Voxelab Aquila X2 3D Printer with Filament Detection & Resume Print - Silent TMC2208 32-bit Mainboard, Removable Build Plate, Open Source - Perfect for Home DIY Projects, Prototyping & Educational Use

Alright, I’ve waited five months and I don’t typically write reviews. I got this machine for Christmas last year as many of the reviewers loved it. I’d been interested in 3D Printing for a while, and in general I love to tinker, make things, work with my hands and solve mechanical problems.I hate this machine.The unit I received had problems right out of the box, starting with a broken fan in the extruded shroud. Knowing nothing about 3D Printing, I followed the official Voxelab set up video (DO NOT DO THIS), and I’ve been plagued with mechanical issues ever since. At last count, I’ve managed 6 successful prints since December 2022. 85-90% don’t get past the Brim being laid down. The Z-Axis in particular has had binding and slipping issues that have persisted through adding things like an Anti-Backlash nut, and a flexible coupler. Even a new Z-Screw did not fix it. Leveling the bed has also been a constant struggle, leading me to believe it was warped right out of the box, or has since become warped due to the Z and X axis issues.I’ve thrown part after part, upgrade after upgrade at this thing. Nothing makes a difference. A BL-Touch for bed leveling, silicone feet to replace the stock springs, flexible coupler and anti-backlash nut. I’ve torn it apart and re-squared, re-leveled more times than I can count. So many times, in fact, that many of the bolts and screws have stripped.Voxelab Support was said to be excellent, which was another reason I chose this over an Ender. For certain things, I’d certainly agree. They’ve replaced various parts without much trouble, and said parts arrive as quickly as possible, with time lines ranging from a few days to 10 days. Be ready to jump through some hoops, though. They’ll ask the same question sometimes, likely because they’ve forwarded your email to another employee who didn’t bother to read your previous email, ask for pictures or video. As far as needing new parts, yes, I agree they are good. As far as solutions for ongoing, persistent issues…not so much. My email thread with them regarding my machine begins with “RE RE RE RE RE RE…x20” and we don’t appear to be reaching any kind of resolution any time soon.If I had known in December what I now know about 3D Printing, I would not have picked this machine.I’ve seen countless videos and threads online where people have their X2 work flawlessly out of the box and churn out a hundred prints in the time that I’ve had mine. I believe this is in part because there is an underlying and fundamental flaw in my unit, specifically. Which is why I put three stars. Sure, Z Axis slipping/binding is common enough with single Lead Screw machines, but a flexible coupler or any one of the parts I’ve upgraded fixes it. My bed has become badly warped from the Z/X axis issues, and I’ve sunk so much time, energy and money into simply trying to get this machine to work at a basic level that it has killed my enthusiasm for 3D Printing.I bought this machine to bring ideas to life for myself and my sons. Not spend 40 hours a week trying to get it operational at the most basic level.Some advice for anyone new to 3D Printing: Get a machine with auto-bed leveling, and check Reddit threads for a potential machines most common problems. If you’re just looking for something that’ll work out of the box, and you don’t want to add to it or tinker with it, something like a FlashForge Adventurer series, or the Ender 3 Neo (which seems like a happy medium between the two) is going to make you a lot happier than this will. Trust me, the extra money will be worth it. My Aquila X2 has become a black hole, sucking in and destroying my time, energy, and enthusiasm.Problems my machine had out of the box:1) Broken fan in extruded shroud2) bent Z-screw (replacement Voxelab sent was also bent)3) Z-axis slipping and binding4) X gantry sagging or snagging5) warped bedI’ve done almost nothing since December except try to resolve these issues and get the machine working as intended by the manufacturer, and everything has failed. No, I wouldn’t recommend this machine, and I wouldn’t buy one again. Photos are of the warped bed, bent Z-screws and various bolts and screws that have become stripped by the repeated attempts at solving these persistent problems. In working to fix it, it broke even more.