Voxelab Aquila D1 3D printer review - MGN linear guides are no miracle cure

On closer inspection, the Aquila S2 and D1 do not have much in common, but ultimately the performance data of the two devices is very similar. The all-metal hot end in the D1 can be heated up to 300 °C. The X and Y axes now run on linear rails and bearings. Delrin rollers are now only found on the Z axis, which is driven from both sides. In detail, the print head of the D1 is now very similar to the current design of Creality's Hotend and extruder combination. In terms of print volume, the new device from Voxelab corresponds to the current standard for medium-sized 3D printers.

Like most 3D printers, the Voxelab Aquila D1 comes in parts. Aquila includes the tools for assembly right away and packs a few small items in the box that might be useful for later operation. As with most 3D printers of this type, assembly is not particularly complicated. Voxlab also includes a clear instruction manual. At most, the assembly of the archway is a bit fiddly, as the screws have to be screwed in from below here, as usual. We find that all parts fit together parallel and at right angles right away. So after we have adjusted the belt tensions on the two set screws and aligned the print bed with the four set screws to the print head, we can start commissioning the new machine.

That means first running through the automatic mesh bed leveling. At around eight minutes, this process takes a bit longer than with other devices. However, the 3D printer also misses the heated print bed and needs four minutes alone to get up to operating temperature.

For the first test, we chose the typical 3D-Benchy. The gCode for it came from Voxelab on the included microSD. Unfortunately, a design or manufacturing flaw of the Aqulila D1 becomes apparent here: The heated print bed also radiates its heat downwards. This causes the component to which the linear bearings and the print bed are attached to expand. The linear guides underneath remain cool, and the thermal expansion causes mechanical stresses because the MGN bearings cannot compensate for the expansion. As a result, the print bed can no longer move freely, step losses occur, and the print model is printed offset. The keyword here is layer shift.

Our first repair was, therefore, due before we had even finished the first print. The solution to the problem was relatively simple. One of the two parallel linear rails had to be given a minimal amount of play to compensate for thermal expansion during operation. To do this, it was sufficient to loosen the screws on the right rail. A delicate touch is required here because the screws must be loosened just enough to allow the rail to move slightly in the plane, but not so far that it can lift off the plane-milled base. For the technically savvy readers, there must have been a mistake made here during the 3D printer manufacturing process. The screws of the right rail are tightened with too high a torque. This results in two fixed bearings. The way Voxelab has milled the aluminum extrusion, the right rail is intended as a floating bearing. However, the choice of screws and tightening torque prevents this. Our solution cannot be a permanent one, however, since the position of the screws must be checked again and again. In the long term, we should switch to PTFE washers here. To reduce temperature fluctuations under the pressure bed, it also makes sense to use pressure bed insulation (around 10 euros on Amazon). This also saves energy.

After the modification, the Voxelab Aquila D1 ran well. The problems with layer shifts were solved for the time being.

Touchscreens for controlling many 3D printers have also become established at Voxelab. The user interface is quite simple and translated into several languages. However, we, unfortunately, noticed that Voxelab made several spelling mistakes during the translation into German. A bit later, we notice that Voxelab has mixed up Yes and No in the translation. If you want to cancel or pause a print, you get a confirmation field with questions like Cancel print?, Suspend print? or Continue print? To confirm, however, you have to tap No here. In English and French mode, the two input fields are provided with the correct text. Those who understand one of the other languages offered by the printer should probably rather choose these. We have sent the manufacturer all information about the error. However, Voxelab has not yet been able to fix the error.

Apart from the errors in the German translation, however, the interface is quite comfortable. Numerical values can be entered via a number field, and the usual control options are available. Only a wizard for manual adjustment of the print bed and a setting option for the extrusion factor are not available.

The print bed seems to be the same standard component that we last saw on the Anycubic Cobra 2. An approx. 2 mm thick aluminum plate forms the base here. This can be heated from the underside. On the upper side, a magnetic foil is glued almost over the entire surface. The PEI-coated spring steel plate adheres to this. Without insulation from the underside, the 24 V heater must permanently supply energy here and takes a little longer to heat up. If it is decided to install an appropriate insulating plate, this should, in addition to the energy-saving advantages, also ensure better mobility of the print bed, since the print bed support is heated less.

Thanks to 400 watts of heating power, the print bed can go from 22 °C room temperature to a printing temperature of 60 °C in less than three minutes. It takes a good five minutes to reach 90 °C.

The Voxelab Aquila D1 measures the print bed with an inductive proximity sensor at 25 points. Before this, the print bed is heated up to an operating temperature of 60 °C. Although this has the advantage that the printer thus takes the thermal expansion of the print bed into account, inductive sensors are highly temperature-dependent. Inaccuracies can therefore occur here as soon as the print bed is not heated very evenly. In the test, however, we did not notice any problems with the accuracy of the sensor. After the nozzle spacing has been set manually, the Aquila D1 prints the entire print bed at an almost optimal distance. In total, the measuring process takes about eight minutes.

The print bed of the 3D printer can also be adjusted manually. Adjustment screws are located at all four corners for this purpose. However, you won't find an assistant for manually aligning the print bed. Thus, you have to move the print head and the print bed by hand or input corresponding commands on the computer via the serial interface.

Voxelab does a lot right with the Aquila D1, but also blunders far too clearly in some places. It is noticeable that this is a 3D printer that is rather intended for technical applications and also wants to be operated by people who have the corresponding basic knowledge. When it comes to the optical quality of the parts printed by Aquila, the printer can only compete with devices like the Anycubic Cobra 2 or the Artillery Genius Pro. This is a pity because the built-in hardware should be capable of more. Actually, it is impeccable, with the exception of the too tightly screwed guide rail and the poor cable management to the print head. Thus, we wonder whether an optimized firmware from GitHub would achieve better results.

MGN bearings and rails cannot always be the last word, especially since we suspect that Voxlab did not make the best selection, at least for the bearing slides. Too often, the consequences of small vibrations become visible on the printouts.

The Voxelab Aquila D1 is a 3D printer that comes with a lot of potential from the factory. To take advantage of this, you have to do a lot of fine-tuning, which other 3D printer manufacturers have already done for their devices.

Overall, the Aquila D1 turns out to be not very beginner-friendly. However, those who are well acquainted with 3D printers, Marlin, and the various settings in slicers should make a good choice with the 3D printer from Voxelab.