I am very impressed with the new FCS tests. The color is more vibrant, bleeds significantly less, and the background is whiter. It even seems to be a darker black.  I’m not quite sure that I comprehended the two finishing methods.  “Group 3” was a slight bit pale compared to “Group 2”.. what is the labor difference between them?  

It’s also incredible to see this level of details in FCS.   For some model train people, there is a humorous “Three Foot Rule”.. if the object is three feet from you and you can’t tell the difference, it’s “good enough”. <grin>  The new level of detail is definitely within the three foot rule.  I Not to ignore the point, the surface finish is still coarse, but it is still VERY usable.

I have yet to try a strength test against the material.. I hate to shatter such quality items.

 

A couple of observations:

1) When photographing this stuff, little white flecks show up in the photograph that aren’t as noticeable during direct observation.  Some of it may have to do with the intensity of the camera flash.  Some of it may have to do with reflectivity of the wax coating.  It affects what you would preview to customers, but looks “okay” up close.  It almost seems that some flecks of the pure-white material get stuck to the model after printing.

2) Working with the program that I am using, I can’t quite tell how the surface bitmaps are going to turn out.  

a) I was trying for a “brick” exterior on my model of a store, and the jpeg bitmap didn’t turn out correct.  I’m not sure how to fix that.   Some of it may be the program I am using (TrueSpace), but it’s something that will have to be comprehended for a creator to be successful.  Note: It also didn’t match what I see using a VRML renderer in a browser.   Note:: The SW preview of the model isn’t working either.

b) On the ClockFace I had printed, the reverse side of the disk has the reverse image. Again, not sure that my software did the job correctly.. I need to learn/understand that better.

c) I know that some programs apply colors (and images) using two different methods: PerVertex and PerFace.   

i) It would be good if there was a tutorial somewhere on the difference between them, and how they apply to the new FCS

ii) It would be even better if we could get a white paper from the printer manufacturer on how these methods are handled by the printer itself.

 

3) On the Store model, I have a couple of “alignment pins” that are in the correct position for printing in WSF or WD, but with FCS, I should have included a bit more extra gap tolerance for it to sit down properly.

Also... I “promise” not to try the 0.3mm walls again. <GRIN>  At least not on a regular basis. Yes, it sort of “worked, but that’s what we have FUD for.   Now, if you could only do color on FUD... <grin>

As you well know, my interest at this time is largely in model trains.  The closer you get an object to the rails, the better/finer/smoother you need the details to be.  FCS is never going to work for the sides of a boxcar or locomotive.  It WOULD work very nicely if someone is making coal/ore loads to go IN a gondola car.... hm...

Ratings for new Full Color Finishes (from 1-10)

Whiteness/Color Quality: 9/10

Precision of color (does it bleed?): 9/10

Durability (is it easily scratched/broken?): 6/10

Touch/Smoothness: 7/10