UniFormation GKtwo 3D printer assessment
The Uniformation GKtwo has made an impression out there with its velocity and high quality, distinguishing it from different cheaper DLP fashions. It’s basically a regular 8K resin printer that makes use of an LCD panel to remedy the resin.
What has marked this printer out towards a few 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 lots 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 measurement 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 remedy machines that allow you to maintain that mess to a minimal.
The GK Two can be one in all just a few machines that characteristic a heated construct chamber and air filter, every of which performs an vital operate relating to the place you need to use the printer and guarantee the very best print high quality.
Nonetheless, the purpose stays that, with different 8K machines now out there for much much less, is spending that further capital actually value 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 consumer from the UV mild used to remedy the resin and protects the resin from ambient UV mild, which can inadvertently remedy 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 utterly detachable lids, this resolution is by far one of the best.
The lid covers the principle machine, which options a big metallic base with a touchscreen on the entrance, connection ports across the again, and the resin tank and construct platform inside. The design follows the same old 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 mounted metallic 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. Not like a few of the newest machines, this tank must be manually stuffed to stage earlier than printing.
An more and more widespread characteristic is the heated interior 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 strong and high-quality. Components are simple to entry and clear, and the design has been fastidiously thought out to make sure simple operation. Though the design is nice, one facet that might be improved is including an auto-fill characteristic for the resin.
Uniformation GKtwo: Options
The scale and weight of the machine immediately give this 3D printer a premium appear and feel, making it one of many largest DLP printers out there inside this value vary. Opening up the lid reveals a printing quantity of 228x128x245mm, which, for many fans and modellers, might be an ideal measurement for many creations. Jewellers and product designers may also profit from the marginally larger-than-average construct quantity.
Specs
Print Expertise: 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 huge compatibility with most traditional 3D print resins.
On the subject of transferring prints to the machine, the best method is via the USB port, though it’s also doable to ship the recordsdata throughout utilizing the WiFi connection. To do that, nonetheless, takes some information of the Prusa slicer community settings. On the subject of 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 somewhat daunting. Nonetheless, when you get your head across the choices, the management and skill to regulate helps make this some of the finely tuned choices for resin printing on the market, other than PreForm, which is simply appropriate 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 as a result of machine and print high quality. In use, the machine is easy to arrange, and all through the take a look at, absolute reliability was a key characteristic; so long as you examine the resin tank for any particles, make sure the construct plate is obvious, and clearly hold the resin tank topped up.
Throughout the print course of, two non-print-related facets actually stood out with this printer. The primary was the odor or lack of it. The UniFormation GKtwo has a built-in filter unit, which appears to work extra time to make sure that the room you are printing in stays as resin-smelling-free as doable. All through the take a look at, this actually appeared to be the case, and in contrast with different programs on the market, that are somewhat plug-and-play, that is easy and totally built-in.
The second is that the printer works with out subject, even in chilly climate. Whereas the temperature outdoors dipped beneath 0°C, and circumstances within the workshop weren’t significantly better, the printer continued to supply excellent prints with out subject. That is as a result of heated chamber, which helps to make sure that the print atmosphere is at all times at an optimum.
Uniformation GKtwo: Print high quality
On the subject of printing, the slicer software program is predicated on PRUSA Slicer, so whereas it may be somewhat complicated to get into initially, it does provide you with an enormous quantity of choices over the standard of the print. Extra importantly, it provides you loads of management over the help tree construction, which helps you get better-quality prints as they’re adjusted from the usual settings.
Transferring to the machine and the print workflow, as soon as the mannequin is uploaded by both USB or the Wi-Fi connection, you may then simply go away the machine to get on with the print. The velocity of the machine can be one thing to notice, with prints being produced at an honest velocity in contrast with printers from a yr or two in the past, though extra in keeping with the newest crop of machines.
The print high quality itself is excellent as soon as the prints have been correctly cleaned and all helps eliminated. By way of the take a look at, I used a generic resin, which proved to be somewhat brittle and made it troublesome to take away a few of the help constructions 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 doable after the print course of, wash them for round ten minutes, after which take away the helps earlier than curing. This subject is solely all the way down to the kind of resin used reasonably than the printer.
At 8K, this is not the highest-resolution printer on the market; nonetheless, the standard of the floor and the element actually stand out, making this a terrific selection for mannequin makers and jewellers who want intricate element of their prints. Dimensional accuracy for the purposeful elements made was additionally good, exhibiting that, once more, it is a printer that might be used for prototypes and small manufacturing runs.
General, the print high quality from the UniFormation GKtwo is a few of the greatest that I’ve seen from a resin printer. With the latest value drop, this printer is considerably of a discount, if nonetheless somewhat costlier than a few of the competitors.
Nonetheless, there are a number of factors that you just discover when utilizing the printer, which suggests if I had the cash, then the Kind 3+ is unquestionably the printer that I’d go for surely. It is also the printer that I’d advocate 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 you then’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 right for the very 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 same old battle to launch the print. Then it is only a case of dropping into the Kind Wash, eradicating the helps, after which into the Kind Treatment to complete.
Primarily, Formlabs has created a complete ecosystem that makes the method as mess-free as doable, though eliminating all of the stickiness is not fairly but doable.
As soon as the print has totally dried, it might probably then be labored in order that if there are any remnants of the help construction, these may be eliminated with a file, snips, or knife. Typically, the prints got here out comparatively clear and prepared to be used. One of many essential initiatives for this mission was to create a spotlight bracket for an Arri Alexa observe focus; this required absolute accuracy, though easy. This proved to be a easy sufficient mission for the printer in one of many powerful supplies and was instantly put to make use of.
Likewise, different purposeful elements had been simple to make and help with the Mild-Contact Removing Helps which might be generated by the software program, holding the mannequin agency in the course of the printing course of after which ripping free comparatively simply as soon as the wash course of is full. Underneath a brilliant mild, the prints can then be inspected and cleaned earlier than curing. I discovered that after the wash had been accomplished, I’d take away the helps, brush away any help particles, after which give one other fast wash earlier than curing.
If any helps are left in place in the course of the curing course of, then on some fashions, they’re nearly not possible to take away as a result of energy 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 one of the best of the LCD printers with their high-resolution screens are left behind when the printer is switched to the very best high quality setting.
The floor end and element are additionally distinctive, and whilst you do have to wash up the prints to a better diploma than with many FFF fashions, the standard is simply excellent. For me, the actual benefit of Kind 3+ is the Mild-Contact Removing Help. Not like different printer software program that creates help constructions which might be nearly not possible to take away, the PreForm software program allows you to stability the help construction completely.
Whereas that is aimed on the skilled market and companies comparable to structure, engineering, jewelry, movie, and plenty of extra, this printer may also profit mannequin makers and different craft fans on the lookout for absolute high quality and precision.
Uniformation GKtwo: Remaining verdict
The UniFormation GKtwo is a high-resolution 3D resin printer with an unbelievable quantity going for it. Firstly, the excessive construct high quality stands out, and it packs in all of the options you’ll count on from commercial-end resin printers reasonably than the buyer finish, which is the place the machine’s price locations it.
The photocuring LCD at 8K is without doubt one of the higher-resolution screens on the market however is certainly not the very best, with crop of 12K choices showing at current. Nonetheless, even towards 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 interior 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 remedy course of to deal with as soon as the print has completed. At this level, there is no such thing as 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 take a look at; just like the resin printer, the standard of that is wonderful, and as at all times, it is value buying.
When you 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 possibility if that you must 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.
Ought to You Purchase the Uniformation GKtwo?
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