Knowledgeable’s Score
Professionals
- Quick printing (comparatively!)
- Automated mattress levelling
- Intuitive touchscreen controller
- Good for newcomers
Cons
- No Wi-Fi
- Dearer in UK than US
- Unreliable Elegoo slicer software program
Our Verdict
The Neptune 4 provides all the pieces most individuals are on the lookout for in a primary 3D printer. Simply don’t use Elegoo’s buggy slicer software program.
Worth When Reviewed
$280
Greatest Costs In the present day: Elegoo Neptune 4
$299.99
There are such a lot of 3D printers, particularly price range ones, that it may be onerous to know the place to begin should you’re a newbie. There’s a lot extra to consider than a “2D” printer. Actually, it’s finest to contemplate a 3D printer a totally totally different breed from the inkjet or laser you would possibly have already got at house.
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 simple to get began with 3D printing, with a easy setup course of, flip of velocity and spectacular outcomes.
However is that sufficient to make it the go-to 3D printer for newcomers? I spent a number of weeks utilizing it to seek out out.
Setup
- Comparatively simple meeting
- All instruments included
- Takes round half-hour
As with all 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, notably should 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. The whole lot 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 all the pieces up. It’s additionally necessary to test the enter voltage matches what’s going to come out of your plug sockets – a change on the again permits you to select between 115V and 230V.
Earlier than printing something, you’ll additionally want to ensure the mattress is degree. The Neptune 4 has computerized mattress levelling, but it surely’s not utterly computerized, which is bizarre contemplating the Neptune 3 was. First, it’s essential to do guide “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 kind of system the Creality Ender 3 S1 Professional makes use of, and that’s costlier.
If that is your first time organising a 3D printer, you’ll be able to anticipate the complete 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 considered one of them. Elegoo has opted for a really purposeful design right here, which is smart given its inexpensive worth level.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
It seems fairly just like the Anycubic Vyper, one other price range 3D printer, however there are a number of key variations. One is the place of the filament above the vertical body, moderately than off to the left facet. This imply the Neptune 4 wants much less desk area, but it surely’s nonetheless a bed-slinger. With this design the print mattress strikes backwards and forwards, whereas the print head strikes solely facet to facet, 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 primary design improve in comparison with the Neptune 3. It’s hooked up 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 overall space. Nevertheless, do word that you may not often use the complete extent of the mattress, so have a take into consideration the dimensions of any objects you’d need to print as there are options with greater construct volumes, as much as round 300mm cubed. Greater construct volumes imply greater printers, so bear that in thoughts too.
The textured construct plate is made out of spring metal, which makes it simple to take away prints as you’ll be able to raise the entire thing off the printer and flex it in your palms. Being magnetic ensures the construct plate stays in place whereas printing.
All of the printer’s primary settings are accessed through a 4.3in touchscreen. It’s docked in a base hooked up to the fitting facet, however can simply be eliminated if visibility turns into a difficulty. Nevertheless, it isn’t wi-fi: it must related through a curly landline-style cable always.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
The touchscreen runs the normal Marlin firmware. It’s very simple to make use of, even for whole newcomers, however there aren’t that many options right here. The Neptune 4 helps Klipper (which allows quicker print speeds), however Elegoo determined to not embody the extra succesful KlipperScreen firmware right here.
Should you do need to entry Klipper, you’ll need to plug the printer immediately into your router through ethernet, as there’s no Wi-Fi help. However for newcomers, 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 a substitute 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 laptop.
Efficiency
- Claimed speeds as much as 500mm/s
- Usually quick and dependable
- Issues with Elegoo slicer software program
The primary cause to purchase the Neptune 4 is due to its quick print speeds. Elegoo claims a most of 500mm/s, however even the advisable 250mm/s is quite a bit faster than most price range 3D printers. That’s the setting I used for almost all of my testing time, and the outcomes have been usually spectacular.
The primary cause to purchase the Neptune 4 is due to its quick print speeds
On the included 8GB USB stick, you’ll discover a choice of prints which have already been sliced for you. A flowerpot and power holder each seemed nice, however pre-sliced fashions are not often 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 simply’ll want slicer software program. Elegoo recommends utilizing its personal model of the favored Cura slicer app. Should you try this, it’s simple to make use of with the Neptune 4 as a result of its profile could be chosen: you don’t need to enter its construct quantity and different settings manually.
Regardless of checking all of the settings have 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 and not using a brim.
With the spiralize setting enabled, the Neptune 4 printed a vase flawlessly
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Nevertheless, there have been some weird failures with different fashions. The traditional 3DBenchy was a complete mess (under proper), affected by what gave the impression to be excessive under-extrusion. However the mini octopus (above proper) was even worse, regardless of the software program displaying a preview that seemed completely effective.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Was this a significant {hardware} problem which means no-one can buy the Neptune 4? Luckily not. Swapping Elegoo’s slicer software program for the official Ultimaker model of Cura immediately mounted the issues (the Benchy and octopus on the left within the pictures above have been sliced utilizing Ultimaker Cura). There’s no Neptune 4 profile there, however I found it was attainable to pick out the Neptune 3 and alter the print velocity.
Since making that change, all the pieces I’ve tried has printed with none points. It’s attainable {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 you too can 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 provided me with.
Worth & Availability
Contemplating all the pieces, the Neptune 4 is nice 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 obtainable. And even at full worth, it’s extra inexpensive than loads of 3D printers on the market. The Neptune 4’s most evident rival is the Anycubic Vyper ($359, approx £320), however the Elegoo mannequin remains 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 superb 3D printer for newcomers. Setup is comparatively simple, and it delivers persistently 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 a substitute) and also you’ll need to 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 onerous to complain. It provides the kind of excessive speeds you get from Creality’s K1 or a Bambu P1P at a fraction of the value – and that’s what makes it so good for newcomers.
