In my previous ‘Overhang Test’ on the Artillery Sidewinder X1 I noticed the print was ‘stringy’. I tried adding retraction and this didn’t work so I wondered if this was something to do with print temperature and the best way of checking this is to come up with another test.
In this video I create a ‘Temperature Tower’ in blender so I can test different print temperatures at different levels of the tower.
And, in order to test as many things in one go I come up with an elaborate – perhaps too elaborate – triple tower with aspects such as cut-outs and overhangs.
This however was to be my downfall, or should I say the models downfall!
Create the model in blender
Export the model as an STL file
Load the STL file into Cura and export the GCode file
Load the GCode file into Repetier and identify the layers for the appropriate temperature changes
Modify the GCode file and set specific temperatures at the specific levels of the tower print
Copy the GCode file to the printer
Print using ICE Filaments ‘Romantic Red’ filament
What did I learn from this project?
The model was too complicated and I should have just kept it simple.
Supports aren’t only required to ensure that anything overhanging can print, they can be also present to stabilise the model whilst printing while the plastic is still hot and malleable until cooled.
These tests not only help me learn about the Artillery Sidewinder X1 3D printer, but also the software, print settings and the approach to getting the best out of the 3D prints.
Taking this into account, I am sure my next test will be more successful.
If you would like to see original blender model, STL or GCode files you can access them here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1inscgoN-lk4j02i-LrmP3OqYywpXEzWL?usp=sharing
In this test I wanted to check how much of an angle of overhang I could print successfully on my Artillery Sidewinder X1 3D printer.
I have produced my own model specifically to test the overhang and created it in Blender. The first part of the video shows how I construct the 3D model and how each upright overhangs by an additional ten degrees.
The first upright is 0 deg, the second 10 degrees, the third 20 degrees etc, until we get right to the end in which case the level of overhang is 120 deg, so essentially facing downwards.
I then check the model in Ultimaker Cura before making a few tweaks and then I am ready to ‘slice’ the model. I copy the .gcode file to the memory stick and transfer to the Artillery Sidewinder X1 printer.
I am using ICE Filaments ‘Precious Pink’ filament for this test which is a very vibrant pink colour and the test cube came out well.
Overall, I am very impressed with the result and the level of overhang that the Sidewinder X1 3D printer can print certainly exceeded my expectations. And, whilst not perfect, especially in relation to the ‘stringy’ and slightly untidy result, I think with tweaked temperature and print speed settings the results can be even better. All in all though, it is the overhang I was testing here and that was very successful.
Overhang Model
71.7 x 14.0 x 18.2 mm Size
1 hour 1 minute print time
2 g in weight
0.66 m in filament length used
Super quality 0.12mm
20% infill
200 deg C printing temperature
50 deg C bed temperature
50 mm/s print speed
Enable cooling
Skirt adhesion
I have made the project files available via this URL:
I bought the ICE Filaments ‘Obstinate Orange’ because I have other filaments by ICE and I liked the vibrancy of the colour and I had a very specific project in mind – our logo.
In this video I show how I created the 3D object in Blender, used boolean modifiers to cut out the text from the flat object and then export as an STL file ready for preparing to print.
I then used Ultimaker Cura to load the STL file and then generate the .gcode file ready for printing via the Artillery supplied memory stick.
I love the colour and considering this is one of my first models I am happy with the results.
These exercises are all about learning how the 3D printer works, how the filament behaves, what settings are required and how to construct 3D models in the first place to end up with a better final 3D print.
What did I learn?
I needed to make the gap between the 3 and the D slightly larger so that it had more support to retain the centre of the characters.
I needed to slightly increase the width of the bar for the ‘o’ and the ‘d’ as even though the ‘d’ came out fine, the ‘o’ did not.
I could try adjusting the temperature, perhaps lowering it by around 10 degrees.
I could try adjusting the layer resolution.
I could try reducing the print speed slightly.
Cura
Artillery Sidewinder X1 profile
36.5 mm x 36.5 mm x 2.3 mm
1 hour 6 minutes print time
2g in plastic weight
0.76m in filament length
50.00 mm/s print speed
200 deg C print temperature
60 deg C bed temperature
3D Model
If you would like to take a look at the original STL, GCode or the Blender files, you can access via this URL:
I already have light grey and black filament so I wanted something in between, something like a mid to dark grey.
I’ve been impressed with ICE Filaments colours so far and opted for the ICE Filaments ‘Gentle Grey’ PLA filament. I am very impressed with the colour and I am impressed with the print quality too.
I can’t wait to print more models with this particular filament.
ICE Filament PLA
Gentle Grey
750g spool
1.75mm
195 deg C to 215 deg C
As I continue my journey with the Artillery Sidewinder X1 printer I am buying additional filament and the best way I find to test the filament and see how it will come out is by printing an Artillery test cube.
This way I have other filaments to compare against, and by using the same printer and the same model, it provides an excellent way of checking and ensuring consistency and to see how this particular filament will print.
I couldn’t wait to print this particular test cube as orange is our ‘colour’ and this ‘Obstinate Orange’ is a very bright, eye-catching and vibrant filament.
ICE Filament PLA
Obstinate Orange
750g spool
1.75mm
195 deg C to 215 deg C
As I continue my journey with the Artillery Sidewinder X1 printer I am buying additional filament and the best way I find to test the filament and see how it will come out is by printing an Artillery test cube.
This way I have other filaments to compare against, and by using the same printer and the same model, it provides an excellent way of checking and ensuring consistency and to see how this particular filament will print.
I love the vibrancy of this particular ‘Precious Pink’ filament.
ICE Filament PLA
Precious Pink
750g spool
1.75mm
195 deg C to 215 deg C
As I continue my journey with the Artillery Sidewinder X1 printer I am buying additional filament and the best way I find to test the filament and see how it will come out is by printing an Artillery test cube.
This way I have other filaments to compare against, and by using the same printer and the same model, it provides an excellent way of checking and ensuring consistency and to see how this particular filament will print.
