Matrix APU 3D Printing Model | Assembly + Action

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ABOUT THIS 3D MODEL”Knuckle up!”The Armoured Personnel Unit briefly referred to as the APU, is a machinery-equipped piece of a combat force in Zion - the fictional city from The Matrix trilogy. Making the core of the first-line defense force, the walker-shaped hydraulic battle element was piloted by a specially trained operator. Appearing for the first time as early as in the second part of the canonic film, the unit exposes all its glory and dignity in the third installment - The Matrix Revolutions - when strikingly performing its essence mission, i.e. defending the last human city of Zion against the evil swarm of Sentinels. The 3D artist behind the impressive power battle suit mentioned dedicating no less than 190 hours in total for the APU for 3D printing to be as highly-detailed as possible. The signature feature of the unit that is the two huge 30mm rapid-fire cannons are attached to the arms of the 3D printing APU and already have two long ammunition belts inserted ready for action. In order to meet the strict requirements of the biggest Matrix enthusiasts, the 3D artist carefully depicted the finest elements of the mechanized suit. Thus, the 3D printing unit’s pistons, ammo belt feeders, operator’s joysticks, control panel, pilot’s pedal’s, etc. are executed with the painstaking attention to the smallest details. The author of the model also made sure to include the Ammo Loader into the 3D printing kit that even features two additional boxes of ammunition cases! The Matrix Revolutions might have received mixed reviews both from critics and keen movie-goers but one cannot but admit that the Battle for Zion scenes starring the brave Captain Mifune are truly iconic. We urge you not to think twice but embark on the 3D printing Matrix APU project - the STL files are ready for download!ADAPTATION FOR 3D PRINTINGMatrix APU model for 3D printing is a highly articulated action assembly model and its moderation and adaptation for different types of 3D printers took Gambody team 70 hours in total. In order to ensure multidirectional movement of the power battle suit, it was divided into many assembly parts and special mechanisms were introduced into all model’s joints to give you an opportunity to display the APU in a variety of positions, i.e. its pelvis, hips, knees, shins, feet, toes, shoulders, arm cannons, operator's panel, etc. are movable. The pistons all over the APU's body are articulated as well, thus, they move up, down, and retract whenever you bend the model's hips, knees, feet, toes, and shoulders. The cage where the APU’s pilot is meant to operate the machine is equipped with movable console, joystick panel, pedals, and firing levers for the unit to be displayed in your preferred mode. For you to introduce hydraulic cables that connect the APU's parts we recommend that you use either 1.75mm or 2.85mm PLA filament and insert its pieces into designated holes that are designed to fit securely either diameter. The assembly of some of APU's parts (like shoulder flaps) requires additional “pins”. These pins do not come in STL files but can be made out of short pieces of regular 1.75 PLA. All assembly parts are provided in STL files in recommended positions that were worked out so to ensure the smoothness of the details’ surfaces after printing and so that the 3D printing beginners won't face difficulties when placing the parts on a build plate. The joints that ensure the robot’s movability are provided as separate files as well for you to be able to print them again if the joints' friction happens to lose rigidity. We highly recommend that you watch "Assembly video" in the photo preview section before assembling the APU. When downloading any model's file you will also receive "Assembly Manual" for FFF/FDM 1.0 version in PDF format.The model is saved in STL files, a format supported by most 3D printers. All STL files for 3D printing have been checked in Netfabb and no errors were shown.The model's scale was calculated from the actual height of the Armored Personnel Unit that is 4000 mm. The 3D printing model's chosen scale is 1/8 for the FFF/FDM version and 1/16 for the DLP/SLA/SLS versions.VERSION SPECIFICATIONSFFF/FDM 1.0 version features:- Contains 210 parts;- A printed model is 512 mm tall, 576 mm wide, 602 mm deep;- Made with several sets of special joints to ensure the model's articulation (pelvis, hips, knees, shins, feet, toes, shoulders, arm cannons, operator's panel etc. are movable);- For the highly articulated APU to stand firmly in any position you may choose there was a ratchet mechanism introduced in the model’s main joints and a double-ratchet in the shoulder;- The pistons all over the APU's body are retractable, i.e. they move when you bend the model's articulated hips, knees, feet, toes, shoulders;- Pilot's operating console, joystick panel, pedals, firing levers, etc. are fully poseable as well;- The assembly of some of APU's parts (like shoulder flaps) requires additional “pins”. These pins do not come in STL files but can be made out of short pieces of regular 1.75 PLA;- Hydraulic cables that connect the APU's parts are not provided with STL files. You use either 1.75mm or 2.85mm PLA filament of your choice and insert its pieces into designated holes that are designed to fit securely either diameter;- Belt feed is flexible so you can shape it and articulate the assembled APU as you prefer;- APU comes with the Ammo Loader with two additional boxes of ammo cases and a spinning wheel;- Assembly kit includes lock 210_Ge_lock_x54 to attach the model's parts securely without glue that needs to be printed 54 times;- It is highly recommended that you watch "Assembly video" in the photo preview section and read "Assembly Manual" in PDF before assembling the APU;- All parts are divided in such a way that you will print them with the smallest number of support structures.WHAT WILL YOU GET AFTER PURCHASE?- STL files of​​​​ Matrix APU for 3D printing which consist of 210 parts;- 1 version of files for this model for FFF/FDM;- High-poly detailed model of Matrix APU​​​​;- Assembly Manual for FFF/FDM 1.0 version in PDF format;- Detailed settings that we provide as a recommendation for Cura , Simplify3D and Slic3r for the best print;- Full technical support from the Gambody Support Team.You can get the model of Matrix APU​​​​​ for 3D Printing immediately after the purchase! Just click the green Buy button in the top-right corner of the model’s page. You can pay with PayPal or your credit card.Watch the tutorial on how to assemble the Matrix APU​​​​​ 3D Printing Model at Gambody YouTube channel.Also, you may like Neo 3D Printing Figurine, Sentinel 3D Printing Model, as well as other Robot 3D Printing Models._______FAQ: Where can I print a model if I have no printer?How to get started with 3D printing?How to set up my 3D printer?How to choose right 3D model print bed positioning? How to paint printed figurine?Below you can find printing recommendations for Cura, Simplify3D and Slic3r software.These are basic settings that were tested in Cura 4.8.0 slicer. The test models were printed on Ultimaker 2, Creality Ender 3, Creality CR-10S Pro V2, Anycubic I3 Mega, Anycubic I3 MegaS 3D printers with PLA and PETG filaments.Disclaimer: The following printing settings are a recommendation, not an obligation. The parameters can vary depending on the peculiarities of your 3D printer, the material you use and especially the particular assembly part at hand. Each part that any model comprises often needs preliminary review and you are free to tweak the settings the way you find suitable.Note:- You can scale up the model (downscaling is not recommended!);- All connectors should be printed at 100% Infill;- For all parts of locks (“ge_lock” in “Source files”) you need to change "Brim" type to "Skirt" in Build Plate Adhesion section.QualityLayer Height: 0.12 mm (you can also set Layer Height at 0.16 or 0.2mm for 0.4mm nozzles)Initial Layer Height: 0.2 mm (carefully level the print bed and keep your Initial Layer Height the same as the main Layer Height)Line Width: 0.4 mmWall Line Width: 0.4 mmOuter Wall Line Width: 0.4 mmInner Wall(s) Line Width: 0.4 mmTop/Bottom Line Width: 0.4 mmInfill Line Width: 0.4 mmSkirt/Brim Line Width: 0.4 mmSupport Line Width: 0.4 mmInitial Layer Line Width: 100%Shell Wall Thickness: 0.8 mmWall Line Count: 2Outer Wall Wipe Distance: 0.3 mmTop Surface Skin Layers: 0Top/Bottom Thickness: 0.6 mmTop Thickness: 0.6 mmTop Layers: 5Bottom Thickness: 0.6 mmBottom Layers: 5Initial Bottom Layers: 5Top/Bottom Pattern: LinesBottom Pattern Initial Layer: LinesTop/Bottom Line Directions: [ ]Outer Wall Inset: 0 mmOptimize Wall Printing Order: CheckCompensate Wall Overlaps: CheckCompensate Inner Wall Overlaps: CheckMinimum Wall Flow: 0%Fill Gaps Between Walls: EverywhereFilter Out Tiny Gaps: CheckHorizontal Expansion: 0 mmInitial Layer Horizontal Expansion: 0 mmHole horizontal expansion: 0Z Seam Alignment: User SpecifiedZ Seam Position: BackZ Seam X: Average length of your printer’s plate (e.g.”150” if your plate is 300mm on the X-axis)Z Seam Y: A value higher than the length of your plate on the Y-axis (e.g. 700)Seam Corner Preference: Hide SeamExtra Skin Wall Count: 1Skin Overlap Percentage: 10%Skin Overlap 0.04 mmInfill Infill Density: 20% (for all smaller parts and for all parts of connectors use 100% Infill)Infill Pattern: TrianglesConnect Infill Lines: CheckInfill Line Directions: [ ]Infill X Offset: 0 mmInfill Y Offset: 0 mmInfill Line Multiplier: 1Extra Infill Wall Count: 0Infill Overlap Percentage: 10-20%Infill Overlap: 0.04 mmSkin Overlap Percentage: 5%Skin Overlap: 0.02 mmInfill Wipe Distance: 0 mmInfill Layer Thickness: 0.24 mmGradual Infill Steps: 0Infill Before Walls: CheckMinimum Infill Area: 0 mm2Skin Removal Width: 0.8 mmTop Skin Removal Width: 0.8 mmBottom Skin Removal Width: 0.8 mmSkin Expand Distance: 0.8Top Skin Expand Distance: 0.8Bottom Skin Expand Distance: 0.8Maximum Skin Angle for Expansion: 90˚Minimum Skin Width for Expansion: 0.0Skin Edge Support Thickness: 0Skin Edge Support Layers: 0Material Initial Layer Flow: 100%Printing Temperature: See your filament settingsInitial Printing Temperature: Your filament settingsFinal Printing Temperature: Your filament settingsBuild Plate Temperature: Your filament settingsBuild Plate Temperature Initial Layer: Your filament settings + 5°Flow: 100% (Important! If you face difficulty printing the model, you may need to adjust the Flow parameter. You may research the topic using the Internet or seek assistance at our Customer Support Team at support@gambody.com)Speed You can increase the printing Speed by 20% when you print simple objects. For small/thin parts you need to decrease the Speed by 25% - 50%.Print Speed: 50 mm/s    Infill Speed: 50 mm/s    Wall Speed: 25 mm/s          Outer Wall Speed:25 mm/s          Inner Wall Speed: 50 mm/sTop/Bottom Speed: 25mm/sSupport Speed: 25 mm/s           Support Infill Speed: 45 mm/s          Support Interface Speed: 25 mm/s                Support Roof Speed: 25 mm/s                Support Floor Speed: 25 mm/sTravel Speed: 80 mm/sInitial Layer Speed: 80 mm/sInitial Layer Print Speed: 20 mm/sInitial Layer Travel Speed: 80 mm/sSkirt/Brim Speed: 20 mm/sZ  Hop Speed: 5 mm/sNumber of Slower Layers: 2Enable Acceleration Control: CheckWhen printing simple objects, you need to set all Acceleration parameters at 500 mm/s. For small/thin parts you need to decrease the Acceleration by 50% - 70%.Travel Enable Retraction: CheckRetraction Distance: 4-8 mm, 1-3 mm for Direct Extruder (This is the most important retraction parameter. You can find your optimal value of Retraction Distance by printing any test object, e.g. bridges, towers etc.)Retraction Speed: 25mm/sRetraction Retract Speed: 25 mm/sRetraction Prime Speed: 25 mm/sRetraction Extra Prime Amount: 0 mm3 Retraction Minimum Travel: 1.5 mmMaximum Retraction Count: 100Minimum Extrusion Distance Window: 6,5 - 10 mmLimit Support Retractions: CheckCombing Mode: AllMax Comb Distance With No Retract: 30 mmRetract Before Outer Wall: CheckAvoid Printed Parts When Travelling: CheckAvoid Supports When Travelling: CheckTravel Avoid Distance: 1 mmLayer Start X: 0.0 mmLayer Start Y: 0.0 mmZ Hop When Retracted: CheckZ Hop Height: 0,3 mmCooling Enable Print Cooling: CheckFan Speed: 100%Regular Fan Speed: 100%Maximum Fan Speed: 100% Regular/Maximum Fan Speed Threshold: 10 sInitial Fan Speed: 0%Regular Fan Speed at Height: 0.36 mmRegular Fan Speed at Layer: 3 Minimum Layer Time: 10 sMinimum Speed: 10 mm/sSupport Generate Support: CheckSupport Structure: Normal (you can try using Tree Support Structure if you have difficulty printing any particular assembly part)Support Placement: Everywhere Support Overhang Angle: 60° (this parameter can range from 30° to 70° depending on the part at hand)Support Pattern: Zig ZagSupport Wall Line Count: 1 (stronger support that might be more difficult to remove) 0 (less strong support but is easier to remove)Support Density: 15%Support Line Distance: 2.6667 mmInitial layer support line distance: 2.667 mmSupport Z Distance: 0.12 mmSupport Top Distance: 0.12 mmSupport Bottom Distance: 0.12 mmSupport X/Y Distance: 0.8-1 mmSupport Distance Priority: Z overrides X/YSupport Stair Step Height: 0.3 mmSupport Stair Step Maximum Width: 5.0 mmSupport Stair Step Minimum Slope Angle: 10°Support Join Distance: 2.0 mmSupport Horizontal Expansion: 0.2 mmSupport Infill Layer Thickness: 0.2 mmGradual Support Infill Steps: 0Minimum Support Area: 2 mmEnable Support Interface: Check (generates additional “pillow” on the support structure that leads to a more even surface, but can be difficult to remove in hard-to-reach areas)Enable Support Roof: CheckEnable Support Floor: CheckSupport Interface Thickness: 0.8 mmSupport Roof Thickness: 0.8 mmSupport Floor Thickness: 0.8 mmSupport Interface Resolution 0.2 mmSupport Interface Density: 50-100%        Support Roof Density: 50-100%Support Roof Line Distance: 0.8 mm        Support Floor Density: 50-100%Support Floor line Distance:  0.4mmSupport Interface Pattern: Grid Support Roof Pattern: Grid (this parameter should differ from Bottom Pattern Initial Layer in “Shell” section)Support Floor Pattern: GridMinimum Support Interface Area: 10mmMinimum Support Roof Area: 10 mmMinimum Support Floor Area: 10 mmSupport Interface Horizontal Expansion: 0.0 mmSupport Roof Horizontal Expansion: 0.0 mmSupport Floor Horizontal Expansion: 0.0 mmFan Speed Override: CheckSupported Skin Fan Speed: 100%Use Towers: CheckTower Diameter: 4 mmMinimum Diameter: 3.0 mmTower Roof Angle: 65° Build Plate Adhesion Build Plate Adhesion Type: Skirt/Brim (For unsteady parts, and those parts that may come unstuck use “Brim”. For bigger assembly parts that have large adhesion area and for all parts of locks and claws that you want to come out clean use "Skirt")Skirt/Brim Minimum Length: 250 mmBrim Width: 8.0 mm       Brim Line Count: 10Brim Only on Outside: CheckMesh Fixes Union Overlapping Volumes: CheckMerged Meshes Overlap: 0.15 mmSpecial ModesPrint Sequence: All at OnceSurface Mode: NormalExperimentalSlicing Tolerance: MiddleMaximum Resolution: 0.01 mmFlow rate compensation max extrusion offset: 0 mmFlow rate compensation factor: 100%This model was tested with PLA material.To avoid printing problems, we recommend the following settings:ExtruderNozzle Diameter: 0.4 mmExtrusion Multiplier: 0.97Extrusion Width: AutoRetraction Distance: 5.00 mmExtra Restart Distance: 0.00 mmRetraction Vertical Lift: 0.08 mmRetraction Speed: 5400.0 mm/minWipe Distance: 5.00 mmLayerPrimary Layer Height: 0.2 mmTop Solid Layers: 8Bottom Solid Layers: 5Outline/Perimeter Shells: 2Outline Direction: Inside-OutFirst Layer Height: 90%First Layer Width: 100%First Layer Speed: 20%AdditionsUse Skirt/Brim: CheckSkirt Layers: 1Skirt Offset from Part: 6.00 mmSkirt Outlines: 5InfillInternal Fill Pattern: Fast HoneycombExternal Fill Patern: RectilinearInterior Fill Percentage: 10%Outline Overlap: 22%Infill Extrusion Width: 100%Minimum Infill Length: 5.00 mmCombine Infill Every: 1 layersExternal Infill Angle Offsets: 45/-45 degSupportGenerate Support Material: CheckSupport Infill Percentage: 15%Extra Inflation Distance: 1.00 mmSupport Base Layers: 0Combine Support Every: 1 layersDense Support Layers: 0Dense Infill Percentage: 70%Support Type: NormalSupport Pillar Resolution: 5.00 mmMax Overhang Angle: 60 degHorizontal Offset From Part: 0.50 mmUpper Vertical Separation Layers: 1Lower Vertical Separation Layers: 1Support Infill Angles: 45 degTemperatureExtruder 1 Temperature: 210Heated Bed: 60CoolingIncrease fan speed for layers below: 45.0 sec  Maximum Cooling fan speed: 50%Bridging fan speed override: 100%SpeedsDefault Printing Speed: 4800.0 mm/minOutline Underspeed: 50%Solid Infill Underspeed: 80%Support Structure Underspeed: 80%X/Y Axis Movement Speed: 10800.0 mm/minZ Axis Movemen Speed: 1002.0 mm/minAdjust printing speed for layers below: 15.0 sec   Allow speed reduction down to: 20%OtherUnsupported area threshold: 20.0 sq mLayer height  Layer height: 0.1 mm  First layer height: 90%Vertical shells  Perimeters: 2Horizontal shells  Soid layers:               Top: 8              Bottom: 5Quality  Detect thin walls: Check  Detect bridging perimeters: CheckAdvanced  Seam position: RandomInfill  Fill desity: 20%  Fill pattern: Honeycomb  Top/bottom fill pattern: RectilinearReducing printing time  Combine infill every: 1 layersAdvanced  Solid infill every: 0 layers  Fill angle: 25 deg  Solid infill threshold area: 0mmSkirt  Loops: 2  Distance from object: 6 mm  Skirt height: 1 layers  Minimum extrusion length: 4 mmBrim   Brim width: 10 mmSupport material  Generate support material: Check  Overhang threshold: 45 deg  Enforce support for the first: 3 layersRaft  Raft layers: 0 layersOptions for support material and raft  Contact Z distance: 0.1 mm  Pattern: Rectilinear  Patter spacing: 2 mm  Pattern angle: 0 deg  Interface layers: 2 layers  Interface pattern spacing: 0.2 mmSpeed for print moves  Perimeters: 60 mm/s  Small perimeters: 20 mm/s  External perimeters: 20 mm/s  Infill: 60 mm/s  Solid infill: 60 mm/s  Top solid infill: 30 mm/s  Support material: 50 mm/s  Support material interface: 100%  Bridges: 30 mm/s  Gap fill: 50 mm/sSpeed for non-print moves  Travel: 60 mm/sModifiers  First layer speed: 30 mm/sAcceleration control  Perimeters: 800 mm/s  Infill: 1500 mm/s  Bridge: 1000 mm/s  First layer: 1000 mm/s  Default: 1000 mm/sAutospeed  Max print speed: 100 mm/s  Max volumetrix speed: 0 mm/sExtrusion width  Default extrusion width: 0.42 mm  First layer: 0.42 mm  Perimeters: 0.42 mm  External perimeters: 0.42 mm  Infill: 0.42 mm  Solid infill: 0.42 mm  Top solid infill: 0.42 mm  Support material: 0.42 mmOverlap  Infill/Perimeters overlap: 20%Flow  Bridge flow ratio: 0.95Other  XY Size Compensation: 0 mm  Threds: 8  Resolution: 0 mm