Printer tests for deltas

This is a set of very basic tests of the mechanics of your printer. The intention is that they should be fairly slicer-independent, and they should each, as far as possible, isolate a single feature of printer performance.

XYZ size: measure the size of a print in line with the X Y and Z towers. Changes in these sizes are a first-order effect of miscalibrated arm lengths. Each size can be measured externally, as the size of an object, or internally, as the size of a void, so that over/under extrusion doesn't enter into the calculation.

Gap test: prints a series of square blocks in rectangular holes with thinner and thinner gaps on two sides. This isolates how much of a gap you need for straight walls to prevent them fusing; it's remarkably small on my printer (only the 0.1 mm gap was fused).

Tilted-gap test: Like the previous test but with sloping gaps (that is, overhangs). This sort of gap occurs in herringbone gears, and keeping sloping surfaces from fusing probably requires more of a gap. This is a work in progress; it's a more difficult print than the others.

Corner-cutting tests: One of the reasons printers often produce too-small circular holes is that filament has a tendency to cut corners. This test provides positive and negative corners of various angles, all nominally 10 mm apart, for you to measure and find out how serious a problem this is for you. The corners are all between relatively long straight sides, so path simplification should confuse the issue.

Print instructions

Category: 3D Printing Tests