BQ Hephestos V2 3D Printer is Great for Flexible Materials

BQ is well known technology producer from Spain and they have launched their new Hephestos V2 3d printer. It has many powerful features but does not include heated print bed. Reviews show that it is ideal for PLA and elastic filaments due to extruder configuration.

Hephestos V2 Tech Specs:

PRINTING SPEED

• Maximum: 200 mm/s* Subject to materials, profiles and software used.

RESOLUTION

• Very high - 50 microns
• High - 100 microns
• Medium - 200 microns
• Low - 300 microns

DIMENSIONS

• Product without PLA reel: 
• (x)450 x (y)516 x (z)571 mm (static) 
• (x)450 x (y)605 x (z)571 mm (dynamic)
• Product with PLA reel : 
• (x)450 x (y)516 x (z)661 mm (static)
• (x)450 x (y)605 x (z)661 mm (dynamic)
• Enclosure: (x)627 x (y)465 x (z)207 mm
• Printable area: (x)210 x (y)297 x (z)220 mm

MATERIALS

• Filament diameter: 1,75 mm
• PLA, PLA-similar, FilaFlex and other elastomers

EXTRUDER MECHANICS

• Own design extruder with double drive gear traction setting and filament guide to maintain compatibility with flexible or soft filaments.
• 0.4 mm nozzle for 1.75 mm filament
• Finned dissipator with axial fan controlled by firmware (low noise)
• Cooling blower
• Sensor specifically designed for 3D printing (auto-levelling)

GENERAL MECHANICS

• Powder-coated aluminium base and frame
• Hard chromed bars for the Y axis
• Lineal ball bearing for the Y axis
• Recirculating ball bearing guides with flat runner for the X and Z axes
• Cable chain
• Flexible couplings for the screwed rods of the Z axis
• 3-point print bed levelling system with shock absorber
• Rapid system for changing print bed

ELECTRONICS

• Proprietary Mega 3D control unit
• Inductive sensor for automatic calibration
• LCD display with navigation knob 
• Power supply unit: 12V 100W
• Thermistor 100k at the Hot-End
• Cartrige heater: 12V 40W

SOFTWARE

• Marlin-derived firmware
• New features: auto-levelling, manual levelling using inductive sensor exclusively designed for 3D printing, power-saver system
• Improved user interface
• Recommended environment: Cura Software, slic3r, Repetier, Kisslicer
• Files accepted: .gcode
• Compatible operating systems: Windows XP or later, Linux and Mac OS X or later

It will be priced at 849,90 €.

BQ homepage: http://www.bq.com/uk/hephestos-2


Hephestos V2 Reviews, Tests and Building Process 

Here is an excellent review by well known expert Richard Horne (aka. Richrap) where he also shows his excellent results with flexible filaments in various forms of elastomers.





Blog post with more details:

http://richrap.blogspot.hr/2016/01/building-and-using-bq-hephestos-version.html


Here is Richards video about finalized build, how to build it and some upgrades:






Here is Trevor from 3D Print World Aylesbury with his build log and review: