What Can You Do With the Flashforge Artemis?
3D printing is a fascinating technology thats still so young and intersects with so many other hobbies and professions.
The potential for its utility seems really limitless.
Not having to assemble the printer itself suddenly makes delving into this new hobby feel so much more manageable.
Not to mention, a generous inclusion of two (1kg) spools of PLA filament!
One black and one white.
Most of these are easy to find or clearly labeled, but there were a couple I almost missed.
I really wouldve appreciated some more clear direction on this in the user manual.
Out of those two steps, which would you assume is the more difficult task?
I was very surprised by how easy it was to level the bed of the printer.
So much so that I releveled and recalibrated it two more times.
On-screen prompts guide you through the leveling process and make it super easyI nailed it on my first try.
Loading filament on the other hand, which sounds straightforward, took me a couple of tries.
I found I needed to push the filament in a little harder than I was comfortable with.
Now the only thing standing between you and your first print is cracking open that slicer software!
I was very pleasantly surprised when I opened up FlashPrint for the first time.
Hardware
The Artemis is certainly one of the nicest looking 3D printers out there.
Especially in comparison to budget 3D printers that are in that $200-400 range and usually require assembly.
The partially enclosed build plate and mostly concealed filament rack contribute to the Artemis appearance.
The Artemis has a 4.3-inch full-color touchscreen display.
The interface is extremely user-friendlyI never felt lost or like I couldnt find a setting I was looking for.
I also greatly appreciated the inclusion of the flexible spring sheet as opposed to the glass sheet.
The few issues Ive recently experienced didnt even ruin the prints.
The largest single print I made wasthis dice towerthat looks like a skull.
It took 36 hours to print and turned out absolutely fantastic!
The printing process itself is very quiet, especially compared to most 3D printers.
The spool on the back of the Artemis that feeds the filament is mostly concealed.
Finally, the extruder can heat up to 260C.
Software
As mentioned, the flash drive comes loaded with Flashforges own slicer software, FlashPrint.
However, the Artemis is also compatible with third-party slicing software.
it’s possible for you to use the basic features for free.
Lastly, it’s worth noting that the Flashforge Artemis can connect over Wi-Fi.
This is a great feature when it worksbut I havent gotten it to connect consistently.
Print Quality
Onto my actual experience printing: Ive had some really impressive results.
All of these came out in one piece and move so fluidly!
These were both printed on the standard black and white PLA that came included with the Artemis.
These five prints, I think, are a good example to track my progress by.
These are custom mini figures of the character Im currently playing in a D&D campaign.
Seeing him evolve has only encouraged my learning process.
I had two instances of issues where the Artemis stopped working and I couldnt find answers online by myself.
Turns out, I needed to replace my nozzle!
A quick google search suggests that I should only have to replace a nozzle every 3-6 months.
Replacing the nozzle was definitely a bit more in-depth in terms of maintenance than I felt comfortable with.
FlashForge Artemis is Ideal for Beginners
I have absolutely loved my time with the FlashForge Artemis.
The color touchscreen display and FlashPrint software makes controlling the printer really easy and learning the process feel approachable.
The modern look of the Artemis and lack of assembly required also make it really easy to love.
So, would I recommend this printer to someone else who knows nothing about 3D printing?
If youre willing to pay a bit more for your first printer, the answer is absolutely yes.
However, FlashForge and FlashPrint go a long way to make your first experience simple.
To those of you with more experience in 3D printing, I would still definitely recommend the FlashForge Artemis.
