formed top cover, it is replaced by a user-assembled acrylic-sheet hood that feels a bit fragile.

Buyer’s Guide | Attack of the Clones | Idea Builder

IDEA BUILDER

Dremel combines simplicity and low cost

WRITTEN BY TOM BURTONWOOD

Clint Blowers

IDEA BUILDER | dremel3d.com

Price as Tested $999

Build Volume 230×150×140mm

Bed Style Unheated acrylic, BuildTak surface provided

Temperature Control No

Materials Dremel PLA

Print Untethered? SD card

Onboard Controls? Yes

Host Software Dremel 3D

Slicer Dremel 3D

OS Mac, Windows, Linux

Open Software? No

Open Hardware? No

FROM THE EXTERIOR PACKAGING AND $999 PRICE POINT, IT’S OBVIOUS that the Dremel Idea Builder is a product aimed squarely at the mass market. Their design team has clearly thought through the unboxing experience. Inside is a full-color, easy to follow, quick-start guide, two sheets of Dremel-branded BuildTak, and a printed instruction manual. As you would expect from a company like Dremel, their instruction manual is quite comprehensive and it’s especially gratifying to see a glossary of terms to explain 3D printing to a new audience of makers.

Dremel has a long history of working with partners around the world to manufacture their tools and products, so it’s no surprise to learn that the Idea Builder was conceived in partnership with China-based FlashForge, makers of the popular “Creator” Replicator clones. This model is based on the FlashForge Dreamer, whose electronics utilize the ARM Contex-M4 CPU processor, instead of the ATmega chips used in the FlashForge Mightyboards.

ATTENTION TO DETAIL

With their entrance into 3DP, Dremel paid attention to the details. The Idea Builder has a color touch-screen interface that makes leveling the bed, loading filament, and selecting files a joy. This single-extruder machine feels solid, but lightweight. The sleek plastic exterior sports chrome-like plastic trim, a detachable blue lid, two removable ventilation panels on each side, and a hinged, clear plexi front cover with a magnetic closure. The non-standard interior spool holder reduces the footprint and the large 3-point bed leveling knobs are easy to adjust.

NICE SOFTWARE, LIMITED SETTINGS

The Dremel 3D software interface is similar to MakerBot Desktop or Cura. It displays a 3D rendering of the build volume with options to move, rotate and scale parts, highlights model areas that need support, and shows a print preview. The speedy slicer has built-in high (0.1mm), medium (0.2mm) and low (0.3mm) resolution presets, but noticeably absent were options to change print temperatures, infill percentages, add rafts (without support), or use custom G-code profiles. There’s also no heated platform, so this machine is PLA only.

CONCLUSION

The Idea Builder’s attractive price point and features make it worth considering for a variety of user types. Although the software settings and materials choices are limited, Dremel has created a streamlined, consumer-ready user experience that will include free customer support delivered by “Dremel Experts” via phone, Skype, and email.

Buyer’s Guide | Fused Filament Delta Printers | DeltaMaker

DELTAMAKER

Simplify your workflow with this minimalistic deltabot

WRITTEN BY ANNA KAZIUNAS FRANCE

Brian Kaldorf

DeltaMaker | DeltaMaker.com

Price as Tested $2,399

Build Volume 260mm Z, 240mm wide hexagonal platform

Bed Style Unheated acrylic

Temperature Control? Yes

Materials PLA

Print Untethered? Preconfigured OctoPrint

Onboard Controls? No

Host Software OctoPrint

Slicer CuraEngine

OS Mac, Windows, Linux

Open Software? Third-party software

Open Hardware? No

EVERYTHING ABOUT THE DELTAMAKER EXPERIENCE IS MINIMALISTIC AND SEAMLESS. With a Raspberry Pi tucked out of sight inside the base of its sleek silver frame, this wirelessly OctoPrint-controlled ‘bot arrives completely assembled with onboard CuraEngine slicing. While not a new OctoPrint feature, this is the first commercial machine I’ve seen with it enabled (Type A ships without onboard slicing). I’m flabbergasted that other vendors haven’t adopted it.

STREAMLINED SETUP

Setup consists of removing the machine from the securely packed box, placing the removable, magnetically attached acrylic build plate on the frame, and plugging it in. Skim the setup guide for the OctoPrint login info, autolevel, load filament, and start printing from the browser of any device.

PROPERLY PRECONFIGURED ONBOARD SLICING

The built-in slicing configuration is conservatively configured to ensure success. It’s super easy and works quite well, as long as the model has been properly oriented before uploading. It’s refreshing that, unlike many other vendors utilizing free software toolchains, DeltaMaker took the time to properly preconfigure their slicing settings. The result is that their spartan approach makes the machine layer almost invisible, allowing OctoPrint to take center stage. Like any advanced digital fabrication tool – the hardware just works – and user energy is spent in software tweaking parameters, not mechanical fussing.

DOCUMENTATION DEFICIENCY, XY VIBRATION

One area where DeltaMaker’s minimalist approach breaks down is the complete lack of readily available, online documentation. This austerity stands out in sharp contrast to the other machines tested. A second detraction is that the hollow-ball connector rod ends that join the arms to the extruder-mounted effector platform seem to rattle a bit. It’s not particularly loud, especially when compared to Cartesian printers, but it appears to have produced resonance in the XY plane, failing our XY Resonance test.

CONCLUSION

While the DeltaMaker had miserable ratings for Retraction and Overhang, it earned top scores for Accuracy, Bridging, Backlash, Tolerance, and Z mechanical. It also produced a nicely surfaced, completely articulated robot, tying with the Zortrax for the fourth highest overall print-quality score.

Buyer’s Guide | Fused Filament Delta Printers | SeeMeCNC Orion

SEEMECNC ORION

Affordable delta arrives (mostly) preassembled, but requires some fine-tuning

WRITTEN BY MATT GRIFFIN

Brian Kaldorf

SeeMeCNC Orion | seemecnc.com

Price as Tested $1,200

Build Volume 230mm Z, round 150mm diameter platform

Bed Style Heated glass

Temperature Control? Yes

Materials PLA, ABS

Print Untethered? SD card, OctoPrint compatible

Onboard Controls? Yes

Host Software Repetier-Host

Slicer Slic3r

OS Mac, Windows, Linux

Open Software? Third-party software

Open Hardware? Auxiliary design files, license unknown

Available at bit.ly/Orion-Delta

SEEMECNC’S SECOND DELTA PRINTER, THE ORION, SHIPS WITH AN ASSEMBLED frame and a low price that could go a long way to increase delta adoption in the maker community.

SETTING UP THE ORION

The Orion arrives (mostly) preassembled with the Cheapskate carriages, delta arms, and EZStruder bowden extruder already connected to the towers, a tremendous relief for those who have studied the early delta printer kits. The online manual clearly guides you through plugging in electronics, LCD interface, and power supply.

Unlike a few recent deltabots, there’s no autoleveler — you must calibrate the Z-height manually. The correct height for printing the first layers is determined by measuring down from the Z-axis endstop at the top of the machine, so time spent tuning this carefully will be rewarded later.

WOBBLES AND ECCENTRICITIES

One of the Orion’s handiest features is the Cheapskate carriage. The “eccentric cams” on each carriage can be rotated to tighten or loosen their grip on the aluminum extrusion tracks. After a few unusually low-quality prints, we discovered that one of these carriages was loose. After tightening, we reran all of the parts again.

Shootout prints were run using the vendor’s recommended host and slicing software, but the Slic3r-prepared test probes proved problematic. It scored poorly on almost all tests, even after the prints were rerun. Exceptions include high marks on the difficult Overhangs probe and a “pass” on both the mechanical XY and Z Resonance tests.

SLOW DOWN AND USE CURA

After tallying our test data, we noticed that the Orion’s provided profiles were WAY too fast — over twice the speed of any other machine tested. Experienced Orion users report that their results have been superior using Cura with their own settings rather than the provided Slic3r profiles. Fellow tester Matt Stultz reports that the Orion is his go-to production machine and advises new users to use Cura from the start.

CONCLUSION

Although this printer did not perform well during our testing, makers who slow down their print speed, use Cura, and spend the time upfront to carefully fine-tune the Cheapskate carriages’ Z-height should be pleasantly surprised with the performance of this affordable delta.

Buyer’s Guide | Tinkerer Filament Printers | Ultimaker Original+

ULTIMAKER ORIGINAL+

Same great kit, now with a heated glass bed

WRITTEN BY YVES SINNER & NICK PARKS

Brian Kaldorf

Ultimaker Original+ | ultimaker.com

Price as Tested $1,600 (kit)

Build Volume 210×210×205mm

Bed Style Heated glass

Temperature Control? Yes

Materials PLA, ABS (others encouraged)

Print Untethered? SD card, OctoPrint compatible

Onboard Controls? Yes

Host Software Cura

Slicer CuraEngine

OS Mac, Windows, Linux

Open Software? Cura/CuraEngine: AGPLv3

Open Hardware? Auxiliary files: CC BY-NC 3.0

RELEASED JUST OVER THREE YEARS AGO, THE ULTIMAKER ORIGINAL KIT JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER. The Original+ has a slew of enhancements that include a heated glass bed (upgrade kit available), an improved Z-axis, new electronics, and Ulticontroller onboard controls with SD card are now included.

BUT THAT’S NOT ALL …

Another welcomed improvement is the move to a 3-point bed leveling system, which is much easier and quicker than the previous 4-point bed adjustment system. Additionally, there have also been changes to the extruder. The polypropylene fan duct has been replaced with a sturdy metal one and new plastic spacers and clips are used in the assembly of the hot end. Our test machine was fully assembled (and a prototype, which may have hurt XY, Z scores) but judging from our personal kit build experiences, this redesigned extruder will be significantly easier to build.

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE

The overnight prints on this machine performed extremely well and reliable. One thing we did notice was that one of the nuts was a little loose when we came in the next morning. Experience using other Ultimaker Originals for the last two years has shown that it’s important to tighten all of the nuts every three to six months.

LET THERE BE LEDS?

The only thing that this machine might be missing is a lighted build platform. That is one of the many things that the Ultimaker 2 did extremely well, and it seemed to be a big hit. I imagine that Ultimaker will eventually release a lighting kit or, perhaps, Make: Projects will come up with a clever tutorial on how to light up this machine.

CONCLUSION

This printer packs a huge value. It puts a huge build volume, refined quality, reliability, and incredible speeds into a continually upgradable, well-supported machine. It may not be as sleek as the Ultimaker 2, but at nearly half the price ($1,600) it’s a great bargain. With its low maintenance and high performance, this hackable machine is great for any maker.

Buyer’s Guide | Tinkerer Filament Printers | Bukobot 8 v2 Duo and Bukito v2

BUKOBOT 8 V2 DUO

Tweakable design, multi-material capabilities, and great technical support

WRITTEN BY TOM BURTONWOOD

Brian Kaldorf

THE BUKOBOT 8 V2 DUO KIT (SENT TO US ASSEMBLED) SEEMS LARGELY UNCHANGED FROM THE SINGLE EXTRUSION MACHINE WE REVIEWED LAST YEAR, apart from the addition of a second Spitfire extruder. With its hackable, RepRap-style design (STL/DXF files available), it doesn’t look like a beginner’s machine and that’s probably a good thing.

Performance-wise, the Bukobot 8 v2 Duo did not work as well as might be expected during the Shootout testing weekend. Initially I tried to use Cura as instructed in the documentation, but the configuration files from the Deezmaker website repeatedly crashed the program. Manually configuring Cura did not fare much better for me, so instead I opted to use legacy Slic3r profiles downloaded from the Bukobot site. These profiles printed well, scoring respectable marks on the Accuracy, Backlash, and Bridging probes.

This machine landed roughly in the middle of the pack after two days of intensive testing, but its pedigree and construction suggests it could do much better.

BUKITO V2

Hackable, tweakable, and tinkerer-friendly

WRITTEN BY KACIE HULTGREN

Brian Kaldorf

THE BUKITO IS A FUN AND COMPACT PRINTER THAT’S SO RIGID AND LIGHT, IT CAN PRINT IN PLA OR NYLON — upside down! It’s a perfect travel-size printer for demos and workshops. We like the large platform-leveling knobs, unique syncro-mesh timing belts, and rigid V-Slot extrusions. The all-metal hot end supports high-temperature printing, and it ships with a nylon-friendly Garolite platform.

In our tests, print performance in PLA was average. The great ratings for Accuracy and Backlash indicate a machine that’s well built and tuned, but these scores were outweighed by poor Overhang and Bridging scores. The optional cooling fan (absent on ours) could greatly increase the Bukito’s overall ranking.

For an uninitiated consumer, the software setup and lack of a slicing guide will be a little daunting, but experienced users won’t have any issues with the online documentation. The company’s lead engineer addressed many of our anonymous support questions personally.

Buyer’s Guide | Stereolithography Printers | Form 1+

FORM 1+

Create highly detailed sculptural prints — fast

WRITTEN BY LUIS RODRIGUEZ

Brian Kaldorf

Form 1+ | formlabs.com

Price as Tested $3,299

Build Volume 125×125×165mm

Z Resolution 25/50/100 microns (0.025/0.05/0.10mm)

XY Resolution 300 microns (0.30 mm)

Materials Clear, White, Gray, and Black detail UV curable resin

Print Untethered? Kickoff via USB

Software PreForm

OS Mac,Windows

Open Software? No

Open Hardware? No

THE UPGRADED FORM 1+ IS SLEEK AND THE DESIGN IS FLAWLESS. No part of the construction feels weak or cheaply made. Operation is silent and underwhelming. The resulting prints are not. The Form1+ is a stereolithography system (SLA), drawing each slice of the model into liquid resin with a laser to harden it. As the build platform moves up, a solid model appears out of the liquid.

FASTER AND MORE ACCURATE

The Form 1+ features a new, 4x more powerful laser that cuts print time in half, a re-engineered galvanometer control system to increase speed and accuracy, and an improved peel mechanism. Capable of 0.1, 0.05 and 0.025mm layer heights and with a minimum feature size of 0.3mm, it can’t match the B9 or ProJet’s claimed resolutions, but they can’t match its build area.

MULTICOLOR MATERIAL STORAGE AND SWAPPING

The included injection-molded resin tanks have been upgraded to a light-blocking orange acrylic, enabling safe storage of unused resin with the included lids. This allows the user to switch resin colors between prints.

EXTENSIVE DOCUMENTATION

The included quick-start guide gets you unboxed and up and printing in less than 30 minutes, and it includes information on how to setup your included finishing station. Plus, Formlabs has an extensive support site (formlabs.com/en/support).

PREFORM SOFTWARE

The Form 1+ excels at sculptural prints and targets designers. SLA machines must create support structures to enable overhangs (which are removed postfabrication). Form-labs’ continually updated Preform software has numerous auto-generating and custom support-material editing functions (which work extremely well), and placement and removal features (added after our testing) that enable advanced control of placement and density, giving designers complete control over where they adhere to print surfaces.

SOME PRINT FAILURES, NO CASTABLE RESIN

We did experience a few failed prints that couldn’t be explained. Occasionally we had a layer that did not peel, which means every subsequent layer was blocked from curing, and we had to fish resin chunks out of the vat. One downside for some users is that the Form 1+ does not have castable resin options. (See B9 Creator and ProJet).

CONCLUSION

The Form 1+’s upgrades make an already-solid user experience (we called its predecessor a “modern marvel”) even better. While the cost of the machine is higher than most desktop printers, its output and build volume is unparalleled. For those who want incredible print detail and numerous resin color choices but don’t need castable resin, it’s an easy choice.

Buyer’s Guide | Stereolithography Printers | ProJet 1200

PROJET 1200

This tiny, resin-cartridge-fed printer is designed for jewelers and dentists

WRITTEN BY ANDERSON TA

Brian Kaldorf

ProJet 1200 | cubify.com/en/ProJet

Price as Tested $4,900

Build Volume 43×27×150mm

Z Resolution 30 microns (0.03 mm)

XY Resolution 56 microns (0.056 mm)

Projector Resolution LED DLP, effective 585 dpi

Materials VisiJet FTX Green UV curable, castable resin

Print Untethered? Kickoff via USB, wi-fi

Software Geomagic Print

OS Windows only

Open Software? No

Open Hardware? No

AT LONG LAST, 3D-PRINTING INDUSTRY GIANT 3D SYSTEMS HAS ENTERED THE DESKTOP SLA MARKET WITH THE PROJET 1200. With a sleek form factor, it is about the size of a mini breadmaker, and it packs a fair bit of technology inside.

SIMPLE, SELF-CONTAINED, NETWORKED DLP

This DLP-based system has a small resin-curing pico projector in its base, and a built-in, post-curing station, which curiously is not large enough to hold a print the height of the build area. Onboard controls are limited to a simple, two-line LCD display and a single green, glowing button. It’s possible to send files over USB, but we found it was happiest when networked and receiving files over wi-fi.

TINY MACHINE FOR MAKER PROS

At 43x27x100mm the build area is tiny, but it needs to be due to its design. Unlike the B9 and Form 1+, it does not have a layer-separating mechanism to assist in print release between layers, limiting successful prints to very small objects or ones that have a small, cross-sectional surface area. That said, it’s explicitly targeted at a maker-pro audience of jewelers and dentists who typically work small and use investment-casting processes that require clean burnout. The convenient, but costly ($490 for a pack of 10) prepackaged VisiJet FTX Green no-ash burnout resin cartridges and $4,900 price tag reflect this focus.

FIRMWARE MISHAPS AND GEOMAGIC PRINT

After installing Geomagic Print and powering up the machine, we were prompted for a firmware update, which bricked the unit. After multiple frustrating instances of unplugging, powering down and USB reconnecting, it became operational again. We also had some issues with failed prints with large flat bottom surfaces until we got the hang of the workflow.

The Windows-only software has all the simple and most of the advanced features you’d expect, but support customizability felt limited compared to the extensive support-manipulation options available in the B9 Creator and Preform software.

CONCLUSION

Advanced features aside, it’s very easy to use, and there’s no resin to pour. Pop in and lock down a resin cartridge, load the build platform, and prep and print.

Buyer’s Guide | Stereolithography Printers | B9 Creator and SLA Synopsis

B9 CREATOR V1.2

Tinkerer’s machine capable of the finest resolution of printers tested

WRITTEN BY NICK PARKS AND ERIC CHU

Brian Kaldorf

THE B9 V1.2 IS AN UPGRADED VERSION OF THE B9 V1.1 WE REVIEWED LAST YEAR. New additions include a 1080p projector, a deeper vat, and XY- and Z-axis mechanical improvements. The B9, like the ProJet 1200, is a DLP machine and uses a projector to cure the resin, as opposed to a laser. The new aluminum resin vat is robust and allows resin to be rinsed out with alcohol without having to worry about damaging the acrylic.

Geared towards jewelers who use lost-wax (in this case, resin) casting methods, the B9 is unusual in that it can be configured for different resolutions and corresponding build area sizes. The new, higher resolution DLP projector enables more detail in the XY plane, producing finer attributes. At the minimum recommended Cherry-resin layer height of 25-50 microns (0.025 – 0.05mm) and 30 microns (0.03mm) in the XY axes the B9 is capable of the finest resolution of all the printers tested.

However, we had some issues, and it took many tries with lots of tinkering and fine-tuning to get successful prints; we often ended up with a bunch of partially cured resin floaties in the resin tank. When it printed, it printed very well. Unfortunately our testing was constrained to 70 microns XY with the Red resin due to a firmware issue that blocked us from changing settings.

SLA SYNOPSIS

WRITTEN BY ANNA KAZIUNAS FRANCE

Jeffrey Braverman

AS DISCUSSED IN “WHAT IS PRINT QUALITY?” ON PAGE 34, our Dimensional Accuracy probe measures a printer’s ability to fabricate dimensionally correct geometries in the XY plane. Resolution is the absolute limit of what the technology is possible of producing.

RESOLUTION

The circular text at the top of the Make: Rook test print is 0.87mm (870 microns) — 0.9mm (900 microns) tall in the XY plane (depending on the letter), and measures 0.17mm (170 microns) in Z plane. Rook dimensions: X: 14.33 Y: 14.34, Z: 24mm.

PROJECTOR-BASED (DLP):

ProJet 1200, B9 Creator

In projection-based systems like the B9 Creator and ProJet 1200, the desired Z resolution or “layer height” and projector resolution determines the XY print size. Increased resolution reduces the possible print area.

LEFT: ProJet 1200: Printed at 30 microns (only setting), projector 585 dpi

RIGHT: B9 Creator: Printed at coarsest 70 micron (0.07mm) option (unfortunately, firmware issues kept us from configuring and testing at higher resolutions), projector 1080p

LASER BASED:

Form 1+

In laser-based systems the minimum feature size (finest points / walls possible) is determined by laser spot size.

Form 1+: Printed at default 50 micron (0.05mm) layer height, machine has 300 micron minimum feature size.