UniFormation GKtwo 3D printer review
The Uniformation GKtwo has made an influence out there with its pace and high quality, distinguishing it from different cheaper DLP fashions. It’s basically a typical 8K resin printer that makes use of an LCD panel to treatment the resin.
What has marked this printer out in opposition to a number of the greatest 3D printers we have seen in a reasonably crowded market is the construct high quality and high-resolution display. Nonetheless, the competitors is catching up, with most of the high-end options that assist guarantee very good print high quality. This printer is now able to showing on cheaper machines.
Nonetheless, the machine’s dimension and weight reinforce its absolute construct high quality. When you get into the complete resin workflow, which is commonly messy, Uniformation has the complete ecosystem of wash and treatment machines that allow you to maintain that mess to a minimal.
The GK Two can be certainly one of only some machines that characteristic a heated construct chamber and air filter, every of which performs an vital operate with regards to the place you should use the printer and guarantee the absolute best print high quality.
Nonetheless, the purpose stays that, with different 8K machines now obtainable for much much less, is spending that further capital actually price it?
Uniformation GKtwo: Design
The GKtwo is a distinctive-looking machine, measuring 350x315xH455 mm and weighing in at some 20 kg, with a big inexperienced flip lid that covers the massive construct space. The lid serves a twin operate: it protects the person from the UV mild used to treatment the resin and protects the resin from ambient UV mild, which can inadvertently treatment the resin when not in use. Like many machines, the lid is articulated with a rear hinge, permitting it to be simply flipped up for entry to the construct space. Whereas there are nonetheless a number of resin printers with fully detachable lids, this resolution is by far the most effective.
The lid covers the primary machine, which options a big steel base with a touchscreen on the entrance, connection ports across the again, and the resin tank and construct platform inside. The design follows the standard conventions, with the construct platform dipping into the resin tank earlier than being uncovered to construct up the mannequin.
The construct platform is all-metal and stuck with a quick-release lever that secures it firmly in place when mounted to the Z-axis. The platform itself is uncomplicated and is fastened steel with no quick-release mechanism for the prints, so, as is widespread with resin printers, a scraper can be utilized to assist take away the print after it’s completed.
The resin tank sits on the bottom of the machine and covers the 8K LCD display. A pleasant contact right here is that the tank can be quick-release, so it may be eliminated rapidly for cleansing when wanted. In contrast to a number of the newest machines, this tank must be manually stuffed to stage earlier than printing.
An more and more widespread characteristic is the heated inside chamber and filter; these are each included into the design reasonably than being add-ons, so that they sit neatly and securely as a part of the system.
General, the design is stable and high-quality. Elements are straightforward to entry and clear, and the design has been fastidiously thought out to make sure straightforward operation. Though the design is nice, one side that could possibly be improved is including an auto-fill characteristic for the resin.
Uniformation GKtwo: Options
The dimensions and weight of the machine immediately give this 3D printer a premium feel and look, making it one of many largest DLP printers obtainable inside this value vary. Opening up the lid reveals a printing quantity of 228x128x245mm, which, for many fanatics and modellers, will likely be an ideal dimension for many creations. Jewellers and product designers may also profit from the marginally larger-than-average construct quantity.
Specs
Print Know-how: Photocuring LCD
Construct Space: 228 x 128 x 245 mm
Minimal Layer Decision: 0.03 mm
Most Layer Decision: 0.1 mm
Dimensions: 350 x 315 x 455 mm
Weight: 20 kg
Mattress: Heated
Print Floor: Fast-release design
Software program: Compatible with Chitubox; Gktwo Slicer
Supplies: Resin
Print Velocity: 2-3 seconds per layer at 0.05 mm
On the coronary heart of the machine is the photocuring 8K LCD display that allows a curing time of 2-3 seconds a layer at 0.05mm layer top, utilizing a wavelength vary of 402.5-405nm. Which means the printer has vast compatibility with most traditional 3D print resins.
In relation to transferring prints to the machine, the best means is by the use of the USB port, though it’s also potential to ship the recordsdata throughout utilizing the WiFi connection. To do that, nevertheless, takes some information of the Prusa slicer community settings. In relation to the slicer software program used with the printer, Uniformation has tailored a model of Prusa Slicer, which, as at all times, works easily.
Nonetheless, for some customers, the superior particulars of that software can initially be a bit daunting. Nonetheless, when you get your head across the choices, the management and talent to regulate helps make this one of the vital finely tuned choices for resin printing on the market, apart from PreForm, which is just suitable with Formlabs SLA printers. Though Uniformation ships the printer with GKtwo Slicer, you even have the selection of utilizing the superb Chitubox.
The UniFormation GKtwo has already garnered fairly a following because of the machine and print high quality. In use, the machine is easy to arrange, and all through the check, absolute reliability was a key characteristic; so long as you test the resin tank for any particles, make sure the construct plate is evident, and clearly maintain the resin tank topped up.
In the course of the print course of, two non-print-related elements actually stood out with this printer. The primary was the scent or lack of it. The UniFormation GKtwo has a built-in filter unit, which appears to work time beyond regulation to make sure that the room you are printing in stays as resin-smelling-free as potential. All through the check, this actually gave the impression to be the case, and in contrast with different techniques on the market, that are a bit plug-and-play, that is easy and totally built-in.
The second is that the printer works with out situation, even in chilly climate. Whereas the temperature exterior dipped beneath 0°C, and circumstances within the workshop weren’t a lot better, the printer continued to provide excellent prints with out situation. That is because of the heated chamber, which helps to make sure that the print atmosphere is at all times at an optimum.
Uniformation GKtwo: Print high quality
In relation to printing, the slicer software program is predicated on PRUSA Slicer, so whereas it may be a bit advanced to get into initially, it does offer you an enormous quantity of choices over the standard of the print. Extra importantly, it provides you loads of management over the assist tree construction, which helps you get better-quality prints as they’re adjusted from the usual settings.
Shifting to the machine and the print workflow, as soon as the mannequin is uploaded by way of both USB or the Wi-Fi connection, you possibly can then simply go away the machine to get on with the print. The pace of the machine can be one thing to notice, with prints being produced at a good pace in contrast with printers from a yr or two in the past, though extra according to the latest crop of machines.
The print high quality itself is excellent as soon as the prints have been correctly cleaned and all helps eliminated. By the check, I used a generic resin, which proved to be a bit brittle and made it tough to take away a number of the assist buildings with some prints. Whereas the resin was brittle, it was a high-detail possibility and gave an excellent floor end to the fashions. The trick right here was to take away the prints from the machine as rapidly as potential after the print course of, wash them for round ten minutes, after which take away the helps earlier than curing. This situation is solely right down to the kind of resin used reasonably than the printer.
At 8K, this is not the highest-resolution printer on the market; nevertheless, the standard of the floor and the element actually stand out, making this an incredible selection for mannequin makers and jewellers who want intricate element of their prints. Dimensional accuracy for the practical elements made was additionally good, displaying that, once more, this can be a printer that could possibly be used for prototypes and small manufacturing runs.
General, the print high quality from the UniFormation GKtwo is a number of the greatest that I’ve seen from a resin printer. With the current value drop, this printer is considerably of a discount, if nonetheless a bit costlier than a number of the competitors.
Nonetheless, there are a number of factors that you just discover when utilizing the printer, which implies if I had the cash, then the Type 3+ is unquestionably the printer that I might go for certainly. It is also the printer that I might suggest for any enterprise needing a production-quality mannequin.
The primary of the factors round efficiency is the workflow. Whereas different printers are rapidly catching up, they’re nonetheless removed from absolutely the ease of use. The cartridge system is easy, as is the tank design; you actually insert it, and then you definately’re able to go. Likewise, there is no faffing round with adjustment; the machine does every little thing on that entrance for you, together with filling the tank and ensuring that the temperature and consistency of the resin are appropriate for the absolute best high quality print.
As soon as the print has completed, the platform releases simply, and being the construct platform 2, a fast push of the handles and the print pops off with out the standard battle to launch the print. Then it is only a case of dropping into the Type Wash, eradicating the helps, after which into the Type Remedy to complete.
Basically, Formlabs has created a complete ecosystem that makes the method as mess-free as potential, though eliminating all of the stickiness is not fairly but potential.
As soon as the print has totally dried, it may then be labored in order that if there are any remnants of the assist construction, these could be eliminated with a file, snips, or knife. Usually, the prints got here out comparatively clear and prepared to be used. One of many essential tasks for this challenge was to create a spotlight bracket for an Arri Alexa comply with focus; this required absolute accuracy, though easy. This proved to be a easy sufficient challenge for the printer in one of many powerful supplies and was instantly put to make use of.
Likewise, different practical elements had been straightforward to make and assist with the Mild-Contact Removing Helps which might be generated by the software program, holding the mannequin agency throughout the printing course of after which ripping free comparatively simply as soon as the wash course of is full. Beneath a brilliant mild, the prints can then be inspected and cleaned earlier than curing. I discovered that after the wash had been accomplished, I might take away the helps, brush away any assist particles, after which give one other fast wash earlier than curing.
If any helps are left in place throughout the curing course of, then on some fashions, they’re nearly unattainable to take away because of the power of the supplies.
When it got here to element, these fashions confirmed a high quality and stage of element that no FFF printer that I’ve used can come near competing with. Even the most effective of the LCD printers with their high-resolution screens are left behind when the printer is switched to the best high quality setting.
The floor end and element are additionally distinctive, and when you do have to scrub up the prints to a larger diploma than with many FFF fashions, the standard is simply excellent. For me, the true benefit of Type 3+ is the Mild-Contact Removing Help. In contrast to different printer software program that creates assist buildings which might be nearly unattainable to take away, the PreForm software program allows you to stability the assist construction completely.
Whereas that is aimed on the skilled market and companies corresponding to structure, engineering, jewelry, movie, and lots of extra, this printer may also profit mannequin makers and different craft fanatics searching for absolute high quality and precision.
Uniformation GKtwo: Remaining verdict
The UniFormation GKtwo is a high-resolution 3D resin printer with an unimaginable quantity going for it. Firstly, the excessive construct high quality stands out, and it packs in all of the options you’ll anticipate from commercial-end resin printers reasonably than the buyer finish, which is the place the machine’s value locations it.
The photocuring LCD at 8K is without doubt one of the higher-resolution screens on the market however is under no circumstances the best, with a superb crop of 12K choices showing at current. Nonetheless, even in opposition to these new machines, the data GKtwo holds its precision and high quality of floor that makes it stand out.
Options such because the display, the air filter, the flip-up cowl, and the heated inside chamber enhance the general efficiency and assist make sure the excessive print high quality and reliability that this printer is able to.
As with every resin printer, the machine and the print are simply the beginning of the method, as there’s the entire wash and treatment course of to cope with as soon as the print has completed. At this level, there isn’t a fast launch from the platform for the print, whereas the platform itself is rapidly launched from the machine. Uniformation does produce a wash and curing machine, which I used all through the check; just like the resin printer, the standard of that is glorious, and as at all times, it is price buying.
If you happen to want a resin 3D printer that produces high-quality prints with a wonderful floor end, the UniFormation GKtwo is a superb selection. It is also a superb possibility if you should use the printer in a big room the place you will even be working or a chilly workshop or room the place temperatures would possibly dip.
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