1 Topic by SvdSinner

  • SvdSinner
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  • Registered: 2015-04-27
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Topic: What are the quality limits of the Davinci?

I'm getting ready to do another round of mods to my Davinci to fix a couple of my unit's worst weaknesses.  (New E3D V6 hot end to allow wide range of filament types and a new flat glass hotbed to replace the warped original that caused all sorts of issues.)

I'm curious: for those of us willing to upgrade parts, run custom firmware, etc. what is the limit a Davinci 1.0 can print at?  (Let's limit mods to keeping the majority of the electronics and drive axis components.  Firmware, bed, bushings, extruder, filament holders are all fair game to mod, plus tuning things like tightening up the belts and pulleys.)

Some obvious limits:

  • Build area can't be expanded, so 200x200x200 is a limitation.

  • Limited to one extruder.  (Unless you bought the 2.0)

  • Inherent FFF limitations like supports and shrinkage

What other limits does a modded DaVinci have?  What would be a reasonable limit to print quality, etc. to aspire to attain?  What pro-printer features are not realistically attainable?  Could it print as well as a big-name single extruder printer with a similar build area?

2 Reply by carl_m1968

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Re: What are the quality limits of the Davinci?

SvdSinner wrote:

I'm getting ready to do another round of mods to my Davinci to fix a couple of my unit's worst weaknesses.  (New E3D V6 hot end to allow wide range of filament types and a new flat glass hotbed to replace the warped original that caused all sorts of issues.)

I'm curious: for those of us willing to upgrade parts, run custom firmware, etc. what is the limit a Davinci 1.0 can print at?  (Let's limit mods to keeping the majority of the electronics and drive axis components.  Firmware, bed, bushings, extruder, filament holders are all fair game to mod, plus tuning things like tightening up the belts and pulleys.)

Some obvious limits:

  • Build area can't be expanded, so 200x200x200 is a limitation.

  • Limited to one extruder.  (Unless you bought the 2.0)

  • Inherent FFF limitations like supports and shrinkage

What other limits does a modded DaVinci have?  What would be a reasonable limit to print quality, etc. to aspire to attain?  What pro-printer features are not realistically attainable?  Could it print as well as a big-name single extruder printer with a similar build area?


Most of the wiring on the moving sections is garbage and will break. So you may want to build your own X axis harness with some more flexible wire. When I had mine I was considering using USB cable.

Printing since 2009 and still love it!
Anycubic 4MAX best $225 ever invested.
Voxelabs Proxima SLA. 6 inch 2k Mono LCD.
Anycubic Predator, massive Delta machine. 450 x 370 print envelope.

3 Reply by kev0175

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Re: What are the quality limits of the Davinci?

I think with the right mods the printer can print as good as these other big name brands. To be honest I'm still trying to figure out why some of these printers cost so much, are you paying for the name or the printer. You can build a printer from scratch put everything you want in it and still come out cheaper then some of these brands.

Da Vinci  AiO with firmware 1.1.1 using xyzscan 1.1.18
E3Dv6 hotend with custom carriage with Borosilicate glass bed
123D Design and Simplify3D, Replaced PS with a Solidgear Flex320
Zerokart resetter,  Installed a Extruder Controller for higher temps

4 Reply by evanalmighty

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Re: What are the quality limits of the Davinci?

The printers will cost what the market will bear.  The Da Vinci is cheap because the company is trying to get its foot into the market.  It also benefits from its parent company's resources and manufacturing capability.  I know the reprap "purists" hate the Da Vinci, but I think they're going to be a large player in the years to come.  It has the resources that most other reprap companies do not have and it can afford to sell these printers at a low margin in exchange for market share.  Right now its software sucks and the printers themselves have a few shortcomings.  But these are things that the can improve and have been improving as the products mature.

5 Reply by mozzieblue

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Re: What are the quality limits of the Davinci?

I don't know about others here but for me the Da Vinci is/was always a steeping stone. It is relatively cheap and a good introduction to 3D printing (if everything works as it should). I intend to upgrade at some point when I reach the limits of the machine tho.

So far I have been impressed with it. Admittedly I am inexperienced with 3D printing but it seems to work just fine if one has some technically knowledge and competence.

Right out of the box I have done some improvements and a little jiggering and pokering. I have spent zero on these improvements and you can't get better than that.

So far, apart from some kinds of filament, I really can't see what my Da Vinci 1.0a can't do that a much higher priced printer can.
I have printed very nice detailed models, articulated prints, wood and a load of other stuff. For £400 for what it is I don't think the novice who knows little can get better (again, assuming it all works)

I will buy a printer that is a little more robust and that can print nylon and flexible filaments at some point but until them the Da Vinci does me fine (you watch now I have said all that it will explode or something).

6 Reply by SvdSinner

  • SvdSinner
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Re: What are the quality limits of the Davinci?

mozzieblue wrote:

I don't know about others here but for me the Da Vinci is/was always a steeping stone. It is relatively cheap and a good introduction to 3D printing (if everything works as it should). I intend to upgrade at some point when I reach the limits of the machine tho.

I agree entirely.  My Davinci took me from spectator to 3D printer owner.  I am loving it and starting to explore what these things can do.  I assume I'll use my Davinci for all it's worth and buy something better once my skills and designs are worthy of better equipment.

Part of the origin of this topic is the essential question of:  As I learn more and do more, when should I upgrade to a nicer printer?

mozzieblue wrote:

I have printed very nice detailed models, articulated prints, wood and a load of other stuff.

My unit hasn't really had a good track record with detailed models and articulated prints.  More of them fail than succeed.  However, many of the failures track back to the two slightly damaged components it has -- the hot end, and the warped build plate.  (I broke a wire on the original thermistor, and have never been confident the new one was perfectly accurate)

When the new hotend and the borosilicate glass bed get installed and are working, I am expecting many improvements, but know it will still be "improvable"

Being that the DaVinci is my first and only printer, it has been challenging to get a handle on what my expectations should be, and whether or not my prints are achieving those expectations.  (Let's face it, current FFF isn't a Star Trek replicator by any means)  My journey to understand the root causes of printing issues has a long way to go.  I still wonder whether the limits are my knowledge, my filament, the FFF process, my designs, my slicing software, and/or my printer/slicer settings.  Sure I can make test prints and see how they differ from "ideal", but I'm a long way from knowing how to go from viewing a test print and really knowing why it was imperfect and how to improve it.

7 Reply by mozzieblue

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Re: What are the quality limits of the Davinci?

Here are some of my test prints and a wood print.

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8 Reply by barry1685 (edited by barry1685 2015-09-24 15:26:13)

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Re: What are the quality limits of the Davinci?

The davinci is quite capable of becoming a high end printer with mods. It takes time and if you want a hobby then go for it. I replaced a lot of parts with mods.

New extruder (sits low) - davinci extruder is top heavy and wobbles limiting speed and quality
New heated bed -  special glass to prevent glass warping
New gt2 pulley and gears - better grip and can handle faster speeds - low maintenance
Running .092 repetier - better sofware slicer s3d - does an amazing job at preparing models
I installed hardened steel shafts on x axis with high quality linear bearings for smoother transitions and speed

So far I am printing high quality stuff with different filaments not just abs. It's almost comparable to high end printers.

Soon I am installing ramps and marlin which will run the machine quiet and less vibrations and faster speeds.

I want to eventually change the bed design to something more stable. Honestly you can do anything with this printer, you just have to have the motivation.