Is it worth going "Pro"? Trying out the 🇫🇷 Dagoma Sigma Pro 500Z!
TLDRThe Thea Sigma Pro 500z is a professional 3D printer with a focus on reliability and a unique tall build volume. Despite its innovative features such as power failure detection and dual extruder option, the printer faces challenges with slow print speeds, wobbly motion system, and lack of clear user documentation. The machine's potential is evident, but it seems to fall short in delivering a cohesive and user-friendly experience, particularly for those new to 3D printing. The review suggests that focusing on a smaller set of well-integrated features could significantly improve the printer's overall performance and appeal to a specific user group.
Takeaways
- 🧐 The Thea Sigma Pro 500z is a professional 3D printer with a focus on reliability and a unique set of features.
- 📈 It is priced at a flat €3,000 with tax, which is relatively affordable in the realm of professional 3D printers.
- 🚀 One of the standout features of the machine is its power failure detection, emphasizing its focus on reliability.
- 🔧 The printer offers an optional dual extruder configuration, providing versatility in material usage.
- 📦 Thea publishes their prices transparently, which is a positive sign for potential buyers.
- 🏠 The company is smaller and based in France, with a website primarily in French, indicating a niche market focus.
- 🛠️ The printer has a number of 3D printed parts, showcasing the company's commitment to the technology they produce.
- 🖥️ The machine runs on a Linux system with a Raspberry Pi, and features both a large touchscreen and a smaller one for firmware control.
- 📚 There was an initial lack of documentation and support materials, which was later addressed with a quick start guide and manual.
- 💡 The printer's design is visually appealing, but some practical issues with usability and print speed were noted in the review.
- 🔄 The machine's overall performance was mixed, with some good features not entirely meshing well together, leading to a somewhat incoherent user experience.
Q & A
What is the main focus of the video?
-The main focus of the video is to review and analyze the Thea Sigma Pro 500z, a professional 3D printer, and determine its advantages over consumer-grade machines.
How does the presenter describe the two types of professional products?
-The presenter describes two types of professional products: one where you invest more and get a top-level tool that pays for itself, and another where high prices are set due to lack of alternatives, without significant improvement in product quality.
What is the price of the Thea Sigma Pro 500z 3D printer?
-The price of the Thea Sigma Pro 500z 3D printer is a flat €3,000 with tax.
What are some of the features of the Thea Sigma Pro 500z?
-Some features of the Thea Sigma Pro 500z include power failure detection, optional dual extruder configuration, and the use of 3D printed parts for its construction.
How does the presenter describe the build volume of the Thea Sigma Pro 500z?
-The presenter describes the build volume of the Thea Sigma Pro 500z as a key feature, with a height of 500mm, which is not commonly found in other machines.
What challenges did the presenter face while unboxing and setting up the Thea Sigma Pro 500z?
-The presenter faced challenges such as lack of proper documentation, difficulty in understanding the dual display and slicing setups, and issues with the filament feeding mechanism.
What was the presenter's overall impression of the Thea Sigma Pro 500z?
-The presenter found the Thea Sigma Pro 500z to be an incoherent experience with several trade-offs and limitations, despite having some good features like the tall build volume.
What suggestions does the presenter have for the Thea Sigma Pro 500z's design and features?
-The presenter suggests that the GMA should focus on a smaller set of features that work well together and cater to a specific target user group, rather than trying to include a bit of everything.
How did the presenter address the issue of the printer's slow print speed?
-The presenter acknowledged the slow print speed as a significant issue and noted that it would be a challenge to improve due to the printer's motion system.
What was the presenter's experience with the Thea Sigma Pro 500z's print quality?
-The presenter found the print quality to be consistent and usable when the parts stuck properly, but noticed noticeable Delta artifacting.
What was the presenter's recommendation for the Thea Sigma Pro 500z's target audience?
-The presenter recommended that the Thea Sigma Pro 500z should cater to a niche audience that would appreciate its unique features, rather than trying to appeal to everyone.
Outlines
💼 Introduction to Professional 3D Printers
The paragraph introduces the concept of professional 3D printers, highlighting the standards of politeness, efficiency, and innovation. It focuses on the Thea Sigma Pro 500z, a machine from a smaller company that exemplifies how smaller entities can bring unique innovations to the market. The speaker expresses caution, noting that professional products can sometimes be overpriced without necessarily offering better quality. Thea's transparency in pricing, however, is seen as a positive sign. The discussion also touches on what defines a professional 3D printer and the anticipation of exploring the features of the Thea Sigma Pro 500z.
🛠️ Unboxing and Initial Impressions of Thea Sigma Pro 500z
In this paragraph, the speaker dives into the unboxing experience of the Thea Sigma Pro 500z, detailing the components and accessories included. There's a focus on the printer's design, such as the dual extruder option, lightweight construction, and the use of 3D printed parts. The speaker also discusses the printer's features, such as power failure detection, and the inclusion of various tools and accessories. The discussion extends to the printer's user interface, highlighting the dual screen setup and the underlying octoprint-based system.
🔧 Assembly and Setup Challenges
The speaker encounters several challenges while assembling and setting up the Thea Sigma Pro 500z. Despite the lack of a manual and sample prints on the included SD card, the speaker proceeds with the assembly, guided by best judgment and online resources. Issues such as language barriers, electrical connection problems, and the need for specific configurations are addressed. The speaker also highlights the printer's hardware, noting the use of high-quality materials and the importance of proper installation of components like the filament guide and extruder.
🚀 First Prints and Machine Performance
This paragraph discusses the speaker's initial attempts at printing with the Thea Sigma Pro 500z. The speaker describes the process of selecting and slicing models, the challenges faced with the Cura software provided by Thea, and the eventual switch to Ultimaker Cura for more advanced features. The speaker also shares experiences with print speed, part quality, and the printer's motion system. Despite some successful prints, issues with print adhesion, warping, and extruder jamming are noted, emphasizing the need for further refinement and user experience improvement.
📝 Overall Evaluation and Recommendations
The speaker concludes with an overall evaluation of the Thea Sigma Pro 500z, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses. The unique tall build volume is praised, but the speaker criticizes the slow print speed, lack of documentation, and certain design choices that affect usability. The speaker suggests that the printer could be significantly improved by focusing on a smaller set of features and executing them well, rather than trying to cover all bases. The speaker encourages viewers to share their thoughts on professional 3D printers and their experiences, and expresses gratitude for the support of the audience.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡professional 3D printer
💡Thea Sigma Pro 500z
💡3D printed parts
💡power failure detection
💡dual extruder
💡build volume
💡filament
💡print quality
💡customer support
💡documentation
💡slicer software
Highlights
Professional 3D printers offer top-level tools for job-specific usage.
The Thea Sigma Pro 500z is a professional 3D printer from France with a unique focus on innovation.
Thea's transparency in pricing, with a flat cost of €3,000 with tax, is a positive sign for potential buyers.
The professional 3D printer market often has products with high prices but not necessarily better quality.
The machine features power failure detection, emphasizing its focus on reliability.
The Thea Sigma Pro 500z is available as a dual extruder configuration, offering more versatility.
The printer uses 3D printed parts, showcasing the advantages of low-volume manufacturing.
The printer's tool head is designed with a hardened steel nozzle, indicating a focus on durability.
The heated bed temperature is limited to 80°C, which may not support high-temperature filaments effectively.
The printer's fully enclosed build envelope may help with temperature management during printing.
The Thea Sigma Pro 500z operates on a Linux system with networking capabilities and an octoprint-based interface.
The printer's dual display setup includes a touchscreen and a smaller Marlin screen for operation.
The printer's speed is notably slow, even for a Delta printer, affecting its overall efficiency.
Print quality is generally consistent but shows noticeable Delta artifacting in certain conditions.
The lack of comprehensive documentation is a significant drawback for users new to 3D printing.
The Thea Sigma Pro 500z's tall build volume of 500mm is a standout feature not commonly found in other machines.
The printer's design prioritizes aesthetics, which may sometimes compromise usability.
The machine's focus on a broad set of features may have led to compromises in overall user experience.
Specialization in a niche area could be a better approach for small companies like Thea.