Czech FDM 3D printer manufacturer TRILAB was founded back in 2016, and specializes in professional-grade industrial 3D printers.
Having merged with fellow Czech 3D printer manufacturer Prusa Research in 2021, TRILAB offers three delta 3D printers. In this article, we review the TRILAB AzteQ Industrial, which is advertised as an industrial delta FDM 3D printer with high-performance material compatibility.
Launched in 2021, the AzteQ is primarily targeted towards professional engineers, designers and manufacturers pursuing high-quality prototyping and end-use production of large parts.
Prices for the AzteQ Industrial start at around $9,700. Prospective customers can request a quote via the official TRILAB website here.
Key features of the TRILAB AzteQ Industrial
The AzteQ Industrial poses as a superior product in comparison to other FDM 3D printers in the market, promising better spatial accuracy and material capability.
At the core of TRILAB’s AzteQ Industrial is its closed, actively heated build space. Capable of heating up to 80℃, the 3D printer’s insulated chamber is designed for effective production of composites from a variety of high-performance, engineering grade polymers like ABS, ASA, PA, PC, and PP. Owing to this, the AzteQ Industrial stands as a perfect choice for industrial applications that require components capable of enduring high temperatures and resistive to chemicals.
With an impressive 300mm (diameter) x 400 mm (height) (28.27 liter) cylindrical build capacity, the 3D printer’s volume is considerably larger than its counterparts, with most FDM 3D printers typically possessing a build volume of between 10 and 20 liters. This build area, perfectly complementing the AzteQ Industrial’s compact footprint (59 x 52 x 105 cm), ensures the 3D printer seamlessly fits into most production workspaces.
The TRILAB AzteQ also includes swappable printhead capabilities. This allows users to create printhead assemblies with dedicated configurations for various nozzle sizes, materials, and 3D printing speeds. Users can easily attach their selected printhead to the 3D printer, with the AzteQ automatically performing full 3D print calibrations.
Thanks to its size and material compatibility, the AzteQ Industrial is capable of fabricating a wide range of functional and prototype parts. These range from jigs and fixtures for automotive applications, to chemical-contacting pharmaceutical components.
The AzteQ industrial also includes internal lighting, an integrated camera, a connectable external USB webcam, and remote connection capabilities. This allows users to remotely control the 3D printer, easily monitor multi-day 3D prints, and enables TRILAB technicians to quickly and safely check the 3D printer for any faults.
The TRILAB AzteQ Industrial 3D printer. Photo by 3D Printing Industry.
A stylish, fully enclosed, delta system
The AzteQ Industrial 3D printer presents an elegant and trendy look, its cream shade beautifully offsets the black structural paint. It’s a fully enclosed and heated setup with a large transparent entrance that allows for an unobstructed view of the 3D printing process while providing efficient thermal insulation to reduce heat dissipation.
Like all other TRILAB 3D printers, the AzteQ Industrial employs an FDM 3D printing technique based on a delta system of axis. Delta systems consist of three pairs of rods in a triangular configuration above the 3D print bed, with a central effector platform hosting the 3D printhead.
It’s an architecture famous for faster kinematics and increased travel speeds. Delta systems provide greater accuracy and superior 3D print quality and precision compared to conventional cartesian and CoreXY systems. Other benefits include negligible Z-axis wobble and seamless movements for complex geometries.
The AzteQ Industrial’s user interface (UI) is a detachable touchpad. This touchpad provides a smooth Android operating system which makes the experience user-friendly and simple. Users can easily use the 6.53-inch color touchscreen to control the 3D printer’s features. It is also equipped with various connection choices such as three USB ports, Ethernet, and WiFi/LAN.
The AzteQ Industrial 3D printer offers single extrusion and is compatible with three different nozzles from the UK-based hotend manufacturer E3D. These are the V6 and the Volcano nozzles. The Titan Bowden extrusion system is preferred in the printer rather than the normal Direct Drive setup. This allows the 3D printhead to speed up without leaving artifacts on the surface of the 3D printed elements.
The 3D printing bed of the AzteQ Industrial can warm up to 105℃. The build plate, also known as “PrintPad,” is designed to be removable and flexible to facilitate easy removal of printed parts. The PrintPad is coated with a coarse PEI surface, which guarantees excellent stickiness and removes the use of glue.
Here is a close look at the 3D printing bed, extruder, USB connectivity, and user interface display of the AzteQ Industrial.
Slicer compatibility
TRILAB does not provide its own dedicated slicer, with the AzteQ Industrial instead being compatible with third party slicers. In fact, AzteQ Industrial 3D printer profiles are available on multiple slicers, including PrusaSlicer, Slic3r, KISSlicer, Cura, and Simplify3D.
For our testing, we used the PrusaSlicer. This seemed to be the most fitting choice, given that TRILAB was acquired by Prusa Research in 2021. This slicer offers an intuitive and easy-to-use interface, offering presets for a range of commonly used materials. This software also allows support for multi-material mode, whilst offering different modes optimized for different experience levels.
PrusSlicer software view. Image via 3D Printing Industry
Benchmarking tests on the AzteQ Industrial
We first conducted a repeatability test. To assess repeatability, our team 3D printed three different parts (squares, hexagons, and tubes) 12 times each. These parts were then measured and compared to the original dimensions. A successful result will see these parts possess an average deviation under 0.1 mm, and a standard deviation of less than 0.05 mm.
3D printed hexagon repeatability parts. Photo by 3D Printing Industry.
Ultimately the AzteQ Industrial performed well in this test, displaying reliable repeatability. All three parts achieved average deviation scores below 0.1 mm, and standard deviations of less than 0.05 mm.
Discrepancies were noted between the intended and achieved dimensions, a clear example being the groove width and length of the hexagonal components. These represented the lowest average mean results, suggesting inadequacy of the Y-axis calibration. Through the robust technical support from TRILAB, our team managed to recalibrate the AzteQ Industrial successfully.
The following step involved conducting a bridging test to gauge the ability of the AzteQ Industrial to 3D print without the use of supports. Bridge lengths in a smaller range from 5 mm to 25 mm with 5 mm spacings, while the larger bridge initiates at 20 mm, extending to 60 mm in periodic increments of 10 mm.
3D printing of all bridges was a success, maintaining quality till a length of 20 mm on both X- and Y-axes. Considering most FDM 3D printers have limitations up to 15 mm, the AzteQ Industrial marks a commendable performance.
The 60 mm bridge, the largest one, also output an impressive 3D print with minimal sagging and loose filament strands. The outcome surpassed our initial expectations, demonstrating the effectiveness of the AzteQ Industrial’s cooling fan when it comes to bridging materials like ASA and ABS. However, 3D printing the test model using PC Blend filament proved impossible, due to the filament’s inability to cool down swiftly.
3D printed parts for bridging test. Images courtesy of the 3D Printing Industry.
Apart from that, we also performed tower and width tests to evaluate the maximum 3D printing dimensions of the AzteQ Industrial.
3D printing of the tower part came out exceptionally well, resulting in dimensions of 19.95 x 19.98 x 399.3 mm, which is almost reaching the maximum advertised build height of 400 mm. The fixed 3D print bed of the AzteQ Industrial ensured the part had a smooth finish, without layer shifting or uneven angles. The width test was equally successful, with the circular part extending to the maximum limits of the 3D printer’s build plate, with a diameter of 299.6 mm.
An experiment to measure the greatest 3D printable overhangs without support that AzteQ Industrial can handle was carried out. The components used in the test contained 6 overhangs, each gradually increasing by five degrees from 40° to 65°.
The AzteQ Industrial managed this test brilliantly, faultlessly 3D printing all overhangs under 65°. Some minor defects were observed at the 65° angle, but this is considered natural. The 50° angle is usually seen as the limit for most FDM 3D printers, placing the TRILAB Industrial above many other FDM options in terms of 3D printing overhangs.
The performance of the AzteQ Industrial when it comes to the upper limit of retraction was also evaluated. From the evaluations, it was discovered that this 3D printer has impeccable retraction. There was zero stringing between the spikes, with a slight layer shift at the top of the part observed.
A circular trajectory test was also performed by our team to evaluate the capacity of the AzteQ Industrial to 3D print components with circular sections. Printing such parts can oftentimes be challenging for FDM systems, especially ones with cartesian axis systems. However, due to its delta kinematic system, such a problem was not anticipated for the AzteQ Industrial.
AzteQ Industrial Circular test 3D prints. Photos by 3D Printing Industry.
The mean difference of all tests was 0.131 mm, higher than the average of 0.1 mm for most industrial 3D printers. Moreover, the 0.0846 mm standard deviation exceeded the 0.05 mm expected for most accurate 3D printers. However, the overall quality of the parts was commendable, with smooth surface finish, no stringing, and no defects.
To assess the AzteQ Industrial’s ability to 3D print with higher temperature filaments, next 3D printed our in-house 3D Printing Industry (3DPI) benchmarking test in ABS. This test piece includes multiple different tests into a single part.
This test 3D printed incredibly well. The AzteQ Industrial achieved an impressive 60° overhang angle, as well as solid bridging for ABS. The negative precision test was also well handled, and the 0.4 mm thick wall was completed without fault.
3DPI test 3D print on AzteQ Industrial. Photos by 3D Printing Industry.
Ultimately, the AzteQ Industrial achieved a score of 77.78/100, a very good result. Therefore, this 3D printer certainly showcased its ability to 3D print with high-temperature materials such as ABS, that require a heated build chamber.
3DPI test radar chart for the AzteQ Industrial. Data by 3D Printing Industry.
We also assessed the AzteQ Industrial’s ability to 3D print small and precise parts. Here, the test piece was a small nut and bolt with tight tolerances. The length of the screw was 28 mm. This part 3D printed successfully with a good level of detail and no defects in the thread. As such, the parts are functional, and can be easily screwed together. The TRILAB AzteQ Industrial can certainly 3D print small and precise parts.
AzteQ Industrial small and precise parts test 3D prints. Photos by 3D Printing Industry.
For our final benchmarking test, we 3D printed a planetary gear using ASA to assess the ability of the AzteQ Industrial to 3D print a mechanical part in one shot. The surface quality of this part was impressive, with no defects. Moreover, no post-processing was required and the mechanism worked very well, making it a very good mechanical 3D print.
AzteQ Industrial 3D printed planetary gear test. Photos by 3D Printing Industry.
Application tests:
Our team also conducted a range of application tests, to assess the real world capabilities of TRILAB’s 3D printer for industrial use-cases.
We first 3D printed a swing arm prototype for bicycles using the PC-CF filament. This part was based on a 3D scan of a real swing arm. The features on the scanned model were perfectly replicated on this part, with great accuracy and surface finish. The model was also strong, with no delamination along the Z-axis, showcasing good layer adhesions. As such, the 3D printer demonstrated an ability to accurately 3D print scanned models for professional prototyping or reverse engineering purposes.
AzteQ Industrial swing arm test 3D print. Photo credit belongs to 3D Printing Industry.
We proceeded to 3D print a bike brake lever with polycarbonate blend material. The print quality was excellent, with zero defects. There was no evidence of stringing or warping, and the seam line was perfectly clean. Moreover, the removal of the support structure was remarkably easy, making it suitable for professional engineering or design scenarios.
AzteQ Industrial carried out a 3D print test of a bicycle brake. Photos provided by 3D Printing Industry.
Furthermore, the team 3D printed a NACA duct part in ABS to evaluate the 3D printer’s heated chamber and its capability to work with ABS minus the warping. The AzteQ Industrial did not let us down, producing the part without defects or warpage. This verifies that this 3D printer is capable of handling ABS with excellent control and surface finishing, with no issues of filament retraction or oozing.
Image source: 3D Printing Industry. This is a 3D print test of a NACA dust component by AzteQ Industrial.
Last but not least, we did a 3D print of a pipe section in ASA. This test aimed to check the efficiency of long-duration 3D printing; the part took 38 hours to complete. The print quality was outstanding, with high precision and a smooth surface finish. Additionally, the overhang sections were printed with excellent quality, showing no signs of sagging.
While testing, we encountered some issues with the skirt’s poor retraction, which nearly slipped beneath the part’s first layer and had to be manually removed. By making adjustments to the retraction settings in the software, you can correct this problem. With a bit of experimentation, it’s possible to find the right settings to avoid problems like dragging, oozing, and stringing.
We tested a 3D printed pipe with the AzteQ Industrial. This photo was supplied by the 3D Printing Industry.
The final verdict:
In general, the AzteQ Industrial held up well during our tests. It sets itself apart as a professional grade FDM 3D printer that can print high-quality parts with high-temperature materials such as ABS, ASA, PA, and PC.
The 3D printers heated build chamber performed well, and played a key role in achieving the high quality parts throughout our testing. As such, we can confirm that intricate designs can be 3D printed with minimal warping.
We were also pleased to find that, when ABS filament ran out overnight, we were able to load a new spool and restart the 3D printing without any problems. This was achievable as the chamber successfully maintained a heated environment.
“Why did the 3D printer go to therapy? Because it had too many layers of unresolved issues!”
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