Review: XYZprinting Da Vinci 1.0

Introduction and print quality

3D printing has created an inevitable buzz, but few outside of the design and engineering professions seem able to fully grasp the point. The largest consumer sector at present using 3D printers is the hobbyists, and even then it's more the tech-savvy geek rather than the mainstream modeller, and the reason for this is that the 3D printing process requires skill, time and patience – it's just not as easy as you think it should be.

If you take a photo you can simply download and print it off. However, if you want to create a simple animal model, then you have to learn modelling techniques and often build and configure the 3D printer, all before hitting the print button.

The other option is to download models that others have created and print those, which is fun for a while but quickly loses its intrigue. In the future it may well be possible to download objects such as spare parts, but at present 3D printers just haven't reached a suitable level of accessibility for the mainstream.

XYZprinting's Da Vinci is a 3D printer that removes much of the mystery surrounding the print process, and unlike many other printers is ready to use within minutes of being removed from the box. Its physical size is a little daunting at more than twice that of other popular 3D printers out there, but then this is a printer that has its roots firmly based in education. It comes with an asking price of £490.

Build quality

Despite the huge footprint of 46.8cm x 51cm x 55.8cm (W x H x D) the Da Vinci is well designed, with the main 20cm x 20cm build plate being fully encased within a plastic casing, accessed through a large door on the front.

On one side there are two sockets: one for power and the other for a USB cable that fits directly to either a Mac or PC. The front features the main control panel and small LCD which enables you to switch through a series of options. The main settings and options are all controlled through the software once downloaded to a computer. The top of the printer also opens enabling the filament cassette to be installed.

In the box you'll find a few tools for cleaning the heated nozzle and removing the 3D prints from the build plate. There's also a CD that includes the software that is required for printing.

Getting started

Initial setup and configuration is easy as the filament arrives in an enclosed cassette rather than a spool common with almost every other printer. Feeding the filament through is easy and takes a couple of minutes – once done the plate is already calibrated so all you need to do is start printing.

The printer comes with a few demo models which can be selected through the control panel on the front of the unit. Again, the design has been well thought through and finding the settings and options that you want couldn't be easier.

As with the setup of the hardware, the software follows a similar approach, and once installed automatically checks for updates to ensure that you're using the latest version. Unlike other 3D printers you are limited by the software you can use, with the Da Vinci only working with its own proprietary software rather than any third-party software such as Slicer.

Printing

Standard STL files downloaded from the internet or exported from applications such as Cinema 4D are accepted by the XYZprinting software and will open directly into the 3D view. Once your model is open you have the ability to move it across the application's 3D representation of the build plate, adjust its size and rotation, and make sure that it is based correctly.

The main software controls on the left of the interface, like the controls on the printer, are well thought out, with adjustments made via simple sliders rather than having to type in exact numbers. Although the software isn't as cleanly designed as the likes of Ultimaker's Cura, it's functional and intuitive to use.

Rafts and supports can also be added easily by clicking the relevant tick boxes, although we found that the supports were a bit hit and miss, and using other software such as Cura to add supports – and then exporting and importing back into XYZ's software – tended to create a far better support structure.

Before hitting the print button, you can adjust the print quality with controls over the speed, layer height and wall thickness to name a few – the changes in these settings makes a dramatic difference to the finished quality of the model. In our print samples we found that any model with even the slightest level of complexity proved a challenge for the Da Vinci at the lower quality settings, but cranking the settings up to the maximum print quality showed a marked improvement, although the models where still a little rough and ready when it came to the surface finish.

Print times are long with a small 3cm high model taking a good thirty minutes – and that's ninety minutes worth of noise as this printer is far from quiet.

Verdict

We liked

The XYZprinting Da Vinci 1.0 is an easy to use, no fuss, no mess 3D printer. Compared to other entry-level 3D printers on the market there really is no doubt about the thought that has gone into the design – in fact the Da Vinci has it nailed. There's no messing around with filament or having to sort out spools jamming as the cartridge system works perfectly.

The software does what it does, and it's nearly impossible to adjust the settings in a way that only creates a melted blob of plastic. The crude head cleaner does its job and the heated bed helps to stop the models from warping during the construction process. So as long as the 3D model you wish to print is sound and relatively simple, the Da Vinci will do a good job.

We disliked

The print quality is unfortunately lacking when it comes to mid-level to complex models, and the overall finish even on the highest quality settings is far from perfect. Print speed is slow, and if you want a model with a moderate finish the noise is noticeably louder than most other 3D printers that we have looked at.

The printer is a closed system unlike almost every other consumer model on the market, meaning you're required to use XYZprinting cartridges and software, and the only way around this is to hack it.

Final verdict

If you're prototyping or looking for a cheap 3D printer for intricate modelling then it's worth saving for a more expensive model. However, if you're looking for a 3D printer to use in an educational environment, then the closed system and enclosed print area along with the price makes this an ideal solution.

This Da Vinci 1.0 printer was supplied by Ebuyer and is currently available for £490 (around $750, AU$960).

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