3D打印行业reviews the Xioneer VXL range of soluble support materials, and the Vortex EZ automated support removal station.
成立于2013年，Xioneer一开始作为一个温和的3 d打印机制造商英航sed in Vienna, Austria. The company made a name for itself with its FFF 3D printers and even went on to win the Formnext Startup Challenge in 2016 for its Xioneer Desktop system, featuring a patented tool-changer device.
该公司最终在2019年被德国化学公司Bellandtechnology Ag收购，不久之后就以当今的Xioneer品牌团结了。该公司现在专门研究3D打印支持材料以及外围硬件，例如拆卸系统和细丝储物盒。
这unique capability of Xioneer is that they polymerize their materials directly in their factory – meaning that Xioneer doesn’t mix existing polymers but creates its own. According to Xioneer, this allows them to “invent plastics that never existed before”, like the VXL support material.
这Vortex EZis Xioneer’s flagship automated soluble support removal station. The desktop system aims to fill the accessibility niche, providing an easy and affordable method of post-processing FFF 3D printed parts. Suitable for indoor use, the machine can be used everywhere from offices and schools to workshops and production floors.
Streamlining soluble support removal
这Vortex EZoperates on two key support removal techniques: heat and continuous fluid agitation (kinetic energy). From the exterior, it looks like a fairly simple piece of kit where the bulk of the frame is a basic stainless steel tank with a matte finish. The body is double-walled for improved thermal insulation and durability, and it can hold up to 36L of liquid solution at a time.
On the front, you’ll find a temperature regulation knob that controls the internal dissolution temperature up to 85°C. It does this via an internal high-power 1,200W heater, which also comes equipped with overheat protection functionality for safety. On the lower side of the Vortex EZ, there is a drainage tap used to drain the cleaning solution from the vat in a consistent and controlled manner, meaning you won’t need to scoop any solvent out manually.
在后处理站内，有一个零件篮，可以适合最大450 x 250 x 200mm的大型3D打印组件。确实可以通过易于使用的夹系统移动篮子，因此可以将零件装载和卸载，而无需用户触摸储罐中的溶剂。
涡EZ enabl流体搅拌机制ed by an internal brushless motor-powered impeller. This is what provides the mechanical aspect of the support removal technology, helping to dissolve the soluble supports faster.
由于硬件的简单性，您还会发现Vortex EZ的支持删除工作流程非常精简。与3D打印机不同，没有用于打印准备的软件，因此您可以在不到一分钟的时间内插入机器并启动引擎。
要使用Xioneer，请用自来水和公司自己无毒的VXL-EX洗衣粉中的几汤匙填充水箱。将3D打印的零件放在篮子中，根据支撑材料设置温度，然后让系统发挥魔力。根据零件的几何形状，您可能需要将零件放在溶液中的时间为半小时到几个小时。完成后，只需用自来水冲洗剩余的清洁液，就可以使用组件即可。
这VXL材料ecosystem
Xioneer提供四个可溶性支撑丝：VXL 70（1X 500G），VXL 90（1X 500G），VXL 111（1X 750G）和VXL 130（1X 100G）。
这se acrylate-based support materials don’t dissolve in pure water alone, meaning they’ll need to be used in conjunction with the company’s VXL EX washing powder. The company states that VXL EX is a safe-to-use, and is similar to household detergent, used to wash laundry for instance.
那些愿意使用自己的第三方支持材料的人可以免费这样做，因为该系统还可以处理PVA和BVOH等普通丝。
VXL 70 is Xioneer’s entry-level offering, suitable for low-temperature model materials such as PETG and TPU. The next one up is VXL 90, the all-rounder support filament for mid-temperature model materials like ABS. VXL 111 is compatible with tougher engineering filaments like PA and PC, while VXL 130 is the high-temperature beast designed for the likes of PEEK and PEI.
基准测试Xioneer Vortex EZ
为了将Vortex EZ进行测试，我们通过机器总共进行了13个3D打印的可溶性支持构建，涵盖了Xioneer的所有VXL支持材料中的所有四种。We found all four filaments to be extremely easy to print with and unlike PVA, they’re not all that sensitive to moisture so it’s not a death sentence if they’re left in a room without tight humidity control (we still recommend drying all filaments before using them).
在所有情况下，VXL支持与模型材料之间的粘结也非常好。Xioneer的细丝既符合Buildtak构建板和PEI印刷表面，又没有翘曲或分层问题。使用公司建议的温度设置，每次后处理跑步都需要1 - 1.5小时才能完全溶解所有支撑。
对于我们的第一个批次工作，我们处理了三个VXL 70零件：几何狼头模型（PLA），复杂的体积细胞设计（PETG）和拓扑优化的无人机框架（PETG）。
当涉及到第一组VXL 70组件时，Xioneer的Vortex EZ无疑给人留下了深刻的印象。该系统设法溶解了所有可溶性支持，而不会影响PLA和PETG模型的几何形状。尤其是几何狼头和无人机框架，另一侧出现了非常干净的，几乎没有痕迹，从来没有支撑结构。
接下来，VXL 90批次包括狮子雕塑（ABS），酒瓶支架（ABS），杯架（PETG）和一般设计的RC汽车组件（PETG）。
这VXL 90 batch was even better than the first one, with smooth and residue-free surfaces all around. The support interface zones on the 3D printed wine bottle holder are virtually invisible, while the RC car component looks like it’s hot off a support-free build plate. There are some artifacts on the underside of the lion’s mane and stringing in the geometry of the cup holder, but these can be attributed to non-optimal 3D printing parameters rather than the performance of the Xioneer’s VXL 90.
继续前进，VXL 111零件包括Hilbert Cube（ABS），MagSafe手机支架（ABS），斜角齿轮（PA）和俯卧撑手柄（PA12-CF）。
Our penultimate batch of VXL 111 parts turned out excellent on the whole. The Hilbert cube and bevel gear are completely defect-free, while the MagSafe charging stand is perfectly suited to end-use.
在黑色PA12-CF俯卧撑手柄上要注意的一件事是后处理留下的残留物。我们认为，储罐中先前使用的VXL-EX解决方案可能已经在3D打印部分的层之间渗入，因此更换两次用途之间的水可能是个好主意。
Finally, we post-processed a VXL 130-supported engineering bracket 3D printed in PC. We managed to manually remove the bulk of the supports before submerging the part in the Vortex EZ, but the system made quick work of any residue, leftover stringing, and the hard-to-reach supports that filled the small holes in the part. This was a strong finish for the Vortex EZ, showing just how useful automated support removal can be when it comes to tight cavities.
For comparison, we also printed this part in PC with PC supports a while back. We had a significantly harder time manually removing the PC supports than simply letting the Xioneer do the heavy lifting. The PC-PC model also ended up with an abundance of support scarring on it.
这verdict
在开发Vortex EZ时，Xioneer开始着手创建一种简单而流线的后处理3D打印零件的方法。经过广泛的测试后，我们可以肯定地说自动支持删除系统与广告宣传一样有效。
既有热量和机械搅动机制，毫无意义的机器都非常适合那些没有时间，能量或意志力去除手动支撑的人。涡流EZ配备了大型篮子和宽敞的水箱，还使批量处理与派一样容易。
关于Xioneer的VXL支撑丝也有话要说。根据我们的经验，它们具有出色的可打印能力，并且不像广泛使用的PVA支持材料那样气质。它们还与从PETG和ABS到PA和PC，甚至窥视的所有内容都兼容，因此，VXL提供了几乎任何专业应用程序。
For the cost-conscious 3D printer users out there, there’s also the option to 3D print the bulk of the supports with the model material, while just printing the interface zones with VXL filaments. This way, you can still avoid support scarring while your VXL spools last a lot longer.
技术规格
| 篮子尺寸 | 465 x 275 x 210mm |
| Max part size | 450 x 250 x 200mm |
| 机器尺寸 | 640 x 435 x 370mm |
| 重量（无溶剂） | 22公斤 |
| Tank solvent capacity | 11 - 38L |
| 可调温度范围 | 30°C – 85°C |
| 加热时间 | 大约1小时 |
Buy the Xioneer Vortex EZ support removal station here.
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特色图显示了Xioneer Vortex EZ和包装内容。由3D打印行业摄。
