The Uniformation GKtwo has made an impression out there with its pace and high quality, distinguishing it from different cheaper DLP fashions. It’s primarily a regular 8K resin printer that makes use of an LCD panel to treatment the resin.
What has marked this printer out towards a number of the finest 3D printers we have seen in a reasonably crowded market is the construct high quality and high-resolution display. Nevertheless, 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 dimension and weight reinforce its absolute construct high quality. When you get into the total resin workflow, which is commonly messy, Uniformation has the total ecosystem of wash and treatment machines that allow you to maintain that mess to a minimal.
The GK Two can also be considered one of only some machines that characteristic a heated construct chamber and air filter, every of which performs an essential perform with regards to the place you should use the printer and guarantee the very best print high quality.
Nevertheless, the purpose stays that, with different 8K machines now obtainable for a lot 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 perform: it protects the consumer from the UV mild used to treatment the resin and protects the resin from ambient UV mild, which can inadvertently treatment 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 fully detachable lids, this resolution is by far the most effective.
The lid covers the primary machine, which options a big steel base with a touchscreen on the entrance, connection ports across the again, and the resin tank and construct platform inside. The design follows the standard 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 fastened steel 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 also be quick-release, so it may be eliminated shortly for cleansing when wanted. In contrast to a number of the newest machines, this tank must be manually crammed to stage earlier than printing.
An more and more widespread characteristic is the heated interior chamber and filter; these are each integrated into the design somewhat than being add-ons, so that they sit neatly and securely as a part of the system.
General, the design is stable and high-quality. Elements are simple to entry and clear, and the design has been fastidiously thought out to make sure simple operation. Though the design is sweet, one facet that may very well be improved is including an auto-fill characteristic for the resin.
Uniformation GKtwo: Options
The dimensions and weight of the machine immediately give this 3D printer a premium feel and look, making it one of many largest DLP printers obtainable inside this worth vary. Opening up the lid reveals a printing quantity of 228x128x245mm, which, for many fans and modellers, might be an ideal dimension for many creations. Jewellers and product designers can even profit from the marginally larger-than-average construct quantity.
Specs
Print Know-how: 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 Pace: 2-3 seconds per layer at 0.05 mm
On the coronary heart of the machine is the photocuring 8K LCD display that permits a curing time of 2-3 seconds a layer at 0.05mm layer peak, utilizing a wavelength vary of 402.5-405nm. Which means that the printer has large compatibility with most traditional 3D print resins.
In terms of transferring prints to the machine, the only approach is via the USB port, though additionally it is attainable to ship the information throughout utilizing the WiFi connection. To do that, nevertheless, takes some information of the Prusa slicer community settings. In terms of the slicer software program used with the printer, Uniformation has tailored a model of Prusa Slicer, which, as at all times, works easily.
Nevertheless, for some customers, the superior particulars of that utility can initially be a bit of daunting. Nevertheless, when you get your head across the choices, the management and talent to regulate helps make this some of the finely tuned choices for resin printing on the market, other than PreForm, which is just 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 check, absolute reliability was a key characteristic; so long as you verify the resin tank for any particles, make sure the construct plate is obvious, and clearly hold the resin tank topped up.
In the course of the print course of, two non-print-related points 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 additional time to make sure that the room you are printing in stays as resin-smelling-free as attainable. All through the check, this actually appeared to be the case, and in contrast with different techniques on the market, that are a bit of plug-and-play, that is easy and absolutely built-in.
The second is that the printer works with out subject, even in chilly climate. Whereas the temperature exterior dipped under 0°C, and situations within the workshop weren’t a lot better, the printer continued to provide 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
In terms of printing, the slicer software program is predicated on PRUSA Slicer, so whereas it may be a bit of 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.
Shifting to the machine and the print workflow, as soon as the mannequin is uploaded via both USB or the Wi-Fi connection, you may then simply go away the machine to get on with the print. The pace of the machine can also be one thing to notice, with prints being produced at an honest pace in contrast with printers from a yr or two in the past, though extra according to the latest 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 check, I used a generic resin, which proved to be a bit of brittle and made it tough to take away a number of the help buildings with some prints. Whereas the resin was brittle, it was a high-detail choice and gave an outstanding floor end to the fashions. The trick right here was to take away the prints from the machine as shortly as attainable after the print course of, wash them for round ten minutes, after which take away the helps earlier than curing. This subject is only all the way down to the kind of resin used somewhat than the printer.
At 8K, this is not the highest-resolution printer on the market; nevertheless, the standard of the floor and the element actually stand out, making this an incredible selection for mannequin makers and jewellers who want intricate element of their prints. Dimensional accuracy for the purposeful components made was additionally good, displaying that, once more, it is a printer that may very well be used for prototypes and small manufacturing runs.
General, the print high quality from the UniFormation GKtwo is a number of the finest that I’ve seen from a resin printer. With the current worth drop, this printer is considerably of a discount, if nonetheless a bit of costlier than a number of the competitors.
Nevertheless, there are a number of factors that you simply discover when utilizing the printer, which implies if I had the cash, then the Kind 3+ is unquestionably the printer that I might go for surely. It is also the printer that I might suggest for any enterprise needing a production-quality mannequin.
The primary of the factors round efficiency is the workflow. Whereas different printers are shortly 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 then you definately’re able to go. Likewise, there is no faffing round with adjustment; the machine does the whole lot on that entrance for you, together with filling the tank and ensuring that the temperature and consistency of the resin are appropriate 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 standard 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.
Basically, Formlabs has created a whole ecosystem that makes the method as mess-free as attainable, though eliminating all of the stickiness is not fairly but attainable.
As soon as the print has absolutely dried, it could possibly then be labored in order that if there are any remnants of the help construction, these might be eliminated with a file, snips, or knife. Typically, the prints got here out comparatively clear and prepared to be used. One of many important initiatives for this mission was to create a spotlight bracket for an Arri Alexa comply with focus; this required absolute accuracy, though easy. This proved to be a easy sufficient mission for the printer in one of many robust supplies and was instantly put to make use of.
Likewise, different purposeful components 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 shiny mild, the prints can then be inspected and cleaned earlier than curing. I discovered that when the wash had been accomplished, I might 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 virtually inconceivable to take away as a result of energy of the supplies.
When it got here to element, these fashions confirmed a top quality and stage of element that no FFF printer that I’ve used can come near competing with. Even the most effective of the LCD printers with their high-resolution screens are left behind when the printer is switched to the best high quality setting.
The floor end and element are additionally distinctive, and when you do have to scrub up the prints to a higher 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. In contrast to different printer software program that creates help buildings which might be virtually inconceivable to take away, the PreForm software program lets you stability the help construction completely.
Whereas that is aimed on the skilled market and companies corresponding to structure, engineering, jewelry, movie, and lots of extra, this printer can even profit mannequin makers and different craft fans searching for absolute high quality and precision.
Uniformation GKtwo: Closing verdict
The UniFormation GKtwo is a high-resolution 3D resin printer with an unimaginable quantity going for it. Firstly, the excessive construct high quality stands out, and it packs in all of the options you’d anticipate from commercial-end resin printers somewhat than the buyer finish, which is the place the machine’s value locations it.
The photocuring LCD at 8K is without doubt one of the higher-resolution screens on the market however is in no way the best, with a great crop of 12K choices showing at current. Nevertheless, 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 increase the general efficiency and assist make sure the excessive print high quality and reliability that this printer is able to.
As with all resin printer, the machine and the print are simply the beginning of the method, as there may be the entire wash and treatment course of to deal with as soon as the print has completed. At this level, there isn’t a fast launch from the platform for the print, whereas the platform itself is shortly launched from the machine. Uniformation does produce a wash and curing machine, which I used all through the check; just like the resin printer, the standard of that is wonderful, and as at all times, it is value buying.
In case you want a resin 3D printer that produces high-quality prints with a superb floor end, the UniFormation GKtwo is a superb selection. It is also a great choice if you could use the printer in a big room the place you may even be working or a chilly workshop or room the place temperatures may dip.
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