In contrast to its desktop little brother, the Sigma, BCN3D calls the Sigmax R19 a professional printer, which is said to be ideal for industrial-grade parts and production thanks to it’s many features. Let’s have a look!

Huge Build Area

The Sigmax is BCN3D’s biggest printer, with a build area that reaches to a voluminous 420 x 297 x 210 millimeters. This gives it something of a size advantage over many similarly priced machines, allowing for larger than average prints that make use of its multi-material capabilities, plus larger batches.

IDEX Motion System

The Sigmax features BCN3D’s Independent Dual Extrusion (IDEX) system, a mechanical arrangement that uses two print heads that are paired in the Y-axis, but can move independently in the X-axis.

Supporting modes such as Duplicate and Mirror printing – both of which have the print heads printing simultaneously – this system, paired with the large build plate, makes the Sigmax the ideal workhorse for large batch prints. Alternatively, for cleanly combining different materials into a print, the IDEX system removes the issues of oozing and stringing from the inactive hot end. Rather than drag both nozzles around for the entire print, the inactive tool head is simply parked on the side past a nozzle-cleaning silicone blade until it becomes needed.

Bondtech Extruders & E3D Optimized Hot Ends

That’s only the beginning when it comes to the Sigmax’s powerful print heads.  Hardened steel drive gears and Bondtech extruders give this printer exceptional gripping power, and one would think that no filament can escape its molten fate once loaded in. A family of all-metal hot ends custom-tuned for the Sigmax by British OEM E3D provide excellent heating and smooth, reliable extrusion in a neatly interchangeable package.

The Sigmax ships with 0.4 mm nozzle-equipped hot ends as standard, but you can also purchase an additional pack of hot ends with different nozzle sizes for high-detail and rapid draft printing, plus hardened for tough engineering-grade material printing.

Additional Notes

Both extruders of the BCN3D Sigmax feature a filament sensor for automatic pausing of long-term prints.

And although the Sigmax R19 is compatible with all the most popular slicer platforms, BCN3D Cura 2.1.0 – the latest version of the company’s in-house Cura adaptation – released with the printer, offering a slicing experience optimized by BCN3D for this particular machine.

To get a good first impression for this BCN3D Sigmax R19 review, we took the machine for a test ride by printing two torture tests on a new, freshly unboxed and unaltered machine, using PLA filament and averaged slicer settings for the ranges specified for the material.

Calibration was a breeze, with the well-tuned touch screen UI on the printer and the provided instructions.

Benchmarking Object 1: Benchy

We used amazon white eSun PLA+ filament/amazonlink]. For preparing the needed G-code, we used the BCN3D Cura 2.1.15 that comes with the BCN3D Sigmax R19.

It took us one attempt to print a Benchy.

We measured the physical dimensions of the print. The BCN3D Sigmax R19 achieved a perfect 15 out of 15 points. The visual inspection was decent, but not what we would have expected for a printer of this price.

• Surfaces: The main problem was layering, as you can see above there is a significant amount of variation between each layer and the next, resulting in a rather rough finish.
• Details: Small details seemed to turn out well, with good definition and sharp edges, despite the Z-banding.
• Overall consistency: The print had minor inconsistencies, especially associated with the surface quality and Z-alignment. We found zits, layering, and problematic bridges.

Benchmarking Object 2: Kickstarter Autodesk Test

The Autodesk Kickstarter test model looks at an FDM printer’s precision. white eSun PLA+ filament and the same temperature settings (215 / 60).

Overall, the BCN3D Sigmax R19 scored 23 out of 30 points. A decent score, we found some issues both while measuring and with the visual inspection.

• Surfaces: The main problem was bridging, which could be corrected by tuning retraction and extrusion settings.
• Details: Fine negatives posed a problem, not all of the pins were able to be removed from the print.
• Overall consistency: The print had minor inconsistencies, again some Z-banding, but not as bad as in the Benchy.

Our benchmarking prints put the BCN3D Sigmax R19 roughly on the same level as the Ultimaker S5 and the BCN3D Sigma R19, the smaller version of the Sigmax.

Overall, the printing process itself was easy. The special print modes like mirror, duplication and dual extrusion work as advertised. After approx. 10-hours printing with the BCN3D Sigmax R19, we were impressed.

Upon further fiddling with the machine, we were able to attribute a few of the extrusion issues to the nozzles, which for some reason need to be frequently cleaned. After following the intuitive interface to perform atomic pulls, the Sigmax was off like a bullet, printing away at a reliable rate. This is a procedure we find ourselves needing to do after every few print jobs, making us wonder if the Sigmax would benefit from a filament filter and oiler, something that would clean the filament and season the all-metal hot ends to avoid further jamming (while debated, it is still recommended for PLA in all-metal systems).

Across numerous months of printing with the machine for various projects, we have to say the Sigmax is among our favorite machines, especially with its huge print area and advanced IDEX system. Some things we have created are dual-color mushrooms (see above), Star Wars figures, and colored Pokemon, as well as modular print display shelves, decorative wall panels, and even Master Chief’s helmet from Halo (assembly still in progress).

To wrap up, the Sigmax is a reliable beast, and if you keep it maintained, it offers top-notch quality, ease of use, and consistency.

General Specifications:

• Technology: FFF
• Year: 2018
• Assembly: Pre-assembled
• Mechanical arrangement: Cartesian XY-Head (IDEX)
• Manufacturer: BCN3D

3D Printing Properties:

• Build volume: 420 x 297 x 210 mm
• Feeder system: Bowden
• Print head: 2x Single nozzle
• Nozzle size: 0.4 mm (interchangeable)
• Max. hot temperature: 290 °C
• Max. heated bed temperature: 100 °C
• Print bed material: Glass
• Frame: Steel, Aluminum
• Bed leveling: Manual
• Connectivity: USB, TF-Card
• Print recovery: No
• Filament sensor: Yes
• Camera: No

Materials:

• Filament diameter: 2.85 mm
• Third-party filament: Yes
• Filament materials: PLA, ABS, TPU, Flexible, Wood, PVA, HIPS

Software:

• Recommended slicer: BCN3D Cura
• Operating system: Windows, Mac, Linux
• File types: STL, OBJ, AMF

Dimensions and Weight:

• Frame dimensions: 675 x 440 x 680 mm (including cables)
• Weight: 20 kg

Despite having a larger print volume than the $6000 Ultimaker S5, the Sigmax R19 actually comes in nearly $2.5k cheaper, sitting right around $3,700. That said, it’s still a professional dual extrusion 3D printer, with a price tag to match.

You can buy the Sigmax R19 from the shops to the right / bottom (mobile).

Already have an older Sigmax? You’re in luck. For a much-reduced price, you’ll be able to order the Upgrade Kit for the Sigmax R19.

Here you find the detailed results for the Sigmax R19 test prints. For our benchmarking procedure please click here.

Benchy

1. Overall length (60 mm ±1 % tolerance): 60.7 mm, 1 point given
2. Overall width (31 mm ±1 % tolerance): 31.14 mm, 1 point given
3. Bridge Roof length (23 mm ±1 % tolerance): 23.05 mm, 1 point given
4. Chimney roundness inner diameter (3 mm ±10 %): 2.95 mm, 1 point given
5. Chimney roundness outer diameter (7 mm ± 5 % tolerance): 6.93 mm, 1 point given
6. Vertical overall-height (48 mm ±1 % tolerance): 47.94 mm, 1 point given
7. Box depth (9 mm ± 5 % tolerance): 9.07 mm, 1 point given
8. Box inner length (7 mm ± 5 % tolerance): 6.72 mm, 1 point given
9. Box outer length (10.81 ± 5 % tolerance): 10.67 mm, 1 point given
10. Box outer width (12 mm ± 5 % tolerance): 11.86 mm, 1 point given
11. Box inner width: (8 mm ± 5 % tolerance): 7.95 mm, 1 point given
12. Hawsepipe inner diameter left (4 mm ±10 % tolerance): 3.72 mm, 1 point given
13. Hawsepipe inner diameter right (4 mm ±10 % tolerance): 3.62 mm, 1 point given
14. Bridge front window width (10.5 mm ±5 % tolerance): 10.15 mm, 1 point given
15. Rear window inner diameter (9 mm ±5 % tolerance): 8.95 mm, 1 point given

Kickstarter Autodesk Test

1. Dimensional Accuracy: 5 of 5 points (25.05 / 20.09 /15.08 / 10.16 / 5.13)
2. Fine Flow Control: 5 of 5 points (all spires were printed correctly)
3. Fine Negative Features: 3 of 5 points (3 pins were removable)
4. Overhangs: 2 of 5 points(dropped loops began at the 30-degree overhang)
5. Bridging: 3 of 5 points (2 bridge contacted the surfaces beneath them)
6. XY Resonance: 2.5 of 2.5 points (no ringing detectable)
7. Z-axis alignment: 2.5 of 2.5 points (layer registration effect not visible)

Overall, the Sigmax R19 scored 38 out of 45 points.