Our 3D printing journey thus far has had us utilizing the Bambu Lab A1 to print out cool, unique models for our perfect games room however what if you would like one thing bigger than a regular 3D printer can deal with?
The Bambu Lab A1 is a superb printer that requires little or no effort however typically you will have to get your palms soiled with a extra conventional 3D printer, particularly if you’re seeking to make and even promote cosplay objects that look superb.
That’s the place the Neptune 4 Max from Elegoo is available in. The behemoth of a 3D printer wants a couple of issues – first, it wants lots of area. It’s a giant, heavy unit. On high of the particular area the unit itself wants you might want to consider area in entrance and behind it as a result of, as it’s a mattress slinger, that construct plate goes to fireside forwards and backward.
Thus far, so apparent, however right here’s one other one that you could be not have frightened about fairly a lot you probably have solely had a smaller printer till now – a sturdy desk.
The Neptune 4 Max runs on Klipper and which means it’s quick and can throw the construct plate round at breakneck pace.
The primary floor I put it on was a standing desk, so subsequently the legs have motion in them because it must go up and down, and I genuinely thought it would fly off the desk. You want one thing sturdy right here. And if it’s mounted down, a lot the higher.
The Elegoo Neptune 4 Max is what’s often known as a ‘helmet-class’ printer. Meaning it has a large enough print quantity to have the ability to print a full-size helmet, large enough for a human head for cosplay functions. It has a construct quantity of 420 x 420 x 480 mm, which is barely lower than the Max 3, however that is as a result of large cooling fan strapped onto the gantry.
Even with a quick printer, these take some time so right this moment we’re simply going to print a full-size cosplay masks, after which print one thing bigger out for our sport room – a big bust of Walter White from Breaking Dangerous so as to add just a little Heisenberg to the place.
Beginning with the masks we selected this low-poly full face masks as a result of it seems each sinister and funky. This was my first huge print try and watching the 4 Max do its factor was a pleasure to behold. I needed to go away it printing in a single day as I didn’t begin it till late within the day however awakened, checked the Fluidd interface by way of my telephone whereas nonetheless in mattress, and was delighted to see it had printed completely. The one helps right here had been on the hooks for the ears and so they had been eliminated simply.
Subsequent up is our second piece, the Walter White bust from Sid Naique. I wished to print this a lot bigger however plumped for a smaller than I wished dimension just because I used to be postpone by the two-day print time to make it a lifesize head. Someday although when deadlines aren’t as urgent.
Once more the bust printed flawlessly and even with the marginally tough assist across the beard, this all got here away simply and the Elegoo PLA+ in gray labored a deal with.
That is one in every of my go-to prints after I need to exhibit the 4 Max, the extent of element is insane even with the 0.4mm customary nozzle (will any person please let me purchase different-sized nozzles). This is able to look nice on any shelf in your video games room. I feel I’m finally going to print him once more with a marble PLA to make him look that bit extra, er museum!
So let’s take a look on the print expertise as we did with the Bambu Lab A1 in our final 3D mannequin characteristic.
What’s the Neptune 4 Max like?
My time with the 4 Max has been a little bit of a combined bag, however happily, all of it appears to have turned out alright ultimately. From the off it printed nice, placing out actually high-quality prints. After per week or so immediately nothing would stick with the plate, the Z-offset was in every single place and no quantity of leveling appeared to assist. Then I had an enormous drawback with the extruder as when the print reached a sure a part of the axis the temperature studying would drop from round 180C to 0. Clearly, this was a false studying however it could trigger Klipper to crash mid-print.
With some glorious assist from Elegoo Assist, we established there was a dodgy connection within the cable from the principle board to the print head in order that they organized to switch that. As all this was occurring although the Neptune 4 Max suffered an enormous clog that destroyed your entire hotend and warmth block. Fortuitously, Elegoo changed your entire print head for me, however I did have to attend for that to reach from China which delayed this web page. It appears to me as if there could also be a slight design flaw in the best way that if a clog begins and also you don’t discover it, it gathers pace and runs away to self-destruction underneath the silicon sock and that’s just about the tip of that, you want a spare half because the thermistor and different wires are encased like Han Solo in Carbonite. The issue is in the meanwhile, with it being a brand new mannequin and utilizing a proprietary nozzle, you may’t simply get them on Amazon and have to undergo Assist, which is irritating whenever you simply need to print stuff.
I need to emphasize although that Elegoo Assist is among the many finest there’s within the 3D printer world, it’s simply that submit from China, even UPS isn’t at all times the quickest.
Now nonetheless, after a few firmware upgrades and a change of the cable and hotend (which was a ache within the rear), the Neptune 4 Max is working flawlessly like a appeal and I can belief it to do what I would like. It’s a extra hobbyist printer although than say a Bambu Lab, so you might want to have some 3D printer expertise to get probably the most out of it and get it dialed in completely. I used to be undoubtedly unfortunate, however huge printers should not essentially ultimate as your first little bit of 3D printing package. Now it’s working nice would I like to recommend the Elegoo Neptune 4 Max for this type of mission?
Completely, for the value the pace and construct dimension are nice, and if you’re seeking to get into printing props, cosplay, and enormous objects in your sport room, you may’t do significantly better for the fee. Additionally, the nice buyer assist is reassuring, there’s an lively discord, and hopefully, spares can be out there in Amazon warehouses quickly which is able to take the ache out of the nozzle subject.
Ending our printed fashions
We used a glittery filament for the masks and in the principle it genuinely doesn’t want a lot sanding down, such is the standard of the print. We did just a little work the place the helps on the eyes and mouth however typically that was it. Once more, with Walker White issues got here off fairly clear however we’ll sand down the areas the place the arms could be for a easy end earlier than priming for portray. As a result of the element on the mannequin is so good, Walter’s beard, stubble, and shaved head don’t want sanding as a result of they’re stubbly, which cuts down post-work so much.
Neptune 4 Max slicer settings
We didn’t use something aside from a primary 0.2mm later peak in both mannequin. You would, should you had the time cut back that for the bust however the masks definitely doesn’t want it. We sliced and printed the fashions in Orcaslicer, which is the present go-to slicer for the 3D printing sport in the meanwhile.
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