In this video we’re going to be printing the Artillery Test Cube on the Sidewinder X1 3D printer using Multicomp Pro Brown PLA filament.
The test cube prints a little lighter than the filament appears on the reel. The end result is very good, consistent and accurate print which is what I have come to expect of the Sidewinder X1 and also Multicomp Pro’s filament.
Printed using the standard Artillery test cube of the original memory stick with default settings and parameters.
Multicomp Pro
Brown
PLA Filament
1kg spool
1.75mm
205 dec C to 225 deg C
In this video we’re going to be printing the Artillery Test Cube on the Sidewinder X1 3D printer using Multicomp Pro Peak Green PLA filament.
The filament is quite vibrant on the reel but its quite another when it has printed. It’s almost a bright lime colour which is very eye-catching, vibrant and striking.
Printed using the standard Artillery test cube of the original memory stick with default settings and parameters.
Multicomp Pro
Peak Green
PLA Filament
1kg spool
1.75mm
205 dec C to 225 deg C
In this second test using the ‘Temperature Tower’ I have adjusted my model to improve the simplicity of the test and removed the overhang that was making the model unstable.
There are three separate towers, one square, one round and one star-shaped with a number of cutouts to check the print accuracy at different temperatures.
I exported from Blender as an STL
I imported into Cura, retained the existing settings and exported the GCode file
I opened the GCode file in Repetier to identify layer heights
I manually modified the GCode file to specific temperatures within the file itself so the 3D printer would adjust the temperatures automatically
I saved the modified GCode file to the memory stick and transferred to the Artillery Sidewinder X1 3D printer for printing
The end result is a more structurally sound tower that did successfully remain standing during printing – however – the stringing effect is consistent across all temperatures and is an issue throughout the height of the tower.
What did I learn from this test?
Making the model simpler ensured it could be printed without falling over
The stringing issue must be a consistent problem within the settings of the print profile in Cura – perhaps related to retraction settings?
I will research further and re-test as a third attempt.
Project files available from here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1zexLoKbwhI3nrYVmMSjatKiAhNPTMnAE?usp=sharing
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