FLASHFORGE offers two desktop 3D printer kits, the Adventurer 4 and the Guider 2. Both offer highly innovative technologies, but we will be drawing the differences between them based on design, precision, and physical specifications. We will base our recommendation on user skill level and project need, as we believe these factors tie into the ultimate decision of choosing between the Adventurer 4 and the Guider 2.
FLASHFORGE Adventurer 4
Offering both security and control, the Adventurer 4 is a fully enclosed model. The enclosure protects users from the hot end, which can reach temperatures up to 265°C. It also helps control the temperature inside the printing area, allowing for the use of more sensitive filaments like ABS. Opening the door, however, does not stop the printing process.
Removable Nozzle
The FLASHFORGE Adventurer series printers offer a proprietary removable nozzle. Nozzles are interchangeable for different types of projects. The Adventurer 4 comes with two 0.4 mm nozzles, one for 240°C and the other for 265°C, as well as one 0.3 mm and one 0.6 mm nozzle.
Built-In Webcam
This model offers a built-in webcam to allow users to remotely monitor live printing and capture time-lapses. However, it is installed directly behind the ribbon cable that is attached to the nozzle assembly, obscuring the first part of the printing process. Additionally, the light from the hot end can interfere with the view of the printing. The webcam is designed for monitoring from cloud services like Polar3D and FlashCloud. The resolution of the webcam is 640 x 480. Files that users want to print can be sent to the printer via the network or through a USB drive.
Removable Flexible Print Bed
The print bed of the Adventurer 4 is flexible and removable. When your printing finishes, you can remove the bed and bend it if necessary to carefully remove your print. FLASHFORGE also includes a second print bed so that you can immediately start another print after one finishes.
Other Major Features
The Adventurer 4 offers an automatic bed leveling feature. However, it does require user input to successfully work. Users will have to follow prompts and assist the unit throughout the bed leveling process, making it more of a hybrid between manual and automatic bed leveling.
Because this printer offers interchangeable nozzles and a heated print bed, it can support many different types of filaments. In addition to PLA and ABS, it can support medical-grade Nylon, PETG, and T-Glase. It is also not restricted to any specific manufacturer’s filaments. The only requirement is that the filament is 1.75 mm in diameter.
This printer comes equipped with HEPA filters inside. This means that any toxic fumes produced by the plastics will be drawn away instead of spreading through your home.
The Adventurer 4 is plug-and-play out of the box. Users will need to remove it from the box and plug it in. At this point, the 4.3-inch touchscreen will walk the user through loading the filament as the printer heats the extruder. Once users get through these steps, it is ready to print. The printer comes with a 1 kg spool of PLA filament and comes equipped with an enclosed filament spool mount to hold it.
FLASHFORGE Guider 2
The Guider 2 is an industrial-grade 3D printer. It offers a large build volume and a removable print plate. This printer offers extreme precision with decent speed.
Like the Adventurer 4, the Guider 2 has a resume print option following a power failure. It also offers assisted bed leveling. Both printers come fully assembled, offering plug-and-play technology. They both also offer removable print plates.
The Guider 2 offers a build volume of 280 x 250 x 300 mm while the Adventurer 4 only offers 220 x 200 x 250 mm. The Guider 2 does not offer changeable nozzles.
Temperature Features
Like the Adventurer 4, the Guider 2 has a closed print chamber. Ambient air temperature and air movement will not affect the prints. The nozzle heats up to 240°C and the print bed heats up to 120°C. This allows for even thickness and the creation of sturdy objects.
Supported Materials
This model supports a vast variety of filament types. These include PLA, PLA change color, Pearl, Elastic, PVA, Wood Filled Filament, and Metal Filled Filament among many others. If the filament is 1.75 mm in diameter, it will work with this printer. There is no proprietary brand. The Guider 2 comes equipped with a filament run-out detection sensor.
Other Major Features
This printer can create a layer thickness of 1.0 – 0.5 mm. Its positioning precision on the XY-axis is 11 microns and 2.5 microns on the Z-axis. Print speeds are 100 mm per second.
Our Recommendation
While both printers offer excellent features, we do want to mark the differences between the two before users commit to one over the other. The Adventurer 4 offers patented exchangeable print nozzles to change the scope of the print job. Its plug-and-play nature as well safety features make this a printer for beginners and classrooms.
On the other hand, the Guider 2, with its high level of precision and resolution, is a professional-grade printer. It offers printing with a large variety of filaments. This printer would work best for more experienced users who are trying to refine their printing experience.