Rapido is one of the best high flow hot-ends, but it comes with a premium price tag. Trianglelab recently announced CHC series hot-ends that feature a similar ceramic heater (and similar performance?) at 1/3 of the price. I will compare both hot-ends and tell you how they stack up.
When it comes to 3D printers, there are three firmware options you can run: Klipper, Marlin, or RepRap firmware. Most printers are shipped with a customized version of Marlin configured for the specific hardware and manufacturer’s branding. If you decide to modify the printer, you will likely have to flash the firmware. Let’s look at their differences and why I prefer Klipper over the others.
Voron 2.4 and Voron Trident are advanced 3D printers running more stepper motors than a basic 3D printer. You used to need two controller boards to run these printers, but recently multiple affordable 8 stepper boards were released. I tested and compared BIGTREETECH Octopus, Manta M8P, FYSETC Spider, Makerbase MKS Monster 8 and Mellow Super 8.
Updated in Septemper 2023 to include the latest generation of boards with integrated Klipper host.
I was looking to build a smaller printer, and I liked Tiny-M’s overall size and design, but I also had some ideas for improvements. I wanted it to be more space-efficient, and I started tinkering in the CAD. When PrusaXL was revealed, I thought the open front was very practical and decided to use the same approach in my design. That’s how the concept of TinyXL was born: based on Tiny-M and inspired by PrusaXL.
NEMA14 36mm round steppers are becoming increasingly popular extruder stepper motors due to their small weight and high torque. I have tested LDO-36STH17-1004AHG, LDO-36STH20-1004AHG, and Moons’ 36mm 20mm steppers, and I will share my thoughts on them.
Voron 3D printers are great but building one can be challenging. The assembly manual is a great resource, and there are plenty of YouTube guides you can watch. I will share some of my own tips to help you with the build.
Phaetus recently announced Rapido hotend and it packs some of the advantages of E3D Revo in a more traditional package. Let’s break down the new features and compare it to other hotends.
E3D just introduced a new Revo hotend, and it took the attention of the whole 3D printing community. There’s clearly a lot of innovation going on with the Revo, and I’m going to try and break it down whether it’s worth the hype and your money.
Once you start tinkering with your 3D printer, it can turn from a tool to a hobby. If you get there, you should consider building a DIY open source printer. They are great for tinkering because you get access to the CAD files and you can modify any part on the printer.
A new extruder can significantly improve your print quality and speed. If you are still running a BMG extruder you should know there are better options out there.