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Review of the RS IdeaWerk 3D Printer, an easy to use all round performer

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Unpacking

Many 3D printers require significant time spent assembling and calibrating them, and in some instances a degree in engineering, not this one. The RS IdeaWerk is a very straightforward out-of-the box experience.  Simply lift the accessories out of the top, and then lift out the printer in its protective foam.

It's a good idea to keep all of the packaging in case you need to move the printer at a later date.

Initial setup

There is very little that needs to be done in the set-up of the printer as well. An SD card contains the printing software, manuals and quick start guide.  There is also an Allen key which you need to attach the filament guide and reel holder. Then you can clip the parts for the print bed into place.  All very simple and in a matter of minutes that is the printer assembled.

As with all 3D printers the machine needs to be calibrated before you can start printing for the first time.  For this you need the print software on the SD card.  One nice aspect of this printer is that a card reader is supplied with the printer making transferring data so much easier. Simply plug your printer into the power and, via USB, to your PC and let it all find itself.

Next you need to fire up the Doroware software and connect the printer. This is done by selecting the COM port and hitting connect. In some cases (as in mine) there are several options popping up. You can either try trial and error to select the right one or go to the device manger list and check what COM port is connected to what. You will soon know once you have connected as you can then start to control the printer from the PC. 

Once connected, follow the instructions on setting up the Z gap. This is important, as it will directly impact the quality of the print. You need to check that the print bed moves parallel to the nozzle and this is done by moving the nozzle to each corner of the bed in turn and checking the gap distance. The instructions to do this are clear and easy to follow.

Finally you need to thread the filament through the eye on the bracket, then through the tube and into the print head.  Follow the instructions on heating the print nozzle up and using the motors to feed the filament. Once you have seen it feed through freely you are ready to go.

All in all a very easy set-up which makes this printer great even for less technical users and certainly good for anyone who doesn’t want to spend lots of time assembling their machine.

The first print

Now you're ready to print!

You'll need a 3D model, either in STL, X3G or CODE file format, simply upload this to the Doroware software where you can scale or rotate the model should you wish to and then finally transfer the file to the SD Card. Finally, simply insert the SD card into the SD slot on the printer and follow the on-screen instructions.

Some words of advice:

-          When you transfer your model to the SD card – chose something short and simple.  The screen on the printer is limited in characters and often a long file name won’t be fully visible.

-          The software is not the fastest.  Wait until the dialogue box appears telling you the file is ready and that it is safe to remove the card.  There aren’t any progress bars and the temptation is to think it has finished and do something too quickly.  This will corrupt the print.

Maintenance

Not only was this machine easy to set-up and use, it doesn’t really need much maintenance.

 Some hints and tips

-          If the models start to lift off the bed, or start printing too close to the print bed just repeat the process for setting the Z gap (as per the initial set-up) and this will be corrected.

-          Sometimes plastic can build up on the nozzle.  This is easily removed. Use the software via USB to heat the nozzle up and then use of a cotton cloth to carefully wipe the residue away.

-          The print is retained on the print bed on a perforated sheet. Over time this gets a bit messy with the perforations filling with plastic. You can drill, or poke, them out but I found careful use of a heat gun removed them far more easily and quickly.

-          The software is needed if you want to replace the filament reel so don’t lose that USB cable.

-          If you are not using the printer for extended periods it is worth removing the filament and storing it in a sealed container or bag. PLA filament is biodegradable and is affected by heat and moisture.  As such it can become brittle and will deteriorate over time.

Conclusion

Overall this is a relatively inexpensive 3D printer and in some ways its functionality reflects this.  You can only print with PLA filament and in a single material. Connectivity is via USB or SD card unlike other more expensive models which accept Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. The print volume is a fair size, although not large.

With that all said, the machine is incredibly robust, it is easy to set up and operate and is very forgiving if you are starting out with 3D printing. As such I think this machine is ideal for low volume, quick printing. In my printing tests it is as fast if not faster than similar machines from other manufacturers.  Another good feature is that the printer is not locked to one specific software package unlike some other machines.


For beginners, in a workshop, office or educational environment, this is an excellent 3D printer to get started with.

Buy an RS IdeaWerk 3D Printer

I started out as an analytical chemist getting to work with various advanced automated analysis systems. This rekindled my love of engineering (who would not after working with robots and liquid nitrogen) and so set me on the path back in to engineering. After many years in industry where I was lucky enough to try my hand at most aspects of design, construction and testing I would up where I am today.
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