u/MaxFunkner

Phil Macey recently had a closer look at the new Elegoo Centauri 2 Combo. This is an overview rather than a full hands-on review, focusing on the design, setup, CANVAS multi-colour system, and the main differences compared with the Centauri Carbon 2. Article and video.

I wanted to see how far I could push multi-color printing on the Snapmaker U1 beyond the four-toolhead limit.

I segmented the figurine into three larger printable sections, then used different filament combinations for each section. Altogether the finished model uses 12 colors plus 2 mixed shades.

The parts were printed separately and assembled afterward. I also used Snapmaker Orca’s Color Mixing feature for some additional shades.

The model was kept fairly small to make the experiment quicker, so I think the mixed-color transitions would look even better if the figurine were scaled up.

Full workflow is included in my Tripo AI hands-on review on 3DWithUs:
https://3dwithus.com/tripo-ai-review-3d-printing

I wanted to test Tripo AI’s segmentation feature with an actual 3D printing use case, so I used our existing 3D Printing Guardian figurine.

I initially segmented the model into seven parts, merged them into three larger printable sections, cleaned the open surfaces in Blender, and printed each section separately on the Snapmaker U1.

That let me use different filament combinations for each print instead of being limited to four colors across the whole model. The finished figurine uses 12 colors plus 2 mixed shades.

I kept the model fairly small to make the experiment quicker, so the mixed-color transitions would probably look better on a larger version. Still, I’m very happy with how this turned out.

I documented the full workflow in my hands-on Tripo AI review on 3DWithUs, including image-to-3D, text-to-3D, Refine, segmentation, Blender cleanup, and the final physical prints:

https://3dwithus.com/tripo-ai-review-3d-printing

The two images show the separately printed sections and the final assembled result.

I’ve been testing Tripo AI from a 3D printing perspective. I tried text-to-3D, photo-to-3D with my dog Teddy, Refine, and segmentation for multi-color printing. Some models were printable almost immediately, while others needed Blender cleanup and sculpting. The photo-to-3D result surprised me the most. Here is my full hands-on review with 3D print examples.

I expected to edit/recreate the threads in CAD after scanning, but that wasn't necessary.

I scanned each side separately in 22 Cross Blue Laser mode, then used Manual Marker Alignment to combine the two halves. The printed threads worked straight from the scan.

The important part was placing at least three markers where both scans could see them.

I documented the complete scan-to-print workflow, including all the scanning modes, settings, and print results here: https://3dwithus.com/creality-sermoon-p1-review

I had a lot of fun with this project. Using the Creality Sermoon P1, I scanned an old adjustable dumbbell set, cleaned up and aligned the scans, and 3D printed the complete set on the Creality K2 Pro. It turned into a great way to test the scanner's different Laser modes, standalone workflow, and overall scan-to-print process. The colorful PLA versions are obviously much lighter than the originals (420g vs 6kg), but they're perfect as functional mock-ups or simply for fun. This project became part of my hands-on Sermoon P1 review.

The shoe rack used telescopic poles to support the shelves, but the poles kept slipping and falling.

I quickly measured the cabinet, designed a simple holder, and printed a set of supports.

After 10 years of playing with 3D printers, I still get a kick out of little fixes like this around the house.

One of the most rewarding projects I've worked on recently wasn't designing something new. It was bringing damaged RC boat parts back to life. Using 3D scanning, Blender, and 3D printing, I recreated a fiberglass hull, damaged reverse bucket, and propeller.

The biggest takeaway wasn't just the scanner. It was the workflow. Instead of trying to create a perfect printable mesh directly from the scan, I achieved much better results by scanning a clean surface, making small adjustments in Blender, and preparing the model for printing.

AI also had a surprisingly positive impact on the process by helping me quickly find Blender tools, shortcuts, and modifiers from nothing more than a screenshot and a simple prompt. It didn't do the modeling for me, but it made learning Blender far more approachable. Read more: See my recent results using the Revopoint MetroY Ultra, Blender, and a 3D printer.

Phil Macey thoroughly tested the Flashforge Creator 5, a 4-head FDM 3D printer aimed at multi-color and multi-material printing with reduced filament waste. In his hands-on test, he covers setup, calibration, Orca-Flashforge slicer workflow, TPU printing, multi-colour test prints, and even 3D printed shoes; check his dedicated Creator 5 video and the full hands-on article on 3DWithUs.

I scanned my foot with the Revopoint POP 4 and printed it on the Snapmaker U1 to test a scan-to-print shoe-stretcher idea. It had limited but real success: it worked better with sandal-style shoes, and it did help stretch the shoe I originally wanted to adjust. That said, it is definitely not the most practical shoe-stretching method, and the result looks creepy enough to count as an early Halloween prop. More details and hands-on test examples in the write-up

I spent a few weeks testing the Revopoint POP 4. As usual, I had scanning for 3D printing in mind, but I also tried a few different workflows: scanning feet for a scan-to-print shoe-stretcher experiment, testing color scanning, using purge towers as DIY marker blocks, and scanning a tiny RC boat propeller. Read more: Full hands-on write-up.

Phil Macey installed and thoroughly tested CANVAS in his video, printing multicolor models from talented designers like Nostalgic 3D Models, showing how the upgrade expands the Centauri Carbon beyond single-material printing; check his dedicated CANVAS video and the Centauri Carbon hands-on review.