Flashforge Adventurer 4 3D printer review: The perfect printer to start your adventure
Source: Chris Wedel / Windows Central
I've always been fascinated with 3D printing just besides intimated. It has seemed almost like something out of a sci-fi flick to the boilerplate consumer — mostly considering that'due south where many of us have had the virtually exposure to it. That'south why I was and then excited to have the gamble to check out the Flashforge Adventurer 4.
In contempo years, thanks to the cost of these machines coming downward, the betoken of entry has dropped so much that 3D printing is accessible to anyone interested. While the Adventurer 4 isn't necessarily entry-level priced, like something like the fantabulous Elegoo Neptune ii, information technology has many features found on much more than expensive units at an obtainable cost.
Though the Flashforge Adventurer 4 has all the capabilities to be an excellent printer for printing professionals, educators, and experienced hobbyists, I'thou none of those things. This is the first FDM filament printer I've e'er used. Coming into this, I had only used an SLA resin printer for about a month, so I am very much a beginner in the 3D press world. Is the Adventurer 4 a daunting hazard for a beginner or a casual walk in the park? Permit's get into it.
Flashforge Adventurer 4
Lesser line: The Flashforge Adventurer 4 is a large printer with the build book to lucifer. Its auto-leveling bed, swappable nozzles, easy-to-apply interface, and more make this printer a great device for beginner and seasoned vets of the hobby alike.
The Good
- Splendid build platform system
- Compatible with a wide variety of filaments
- Piece of cake to use right out of the box
- Swappable print nozzles
- The enclosure keeps the print area clean
The Bad
- Doesn't autodetect the print nozzle
- The built-in photographic camera isn't great
- FlashPrint software lacks some bones features
Flashforge Charlatan 4: Toll and availability
Source: Chris Wedel / Windows Central
The Flashforge Adventurer 4 is bachelor in one color, blackness with clear panels, since launch in Apr 2022. The printer is institute at multiple retailers, including Amazon and B&H, for $799, which includes 1kg of PLA filament. Through Flashforge's own web store, the printer is available in the standard $799 configuration as well as the options to get 2kg or 4kg of PLA filament for $829 and $859, respectively.
Flashforge Adventurer iv: What's good
Source: Chris Wedel / Windows Cardinal
As mentioned previously, before receiving the Flashforge Adventurer 4, I had never used or been directly exposed to 3D printing. From beingness hesitant to learn the minutia of the technology to deciding which of the excellent 3D printers would be best for me, I never took the leap. But all the promises of what the Adventurer 4 offered eased many of my concerns and only emboldened my mind for what's possible with a 3D printer.
I approached setting up and using the Adventurer 4 equally a consummate newbie — considering that's what I was.
I'll become ahead and preface this review with — if you are looking for all of the nitty-gritty of what goes into 3D printing and the depth of settings that can be tweaked when using a printer, yous will likely be disappointed. I was and withal am a beginner in this space. So, if yous are interested in 3D printing and desire to become started, or experienced and want to acquire well-nigh a new printer — I got y'all.
Allow's become this out of the way commencement: This printer is non small, so you'll want to ensure you take aplenty space to set it upwardly. Now, you don't need to dedicate an unabridged room to it, simply it isn't nice either. Only a big printer ways large print book as well, and beingness excited to print something just to find out that you don't have a platform big enough to handle it is a major letdown — in that location'southward plenty of room here. While it isn't the seemingly never-ending space provided by the Creality CR 30, you'll likely be very happy with what's available.
Source: Chris Wedel / Windows Central
In the box, Flashforge ships 2 flexible build plates, the thing that the printer really prints onto, which magnetically adhere to the automobile-leveling platform. Different many printers on the market, the Adventurer four's platform is a solid-state printing expanse that doesn't crave adjustments to ensure quality prints.
Also in the box are some tools for maintaining the car — making sure screws and components stay tight, a grease packet, a USB flash drive, additional nozzles, leveling carte, an extra filament guide tube joint, an unclogging pin too, and the 1kg of PLA filament.
| Specs | Flashforge Adventurer 4 |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 500mm x 470mm x 550mm (19.7 x eighteen.5 x 21.3 inches) |
| Build volume | 220mm x 200mm x 250mm (8.67 x 7.87 10 nine.84 inches) |
| Weight | 26kg (57.iii pounds) |
| Display | 4.3-inch touchscreen LCD |
| Internal storage | 8GB |
| Printheads | One |
| Travel speed | Up to 150mm/s |
| Max bed temperature | 110C (230F) |
| Max nozzle temperature | 265C (509F) |
| Nozzle bore | 0.3mm 0.4mm (default) 0.6mm |
| Camera | ✔️ |
| Air filtration | HEPA xiii |
| Racket level | <50dB |
| Filament compatibility | PLA ABS PC PETG PLA-CF PETG-CF |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi USB Ethernet |
Afterwards removing all of the packing materials and the plastic, I ready the printer onto my tabular array and powered it on. The beginning matter I did to the printer was connect it to my local Wi-Fi using the 4.3-inch LCD touchscreen. Borer in my password was tricky using the tiny on-screen keyboard, but in one case it was washed, the motorcar checked for any software updates. While the Adventurer 4 did its initialization procedure, I began installing the FlashPrint software onto my computer.
This software is used to set prints for your printer. Once selecting the Flashforge Adventurer 4 as my printer within the software, it scanned my network to find the printer. Once that was done, the software knew what the available build expanse was and all of the other parameters of the printer.
Getting started with the printer probably could have been smoother had I watched any videos or researched showtime.
Back to the actual printer and getting it ready to go, I was now ready to load the filament. The PLA filament in the box is a standard 1.75mm textile and as such is fix for the pre-installed 0.4mm 240C nozzle. Depending on the textile you are using and printing needs, you can easily swap out the nozzle on the Adventurer four — but there are a couple of catches to that procedure I'll go over later.
Loading the filament is a relatively simple procedure on this printer. Start by pressing the Prepare button on the touchscreen, and so filament, and finally load. The Charlatan iv will then brandish instructions on the screen for what's to come. But to go the filament prepare to load, simply open the side door, hang the filament reel on the peg, gently put the end of the fabric into the hold indicated past the yellow sticker with an arrow on information technology.
Source: Chris Wedel / Windows Central
In one case you've gotten to that indicate, press Next on the screen, and the machine will beginning feeding the filament into the tube and eventually out of the heated nozzle. Press Consummate on the screen, and y'all're done and fix to impress.
Now, should yous probably go through the scale process? Yes. Did I? No. It wasn't because I didn't want to. Information technology was mostly because I didn't know about it since I wanted to start press as soon equally possible. I later on calibrated the machine after many successful prints mainly just to experience what it entailed. Thankfully the Adventurer 4 walks through the process on the display pretty well.
The Charlatan four has two modes for calibration — normal and expert. I bypassed both and started printing right away.
With a personally uncalibrated machine and the filament loaded in, I was eager and ready to print. In apprehension of the Flashforge printer arriving, I had constitute a few things I wanted to impress outset on Thingiverse. Because when I got the Adventurer 4, Squid Games was at height hype, and I tried to print a replica of the Front Man mask.
I downloaded the file and loaded it into FlashPrint. One time there, I ensured it fit the platform space and machine-added supports. For those unsure, these are bits of material that are printed to openings or overhanging to ensure that they don't collapse during printing. Next, it was on to click the Showtime Slicing push button to finalize the print settings. The program uses preset temperatures, speeds, and other options by choosing the material type. And so, I picked PLA and sliced the file.
Source: Chris Wedel / Windows Central
Once the file finished processing, I clicked on Local Save then Send to Printer. Then all that was left was to select the printer showing on my network and get started. Instantly I could hear the printer fan start and begin heating both the nozzle and the print bed. The temperatures rapidly reached the conditions set along by the file I sent, and then the press started.
As this was going to be a very long impress, over 12 hours, I let this one go overnight. While I knew that I was likely setting unrealistic expectations for a first impress with no calibration to the printer, I was going on bullheaded organized religion. When I checked the print in the morning, I was greeted with a failed spaghetti of a print. I removed the platform, put the 2nd 1 on the impress bed, and picked a new projection to impress.
Source: Chris Wedel / Windows Central
After the failed first attempt, Adventurer 4 rattled off multiple projects for me without issue. I printed everything from functional pieces similar carabiners and minor desk drawers, even a phone case for my Pixel half dozen Pro using TPU filament, to fidget spinner and collapsing swords for my kids. All of these were done without any calibration of the machine, but out of the box and go.
I did finally calibrate the motorcar subsequently somewhere effectually 100 hours of printing. I did this considering non only had I swapped nozzles for the press of PETG filament that requires a college impress temperature, but I had besides begun having some prints with uneven layers. The calibration was a quick and a simple procedure that got me back to excellent prints in no time.
Perhaps my favorite part about the Flashforge Adventurer 4, aside from the fact that it was pretty much beginner proof, is that information technology is fully enclosed. This feature ways that not merely does it help keep whatever unpleasant smells from the printing process down in conjunction with the HEPA thirteen filter, but information technology also keeps the building expanse clean.
My 3D printing takes place in my role/storage shed, and it gets dusty very hands, thanks to the fact that I live on the due north side of a gravel route. The enclosure on the Adventurer 4 helps keep grit from getting on the build plate, allowing for better prints. Another benefit of the enclosed manner this printer sports is that it helps maintain the nozzle's temperatures and print bed much improve than an open printer does.
Something else worth noting that has come in handy with this printer is its power to resume a print should the Adventurer iv lose power. I live in rural Kansas, and sudden power losses aren't uncommon. I had on more than one occasion a impress in process and the power to my home go out. Once restored and I got the printer turned on, it asked whether I wanted to resume. I tapped aye, and it dorsum to information technology every bit though nothing had happened.
Flashforge Charlatan iv: What'southward not skillful
Source: Chris Wedel / Windows Cardinal
The Flashforge Adventurer four has a lot of fantastic things going for it, especially for beginners. The possibilities are virtually endless for more experienced folks who are great at 3D modeling and tweaking all of the bachelor settings to take total advantage of this printer. Nevertheless, even for someone like myself who is a novice to this hobby, some areas could be improved.
For instance, while information technology is great that the printer nozzles can be swapped out for more press options, the steps to do then are non well explained. Nor does the printer itself describe the full process for doing this. The safest mode to change out the impress head is to remove the filament from the machine. Then pre-heat the nozzle that'due south getting removed take it out, employ the unclogging tool to articulate the nozzle of whatsoever remaining filament before it cools.
No tools are technically required to modify out nozzles, but the knowledge of how to practise it properly isn't provided with the motorcar.
Clipping in the new nozzle and inbound the temperature offset that is noted on the nozzle bag into the Adventurer 4 is like shooting fish in a barrel enough. Just be sure you lot don't lose the bag. All that's needed adjacent is to load your filament back in. While this isn't a terribly hard process, it isn't explained and could be made more manageable. Aside from illustrating the initial steps to clear the filament, it would exist wonderful if the car could autodetect the nozzle and make temperature adjustments every bit needed.
This actress feature would ensure that in that location's no defoliation every bit to what the size and temperature allowances are for the installed nozzle. When the machine has connectivity and fail-safes for other parts of the press process — bed and nozzle temperature, improperly loaded filament, etc. — knowing what printer nozzle is in the machine should be one.
Source: Chris Wedel / Windows Key
Speaking of recognizing things, the Flashforge Charlatan 4 has a born camera. On the i hand, it's a fun feature to offer. Simply on the other, the lighting conditions inside the printing area and the terrible camera itself mean that the images and video captured are basically useless.
Getting photos and videos from the printer can be washed a few different ways — manually using a flash bulldoze, through FlashPrint, and the ii compatible cloud services — Polar Cloud and FlashCloud. No, this feature isn't a deal-breaker as information technology doesn't bear upon the quality of the prints. Just, it does limit properly monitoring things remotely using what is congenital into the Charlatan 4.
Source: Chris Wedel / Windows Key
The other part of using the Flashforge Adventurer 4 is the slicing software for prepping files to impress. Don't get me wrong; it does a fine task. FlashPrint is straightforward, clean-looking, and easy to learn — well, aside from understanding some of the more than avant-garde settings. But what I'd beloved to run across are some basic tools available — things like a ruler for measuring parts other than the entire piece or even unproblematic 3D modeling options.
There potentially could be another downfalls of the printer from a technical standpoint, but as I mentioned at the first of this review — I'chiliad a newbie. I've been able to navigate using it and to produce a wide diversity of prints with trivial to no issues. However, I would like to see the quirks mentioned above addressed.
Flashforge Adventurer 4: Competition
Source: Monoprice
Flashforge makes a lot of unlike printers and is known for its enclosed printers, like the Adventurer 3 and the Creator Pro 2. But other brands are making skilful-quality enclosed printers that may exist of interest, especially if you are just getting started and would like to save some money. 1 such printer is the Monoprice MP Voxel.
Firstly, this is quite a bit smaller than the Adventurer 4 and and then is the print area that has a flexible and removable build plate. However, it is fully enclosed with Wi-Fi connectivity. It also offers quick-change nozzles that allow you to swap them out to adjust dissimilar filament types. You won't observe an auto-leveling bed, though it does have assisted leveling and a congenital-in camera.
Source: Windows Central
If you are looking for a large print expanse, great print quality, and saving a lot of coin over the Adventurer iv, then the Elegoo Neptune 2 may be for you. It has the aforementioned build plate size equally the Flashforge option, but it isn't magnetic or automobile-leveling. You'll find a heated bed and nozzle temperature options that permit for multiple filament options.
At $250, the impress quality is first-class. Only at that price, there are concessions like no internet connectivity. Then you'll be adding your print files manually via the microSD slot. This also means there'due south no photographic camera for keeping an eye on your prints. The Neptune 2 offers filament detection and power loss detection to proceed its identify for resuming the impress when ability is restored.
Flashforge Charlatan 4: Should y'all purchase it?
Source: Chris Wedel / Windows Primal
You lot should buy this if ...
- You desire a high-quality, fully enclosed printer.
- You lot want a printer that requires very few adjustments to commencement printing.
- You desire piece of cake-to-use slicing software.
- You want a printer that can handle a wide variety of filament materials.
You lot shouldn't buy this if ...
- You want a printer that autodetects the nozzle specs
- You want to monitor your prints remotely using the built-in camera clearly.
- You want a printer that tin can print multiple materials at the same time.
While the Adventurer 4 isn't the cheapest printer on the marketplace, it is a very adept choice for beginners. Thank you to the enclosed design of the machine, the printing expanse stays costless of dust, temperatures are better regulated, and fumes are most non-existent. The loftier build quality and self-leveled build platform make this printer fix to go out of the box, aside from potentially needing to calibrate the nozzle.
But if you swap nozzles, you will need to accept on a bit of effort since the automobile won't autodetect the temperature rating for the new nozzle. While the poor photographic camera quality shouldn't deter someone from picking up the Adventurer four, it is disappointing that it tin can't be better utilized for remotely monitoring prints.
Is the Flashforge Charlatan four a neat printer for the experienced? Yes, but so are many others. What the Adventurer 4 offers straight away is the ability to begin printing with near no knowledge of the necessities to get started. Now, will the prints that I know how to create and suit with my express knowledge using this printer win any awards? No. Just could they if I took the time to larn the minutiae of this hobby and the printer? Yes.
I couldn't be happier with this printer. I have had far more successful prints than I have failed. I've fumbled around in the settings after watching some videos online and from reading some tutorials and take managed to mess some things upwardly. Simply, I was just as apace able to go the Adventurer 4 back to its initial settings and return to making prints.
This printer has immune me to confidently enter into the 3D printing hobby. Being able to essentially start printing right out of the box while also expanding my knowledge and print quality. Plus, as fourth dimension goes on, the printer will only get better in what information technology can produce as my skills ameliorate.
Flashforge Adventurer four
Bottom line: Whether you are looking to expand your printing capacity or get started in the hobby, the Adventurer iv is a great identify to start, thanks to its first-class build quality and feature set.
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Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/flashforge-adventurer-4-3d-printer-review
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