Testing a 3D printer is an intensive process. Printers often do not use the same materials or the same process to create models. I test SLA, 3D printers that use resin and light to print, and FDM, printers that melt plastic onto a plate. Each has a unique methodology. The main qualifiers I look at include:
- hardware quality
- ease of setup
- bundled software
- Appearance and accuracy of print
- repairability
- Company and community support
A key test print, representing the (now outdated) CNET logo, is used to assess how the printer bridges gaps, creates accurate shapes, and handles overhangs. It even has little towers to help measure how well the 3D printer handles temperature ranges.
When testing speed, we slice the model using the standard slicer with which the machine is sent at its standard settings and then compare the real-world duration of the print to the time the statement completes on the slicer. 3D printers often use different slicers, and they can vary greatly depending on the time the slicer completes.
then we use Prusaslicer To determine how much material should be used in a print and divide that number by the real-world time it takes to print, giving us a more accurate number for speed in millimeters per second (mm/s) On which the printer can run.
Each build plate has to be heated to a certain temperature, so we use InfiRay Thermal Imaging Camera for Android To test how well they work. We set the build plate to 60 degrees Celsius – the most commonly used temperature for build plates – waited five minutes for the temperature to stabilize, and then measured it at six different locations. We then took the average temperature to see how close the 3D printer came to the advertised temperature.
Testing resins requires different criteria, so I use AmerLabs Standard Test: Printing a small resin model that resembles a small town. This helps determine how precise the printer is, how it deals with small parts and how well the UV exposure works at different points in the model.
Several other actual test prints are also run using different 3D models on each printer to test the longevity of the parts and how well the machine copes with different shapes.
As for other criteria, I researched the company to see how well it responds to customer support questions and how easy it is to order replacement parts and install them yourself. Kits (printers that are only semi-assembled) are evaluated by how long and difficult the assembly process is and how clear the instructions are.
