3D printers - fun with FDM printers (Klipper-based)

[KHC1]

James I forgot to say my Ender is still on Marlin so a bit slower compared to the Klipper machines.

Keith

 

[Phil G]

Hi Martin,
I had a very interesting conversation with my FDM, resin and Laser supplier yesterday. He is in fact the main New Zealand agent for Elegoo, Bambu labs, x tools and Creality. So got a lot of irons in the fire so to speak.

Anyway I got talking to him about the Neptune 5 and what was the state of play. It turned that it was a bit of bone of contention with him and others who supply Elegoo in that, mid to late late year they were telling agents, the Neptune 5 was due for release in the last quarter of 24. This totally fits with the price of the Neptune 4 dropping around this time. He is also no out of stock of the Neptune 4, and can no longer get access to this model.

The Neptune 5 was supposed to be, similar to the 4 but could go faster, and had the ability to have multi roll feeds, so basically automatic colour change capability. Then it suddenly got cancelled from the program.

He says it is now ear marked for a late quarter 1 maybe early quarter 2 2025 release, However its not the same machine any more. It will now come with an enclosure, and from what info they have realised to him, he thinks it will no longer be a bed slinger design, he thinks its likely to change to a core XY configuration, very much in line with the the Bambu labs X1 carbon model. ( in order to get the speeds there looking for)

There appears to be some talk, but he did not confirm that was official Elegoo info, that the main reason for the cancelation and switch to a core XY is they could not get the faster speeds required without causing damage to the machine, mainly excess drive belt wear.

What is bugging him is Elegoo are trying move up into Bambu labs market, and Bambu labs are releasing more budget focused models. so moving down into the Elegoo market share.
Which is not good news for him, as he is using the two brands to cover the full market range, So now he will have to stock almost twice the number models, but not likely to materially change the size of his market share.
Will be interesting to see how much of what he thinks will happen actually does happen.
Phil,

 

[James Walters]

Hi Martin,
I had a very interesting conversation with my FDM, resin and Laser supplier yesterday. He is in fact the main New Zealand agent for Elegoo, Bambu labs, x tools and Creality. So got a lot of irons in the fire so to speak.

Anyway I got talking to him about the Neptune 5 and what was the state of play. It turned that it was a bit of bone of contention with him and others who supply Elegoo in that, mid to late late year they were telling agents, the Neptune 5 was due for release in the last quarter of 24. This totally fits with the price of the Neptune 4 dropping around this time. He is also no out of stock of the Neptune 4, and can no longer get access to this model.

The Neptune 5 was supposed to be, similar to the 4 but could go faster, and had the ability to have multi roll feeds, so basically automatic colour change capability. Then it suddenly got cancelled from the program.

He says it is now ear marked for a late quarter 1 maybe early quarter 2 2025 release, However its not the same machine any more. It will now come with an enclosure, and from what info they have realised to him, he thinks it will no longer be a bed slinger design, he thinks its likely to change to a core XY configuration, very much in line with the the Bambu labs X1 carbon model. ( in order to get the speeds there looking for)

There appears to be some talk, but he did not confirm that was official Elegoo info, that the main reason for the cancelation and switch to a core XY is they could not get the faster speeds required without causing damage to the machine, mainly excess drive belt wear.

What is bugging him is Elegoo are trying move up into Bambu labs market, and Bambu labs are releasing more budget focused models. so moving down into the Elegoo market share.
Which is not good news for him, as he is using the two brands to cover the full market range, So now he will have to stock almost twice the number models, but not likely to materially change the size of his market share.
Will be interesting to see how much of what he thinks will happen actually does happen.
Phil,

Hi Phil,
You may find this of interest.
Elegoo Carbon Centuri

Best,
James

 

[Phil G]

Hi Phil,
You may find this of interest.
Elegoo Carbon Centuri

Best,
James

Hi James,
Very interesting indeed. I am going back to my filament and resin shop latter this week I will try and remember to ask him if the Elegoo Carbon Centuri, and the thoughts he expressed about the Neptune 5 are really a case of two projects being amalgamated into a single project.
If so where does that leave Elegoo with bed slingers?
He certainly gave me the impression that the Neptune 4 was no longer in production.
It's quite possible what he really meant was, "he can't access any at this time", for whatever reason, thinking more about it.

At the very least it's confirmation Elegoo are stepping into Bambu labs market space! which is what was really bugging him.
cheers
Phil,

 

[Martin Wynne]

If so where does that leave Elegoo with bed slingers?
He certainly gave me the impression that the Neptune 4 was no longer in production.

@Phil G

Hi Phil,

Currently out of stock in the UK, but fresh stock expected by the end of this month:

Martin.

 

[James Walters]

Hi James,
Very interesting indeed. I am going back to my filament and resin shop latter this week I will try and remember to ask him if the Elegoo Carbon Centuri, and the thoughts he expressed about the Neptune 5 are really a case of two projects being amalgamated into a single project.
If so where does that leave Elegoo with bed slingers?
He certainly gave me the impression that the Neptune 4 was no longer in production.
It's quite possible what he really meant was, "he can't access any at this time", for whatever reason, thinking more about it.

At the very least it's confirmation Elegoo are stepping into Bambu labs market space! which is what was really bugging him.
cheers
Phil,

Hi Phil,

From what I've been told, the next iteration of the Neptune series was always going to be the CC model, and that it should have been available from September '24. I think we can expect larger versions of the same machine later in the year also, and that they will use a version of Orca slicer. I expect there will be an equivalent to Bambu's AMS unit too.
All the major manufacturers are producing copies of the Bambu flagship products, whether or not they get the software and user experience to match remains to be seen. From what I've heard the Elegoo effort should be pretty good in that respect.

I would have thought that now would be the best time ever to be a 3d printer retailer, and that your contact should be full of enthusiasm, especially for FDM. The days of FDM printers not working effectively without modification and tinkering are now in the past. It seems that all the manufacturers now produce machines which work out of the box and I'd expect the 3d marketplace for non-tinkerers to explode.
One manufacturer has told me that they are planning for 10x growth in FDM sales in the next 5 years.

Certainly, my Neptune 4 has been a revelation at £150 - it just works. It's done hundreds of hours printing now and I've not even replaced a nozzle or had to clear a blockage yet.

If I was a machine dealer, I'd have a showroom demonstrating the machines producing all manner of useful stuff for the mass market, household, DIY, automotive, etc.

I expect Bambu will move the needle forward again in 2025, as there will always be a market for a high-end consumer machine.

Cheers,

James

 

[Steve_Cornford]

Elegoo's new slicer is called SatelLite:-

It is free to download.
Steve

 

[Martin Wynne]

Elegoo's new slicer is called SatelLite:-
View attachment 13514
It is free to download.
Steve

@Steve_Cornford

Hi Steve,

It seems to be a replacement for Chitubox for resin printing? I can't find any reference to FDM slicing or settings.

cheers,

Martin.

 

[Steve_Cornford]

Hi Martin,
Sorry, got carried away.
Too much fresh air today
Oh and lots of mud on the paths at Cuckmere Haven!

Steve