A few days ago the postman rang and brought another large package from Gearbest over. In the package, the Tevo Flash 3D printer was already waiting to be unpacked and tried out.
The Tevo Flash is available in various configurations. If you want to save a little, you can purchase the 50% built-up variant and then just have to do a little tinkering yourself.
Apart from that, there is also a version with a BL touch sensor for the Z-axis, which automatically levels the printer, and a version with two motors for the Z-axis and even a connection between both axes with a belt.
I haven’t read a lot of good things about the BL-Touch (different values for each measurement, etc.) and I’m glad that a version without this sensor arrived here.
Another special feature of the Tevo Flash are the optical sensors that stop the axes. No more mechanical parts that break unexpectedly while the printer is running, etc. ❤
The printer has a super stable aluminum frame, which is anodized on various elements and colored red. The print volume corresponds to 235x235x250 mm and the nozzle is, as always, a 0.4 mm nozzle. The remaining details can be found in the following graphic:
[wps_table style=”stripped-dark”]| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Levels Resolution | 0.1mm |
| Frame | Aluminum Extrusion |
| Printing Thread | PLA ABS, Flexible PLA HIPS, Wood, PVA |
| Filament Diameter | 1.75mm |
| Diameter of the Nozzle | 0.4mm |
| Machine Dimensions | 420*440*495mm |
| Shipping Box Dimensions | 530*395*195mm |
| Machines Weight | 8.5kg |
| Maximum Printing Speed | 150 mm/s |
| Maximum Cruising Speed | 250 mm/s |
| Recommended Print Speed | 60 mm/s |
| Building Boards Rough | 240*240mm |
| Build Volume | 235*235*250mm |
| Extruder Type | Tevo Titan Extruder (Bowden) |
| Number of Extruders | 1 |
| Power Requirement | 204W |
| Connectivity | USB, SD Card |
| Control Board | FMD Gen L |
| Shower Type | Volcano |
| Specialty | Silent Stepper Driver / BL-Touch Upgrade |
[/wps_table]
The scope of delivery is as follows:
Printer base including control unit in the lower part of the base and no longer external in a disturbing box, the frame for the Z-axis, various cables (power, USB), a spatula, instructions and various small (labeled) bags few screws and zip ties.
Assembly
The printer arrives well packaged in a large box. All individual parts are placed in layers in punched-out foam shapes.
Almost nothing can go wrong on the transport route. However, every time a 3D printer with sensitive mechanics is transported, it is best to check the screws again before assembly. Otherwise, troubleshooting will be unnecessarily difficult in the event of a bad print later.
In my case, the 98% pre-assembled version arrived. Here it is actually sufficient to turn four screws into the frame so that the Z-axis is fixed. The corresponding tool is included in the scope of delivery for this.
In addition, plug a couple of the really well and clearly labeled cables (green stickers) into the matching counterpart and then the assembly is almost finished. All of these instructions can be found on the SD card that is also included and in the printed instructions.
Now the heatbed has to be connected to the base. To do this, the springs are packed onto the screws and the adjusting screws are threaded.
In my case, I made two small modifications here later, which I would like to discuss here. On the one hand, I wanted to strengthen the connection of the power cables directly to the heatbed. There is already a small plate on Thingiverse that is printed and plugged onto the existing screws.
Then the power cable is attached to it with a cable tie and the cable no longer wobbles with every pressure directly at the soldering point. The printing of the plate unfortunately has a bit of warping right and left and is therefore a bit unsuccessful, but the plate holds. What more do you want?
Another (small) modification are attachments for the adjusting screws of the heatbed. The little silver orig. Screws can only be turned with great difficulty with my little patchworkers and luckily there are also suitable models here on Thingiverse to print out and clip over.
Please note that you print two smaller and two larger ones, as the motor for the heatbed is on the left and there is less space there. But that’s all already included in the linked package on thingiverse. Simply print it out, press the nuts in and adjust the heatbed is easier.
First prints
My first test attempts in terms of printing unfortunately failed with a dubious error message. The Tevo always stopped after only a few moments and acknowledged the pressure with the message Thermal Runaway.
The problem is basically either totally complicated because some sensor may not have been properly connected to the electronics, or there is a broken cable somewhere, or with a little luck it can be solved very easily. Fortunately, the latter was true in my case.
You have to set in CURA that the two turbo fans on the side of the print head may only start up at 50 percent after the first layer .
Even then, the temperature of the printhead still drops 5-6 ° C within a few seconds. With 100 percent fan power this must have been more than 10 ° C in a very short time and then the printer breaks off with the above error message.
What else?
-
- The built-in 220 V heatbed is a stunner! When I start the Alfawise U10, it takes 10 minutes for the large heatbed to get up to temperature. The Tevo Flash here easily heats the plate to over 80 degrees in less than a minute!
- The Tevo Flash has already glued a glass plate to the heatbed. You can print directly on it if you have to plan some time to adjust the adjusting screws and level the plate.
- The proximity sensors work fine and quickly.
- The volume during the actual printing process is super quiet thanks to the drivers used. Unfortunately, a fan was installed in the base plate for the electronics, which is extremely loud. Unfortunately, this means that the printer is normally loud again in the end, unless you do any modification work.
- The delivery of Gearbest took about a month, as usual. You know the game and should be prepared for it when you buy it, or choose a faster delivery with surcharges.
- The printer got the SD slot directly on the front next to the display. It’s super easy to get to there. Top!
- The firmware (V1.0) is very strongly activated at the factory. Many things can be adjusted via the Tune menu while printing, etc. Great!
- The workmanship is great. Thanks to the electronics in the bottom part, there are hardly any cables hanging around the printer. I would almost say that this is the first printer that could also be in a modern living room.
As far as I would like to end this impression / unboxing / test article. Either in my 3D roundups , or in the form of an independent article, you will certainly read a lot from the Tevo Flash 3D printer .
Conclusion so far
I myself would describe the Tevo Flash in the version sent to me as the best 3D printer in my hands so far. It heats up incredibly quickly (220V heatbed), it prints very quietly (driver used), it prints a lot of materials, is already very well equipped (no more mechanical X / Y / Z stops, 2 object fans mounted on the printhead, etc.) and it looks very chic. Apart from that, the Tevo Flash is available in many different versions. So the buyer can choose directly whether he would like to spend more time assembling or not, etc.
The only drawback that I would have noticed in the previous test period is the platform, which may be a bit small for some purposes, measuring just under 24x24x25 cm. But that should be enough for a lot of things – and if not, the objects can be split up into smaller parts. So that’s just high-level criticism.
