Following in the footsteps of Creality, JGMaker is releasing its latest printer, an independent dual-extrusion (IDEX) machine called the Artist-D, via Kickstarter.
The brand, formerly JGAurora, is manufactured by the Shenzen Aurora Technology Company and is known for printers like the Magic, which came out in 2019 and is similar to an Ender 3.
The company’s latest printer has just dropped on Kickstarter, and we were sent a pre-production unit ahead of time. While we haven’t spent enough time printing with the Artist-D to give any form of a verdict (which wouldn’t be valid in any case, since the Artist-D that ships will differ from our loaner), we can fill out one or two extra details from our hands-on time.
So, take these comments for what they are – impressions from using an approximation of what JGMaker hopes to ship – as we spell out all we currently know about the JGMaker Artist-D.
Features
Dual-extrusion
Right off the bat, the biggest feature of the JGMaker Artist-D is that it has an independent dual extrusion system (IDEX), a feature not normally seen on printers geared towards consumers and hobbyists. An IDEX system entails two print heads that operate independently from one another. This allows users to print two objects at once, with two different colors, or add PVA soluble support material to produce more complex parts.
The dual print heads feature a nifty hot end replacement system. By pushing a button beneath the filament feed idler, the combined nozzle and heatbreak drops out of the print head for swift replacement, should the situation arise.
It’s possible to leverage the IDEX system for a few different productivity-boosting print modes such as duplication and mirror, which both take one object and print two copies simultaneously in parallel (a mirror copy, in mirror mode). Accessing these modes requires physical interaction with the printer, finding and toggling them through the more-or-less stock Marlin UI.
It’s less refined than more expensive IDEX printers’ workflows, but, providing you remember to configure the right mode for your job, serviceable.
Calibrating the two print heads in the X -and Y-axes is relatively quick and painless, inputting offsets based on measurements taken from JGMaker’s calibration test print.
Flex fans are catered to, too. The Artist-D’s dual print heads both feature direct drive extruders, which should give greater filament versatility and control.
Print Volume
With a build volume of 310 x 310 x 350 mm, you have the freedom to print big. The printer’s complete footprint is 560 x 640 x 640 mm though, so be sure you’ve got the space to handle it.
The print bed is a removable, magnetically attached metal sheet topped with your run-of-the-mill grip sticker. Our pre-production unit gouged the sheet pretty early on, making it useless in the center, so we ripped the sticker off and replaced it with a PEI sheet, which was a solid decision.
Print Modes
The perk of an IDEX printer is its ability to print two items simultaneously, through duplication and mirroring print modes. Useful for small and long objects, there is a limitation though, in that the print heads can’t cross paths in the X-axis. You are effectively cutting the usable print volume for each print head in half when using these modes.
Display
The unit we’ve seen has an LCD display with control dial, but we’ve heard from JGMaker that the retail Artist-D will feature a touchscreen UI.
Other features
- SD card
- Filament sensor
- Manual bed leveling
Release Date & Availability
The Artist-D Kickstarter campaign launched on September 17, 2020. JGMaker expects to ship backer rewards from November 2020.
As always with campaigns on Kickstarter, there is no guarantee you’ll get the product in the end, or that it will be as initially advertised. You’re backing an idea, and putting faith in the team pitching to convert it into reality. It may be a bit rote to say, after several years of Kickstarted (and some failed) printers, but only back with money you can afford to lose.
Price
The JGMaker Artist-D is set to retail at $599, which is pretty competitive for an IDEX machine with a build volume that can make good use of the tech. Naturally, launching on Kickstarter means there are early-bird discounts for the Artist-D, the steepest of which puts the printer in grasp for $339.
Reviews
JGMaker is putting the Artist-D about with influencers and other channels, so expect to see plenty of early impressions online around the time of the Kickstarter campaign. The general consensus so far appears to be positive, but early users, All3DP included, are understandably cagey about it.
As stated, we have a unit here in-office which we’ve toyed with a little. For now, we’d say this is one to watch. It’s rare to find this kind of tech at this price point, so JGMaker certainly has our attention.
The unit we’ve been using hints at a great and ambitious printer, but needs work before launch to iron out design issues. On our unit we found the purge buckets, for example, attached as instructed by the guide included with the printer, crash into the base of the printer, and do the heater blocks on the print heads when homing. It’s way too easy to lose screws inside the base unit, and we’ve encountered plenty of mid-print crashes either through unnecessary ghost-filament out pauses which could not be rectified, or inexplicable system crashes. Rough stuff, but things that, we hope, will be worked out for backers ahead of launch.
The print quality that we’ve seen so far varies from surprisingly good, to a bit meh. Fine filament control seems to be an issue, with blobbing on seams between color changes the focus of our efforts to fine-tune slicing for the machine.
Tech Specs
GENERAL SPECS
- Technology: FDM
- Year: 2020
- Assembly: Semi-assembled
- Manufacturer: JGMaker
3D PRINTING PROPERTIES
- Build volume: 310 x 310 x 350 mm
- Feeder system: Direct drive
- Print head: Single nozzle
- Nozzle size: 0.4 mm
- Max. hot end temperature: 245 °C
- Max. heated bed temperature: 90 °C
- Print bed material: FA platform
- Frame: –
- Bed leveling: Manual
- Connectivity: SD card
- Print recovery: –
- Filament sensor: Yes
- Camera: No
MATERIALS:
- Filament diameter: 1.75 mm
- Third-party filament: Yes
- Filament materials: Consumer materials (PLA, ABS, PETG, TPU)
SOFTWARE:
- Recommended slicer: Cura
- Operating system: Windows 7/10/XP
- File types: STL, OBJ, G-code
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT:
- Frame dimensions: 560 x 640 x 630 mm
- Weight: 13.5 kg
Similar Printers
Here are some similar printers to the JGMaker Artist-D:
Creality CR-X Pro
The CR-X Pro is a new and improved version of the CR-X that features some large improvements over its predecessor – including an upgraded motherboard and auto-leveling – and a $100 price reduction to boot to come in at about $700.
Qidi Tech X-Pro
The X-Pro is one of the most affordable dual-extrusion 3D printers on the market, with a price tag currently around $650. It’s an update of the old Qidi Tech I, which itself was based on the classic Makerbot Replicator, and earned an All3DP Editor’s Choice award in Winter 2019/2020.
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