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Review: BCN3D Sigma D25 – a versatile, next-generation IDEX FFF 3D printer

3D打印行业评论BCN3D Sigma Dbetway必威手机版登录25 3D打印机。

由总部位于巴塞罗那的3D打印机制造商BCN3D设计Sigma D25is a large-format FFF 3D printer featuring the company’s signature IDEX setup. Based on the previously releasedSigma R19 and Sigmax R19系统,D25配备了大量新功能升级,我们将在本评论中介绍。

Based in southern Europe with a global customer base, BCN3D is known to manufacture its systems with ease-of-use and versatility in mind, and the D25 is no exception. Priced at €3,495 ($4,200), the desktop 3D printer is suitable for prosumers, design professionals, and SMEs seeking reliable multi-material functional prototyping and end-use production.

D25旨在作为BCN3D的“下一代”旗舰平台,带来了许多创新,这些创新也在该公司最近发布的Epsilon workbench series. As such, the workhorse is here to signal a new wave of productivity-focused 3D printing.

The BCN3D Sigma D25 3D printer. Photo via BCN3D.
The BCN3D Sigma D25 3D printer. Photo via BCN3D.

Bigger, bolder, better

BCN3D最新进入了Sigma系列A改头换面。D25不是原始R19系统的深灰色框架,其具有全新的银色铝制框架,并配有光滑的黑色徽标横幅,我们必须说我们喜欢它。该公司还决定放开较小的Sigma尺寸的构建量,尺寸为420 x 300 x 200mm,而是选择更竞争性的构建室与较大的Sigmax更紧密地对齐。

The aluminum build plate has also been reimagined, substituting out the conventional PCB heater for a new silicone thermal pad for improved heat distribution. This was an issue we picked up on in our original回顾Sigmax R19,因此很高兴看到公司利用有价值的用户反馈。以最高床温度为80ºC,3D打印机现在将热变化限制为±2ºC(低于±20ºC)。

X和Z轴都得到了加强,以提高稳定性。BCN3D已将铝X轴轨道切换为更强的不锈钢对应物,而通过重新设计的一组Z轴支架,Z轴已使Z轴更强大。

When it comes to connectivity, users can choose between Wi-Fi, ethernet, or SD (a 32gb SD card is included). The D25 now features new and improved Android software, making the menus on the 5” full-color touchscreen all the more fluid and aesthetically pleasing. The system even has a set of LED strips running along the interior to facilitate night-time operation, or simply make operations more eye-catching.

香港的明矾inum build plate. Photo by 3D Printing Industry.
香港的明矾inum build plate. Photo by 3D Printing Industry.

A new take on IDEX 3D printing

As is common with the BCN3D portfolio, the D25 3D printer features an independent dual extrusion setup. With IDEX systems, the two printheads move independently in the X axis, enabling both nozzles to be utilized at the same time for double the throughput. Equipped with high-performanceE3D热台,该系统的最高喷嘴温度为300ºC,使其与PETG,TPU,BVOH和PVA等一系列细丝兼容。

有趣的是,该公司已决定将挤出机放置在打印机框架的外部。尽管不寻常,但设计选择可以消除过热的问题,这有时可能导致挤出机无法握住热量的灯丝。该位置还使挤出机更容易维护。挤出机本身具有高科技双驱动Bondtech gearsand a filament runout sensor, which we found to be a lifesaver on multi-day prints.

The Sigma D25 features two independent extruders with E3D hotends. Photo by 3D Printing Industry.
The Sigma D25 features two independent extruders with E3D hotends. Photo by 3D Printing Industry.

Additionally, the D25 has been fitted with two new filament purge buckets on either side of the bed – both of which are larger than their R19 predecessors. When it comes to spool holders, we have two on the inside and two on the outside, meaning the use of larger third-party spools won’t be a problem at all.

The bed and nozzle calibration processes have also been refined via optimized firmware on the Sigma D25. They are semi-automated, and entirely guided by instructions on the touchscreen. As a user, you’re only required to turn a couple of knobs under the build plate and select the optimal settings from a set of printed test lines presented by the system. The process itself is quite laborious, but the printer remains calibrated for a very long time if done right. For example, our D25 clocked up around 200 hours of print time before requiring a recalibration.

D25的5英寸触摸屏。由3D打印行业摄。
D25的5英寸触摸屏。由3D打印行业摄。

BCN3D Cura slicer

Much like BCN3D’s other systems, the Sigma D25 uses a reskinned version of the open-source Cura slicer. The software operates very similarly to most FFF slicers on the market with basic translation, rotation, and rescaling functionality, and is easy to pick up after a few minutes of fiddling around in the menus. BCN3D Cura also features four dual-extrusion modes that enable users to leverage the system’s IDEX setup: Duplication, Mirror, Multi-material, and Soluble supports.

While we did find a few glitches and occasional laggy menus, the software as a whole works as intended and gets the job done. It’s also worth noting that the BCN3D team is currently working on developing an updated version of the slicer, which should hopefully solve the minor issues we encountered.

BCN3D CURA UI。图片由3D打印行业。
BCN3D CURA UI。图片由3D打印行业。

Benchmarking the Sigma D25: 78/100

So how did the Sigma D25 3D printer fare in our benchmarking tests? We start off with 3D Printing Industry’s own benchmarking model, which consolidates many of our smaller print tests into one comprehensive part. We usually print this test in PLA to compare results between printers, but we also often try a PETG or ABS variant to see how the machine handles the more difficult filaments.

这种基准测试模型以高温PET打印,确实使D25的步伐使该系统在大多数关键测试区域中都表现良好。我们根据尺寸精度,表面质量和结构完整性等因素分配每个部分的加权分数。D25的总体3D印刷行业得分为78/100– a good professional-grade 3D printer is a 60+.

The 3DPI benchmarking model in PETG. Photo by 3D Printing Industry.
The 3DPI benchmarking model in PETG. Photo by 3D Printing Industry.

The overhang test printed successfully up to 50° without any problems, which is a respectable result for a material like PETG. When printed in PLA, we managed to get this number up to 60°, which is excellent. Similarly, the retraction test also printed successfully, albeit with some significant stringing. We weren’t satisfied with the spikes on our first try so we isolated the retraction test and tried it again in PLA with much better results.

The retraction test. Photo by 3D Printing Industry.
The retraction test. Photo by 3D Printing Industry.

The bridging test is really where the D25 stumbled, with the horizontal structures beginning to curve after the 20mm mark with PETG and 30mm with PLA. We chalked this up to a design fault with the printhead’s cooling system, which can sometimes be ineffective depending on the part’s orientation on the build plate. If the fan duct were to blow air a full 360° around the nozzle, temperature-sensitive structures like horizontal bridges would have no trouble at all, regardless of orientation.

The bridging test. Photo by 3D Printing Industry.
The bridging test. Photo by 3D Printing Industry.

We also wanted to see how the Sigma D25 would handle circular structures, so we 3D printed a circular trajectory test. By studying the normal distribution of the concentric circles’ diameters, we can say that the printer offers sufficient repeatability when the mean of difference is under 0.1mm and the standard deviation is under 0.05mm. Our measurement devices are accurate to ±0.015mm.

圆形轨迹测试。由3D打印行业摄。
圆形轨迹测试。由3D打印行业摄。

The results were excellent with an average offset of just 0.0592mm for the X-axis and 0.0318mm for the Y-axis, resulting in an average of 0.0455mm for all axes. The average standard deviation also came in at 0.039mm, which is a great result. For context, industrial FFF 3D printers often tout dimensional accuracies of up to 0.1mm, which qualifies them for high-precision prototyping in industries such as automotive or manufacturing tooling.

Results for the circular trajectory test. Image by 3D Printing Industry.

Below you’ll find the bell curves for the best and worst circles in the test – Circle two for the Y-axis and Circle three for the X-axis. In the best case, 99.6% of the 65mm circles manufactured by this 3D printer will be between 64.94mm and 65.07mm. In the worst case, 99.6% of the 100mm circles fabricated by this 3D printer will be between 99.64mm and 100.13mm.

Bell curves for the best (top) and worst (bottom) circles. Image by 3D Printing Industry.

Real application tests

As always, we also 3D printed a set of ‘real application’ tests to see how the Sigma D25 might handle itself out in the real world. The first of these was a miniature Notre-Dame cathedral. The print came out beautifully, to say the least, with no defects and minimal stringing between the spikes. Many of the cathedral’s fine architectural details were preserved and the structure’s overhangs were all fabricated successfully.

Notre-Dame cathedral print test. Photo by 3D Printing Industry.
Notre-Dame cathedral print test. Photo by 3D Printing Industry.

Then, we opted for a planetary gear system for our mechanical assembly test. Dynamic prints like this one give us an indication as to just how tight the tolerances of the 3D printer are, as the ease of assembly and overall fluidity of the system can be judged very easily. The D25 did an excellent job with this print, as each of our gears had clean surfaces and meshed well with the rest of the assembly, resulting in a fully functional gear system.

Planetary gear system. Photo by 3D Printing Industry.
Planetary gear system. Photo by 3D Printing Industry.

自然,我们还必须打印一个多物质零件,这使我们有机会测试喷嘴相对于彼此的校准程度。我们的Double PLA Fidget玩具是我们在多物质印刷品中见过的一些最干净的材料接口区域,根本没有颜色出血。Sigma D25在这里拥有自己的令人钦佩的地方,比市场上大多数双重排行3D打印机更好地展示了高质量的多物质制造。大胜利。

Double PLA print test. Photo by 3D Printing Industry.
Double PLA print test. Photo by 3D Printing Industry.

Finally, we also tried our hand at a PVA soluble support print. PVA, or polyvinyl alcohol, is a flexible and biodegradable polymer that is very sensitive to moisture. When submerged in water, PVA dissolves, making it a great support material when it comes to partially closed cavities and overhangs. We printed our main part – a topologically-optimized steering column – in PETG. Suffice it to say, the build was a complete success with minimal support scarring and a fully functional prototype.

PVA soluble support print test. Photos by 3D Printing Industry.
PVA soluble support print test. Photos by 3D Printing Industry.

判决结果

BCN3D has gone above and beyond with the Sigma D25 3D printer. The original R19 systems did their jobs and they did them well, but the multitude of upgrades offered by the D25 is enough to breathe new life into the company’s portfolio. With features like a revamped heating system, Wi-Fi connectivity, and a removable bed, this 3D printer has been developed with the love and care you’d give your own child.

诚然,这并不完美,具有严格且相对冗长的校准过程,而切片机则无需写回家。如果您能看到这些小小的抓地力,那么您将获得一个时尚的新设计,可靠的IDEX设置以及可启动的健康构建量 - 所有这些都在低于5000美元的包装中,值得一提。

技术规格

Build volume 420 x 300 x 200mm
挤出机 2(IDEX)
Filament diameter 2.85mm
Layer height 0.05 – 0.5mm
Positioning resolution 1.25/1.25/1 microns
Max bed temperature 80°C
Max nozzle temperature 300°C
Touchscreen 5″ full-color
Connectivity SD, Wi-Fi, ethernet
方面 690 x 530 x 550mm
Weight 30公斤

Buy the BCN3D Sigma D25 3D printer here.该系统现在可以以3,495欧元(4,200美元)的价格订购。

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Featured image shows the BCN3D Sigma D25 3D printer. Photo via BCN3D.