Voxelab Aquila S2 review

Almost all FDM-style 3D printers can use PLA filament without any problems, and the better ones can also use PETG and ABS. But if you want to use high-temperature filaments like nylon, which makes pieces that fit together better and are smoother, or carbon fibre, which makes things stronger, you’ll need a printer that can make that much heat.

The Aquila S2 from Voxelab is designed to compete with and beat the best 3D printers. It has a direct drive extruder that can handle a wide range of high-temperature filaments and print at up to 300 degrees Celsius.

which is 60 degrees hotter than the Creality Ender 3 Pro and other competitors. The $280 FDM printer, which replaces the Voxelab Aquila, uses an all-metal hotend, which is unusual for a printer in this price range, to reach high temperatures. It also has a resume print feature so you can keep printing even if the power goes out and a magnetic flexible PEI textured construction plate that can be removed.

Voxelab Aquila S2 Review: Design

The printer has a simple cartesian design, and its size is about the same as that of the Aquila, which it beat. Overall, the build volume gives you a lot of space to print a wide range of things without making the printer take up too much room. The 4.3-inch full-color display on the printer is used to move through the menus. The menu is pretty easy to use and has just the right amount of options without being too complicated.

This control pad is like the one on the first Aquila, but it is vertical instead of horizontal. This gives the printer a more streamlined look. Because the User Interface looks like a bunch of big, bright buttons, I often forgot that this wasn’t a touch screen.

The X and Y belts are easy to adjust because they have tensioners built right in. Besides the initial setup, you shouldn’t need to make any changes, but if you do, this makes it very easy. You can buy this 3D printer from its official website

Voxelab Aquila S2 Review: Features

The PLA, PETG, PETG-CF, TPU, ABS, and other materials can be printed with the Voxelab Aquila S2 FDM filament printer. FDM is an additive process, which makes it one of the most flexible and easy-to-use 3D printers.

Resin printers are great but harder to use and can get dirty. The build volume is a roomy 8.7 x 8.7 x 9.4 inches (220 x 220 x 240 mm), which is the same size as the print volume of the Creality Ender 3 V2.

Earlier models came with Carborundum-coated glass beds, similar to the Ender. The magnetic print bed that came with ours was our favourite part. One of the best things about this printer, or any printer for that matter, is the magnetic bed.

We’ll talk more about it below. It also has a hot end that can reach temperatures of up to 300 degrees Celsius, which is very high for an entry-level printer and lets you use all common types of filament.

Voxelab Aquila S2 Review: Printing

The Voxelab Aquila S2 wants to stand out from other cheap 3D printers by letting you use materials other than PLA. It does this by having a direct drive extruder that can handle temperatures up to 300 degrees C (572 degrees F).

In the past, I used some cheap DIY 3D printers to try printing TPU models. One of them, the Selpic Star A, did a terrible job, but the Longer LK5 Pro worked after I slowed it down a lot. And since the Voxelab Aquila S2 was designed to work with tough filaments, that shouldn’t really be the case.

The maker has also included a magnetic PEI plate that can be bent and used to take the printed object apart easily. Since it’s a DIY 3D printer, you must put everything together yourself. This might take a few hours, but I noticed that every part seemed more durable than other brands.

Voxelab Aquila S2 Review: Software

The printer has two different slicer programmes. The first is Ultimaker Cura, which comes with the Cura Profile and all the settings you need to set up your printer. VoxelMaker is the name of the second programme. I will talk about them both. Cura is the most well-known slicer app right now, so let’s start there.

The settings diagrams that come with the printer were made with an older version of Cura, and so is the version that comes with the printer. In the most recent version, you might have to look for the settings you need because they might be in a different place.

Voxelab Aquila S2 Review: Conclusion

If you want to learn about 3D printing with high-temperature filaments, the S2 is a great option that won’t break the bank. Compared to the basic Aquila, the printer has a direct drive extruder and a flexible magnetic PEI base, among other improvements that improve life.

If there is a downside, it is that the Aquila S2 doesn’t have an automatic bed levelling feature. However, once the bed is level, the Aquila S2 is very powerful and always makes excellent prints.

Consider the Anycubic Vyper or the Creality Ender 3 v2, which sells for $285/£249 with a CR Touch kit. The Vyper’s highest temperature is 260°C, and the Ender’s is 240°C. But neither of those can get to 300°C.