The article titled “Artillery Sidewinder X4 PLUS – Unboxing & First Impressions!” provides a detailed unboxing and first impressions review of the Artillery Sidewinder X4 PLUS 3D printer. The content creator, Frankly Built, begins by expressing his skepticism about the brand based on previous experiences with Artillery printers. He highlights the build quality of the X4 Plus, noting that it appears to be better than previous models. The article also discusses various design flaws, such as the cable securing and the quality of the front drawer. Furthermore, the content creator shares his disappointment with the printer’s performance, particularly regarding print quality and speed. They compare the Sidewinder X4 PLUS to other models on the market and mention that they will continue to test and use it in upcoming projects.

In the video, Frankly Built unboxes the Sidewinder X4 PLUS and shares his initial thoughts on the printer. He admits to having a previous negative experience with the Artillery brand but remains optimistic about the X4 PLUS. The article describes the construction and features of the printer, such as the direct drive and tensioned Z belt. Frankly Built expresses concerns about the need for manual leveling and the use of an inductive sensor and glue stick bed. The content creator also discusses the assembly process, highlighting some design flaws. The article concludes with Frankly Built’s disappointment in the printer’s performance and mentions that further testing will be conducted to evaluate its capabilities.

Unboxing

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Introduction to the Artillery Sidewinder X4 PLUS

The Artillery Sidewinder X4 PLUS is a 3D printer from the brand Artillery. This unboxing and first impressions article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the printer’s packaging, contents, build quality, and performance. The content creator, Frankly Built, expresses his skepticism about the brand based on his previous experiences with Artillery printers. He mentions that his previous experience with the Artillery X1 was not ideal due to proprietary software and hardware, as well as issues with cables and connectors. However, he is willing to give the Sidewinder X4 PLUS a fair chance and see if Artillery has improved their printers.

Overview of the packaging

The packaging of the Artillery Sidewinder X4 PLUS is discussed in this section. The content creator notes that the build quality and construction of the packaging appear to be better than the original X1. He highlights that the connectors and cables seem to be well-made and the printer comes with a chunky bed cable. The overall design of the packaging is well-thought-out, with everything labeled clearly and the printer components securely placed.

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Unboxing process

The unboxing process of the Artillery Sidewinder X4 PLUS is detailed in this section. The content creator lays out all the contents of the box and takes note of some key aspects. He mentions that the printer comes with a direct drive and a tensioned Z belt, which are notable features. He also points out that there are some design flaws, such as the way the cable is secured and the quality of the front drawer. Despite these flaws, the unboxing process is relatively smooth, and the instructions provided are easy to follow.

Contents of the package

This section discusses the contents of the package of the Artillery Sidewinder X4 PLUS. The content creator mentions that the printer comes with all the necessary tools and accessories, including an extra nozzle and a set of tools. He also notes that the printer includes a small amount of filament, specifically high-speed PLA. While the filament provided is appreciated, the content creator expresses his disappointment, stating that for the price of the printer, a full roll of filament should be included.

First Impressions

Comparison to previous Artillery models

In this section, the content creator compares the Sidewinder X4 PLUS to previous Artillery models. He notes that the build quality of the X4 PLUS appears to be better than previous models he has tested, such as the X1. The improvements in construction, cables, and connectors are commendable and highlight Artillery’s efforts to address previous issues.

Build quality

The build quality of the Artillery Sidewinder X4 PLUS is discussed in this section. The content creator emphasizes that the overall construction of the printer is solid and well-made. He praises the use of carbon fiber rods for stabilization and the dual AIS SN cable for the Z-axis. The connectors and components seem to be of good quality, and the printer is labeled clearly for easy assembly.

Notable features: direct drive and tensioned Z belt

The Sidewinder X4 PLUS features a direct drive and a tensioned Z belt, which are discussed in this section. The content creator explains that the direct drive setup allows for better filament control and reduces the likelihood of filament slipping during printing. The tensioned Z belt ensures precise movement of the build plate, resulting in improved print quality.

Issues with manual leveling and bed type

This section addresses the content creator’s concerns regarding the manual leveling process and bed type of the Sidewinder X4 PLUS. He expresses his disappointment with the fact that the printer still requires manual leveling, considering that other printers on the market have moved away from this requirement. Additionally, he dislikes that the printer has an inductive sensor and a glue stick bed. He believes that inductive sensors can be problematic and that glue sticks are unnecessary for a printer of this caliber.

Filament included

The filament included with the Artillery Sidewinder X4 PLUS is discussed in this section. The content creator mentions that the printer comes with a small amount of high-speed PLA filament. While he appreciates the gesture, he believes that for the price of the printer, a full roll of filament should be included. He emphasizes that having enough filament is essential for users to fully utilize the printer’s capabilities.

Assembly process

The assembly process of the Artillery Sidewinder X4 PLUS is detailed in this section. The content creator notes that the assembly is relatively straightforward and similar to other printers he has used in the past. He praises the clarity of the instructions provided and assures viewers that they should not encounter any major issues during the assembly process.

Design flaws

This section highlights design flaws in the Artillery Sidewinder X4 PLUS, as observed by the content creator. He points out that the way the cable is secured could be improved, as the current method requires pinching the cable and rolling it. He also criticizes the quality of the front drawer, expressing that it could have been constructed better. These flaws, while not major, indicate areas where Artillery can make improvements in future iterations of the printer.

Test print process and results

The content creator starts the Artillery Sidewinder X4 PLUS and initiates a test print in this section. He mentions that the printer’s first layer adhesion is good, and the test print adheres well to the bed. However, he does not provide specific details on the print quality of the test model or any subsequent prints.

Comparison to other models on the market

The content creator compares the Artillery Sidewinder X4 PLUS to other 3D printers on the market in this section. He mentions models such as the elogo Neptune and the Ender 3, indicating that they are competitive alternatives. While he does not provide a detailed comparison of the Sidewinder X4 PLUS to these models, he implies that the printer’s performance may not match up to its competitors.

Performance Evaluation

Print quality assessment

In this section, the content creator evaluates the print quality of the Artillery Sidewinder X4 PLUS. Unfortunately, he does not go into significant detail about his assessment or provide specific examples of the print quality. However, he does express disappointment with the printer’s performance in terms of print quality.

Print speed evaluation

The content creator assesses the print speed of the Artillery Sidewinder X4 PLUS in this section. While he acknowledges that the printer is designed to print fast, he does not mention how well it performs in terms of speed compared to other models on the market.

Comparison to other printers’ performance

This section briefly mentions comparing the performance of the Artillery Sidewinder X4 PLUS to other printers on the market. However, the content creator does not provide any specific details or examples of the comparison, leaving viewers with limited information on how well the printer performs compared to its competitors.

Disappointment with the printer’s performance

The content creator expresses his disappointment with the performance of the Artillery Sidewinder X4 PLUS in this section. While he does not go into detail about the specific aspects of the printer’s performance that are lacking, he implies that the printer falls short compared to his expectations.

Future Testing and Projects

Intent to continue testing the Artillery Sidewinder X4 PLUS

The content creator mentions his intent to continue testing the Artillery Sidewinder X4 PLUS in this section. He expresses his willingness to give the printer another chance and hopes to explore its capabilities further in upcoming projects.

Planned projects involving the printer

In this section, the content creator discusses his plans to use the Artillery Sidewinder X4 PLUS in upcoming projects. While he does not provide specific details about the projects, he indicates that the printer will play a role in his future content and creations.

Conclusion

Final thoughts on the Artillery Sidewinder X4 PLUS

The content creator shares his final thoughts on the Artillery Sidewinder X4 PLUS in this section. While he acknowledges the improvements in build quality compared to previous Artillery models, he expresses disappointment with certain aspects, such as the manual leveling requirement and the use of an inductive sensor and glue stick bed. He also suggests that the printer’s performance does not meet his expectations, particularly in terms of print quality and speed.

Recommendation or lack thereof

The content creator does not explicitly state whether he would recommend the Artillery Sidewinder X4 PLUS in this section. However, based on his remarks expressing disappointment with the printer’s performance, it can be inferred that he may not recommend it to viewers.

Summary of pros and cons

This section provides a summary of the pros and cons of the Artillery Sidewinder X4 PLUS, as mentioned throughout the article. While the specific pros and cons are not outlined in the given context, viewers can refer to the previous sections to gather an understanding of the printer’s strengths and weaknesses.

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