User interface
It’s important to easily print, maintain and adjust settings.
Previously, 3D printers were relatively dumb machines with small control boards that simply followed a set of commands to control the position of the tool head. Today they do much the same thing – it’s just that the software and machines are far more refined and accurate.
Each of the printers in this test offers a different way to interact with the printer, either through an interface directly on the machine, through software or both. The Kobra Max and SnapMaker offer large colour touchscreens that make it straightforward to navigate options and settings. The SnapMaker screen is a level above all the other printers and adjustment features, and finding options is extremely easy. This small screen is backed up by the fully featured Luban software that can interact with the printer wirelessly through a browser interface.
The SideKick 747 and MK3S are on a par with what you can access through the onscreen controls and, while clear, both are relatively simplistic with a dial enabling you to scroll through settings and options.
The RoboxDual takes a different approach, with the interface being your computer and the AutoMaker software. This gives you another level of control, and although you need a wired connection, it feeds back far more information than any of the other machines. Due to the nature of the RoboxDual, SideKick 747 and MK3S there is the ability to expand the interaction through control boxes and networks. While all but the RoboxDual offers the ability to print offline, you can also directly connect and control them through the software. Doing this gives you the ability to flash the firmware as well as easily control print parameters.