Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
Cube
glue” worked great to keep prints stuck to
the build surface. This mystery substance
washes away with water to cleanly release
prints from the removable platform.
The device is driven by a touchscreen inter-
face that allows the user to configure nozzle
height, WiFi settings, and other details, as
well as showing the status of current print
progress and other system indicators.
Out of the box, the Cube was a bit slow. By
default it enables rafts and support struc-
tures, both of which add to printing time and
post-processing time, but which helped in
the most demanding print tests. Both op-
tions can be turned off, but doing so will
generally degrade the print quality. While
many 3D printing software packages allow
for endless tweaking, the Cubify package has
basic switches for toggling support and rafts,
but not much control over other settings.
The Cubify software works with standard STL
files but also supports proprietary
.creation
files. 3D Systems has a website where you
can buy creations. Each new printer comes
with 25 free files, and some additional de-
signs are free. The Cube works with filament
cartridges available only from 3D Systems.
At $50 for about 1 pound of usable ABS, they
are pricier than other suppliers.
The first thing you notice about the Cube is
its style. No plywood, loose wires, or zip ties:
it's more a consumer appliance than a hacker
plaything. This level of design quality carries
into the included documentation, which was
among the most thorough.
The Cube brings a mix of unique features as
well, including the ability to print via WiFi or
USB, a well laid-out touchscreen control pan-
el, and a completely new item that no other
manufacturer had: “Magic Cube Glue.”
The Cube can use your WiFi network, but we
had better luck printing via its ad hoc net-
work. You'll have to disconnect briefly from
any other WiFi network to use it, though.
Like most ABS printers, the Cube uses a heat-
ed build platform to help prints stick and to
prevent warping. Also, the included “magic
