Comgrow T500, the only fast Klipper firmware 3D printer with a 500mm cube print volume, linear rails

Summary

The Aurora Tech Channel reviews the Congo t500, a large-scale 3D printer by Comgrow, a known reseller of Creality printers. With a 500mm³ print volume and modular linear rails for motion, the t500 offers a rigid frame and fast printing speeds up to 180mm/s. Despite minor prototype quality issues, the printer demonstrates good print quality and potential, retailing around $900 with a 7-inch Clipper pad and 600W PSU. The review also highlights the printer's motion system, print speed, and quality, while noting areas for improvement.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Congo t500 is a large 3D printer by Comgrow, a reseller known for selling Creality printers on Amazon.
• 🏗️ The t500 has a massive print volume of 500 millimeters cube, making it larger than any other reviewed printer.
• 🛠️ The printer features a modular linear rail motion system, dual Y and dual Z axes, and a solid aluminum gantry for enhanced rigidity.
• 🔌 The print surface is a spring steel sticker sheet, heated by a 600-watt PSU, and the machine runs on Clipper with a 7-inch touchscreen.
• 💻 The 32-bit motherboard connects stepper motors and limit switches, with processing handled by the 7-inch pad, likely a Megabase 7 inch pad with a quad-core Cortex A53 processor.
• 🔧 The extruder is a 6.5:1 ratio dual gear direct extruder, with a non-volcano style nozzle and three extra hardened steel nozzles.
• 📦 The machine comes in a large box, weighing nearly 90 pounds, with all parts well protected and a simple assembly process.
• 📈 The print speed is fairly fast, with the ability to print at 180 millimeters per second and good print quality for a large bed printer.
• 🌡️ The print bed heats up quickly with a 600-watt power supply, and the temperature difference across the bed is acceptable for its size.
• 🛑 Some issues were noted with the print surface sticking too well to PLA, requiring glue to improve adhesion, and the cooling system could be improved for better overhangs with larger nozzles.

Q & A

What is the Congo T500?

The Congo T500 is a large 3D printer that is a final prototype from ComGrow. It features a 500 millimeter cube print volume, making it larger than any other printer previously reviewed by the channel.

Who is ComGrow and what is their relationship with Creality?

ComGrow is one of Creality's resellers, known for selling thousands of Creality printers on Amazon. They have previously been reviewed for their laser engraver, the Z1, and the mini desktop CNC, with the T500 being their first 3D printer.

What are the key features of the Congo T500's motion system?

The motion system of the Congo T500 uses modular linear rails on the X, dual Y, and dual Z axes. It also includes two solid aluminum brackets at the back to enhance the rigidity of the tall gantry.

What is the print surface of the Congo T500?

The print surface of the Congo T500 is a spring steel sticker sheet, which is heated by a 600-watt PSU.

What software and hardware components does the Congo T500 use?

The Congo T500 runs Clipper and uses a 7-inch touch pad similar to a Sonic PAD as its touchscreen. The Linux OS and Clipper are installed on the pad, and a 32-bit motherboard is used to connect the stepper motors, limit switches, and the print head.

What are the specifications of the extruder on the Congo T500?

The extruder on the Congo T500 has a 6.5:1 ratio dual gear direct drive system. It comes with three extra hardened steel nozzles sized at 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 millimeters.

What is the price range of the Congo T500?

The Congo T500 is priced at around $900.

What is Voxel PLA and how is it related to this review?

Voxel PLA is a brand created by a print farm in Southern California. It is a modified version of PLA that provides higher impact strength and supports high-speed printing. The brand sponsored today's video and is mentioned for its quality and reliability.

What are the assembly steps for the Congo T500?

The assembly involves placing the gantry on the base, reinforcing the gantry with brackets, mounting the spool holder on top, and attaching the screen bracket on the right side. The machine also requires connecting some cables and adjusting the local voltage with the power supply.

What are some of the pros and cons of the Congo T500 as mentioned in the review?

Pros include an excellent motion system, a super rigid frame, good print speed and quality, and a large heated print bed. Cons include issues with the print surface sticking too well to PLA, insufficient cooling when using a 0.8 millimeter nozzle, and some quality control issues with the prototype.