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This wiki is under construction with the goal of capturing much of the discussion from the Issues section. Until it is complete, please consider referring to the closed Issues for more background.
There are a lot of things that can be learned from how a given machine prints a given geometry and there are many approaches to deriving those learnings. The KSR/ADSK geometry was designed based on learnings from the 2015 Make Magazine 3D Printer Shoot Out models. The two key features in the testing approach used for the KSR/ADSK model are the following:
- Feature-Based: This model is composed of specific geometric features that have been carefully designed to evaluate a specific metric about a 3D printer.
- Quantitative Scoring: Each feature has also been designed to be easily scored along simple pass/fail rules or with simple measurements, reducing subjectivity and error in measuring performance.
- Designed to Fail: Several features may not come out well on most machines, but this makes it easier to spot machines that truly do have superior capabilities.
Just printing one model makes it quick and easy to get some basic performance results quickly and easily. While there are some potential interactions between different features composing the test print, the orientation and sequencing of the features has been chosen to minimize interactions.
Combining multiple test features into one model comes with some caveats. Certain features (like overhangs, bridges, and fine positive features) are more sensitive to the local heat-history of the print and will come out better if each successive deposition is separated by a delay during which other parts of the geometry are being deposited. However, this may not actually best represent the worst case scenario, and therefore is not necessarily testing the limits of the process.
This is why for more detailed and accurate evaluation of a machine's capabilities, targeted, feature-specific models should be used to probe machine performance in those worst-case scenarios. The Make Magazine 2015 3D Printer Shoot Out models are a great place to start. If you know of other great feature-specific models that you'd like to share, post in the Issues so that the test can be added to the Further Testing section. See more about using targeted testing geometries here.
While a single small model can be easy to print, few are comprehensive enough to cover the range of salient print quality features that many users are interested in and evaluation is often highly subjective.
Like any test geometry, this geometry can be used to improve print parameters and to better understand interactions between print parameters.