The Voxelab Aquila S2 3D printer is a new model that has been released last year. It is a direct-drive extruder that can reach 300C. This printer has many features that make it better than the previous model, such as an all-metal hotend. It is also easier to use than other 3D printers, and it is perfect for beginners.

Design

The Creality Ender 3 Pro and the Creality Ender V2 are two 3D printers that have inspired dozens of copies, and they share a lot in common with the Voxelab Aquila X2. The Aquila X2 uses a heated Carborundum glass bed and a build volume of 220 x 220 x 250mm, and it costs about $60 less than the Creality Ender 3 V2. These kinds of clones are fairly common, and their effectiveness is typically determined by how well the business manages the entire user experience.

The Aquila X2 uses a Bowden extruder to remotely feed material to the hot end during printing. This allows users to print with the assurance that the printer will pause just before it breaks, allowing them time to insert a fresh spool of material. Additionally, the PTFE tube prevents the filament from curling and from feeding improperly into the extruder, which might frustrate a novice user.

The Aquila X2 printer has a tensioning knob on both the X and Y axes, which is found at the tip of each extrusion. When printing without ringing or muting detail on sharp corners, this knob can add or reduce tension from the X and Y belts. The more expensive Ender 3 V2 has this feature, but the Ender 3 Pro does not. Voxelab is clearly positioning the Aquila X2 as a competitor to the more expensive Ender 3 V2 rather than the similarly priced Ender 3 Pro by including these tensioning knobs on this printer.

The Aquila X2 printer has two components that are both important to the success of the printer. The component cooling fan is a part of the hot end module and it blows cool air over the printed module. The heat break cooling fan is also a part of the hot end module and it blows cool air over the hot end. These two components are both important because they help to keep the printer running smoothly.

Voxelab Aquila review: Display

The Voxelab Aquila S2 will show four tabs along with the hotbed and nozzle temperatures as soon as the power is turned on. You can access the models that are stored on the microSD card under the first tab, Print. The second tab, Control, allows you to load or unload filament, preheat the extruder for ABS or PLA, change the extruder’s position, and cool it down.

The Settings tab contains all of the device’s settings. The fourth tab, General Information, displays general information about the printer. The knob on the Settings tab is satisfying to use and moves the entire display when an action is registered. ..

Software

The provided compilation programme is straightforward yet effective. The options on the left side can be used to alter a 3D file after it has been loaded. The software can assist with prints that have a significant overhang by adding supports. The supports come in two varieties: linear or tree. An illustration of a tree support is shown above. The supports will break off after the print is finished, helping to keep the print from sagging. Additionally, you will check our article on Voxelab Aquila review.

The printer has a basic printing mode that is easy to use for beginners. The expert mode allows the user to change almost any printer setting they want. All they have to do is connect the printer to a computer or save the configuration to a micro SD card.

Voxelab Aquila review: Performance

To build models layer by layer, a 3D model is converted into instructions that the printer can understand using slicing software. Since Cura is essentially the industry standard for 3D printer slicing software, we chose to use it.

Cura is a 3D printing software that has an earlier version available. To configure a new printer in Cura, some basic setup is necessary, but following the given instructions, this process only took a few minutes. As is customary, the first model we tried to print was a 3DBenchy, an entertaining torture test created to aid in calibrating 3D printers. ..

The Aquila S2 was able to print the part successfully the first time. The outcome was astonishingly flawless, free of obvious flaws like stringing. Many settings, including z-offset and print speed, can be changed instantly from the control interface while a print is running. This can be helpful for experimenting, but for consistency, these parameters should be entered more permanently in Cura once they have been found.

We tried printing a wide range of models, including many with articulated print-in-place joints, to thoroughly test its accuracy. The outcomes were also excellent. The S2 allegedly generates 50dB of noise when operating normally, according to Voxelab. We couldn’t measure this, however we routinely worked with the printer on our desk while doing calls via video conferencing without any issues. The S2 has silent stepper drives, so the cooling fans make up the majority of the noise, which can be easily muffled by Teams and Zoom’s noise-cancelling features, making it ideal for long-running prints. However, we don’t advise sleeping in the same room as a running printer! ..

Calibrating and Leveling

The Voxelab Aquila X2 is a 3D printer that has a height adjustment feature. This allows you to adjust the height between the build platform and the nozzle, which is necessary in order to calibrate the printer properly. The Aquila X2 is similar to other 3D printers in that it requires manual adjustment of the thumbscrews on each corner of the bed. ..

The Aquila X2, a 3D printer designed by Voxelab, seems to have fallen short in comparison to other printers on the market because of its automated levelling process. However, with the advancement of 3D printing technology, semi-automated levelling is becoming more prevalent. In contrast, the Flashforge Adventurer 3 Lite employs a manual levelling process that directs users. This printer is only marginally more expensive than the Aquila X2 and would have distinguished itself from the competition. ..

Voxelab Aquila review: Safety

The Voxelab Aquila, a 3D printer designed for professional use, experienced a problem with its precautionary power off feature. This caused significant ripples in the 3D printing community because it could have caused fires if the printer’s heating elements had stayed on when there was an error. However, the Nation N32G455 and Aquila 6.1.1 firmware on our test device do not exhibit this fire-hazardous behaviour. The heating elements safely shut off when the thermistors are shorted out as well as when the heating process is altered using cold rags or soldering irons. ..

We advise verifying the protective shutdown. For instance, the brass nozzle can be heated to 60 degrees Celsius (140 degrees Fahrenheit) while being held at that temperature with a damp cloth. A warning tone should sound after a brief period, and the nozzle should then cool. ..

The Voxelab Aquila X2 is a printer that uses pre-sliced.gcode files to print models quickly and easily. The ‘TestHook-pla.gcode’ model was the first one we printed, and it took Prusa Silver PLA roughly 40 minutes to complete. A text editor check of the.gcode file reveals that it was created in September of 2020 with the help of “ffslicer 1.27.0.” This model was cut with a base print speed of 50mm/sec, a layer height of .2mm, and a density of 15% hexagonal infill.

The printer arrived in great condition and the print quality was amazing! The vertical sidewalls on the print were especially impressive and the hook was free from any flaws. The material used on this printer is very shiny, which can be a bit of a distraction but overall it looks great. However, there were some gaps between the toolpaths and it appeared that one layer had been slightly under extruded. I would definitely recommend this printer to anyone looking for an amazing print quality!

The “Aquila Test model.gcode” file includes several geometrical shapes that can be used to highlight different calibration-related elements. The hollow cylinder confirms lamination on concentric contours, the arc shows the ability to print a large overhang, the pyramid shape confirms that the cooling fan is cooling the layers properly and not melting small features, and the plate itself demonstrates a smooth top layer. ..

Price and availability

The original Aquila basic model is still available online for about £160. The only difference between the Aquila basic model and the S2 model is that the S2 has a high-temperature hotend and a PEI build plate that can be upgraded for a less expensive overall price. However, the S2 is worth the extra cost for those who are new to 3D printing or who lack the confidence to carry out these upgrades, install custom firmwares, and calibrate steps. ..

Voxelab Aquila review: Conclusion

If you’re new to 3D printing, it’s easy to assemble your first 3D printer. Although it can be challenging if you’re not familiar with 3D printing and 3D printers, it’s a long way from the complexity of being a kit. However, once it has been assembled and calibrated, expect to see some great prints in PLA.

VoxelMaker is a user-friendly slicer that can be used by those just getting started with 3D printing. 3D printers shouldn’t be bound to a single exclusive slicer unless that slicer has something unique up its sleeve. ..