HeyGears Reflex RS 3D Printer Assessment: An Reasonably priced Manufacturing mSLA 3D Printer? – 3DPrint.com

Disclosure: The Reflex RS was offered to me by HeyGears freed from cost for the aim of this evaluation. I’ve not acquired every other compensation. All opinions expressed are my very own, and HeyGears has had no affect on the content material of this evaluation.

In right this moment’s evaluation, we’re looking on the considerably controversial HeyGears Reflex RS, a printer that has sparked frustration amongst many within the client 3D printing neighborhood. Our objective is to know the explanations behind this frustration and assess whether or not the Reflex RS can nonetheless be thought-about an easy-to-use masked stereolithography (mSLA) manufacturing printer.

Unboxing and meeting:

Packaging high quality:

All my containers arrived severely broken from transport. I used to be sure one thing could be damaged, however fortunately, all of the parts had been packaged completely, and nothing was broken in transit. The whole lot was securely cradled in thick foam, making certain the printer’s survival. Option to go, HeyGears!

Meeting/Construct High quality:

From the second I received the printer out of the field and onto my workbench, I noticed this was a special form of mSLA printer. The Reflex RS feels sturdy. The lid operates easily, the Z tower is strong, and the construct plate is a strong slab of metal. Your entire system exudes sturdiness and power, similar to printers that value 2-3 instances extra, such because the Formlabs Kind 4.

First Print Impressions:

My first impressions after only one print had been: “Wow!” I loaded two fashions, an Ironman determine and the Eiffel Tower, and each printed flawlessly and effortlessly. I used to be amazed at how straightforward it was to get began. Merely fill the vat with resin utilizing the auto-filling port within the again, choose the correct resin of their slicer, Blueprint, add helps to the fashions, and print. It’s that straightforward. The wash station, nonetheless, is a bit unusual—the entire platform strikes throughout the course of.

{Hardware} and Specs: 

The outer dimensions of the Reflex RS are 380 x 360 x 584 mm, with a construct quantity of 222 x 122 x 230 mm. A key think about print high quality is the pixel dimension, together with the uniformity and depth of the UV gentle. HeyGears has clearly understood this, choosing a 29.7 µm pixel dimension. Whereas not the smallest or largest, this roughly 30 µm pixel, mixed with a extremely intense and constant UV gentle, delivers glorious print high quality and accuracy. HeyGears claims the sunshine depth varies by solely ±3% throughout the complete display screen. The Reflex RS additionally incorporates a sturdy 12 mm ball screw and twin 15 mm linear rails on the Z tower. Paired with a pressure gauge and adaptive carry speeds, this setup ensures exceptionally clean and constant layer stacking.

HeyGears states that the Reflex RS averages 7 seconds per layer, with a peak pace of 4.3 seconds per layer. This contains the layer treatment time, in addition to the carry and retract time.

HeyGears makes use of a proprietary set of resins, providing a number of choices with extra in growth. I’ve blended emotions about this. Nevertheless, the Reflex RS makes use of a 405nm UV wavelength, which theoretically means it will possibly work with any 405nm curable resin. I didn’t check this throughout my evaluation of the RS. It’s essential to notice that you simply can’t management the layer treatment time, any X, Y, or Z calibration, or most different settings. The one changes you may make are to the layer top and the helps—so proceed at your individual danger.

The accessible resins embody:

• PAP10: The overall-use resin, identified for its excessive temperature resistance and talent to seize intricate particulars on fashions.
• PAWW10: A water-washable general-use resin. Just like PAP10, however could be printed and cleaned with water. It’s a superb all-around resin appropriate for minis or prototyping.
• PAS10: A modeling resin with excessive accuracy and a matte end that hides layer strains, making it very best for miniatures.
• PARP10: A high-speed prototyping resin. This gentle orange resin prints rapidly, has a matte end, is hard, and is usually used for prototype fashions reminiscent of molds.
• PAWR10: A wear-resistant resin, extremely sturdy and fitted to end-use parts, from electronics enclosures to alternative components.

Software program and Consumer Interface: 

You possibly can solely use HeyGears Blueprint with the Reflex RS. The built-in profiles carry out exceptionally effectively, making it straightforward to create a challenge and print job, assist the fashions, and ship them to the printer. Nevertheless, that’s all you are able to do—there is no such thing as a tuning or calibration, as all of that’s dealt with for you. That is the place the purpose of rivalry lies for a lot of within the 3D printing neighborhood. Quite a lot of present client resin 3D printer homeowners need the power to tune their very own materials profiles and use no matter resin they like. HeyGears, alternatively, can solely assure success and high quality with their very own resins.

The UI and slicer are extremely easy and straightforward to navigate. It requires no time to get accustomed to, as the whole lot is intuitively positioned. The display screen high quality is similar to that of a smartphone, a pleasant element that isn’t usually accessible on equally priced printers.

Half evaluation for assist optimization.

Dwelling display screen of Blueprint.

 Check Prints and Efficiency: 

Printed in PAWR10: A close to excellent accuracy and squareness print.

Listed below are the measurements from the Accuracy Check:

• X Measurement: 99.99 of 100mm
• Y Measurement: 99.99 of100mm
• Z Measurement: 99.97 of 100mm
• XZ Measurement: 134.85 of 135mm
• YZ Measurement: 134.9 of 135mm
• XY – A Measurement: 149.9 of 150mm
• XY – B Measurement: 149.9 of 150mm

As anticipated, the Reflex RS is exceptionally sq. and correct, with nearly no warp or skew. These outcomes replicate precisely what we must always anticipate from a pre-calibrated resin printer. The RS comes prepared to supply extremely correct prints, making it a useful software for companies and product growth departments. Observe: These measurements had been taken after curing, utilizing the PAWR10 resin with the default profile and a 50-micron layer top.

Print Velocity:

In line with my testing, the printer does common 6-7 seconds per layer. Whereas it’s not the quickest resin printer I’ve used, it’s undoubtedly one of many best. By way of ease of use, it’s similar to Formlabs and Nexa3D printers, each of which value 2-3 instances extra.

Noise Stage: 

With out the heartbeat launch module, the printer may be very quiet, averaging round 52 decibels. Nevertheless, with the heartbeat launch module energetic, I recorded a mean of 67decibels and a peak of 70 decibels. Though this characteristic can scale back print instances by minimizing peel forces, it additionally introduces noise. Whether or not this tradeoff is appropriate depends upon your particular person preferences and priorities.

Reliability and Upkeep: 

The Reflex RS has been printing virtually nonstop for practically a month, with over 300 hours of print time and greater than 5 kg of resin used. I haven’t needed to substitute something throughout this time. The FEP sheet is long-lasting, and the printer’s power administration system dynamically adjusts the pull power, serving to to increase the FEP’s longevity.

Each the construct plate and vat are straightforward to interchange, with the FEP sheets held equally to different MSLA printers. For those who’ve changed FEP sheets earlier than, you’ll don’t have any bother with these.

Whereas no spare parts had been included with the printer, my contact at HeyGears offered the next alternative half costs (in USD):

• Launch Movie: $69
• Pulse Launch Movie Set: $99
• LCD Display: $189
• Tempered Glass Movie: $18
• Molding Platform: $129
• Customary Materials Tray: $79

These costs are very affordable, contemplating the construct high quality and supplies of the parts.

Price and Worth: 

The Reflex RS retails for US $999 for the printer alone. The RS combo, which incorporates the Reflex RS, the UltraCraft Wash, and the UltraCraft Treatment, is priced at $2,107. Resin costs are as follows:

• PAP10 – $59/kg
• PAWW10 – $55/kg
• PASS10 – $32.99/kg
• PARP10 – $45/kg
• PAWR10 – $59/kg

With the way in which the Reflex RS operates and the way HeyGears is advertising and marketing it, I can solely evaluate it to the Formlabs Kind 4. Each printers provide an identical consumer expertise, arriving pre-calibrated from the manufacturing facility and utilizing proprietary resins that are available in cartridges. Each additionally characteristic a “one-click print” perform, which robotically applies the right settings for every materials and orients the mannequin accordingly. Moreover, each printers are constructed with distinctive robustness.

On the value of $2,107 for the combo, that’s much more reasonably priced than the Formlabs different which is priced at $6,599 for the “Full Package deal” that features the Kind Wash and Kind Treatment together with the Kind 4. That’s greater than 3x the price of the RS. In fact, I can’t say that with out mentioning that Formlabs has much more resins accessible, and despite the fact that HeyGears tells me they’re engaged on extra resins, will probably be exhausting to compete with Formlabs portfolio.

Probably the most distinctive characteristic of the Reflex RS is its energetic power monitoring system. By studying the power 80 instances per second, the printer dynamically adjusts the pull power and retract pace for every layer because the load on the Z-axis adjustments. That is notably noticeable when printing fashions with various floor areas. For instance, the Reflex RS slows down and extends layer instances in areas with bigger floor areas, the place peel power is highest, and hastens on layers with smaller floor areas. This method has resulted in exceptionally clean prints for me, with each layer stacking completely, whatever the mannequin’s thickness or complexity.

One other nice characteristic is the auto-refilling of the resin. HeyGears implements this on the RS by utilizing a plunger within the resin bottle, which is depressed by a prong within the resin vat when the bottle is inserted into the again of the machine. This technique is easy, but efficient and clear, offering a hassle-free automated resin refilling system.

Execs:

• Velocity
• Accuracy
• Reliability
• Ease of use
• Resin auto refilling,
• Worth when in comparison with different skilled, or industrial 3d printers.

Cons:

• Restricted resin choice
• Flat-top buildplate accumulating resin
• Worth when in comparison with different client centered MSLA printers.

Buildplate accumulating resin.

Controversy Additional Mentioned:

As I discussed earlier, the principle level of controversy with the Reflex RS lies in its “locked down” nature and the restrictions imposed by the Blueprint slicer. Whereas some customers view this as a constructive characteristic—emphasizing simplicity and ease of use—others see it as a downside. Many client 3D printer homeowners worth the management, flexibility, and large materials choice that comes with open techniques. HeyGears has marketed the RS to this crowd, resulting in some frustration. On the flip facet, there are customers who simply desire a dependable printer that works proper out of the field, as a result of their wants are greatest met by printing objects fairly than specializing in the technical means of attaining profitable prints.

For the manufacturing and manufacturing trade, I see large worth within the Reflex RS. If HeyGears expands their vary of engineering-grade resins, the RS may develop into a superb addition to print farms and repair bureaus. I maintain pondering, “I want I had a printer this straightforward to make use of once I labored at MakeXYZ.”

To handle either side of the argument, HeyGears may introduce a “Professional” mode, permitting customers so as to add new profiles for various resins. With out such flexibility, it raises the query of why they selected to modify from the 385nm wavelength within the Reflex to the extra frequent 405nm wavelength within the Reflex RS if customers are restricted to proprietary resins.

Abstract: 

The Reflex RS, priced at $999 for the printer alone and $2,107 for the combo with wash and treatment stations, presents spectacular efficiency for resin printing. Regardless of its restricted official compatibility with HeyGears resins, the printer persistently delivers quick, exact, and correct outcomes. Its dynamic power monitoring system permits for environment friendly pace changes, making certain accuracy throughout each small and enormous components. After over 300 hours of rigorous testing, together with super-thick fashions, the Reflex RS has confirmed to be a dependable workhorse, persistently producing profitable prints with out failures.

Would I Add This to my Print Farm?

It could actually rely upon the wants of my clientele. I haven’t but required an mSLA printer, but when I wanted one thing for high-detail fashions, then sure, I might completely think about including the Reflex RS to my farm. I’m hopeful that HeyGears will proceed increasing their resin portfolio sooner or later. In the event that they added a number of extra resin choices, this may make the printer a good stronger candidate.