Elegoo Neptune 4 review

Value When Reviewed

£349.99

Finest Costs Right now: Elegoo Neptune 4

There are such a lot of 3D printers, particularly funds ones, that it may be laborious to know the place to begin in the event you’re a newbie. There’s a lot extra to consider than a “2D” printer. Actually, it’s finest to think about a 3D printer a very completely different breed from the inkjet or laser you may have already got at dwelling.

It is perhaps tempting to take the tried-and-tested route and purchase a Creality Ender 3 of some description. Nevertheless, Elegoo’s Neptune 4 is actually a worthy various. It makes it straightforward to get began with 3D printing, with a easy setup course of, a superb flip of pace and spectacular outcomes.

However is that sufficient to make it the go-to 3D printer for novices? I spent just a few weeks utilizing it to seek out out.

Setup 

• Comparatively simple meeting 
• All instruments included 
• Takes round half-hour 

As with every 3D printer, you’ll want to complete bolting the Neptune 4 collectively as soon as it arrives. Elegoo contains directions within the field, however they’re complicated to observe, significantly in the event you’ve by no means arrange a 3D printer earlier than. 

As an alternative, I’d suggest watching the official YouTube tutorial, which takes you thru it step-by-step. All the things you want for meeting is included within the field, together with Allen keys. 

Like just about each rival, it’s a case of attaching the gantry body to the bottom, then including the touchscreen controller and connecting the whole lot up. It’s additionally essential to examine the enter voltage matches what is going to come out of your plug sockets – a swap on the again helps you to select between 115V and 230V. 

Earlier than printing something, you’ll additionally want to verify the mattress is degree. The Neptune 4 has automated mattress levelling, but it surely’s not fully automated, which is bizarre contemplating the Neptune 3 was. First, it’s essential to do handbook “auxiliary” levelling once you first set it up. It’s pretty simple – you’ll simply want a bit of A4 paper and to regulate the mattress screws – but it surely feels fairly backward in comparison with all of the fixed-bed 3D printers on the market. Saying that, it’s the identical type of system the Creality Ender 3 S1 Professional makes use of, and that’s dearer.

If that is your first time establishing a 3D printer, you’ll be able to count on the total course of to take round half-hour. 

Options & Design 

• Purposeful design 
• Temperature-controlled mattress and nozzle 
• Helpful touchscreen controller 

There are many spectacular issues in regards to the Neptune 4, however aesthetics isn’t one in all them. Elegoo has opted for a really practical design right here, which is smart given its inexpensive worth level.  

It appears fairly just like the Anycubic Vyper, one other funds 3D printer, however there are just a few key variations. One is the place of the filament above the vertical body, fairly than off to the left aspect. This imply the Neptune 4 wants much less desk house, but it surely’s nonetheless a bed-slinger. With this design the print mattress strikes backwards and forwards, whereas the print head strikes solely aspect to aspect, and it means you want extra depth than you may think: you’ll be able to’t shove it up in opposition to the wall.

You additionally get a big cooling fan, the principle design improve in comparison with the Neptune 3. It’s connected to the again of the gantry, and has 4 followers which are directed straight on the nozzle. Whereas very loud, they’re additionally very efficient, and imply filament cools inside seconds.

Twin leadscrews on the z-axis (that’s up and down for the uninitiated) assist make sure the print head stays degree throughout the width of the mattress, one thing that helps make sure the all-important first layer prints correctly. The temperature of each the mattress (or construct plate) and nozzle can simply be managed (as much as 300°C for the nozzle and 110° for the mattress), which is nice to see on such an inexpensive printer. 

The construct plate itself measures 225 x 225mm, which is way from the largest, however nonetheless sufficient for lots of prints. They are often as much as 265mm tall.

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Even at 150%, most prints took up lower than half of the entire space. Nevertheless, do be aware which you can hardly ever use the total extent of the mattress, so have a take into consideration the scale of any objects you’d need to print as there are alternate options with larger construct volumes, as much as round 300mm cubed. Greater construct volumes imply larger printers, so bear that in thoughts too.  

The textured construct plate is made out of spring metal, which makes it straightforward to take away prints as you’ll be able to carry the entire thing off the printer and flex it in your fingers. Being magnetic ensures the construct plate stays in place whereas printing. 

All of the printer’s major settings are accessed by way of a 4.3in touchscreen. It’s docked in a base connected to the correct aspect, however can simply be eliminated if visibility turns into a problem. Nevertheless, it isn’t wi-fi: it must linked by way of a curly landline-style cable always. 

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

The touchscreen runs the normal Marlin firmware. It’s very straightforward to make use of, even for complete novices, however there aren’t that many options right here. The Neptune 4 helps Klipper (which allows sooner print speeds), however Elegoo determined to not embody the extra succesful KlipperScreen firmware right here. 

For those who do need to entry Klipper, you’ll should plug the printer immediately into your router by way of ethernet, as there’s no Wi-Fi assist. However for novices, there’s no want to fret about this: you’ll be able to nonetheless print the identical stuff regardless.

Most individuals received’t print over a community with the Neptune 4 and as an alternative pop prints onto a USB stick. There’s a slot for a microSD card and USB-C, each of which can be utilized to import G-Code information out of your pc. 

Efficiency 

• Claimed speeds as much as 500mm/s 
• Typically quick and dependable 
• Issues with Elegoo slicer software program 

The primary motive to purchase the Neptune 4 is due to its quick print speeds. Elegoo claims a most of 500mm/s, however even the really helpful 250mm/s is quite a bit faster than most funds 3D printers. That’s the setting I used for almost all of my testing time, and the outcomes had been usually spectacular. 

On the included 8GB USB stick, you’ll discover a collection of prints which have already been sliced for you. A flowerpot and gear holder each seemed nice, however pre-sliced fashions are hardly ever a superb check of a printer. 

A lot of the time, you’ll obtain a 3D mannequin as an STL file. This must be “sliced” into G-Code information that may be learn by the printer, and for that you just’ll want slicer software program. Elegoo recommends utilizing its personal model of the favored Cura slicer app. For those who do this, it’s straightforward to make use of with the Neptune 4 as a result of its profile may be chosen: you don’t should enter its construct quantity and different settings manually.

Regardless of checking all of the settings had been so as, printing utilizing Elegoo Cura was annoyingly hit-and-miss.  

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

With the spiralize setting enabled, the Neptune 4 printed this vase flawlessly. The articulated axolotl was much more spectacular – every particular person joint was faithfully recreated, even with no brim. 

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Nevertheless, there have been some weird failures with different fashions. The basic 3DBenchy was a complete mess (under proper), affected by what seemed to be excessive under-extrusion. However the mini octopus (above proper) was even worse, regardless of the software program exhibiting a preview that seemed completely high quality.

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Was this a significant {hardware} concern meaning no-one can purchase the Neptune 4? Luckily not. Swapping Elegoo’s slicer software program for the official Ultimaker model of Cura immediately fastened the issues (the Benchy and octopus on the left within the photographs above had been sliced utilizing Ultimaker Cura). There’s no Neptune 4 profile there, however I found it was doable to pick out the Neptune 3 and modify the print pace. 

Since making that change, the whole lot I’ve tried has printed with none points. It’s doable {that a} particular mixture of settings or future replace will repair the problems on Elegoo Cura, but it surely’s good to know that there wasn’t something incorrect with the printer itself.

In addition to PLA it’s also possible to use ABS, TPU, PETG, Wooden, Marble and Nylon, making the Neptune 4 impressively versatile. In principle. I examined the Neptune 4 utilizing a spool of 1.75mm white PLA filament, which was all Elegoo equipped me with.

Value & Availability 

Contemplating the whole lot, the Neptune 4 is sweet worth for cash.

Within the US, it prices $280 from Elegoo or $259.99 (with coupon utilized) from Amazon. Within the UK it prices round £220 (relying on conversion charges) direct from Elegoo, but it surely’s £349.99 from Amazon. 

Nevertheless, there are sometimes offers accessible. And even at full worth, it’s extra inexpensive than a number of 3D printers on the market. The Neptune 4’s most evident rival is the Anycubic Vyper ($359, approx £320), however the Elegoo mannequin continues to be fairly a bit cheaper within the US. Plus, the Vyper is way slower.

Ought to I purchase the Elegoo Neptune 4? 

The Elegoo Neptune 4 is a good 3D printer for novices. Setup is comparatively simple, and it delivers constantly spectacular prints throughout a variety of various speeds and designs. 

Nevertheless, you’ll need to keep away from Elegoo’s Cura slicer software program (go for the Ultimaker model as an alternative) and also you’ll should make do with out luxuries akin to Wi-Fi which might make it easy to print direct from a laptop computer or PC.

However at this inexpensive worth, it’s laborious to complain. It provides the type of excessive speeds you get from Creality’s K1 or a Bambu P1P at a fraction of the worth – and that’s what makes it so good for novices.