To test the different printers, the best option is to print a part that shows how the printer behaves in different situations. To do this, we’ve used a file from 3dprint.com available on thingiverse.
The article explains what should be measured as pointed below:
We’ve used the same slicing parameters on every machine to have somewhat similar results. Although we could not use the same filament since the diameters were different.
Slicing settings:
Area (x,y,z): 23x23x30
How to print: SD card
Nozzle diameter: 0.5mm
Filament diameter: 1.75mm
Axis movement: Delta
Area (x,y,z): 22x23x20
How to print: SD card
Nozzle diameter: 0.4mm
Filament diameter: 3mm
Axis movement: CoreXY
Area (x,y,z): 24x23x20
How to print: SD card or Octoprint
Nozzle diameter: 0.6mm
Filament diameter: 3mm
Axis movement: Cartesian
Area (x,y,z): 25x21x20
How to print: SD card
Nozzle diameter: 0.4mm
Filament diameter: 1.75mm
Axis movement: Cartesian
Size: 4x50x50mm
Hole size: 4.7,3.7,2.5
Nut size: Snug fit
Fine details: Smooth
Rounded print: Smooth
Minimum distance between walls: 0.3mm
Overhang: Up to 45º smooth
Flatness: All closed
Bridges: Up to 9mm smooth
Size: 4x50x50
Hole size: 4.6,3.7,2.3
Nut size: Snug fit
Fine details: Smooth
Rounded print: Smooth
Minimum distance between walls: 0.3mm
Overhang: Up to 45º smooth
Flatness: All closed
Bridges: Up to 9mm smooth
Size: 4.1 x 50 x 50 mm
Hole size: All of the drills almost fitted
Nut size: Almost fitted but not entirely
Fine details: Looks nice and smooth
Rounded print: Looks nice and smooth
Minimum distance between walls: Problems only with the 0.1/0.2mm wall distances but printed nicely
Overhang: No problem printing the overhangs
Flatness: Flat with no gaps
Bridges: It printed it all but with a little problem in the bridge of 6mm
Size: 4.1 x 49 x 49 mm
Hole size: Any of the drills fitted at all
Nut size: Doesn’t fit
Fine details: Looks nice but not smooth
Rounded print: Looks nice but not smooth
Minimum distance between walls: It could print only one wall with wrong distances
Overhang: No problem printing the overhangs
Flatness: Flat with no gaps
Bridges: No bridges at all
The Prusa i3 Mk3 did the best printings with accurate measurements, nice bridges, overhangs, spaces between walls and a lot of details.
Anycubic and Ultimaker had similar good results.
The worst result was on the Reprap, we believe we coult fine tune the slicing to improve the print. But, other than it having a 0.6mm nozzle, the main reason could be the old filament we’ve used. We may try again with a new one as soon as it arrives.
Since we had to use different softwares and filament between printers, we had very different results, but overall, they were good prints.
The task of the individual assignment could not be accomplished during this week assignment. To compensate this, I will here refer to the documented 3D prints from the week assignments of:pppp