The brand new Voxelab 3D printer referred to as Aquila D1 appears to be designed as an alternative choice to Creality Ender 3 S1. Gambody staff acquired the newest Voxelab Aquila and has already examined this machine. Learn a complete new 3D printer evaluate, see the take a look at print, and resolve if this may be your subsequent desktop system.
You possibly can learn Gambody’s evaluate of the earlier Voxelab Aquila 3D printer, additionally an alternative choice to one in all Ender 3 variations.
Voxelab Aquila
The brand new 3D printer was offered by Voxelab, a subsidiary model of a well known Chinese language firm, FlashForge, which is skilled in producing 3D printing machines. The entire Voxelab Aquila line, together with the D1 model, is a competitor to Ender 3D printers by one other Chinese language agency, Creality.
The official web site positions the Aquila D1 3D printer as a flagship one. It prices $399. If we evaluate its value with the Creality Ender 3 S1, which is $329, you’ll see the distinction in favor of the second.
In line with the producer, the $399 Voxelab Aquila D1 comes with X- and Y-axes rail guides that promise to lift the printing speeds to 180 mm/s. The machine comes with a direct extruder and PEI magnetic platform. The filament is fed by a BMG-type extruder. There are belt tensioners, an auto-leveling system, a filament sensor, and so on. The advert sounds spectacular, so unpacking this new 3D printer ought to be enjoyable.
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New 3D Printer Unboxing
Earlier than we will get to the Aquila take a look at print, we should unbox and assemble the Voxelab Aquila D1 machine. It arrives partly assembled in a small bundle. Gambody likes the standard of all of the elements, the superb paint job, the absence of burrs, cute milling, and nice gap drills. The standard could be in comparison with new 3D printers by Creality and Anycubic.
Aquila 3D printer is securely packed in polyethylene foam. It arrives with directions and two packing containers inside a bundle. One field comprises the assembled Direct Extruder. The opposite one has the mandatory elements to construct and run the machine.
Let’s take a better take a look at the contents of the bundle:
- Three commonplace MK-8 nozzles product of brass which is nice as a result of the market has a lot of them obtainable together with modifications;
- Good-quality hexagons in a field;
- Small tongs much like what Anycubic presents;
- Palette knife (watch out to not scratch your new 3D printer platform);
- Glue (an important factor to incorporate with a Voxelab Aquilar, particularly when not many producers add it with their new 3D printers);
- Gear grease for screws and linear rails;
- 8 GB flash drive (a pleasant further with the Voxelab Aquila D1 3D printer package);
- Micro SD card reader with USB;
- Spool of pink PLA filament.
Voxelab 3D Printer Display screen (Aquila D1)
The D1 4.3-inch LCD touchscreen has a chip by Voxelab, which makes it not possible to put in the firmware from different producers. Your selections are to attend for customized firmware releases prefer it was for Voxelab Aquila or use the inventory choices.
Anybody who thinks of Voxelab Aquila updates ought to change the LCD touchscreen first. However, the corporate’s software program is open supply, so you’ll be able to count on new mods to reach quickly.
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3D Printer Voxelab Extruder
The Voxelab Aquila D1 extruder is similar to Creality’s Sprite extruder:
- Its engine is of comparable measurement;
- The motherboard has connectors on the again.
In contrast to Creality S1, the brand new 3D printer by Voxelab boasts extra dependable connectors. Its 30-mm fan is situated on the facet, and the Extruder is product of milled aluminum, nevertheless it nonetheless seems to be home made and could possibly be neater. If you take a look at it, you don’t have any feeling of solidity.
There are higher choices than the one-side nozzle airflow utilized by Voxelab for the D1 machine. You may also see the PL05N2 inductive stage sensor on the print head and the BMG-like feeder type for the gears underneath the cap. However what unpleasantly strikes you is the huge hole between the gear and the extruder throat.
It was designed this manner, so you can not repair it.
On prime of it, a heavy steel casing considerably will increase the top’s weight. Thus, it’s higher to 3D print your personal plastic cowl and use it as an alternative.
Such a development ought to work properly for arduous plastics, however you have to neglect about utilizing any smooth supplies whereas 3D printing, no matter Direct Extruders’ main intention to assist them.
Aquila 3D Printer Body
The body comes assembled with a Z-axis motor and screws and X-axis linear information with a belt and belt tensioner. The extruder strikes alongside the X-axis linear bearings reminding us of MGN-9 with a metal nook, the place you clamp the extruder. It seems to be dependable.
The Z-axis mechanics stunned Gambody staff. Voxelab engineers added two Z-screws on every assist to attain higher stability. However every thing works from one stepper motor solely, with the belt connecting the railings from above. The issue is that the second screw is mounted in a single place; thus, the slightest beating can negatively have an effect on the print consequence.
Take a look at Anycubic Vyper or Creality Ender 3 S1. You will notice that their engineers added two stepper motors per bearing and stuck them to a floating clutch. Due to such an answer, the screw can bend barely, which is technically appropriate. We might reasonably take away the second screw, pulley, and hard-fastened couplings in favor of the peculiar one-screw construction with an anti-wobbling coupling.
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Voxelab Aquila D1 Construct Platform
The brand new 3D printer construct platform surprises with two linear guides with a skinny 6m Gates Energy Grip GT in between. Hopefully, it isn’t an excessive amount of as a result of the slightest non-parallelism of the rails can result in a wedge.
The printing mattress is magnetic with a double-sided PIE plate (one facet is barely tough to 3D print with out glue, and the opposite is easy). The milled locations for racks are an enormous plus, with all electronics housed on the backside.
Sadly, not like in Ender 3 S-1, the brand new Voxelab Aquila D1 machine’s construct platform just isn’t mounted rigidly to the rail, the screws are usually not mounted to the mattress and are usually not centered, and the springs are low-cost. It would result in fixed leveling issues, which is widespread to the least expensive 3D printers.
It’s best to exchange the default springs and reassemble the construct platform, which might sit on 4 screws, much like S-1. By the best way, even the price range Anycubic Kobra 3D printer has a greater mattress.
Contained in the platform are an influence provide and a 32-bit mainboard (Aquila S2 makes use of a distinct one) with the potential assist of six drivers( however solely 4 locations are soldered). It’s unclear why the corporate didn’t set up an extra Z-axis stepper motor.
The engine connector is XR64 with six connections for X- and Y-axis (perhaps, the 2 further wires are for finish sensors). Stepper motor drivers MS 35775 are silent and TMC 2208 appropriate. Basically, the motherboard is typical. Because of the absence of a toolbox, there’s sufficient area for future Voxelab Aquila updates; thus, modders can set up almost any (even a big) board.
Aquila D1 3D Printer Meeting
The meeting of the brand new 3D printer by Voxelab is simple. You could screw the body to the construct platform, connect the print head and the touchscreen, and join wires, and you might be achieved. Nothing is difficult.
However proper after Voxelab Aquila meeting, Gambody sees how arduous the Z-axis strikes. It’s essential to reassemble the body and regulate the guides to make sure they’re as parallel as attainable. We had been fortunate to expertise no vibration points with X- and Y-axis, not like many different reviewers.
But, being totally assembled and able to print, Aquila D1 3D printer loses to its opponents. Voxelab makes use of many steel and customized rack profiles that look good. Nonetheless, the machine will get a uninteresting but austere look whereas opponents introduce plastic parts of intriguing shapes and deep blue colour into their new 3D printer designs.
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Turning on Aquila D1 3D Printer
If you activate the brand new 3D printer by Voxelab, your ears hear the hum of the followers. Aquila D1 is a really loud machine, even when idle. The same downside was with Voxelab Aquila 3D printer, which was mounted by ordering a quiet fan and changing the default one.
It’s arduous to get used to the noise even after hours of 3D printing with D1. All followers hum concurrently, so staying in the identical room with this machine could be a massive downside except you change all three followers with Winsinn or one thing comparable by way of high quality and value.
Aquila D1 Interface
The D1 touchscreen has a well-known interface that hasn’t modified because the launch of Voxelab Aquila. It responds quick and easily and masses immediately, nevertheless it has restricted capabilities.
The few settings don’t allow you to set the step measurement worth. When you want to elevate the print head by 50 mm, you have to actually click on 50 instances. Fortunately, you’ll be able to regulate the motor steps and nozzle peak whereas 3D printing.
Aquila Take a look at Print
Voxelab presents customers to make use of its Voxelmaker slicer, which we reviewed up to now. It isn’t a foul software, however Gambody prefers utilizing the identical slicer for each 3D printer. Nice that the corporate thought of its customers and launched its profile for Ultimaker Cura.
Sadly, you gained’t discover setting suggestions for Cura. You might be solely suggested to make use of the usual Customized FFF 3D printer with commonplace settings for Aquila 3D printers, which embody low print pace and 5 mm Bowden retraction. When you take a look at the G-code, you will note that the pace of the take a look at print is 60 mm/min, which is way from the marketed pace of 180 mm/min. Apart from, the provided G-code is not going to work as a result of the 3D printer extrudes the filament in the midst of the mattress, which might smash your first layers. It’s higher to make use of Gambody’s newbie G-code settings for Cura.
One other bizarre factor is that Voxelab Aquila D1 printer doesn’t settle for 0 while you arrange the E (extrusion) parameter. It solely understands .0000 as an alternative of 0 to print accurately.
The printer construction makes it almost not possible to feed the filament manually by preheating it. You could use the menu settings to load and unload the 3D printing materials.
P.S. Due to the poor-quality springs, we recommend you put in G29 to auto-level the mattress earlier than 3D printing. This code begins the 25-point mattress calibration, which takes fairly a protracted however is value your time.
Our first take a look at print was the 20 x 20 x 20 mm dice. It helps to see how precisely the machine is calibrated. And the result’s spectacular! All dice sides turned out completely properly. You possibly can discover some banding alongside the Z-axis, however it’s more than likely the results of the unsuccessful screw connection design we mentioned above.
3DBenchy is the second take a look at we printed. This mannequin prints properly with easy layers even at steep angles, bridges, and spherical holes. Aquila D1 exhibits glorious outcomes. In case you are sad with the skinny ship racks, you’ll be able to calibrate the retraction settings.
Conclusion
After assembling and testing Voxelab Aquila D1 3D printer, we will define its benefits and drawbacks.
| Benefits | Disadvantages | Grade | |
| PEI magnetic desk | +1 | ||
| Good package | +1 | ||
| Materials high quality | +1 | ||
| Simple meeting | +1 | ||
| Large touchscreen | +1 | ||
| Rail guides | +0.5 | ||
| Chance to improve | +1 | ||
| Open supply | +1 | ||
| Print high quality | +1 | ||
| Design | 0 | ||
| Print pace | 0 | ||
| Voxelab touchscreen interface and customized mainboard that doesn’t assist third-party firmware |
-1 | ||
| Cooling followers blowing in a single path underneath nozzle |
-1 | ||
| Direct Extruder that wants enchancment |
-1 | ||
| Questionable Z-axis design | -1 | ||
| Noise | -1 | ||
| No good Cura settings | -0.5 | ||
| Excessive value | -1 |
If we add the numbers, the ultimate rating shall be 2. The Voxelab new flagship 3D printer seems very controversial. It seems to be like an affordable copy of Crealty Ender 3 S1. However Ender 3 can 3D print with FLEX filament proper out of the field, whereas Aquila D1 can’t do the identical.
The brand new 3D printer is pricey due to the nice-quality rails that don’t assist to enhance 3D printing in any respect. After all, this machine will print quicker than different reasonably priced 3D printers at $200, however steel rails don’t have an effect on the pace.
Just like the earlier Voxelab Aquila 3D printer, the brand new D1 wants new silent cooling followers and different updates. An ideal 3D printer method is straightforward – add a superb mainboard and a very good direct extruder and low the ultimate value. However Voxelab engineers did precisely the alternative factor. Nonetheless, if Gambody lovers occur to get the Aquila D1 3D printer, they’ll use it. It gained’t upset you an excessive amount of, however don’t count on it to impress you, both. There are higher selections for hobbyists.
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