The Uniformation GKtwo has made an affect available in the market with its velocity and high quality, distinguishing it from different cheaper DLP fashions. It’s primarily an ordinary 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 screen. 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 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 remedy machines that allow you to maintain that mess to a minimal.
The GK Two can be certainly one of only some machines that characteristic a heated construct chamber and air filter, every of which performs an vital operate in relation to the place you should use the printer and guarantee the absolute best print high quality.
Nonetheless, the purpose stays that, with different 8K machines now out there for much much less, is spending that extra 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 big construct space. The lid serves a twin operate: it protects the person 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 just a few resin printers with fully detachable lids, this answer is by far the perfect.
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 screen. A pleasant contact right here is that the tank can be quick-release, so it may be eliminated shortly for cleansing when wanted. Not like a few of the newest machines, this tank must be manually crammed to degree earlier than printing.
An more and more widespread characteristic is the heated interior chamber and filter; these are each included into the design moderately 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. Components 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 scale and weight of the machine immediately give this 3D printer a premium feel and look, 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 fanatics and modellers, will probably be an ideal dimension for many creations. Jewellers and product designers will 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 screen that permits a curing time of 2-3 seconds a layer at 0.05mm layer top, utilizing a wavelength vary of 402.5-405nm. Which means that the printer has vast compatibility with most traditional 3D print resins.
Relating to transferring prints to the machine, the only approach is by way of the USB port, though it’s also attainable to ship the recordsdata throughout utilizing the WiFi connection. To do that, nevertheless, takes some information of the Prusa slicer community settings. Relating to 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 slightly daunting. Nonetheless, when you get your head across the choices, the management and skill to regulate helps make this probably the most finely tuned choices for resin printing on the market, apart from 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 wonderful 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 test the resin tank for any particles, make sure the construct plate is evident, and clearly maintain the resin tank topped up.
In the course of the print course of, two non-print-related elements 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 take a look at, this actually gave the impression to be the case, and in contrast with different methods on the market, that are slightly plug-and-play, that is easy and absolutely built-in.
The second is that the printer works with out problem, even in chilly climate. Whereas the temperature outdoors dipped under 0°C, and situations within the workshop weren’t a lot better, the printer continued to supply excellent prints with out problem. 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
Relating to printing, the slicer software program relies on PRUSA Slicer, so whereas it may be slightly complicated to get into initially, it does offer you an enormous quantity of choices over the standard of the print. Extra importantly, it offers you loads of management over the assist 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 via both USB or the Wi-Fi connection, you possibly can 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 slightly brittle and made it troublesome to take away a few of the assist buildings 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 shortly as attainable after the print course of, wash them for round ten minutes, after which take away the helps earlier than curing. This problem is only all the way down to the kind of resin used moderately 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 excellent alternative for mannequin makers and jewellers who want intricate element of their prints. Dimensional accuracy for the practical elements made was additionally good, exhibiting that, once more, this can be 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 few of the greatest that I’ve seen from a resin printer. With the latest value drop, this printer is considerably of a cut price, if nonetheless slightly costlier than a few of the competitors.
Nonetheless, there are a number of factors that you simply discover when utilizing the printer, which implies if I had the cash, then the Type 3+ is certainly the printer that I might go for undoubtedly. 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 you then’re able to go. Likewise, there is not any 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 appropriate for the absolute 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 Type Wash, eradicating the helps, after which into the Type Remedy to complete.
Primarily, 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 might then be labored in order that if there are any remnants of the assist construction, these might be eliminated with a file, snips, or knife. Usually, the prints got here out comparatively clear and prepared to be used. One of many major tasks for this undertaking 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 undertaking for the printer in one of many powerful supplies and was instantly put to make use of.
Likewise, different practical elements have been simple to make and assist with the Gentle-Contact Elimination Helps which can 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. Beneath a vibrant 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 assist 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 not possible to take away as a result of power of the supplies.
When it got here to element, these fashions confirmed a top quality and degree of element that no FFF printer that I’ve used can come near competing with. Even the perfect 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 whilst 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 Type 3+ is the Gentle-Contact Elimination Assist. Not like different printer software program that creates assist buildings which can be virtually not possible to take away, the PreForm software program lets you steadiness the assist construction completely.
Whereas that is aimed on the skilled market and companies akin to structure, engineering, jewelry, movie, and plenty of extra, this printer will even profit mannequin makers and different craft fanatics in search of 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 anticipate from commercial-end resin printers moderately than the patron finish, which is the place the machine’s price locations it.
The photocuring LCD at 8K is likely one of the higher-resolution screens on the market however is not at all the best, with an excellent crop of 12K choices showing at current. Nonetheless, even towards these new machines, the knowledge GKtwo holds its precision and high quality of floor that makes it stand out.
Options such because the display screen, 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 take care of 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 shortly 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.
If you happen to want a resin 3D printer that produces high-quality prints with a wonderful floor end, the UniFormation GKtwo is a superb alternative. It is also an excellent possibility if you might want to use the printer in a big room the place you will even be working or a chilly workshop or room the place temperatures may dip.
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