MakerFarm benchmark results with Make: 2015 Shoot Out test models

[printbus]

Capture notes and photographs of your prints of the test models from the Make: 2015 3d Printer Shoot Out here. The intent of the Make: Shoot Out was to use standardized test models to evaluate how several commercial 3D printers compare, when used with the host software and settings provided or recommended by the manufacturer. Test results were published in Make: issue 42, covering December 2014 and January 2015.

Brian Krassenstein first introduced 3D PrintBoard to the test models in http://3dprintboard.com/showthread.p...Print-Test-Kit. Make: has published STL files for the test models on Thingiverse at http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:533472. Information on how to score the print results is available through a link on the Thingiverse instructions page. Rather than combine multiple challenges into a single complex print, seven individual test models focus on particular print attributes.



Most of us have tweaked our MakerFarm printers, and many have moved away from the recommended Slic3r v0.9.9 and associated configuration files provided by MakerFarm. Rather than limit testing to a stock configuration, we can still use the Shoot Out test models to assess and compare our setups. IMO, this can include knowing how to optimize slicing parameters based on the nature of a particular print.

Including print photographs with print results is basically a prerequisite. Try to take good photographs that highlight the features applicable to the scoring criteria. Remember that posts are limited to five photographs, so combine prints in photographs or merge photos as necessary. Let's use the Shoot Out models as a way to share knowledge. If you managed stellar prints, explain for others how you managed to do so. If you have issues with your prints and are welcome to suggestions on improvements, go ahead and ask for advice. If you provide a numerical score for your prints, feel free to provide a bit of information on how you came up with the scores.

NOTE: As of this posting, the scoring information provided on the Thingiverse page is only a subset of the scoring categories used in the Shoot Out article. Be aware of that if you attempt to compare scores with those in the article.