Artillery Sidewinder X1 3D Printer Review

While 3D printers may not be in every home just yet, the market for them is booming. There are countless brands available, each promising the moon – so how can you know which is best?

To help you make a wise buying decision, today we’re evaluating the Artillery Sidewinder X1 3D Printer. Based on tester feedback, it’s easy to set up, quiet and offers excellent versatility with a range of filament options.

With that said, not everyone had good things to say about this printer. Some testers were wary of the open print area, while others warned this was not a 3D printer for beginners.

Are these deal-breakers? Let’s take a look at the Artillery Sidewinder X1 3D Printer and find out.

Artillery Sidewinder X1 3D Printer: The Details

Specs

• Weight: 86 lbs.
• Dimensions: 65 x 15.94 x 34.25 inches.
• Print Dimensions: 81 x 11.81 x 15.75 inches.
• Filament Types: PLA, ABS, TPU, Flexible Materials.
• Ready to Print? No, some assembly is required.
• Compatibility: Mac and PC.
• Warranty: Six months.

How Does It Work?

The Artillery Sidewinder X1 3D Printer is both easy to set up and effortless to use.

Once all the packaging material is removed from the printer, you’ll want to secure the bed and attach the gantry or the top frame of the printer. It easily slides into place behind the heated bed and can be bolted into place.

Next, you’ll want to attach the spool holder by bolting it to the top of the gantry and attaching the wire for the filament detector. Then, attach the Z-axis wires into their corresponding ports.

Plug the ribbon cables into the printer head and the sides of the gantry. Adjust the rollers and the belt so they are tight and secure. Once everything is adjusted and tightened to your preference, you can plug in the printer and turn it on.

Once it’s booted up, go to the “Home” menu and calibrate the X, Y, and Z-axis. Then, move on to leveling the bed.

This is completed using the touchscreen, so there’s no need for manual adjustments; just select the button on the menu and move through the steps.

From there, you can load the filament, heat the extruder nozzle and bed – and then you’re ready to print!

Accessories

• Spool of filament.
• Instruction manual.
• Power cord.
• 2 x ribbon cables.
• 6 x roller wheels.
• Bolts.
• USB cable.
• Wrench.
• Allen wrench.
• PTFE tube.
• USB stick.
• LED bulb.

Features

Heated Bed

The Artillery Sidewinder X1 comes with a heated bed, which can, luckily, reach full temperature in less than two minutes – with a maximum of 175 degrees Fahrenheit.

It also includes thermal protection, meaning it won’t overheat no matter how long you run the printer.

The size of the bed is quite large, ensuring you can create a print that’s up to 11.81 x 11.81 x 15.75 inches in size. The bed can also be easily adjusted and leveled via the touchscreen on the printer’s face.

Touchscreen

Controlling all the different settings on this printer is made very simple with the user-friendly touchscreen.

Everything from the temperature, the set-up, manual leveling, and calibration can be altered via the touchscreen display. No need for any guesswork; it’s all there at your fingertips.

Power Loss Detection

This Sidewinder X1 3D printer also has a power loss detection feature, which is extremely unique.

Should you lose power while the machine is in use, or should the printer become unplugged for any reason, once power is restored, the Sidewinder will automatically return to printing without delay.

You don’t have to restart the whole process; it will remember the exact step it halted at.

Filaments

This 3D printer is compatible with quite a few different filaments types. You are not limited to only one. You can use ABS, PLA, TPU, and most flexible material filaments.

Most 3D printers on the market do not allow for flexible materials, but the Sidewinder doesn’t limit your options.

So long as you have the right filament, the sky’s the limit for your projects. And thanks to the filament detector, this machine will let you know when you’ve run out before it’s too late.

Aluminum Frame

This is also a durable printer. With the aluminum frame, you won’t have an issue with the pieces falling off or becoming warped.

The heat bed is firmly secured with metal screws, as is the spool pin. Once you have it assembled, it will stay intact for as long as you need it.

Artillery Sidewinder X1 3D Printer Review

The Positives

Easy to Set Up

Most testers agreed that the Sidewinder X1 3D Printer is effortless to set up. Nearly all of the pieces arrive fully assembled, requiring you to only finish off the remaining steps.

As such, just attach the gantry to the heat bed base, put on the spool holder, and connect all the wires and belts into their corresponding slots. It shouldn’t take you more than 30 minutes.

So long as you ensure the belts are flat against the printer and that none of the wires can become tangled during the printer’s use, you’re all set. It looks more complicated than it actually is!

This is great news for busy hobbyists or those who are newer to 3D printing. You won’t be fumbling about too much with the Sidewinder X1 3D Printer.

Easy to Use

Luckily, this printer is straightforward to operate. Artillery makes it easy to get creative and print projects with ease.

The Sidewinder X1 3D Printer is very user-friendly. Once you create a design on your computer or choose one from a website (there are many designs online), you can run it through a splicing software, and then send it to the printer.

Just make sure the Sidewinder is loaded with filament and that the bed is level. After this, it’ll get right to work.

Versatile

Testers very much enjoyed the range of filaments options at their disposal. You are not restricted to just one.  You’ll have a number of options for you to play with, only expanding the variety of projects you can tackle with this machine.

With the choice of PLA, ABS, TPU, and any flexible material filaments, you are only limited by your imagination or budget – not by your machine’s preferences.

While you can only use one color at a time with the Sidewinder, that is the only restriction.

Quiet

Regular paper printers can be extremely noisy, and 3D printers are no different. The process of building something requires a motor and that is bound to generate a commotion.

Luckily, Artillery solves that issue. Testers raved about how quiet the Sidewinder is. The stepper drivers were designed to be very quiet, so whether you’re at home or in a classroom, you can rest assured: it will provide only a steady hum.

This opens up a variety of places you can place this 3D printer. You won’t have to keep it tucked away to avoid annoying others (or yourself). You can attend to other things in your crafting area with little disruption.

Convenient and Efficient

This machine gets the job done quickly. It’s an efficient 3D printer, so you won’t have to wait around too long for your projects to be done.

On top of that, this 3D printer’s convenient features make it all the easier when it comes to getting crafty. The touchscreen is intuitive with automatic features and set-up functions that make it a simple task to get a perfect print.

Since the Artillery 3D printer plays well with a variety of filaments, you won’t be needing to upgrade or change your machine anytime soon when wanting to experiment with different material. And it will even let you know when you’ve run out so you don’t waste any extra time and money.

If you’re looking for a machine that will assist you along your 3D crafting journey, the Artillery Sidewinder looks like a top choice.

Affordable

You won’t be digging too deep into your pockets to get this 3D printer going in your crafting area.

While most 3D printers will run you thousands of dollars, the Artillery Sidewinder X1 is available at a fraction of the cost.

If you’re on a budget or working your way up in skill, this machine won’t be the item to rack up a hefty bill. And thanks to its filament versatility, you’ll be saving more money in the long run.

Artillery also offers a 6-month warranty with this 3D printer so you won’t have to worry about damages caused by manufacturing either. Their customer service has been praised for being great, so chances are, you’ll be in good hands.

The Negatives

Open Print Area

A few testers disliked the Sidewinder X1’s open design. There is nothing stopping curious hands or other objects from accidentally getting in the way during the printing process.

While some 3D printers are fully enclosed, that is, unfortunately, not the case here. An open print area can be dangerous depending on where you set-up your printer.

So if you’ll be printing at home around children or prying fingers, its best to consider this point before purchasing.

Not for Beginners

Nearly every tester commented that this printer is not for beginners. While the set-up is relatively easy, it will be arduous for those just starting their 3D printing adventure.

With all the wires, ribbon, cables, and adjustments that are needed, it’s better to have some experience at your disposal before purchasing this machine.

This video shows what the Artillery Sidewinder X1 looks like out of the box.

Overall Verdict

After looking through all the positives and negatives, we do recommend the Artillery Sidewinder X1 3D Printer.

The relatively easy set-up, the quiet motor, and the versatility all combine to make this a quality printer.

So long as you have some experience with 3D printing under your belt, this is definitely a model worth checking out!

Where to Buy the Artillery Sidewinder X1 3D Printer

Artillery is growing in popularity as a brand thanks to their quality-made, accessible 3D printer line-up. Crafters and enthusiasts alike have been raving about Artillery printers including this one.

Thanks to this company’s popularity it won’t be too hard to find items like the Artillery Sidewinder X1 3D Printer both in-store and online.

While it’s usually best to check tech and specialty stores, you can kick-start your search with the following online retailers.

• 3D Printer Universe (from $499)
• 3D Printers Bay (from $399)
• 3D Printers Online Store (from $399)

And of course, you can also find this 3D printer on Amazon.

That’s the end of our Artillery Sidewinder X1 review. Tempted to give this 3D printer a try?