The FLSUN Super Racer is a delta-style 3D printer known for its incredible print speeds. With a lightweight carbon fiber frame and quick-heating components, this printer can churn out prints faster than almost any other consumer-level machine on the market.
In this in-depth review, we’ll take a close look at the features, performance, print quality, pros and cons of the Super Racer to help you decide if it’s the right 3D printer for your needs.
Overview of the FLSUN Super Racer
The Super Racer debuted in 2019 as FLSUN’s first delta 3D printer. It was designed from the ground up to be a speed demon, with a tall linear delta design to enable fast vertical movements.
Some key specs and features:
- Build volume: Ø260mm x 330mm
- High print speeds of 150-200+ mm/s
- Carbon fiber frame is lightweight yet rigid
- Direct drive extruder for flexible materials
- Auto bed leveling and nozzle cleaning
- Touchscreen color LCD interface
- Heats up quickly in just 2 minutes
- Compatible with many materials like PLA, PETG, TPU, etc.
With its emphasis on speed, the Super Racer is aimed at 3D printing enthusiasts, designers, engineers and small businesses who need to churn out prototypes, concept models and end-use parts quickly.
Let’s take a more in-depth look at how this printer performs.
Speed Demon Design
The Super Racer was engineered for one purpose: to print incredibly fast. Its tall, slim delta design gives it an advantage in vertical speed over Cartesian style printers.
Instead of moving a print head in X and Y directions, the print head moves vertically while the print bed moves horizontally. This allows for much faster vertical movements since the lightweight print head has very little inertia.
The carbon fiber frame is also optimized for speed. It’s strong yet very lightweight, allowing the fast-moving effectors to zip back and forth quickly.
For even more speed, FLSUN implemented a direct drive Titan extruder. This provides more torque and control over flexible filaments like TPU at high speeds.
Auto bed leveling and nozzle cleaning features also improve throughput by minimizing downtime between prints. The Super Racer can measure variations in the bed height and make tiny adjustments during printing. This means you can start prints faster without having to manually level the bed.
All of these design decisions result in blindingly fast print speeds. Users report being able to print high-quality parts at 200+ mm/s. Even at the default speed of 150 mm/s, you can churn out prints much faster than the competition.
Sleek Yet Functional Design
Besides performance, FLSUN also designed the Super Racer with aesthetics in mind. Its glossy black carbon fiber frame and neon green accents give it an unmistakably sleek, high-tech look.
The touchscreen LCD interface continues the modern vibe. The responsive 5-inch color touchscreen makes it easy to select print jobs and control settings. It’s a big step up over the small black-and-white displays found on many budget printers.
Despite the stylish exterior, the Super Racer doesn’t compromise on functionality. It’s built on an open-source Marlin firmware foundation, so you get full control over settings like temperature, speed, retraction, etc.
The direct Titan extruder accepts a wide range of filaments from flexible TPU to abrasive composites. Auto-leveling and power resume features improve reliability and uptime.
In summary, the Super Racer balances form and function beautifully. It’s sure to be a visually impressive showpiece in any maker space or design studio.
Exceptional Print Quality…At High Speeds!
Now for the biggest question: How good are the prints, really?
The short answer: Exceptional.
The tall linear delta design of the Super Racer inherently provides excellent resolution and print quality. Gravity naturally pulls the lightweight print head straight down, eliminating side-to-side wiggle that can mar prints.
Auto bed leveling also ensures a perfectly uniform first layer across the entire build plate. This helps prints adhere properly and avoids shifting or peeling up from the bed.
Most impressively, the Super Racer maintains outstanding print quality even at ridiculous speeds of 150+ mm/s. Complex geometric shapes and contours come out smooth and accurate. Fine details are crisply defined.
The integrated Titan direct drive extruder provides excellent control over extrusion. This allows the Super Racer to perfectly execute precise movements and complex toolpaths when printing fast.
For example, check out this spiral vase printed at 190mm/s. The smooth contours and precise thickness along the entire 55cm length show how well the Super Racer handles high speeds.
Or take a look at the outstanding overhangs and fins on this dragon print done at 150mm/s. You’d expect details like this to get mangled at such speeds, but the Super Racer handles it with aplomb.
When printing slower around 60-80 mm/s, the quality goes up another notch. You can achieve an almost injection-molded like surface finish.
If you’re concerned about speed compromising quality – don’t be! The Super Racer continues to impress with exceptionally clean and detailed prints even when running near its limits.
Pros and Cons of the FLSUN Super Racer
The FLSUN Super Racer has a lot going for it, but it’s not perfect. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the pros and cons based on first-hand experience and other user reviews:
Pros:
- Incredibly fast print speeds up to 200+ mm/s
- Delta design provides great print quality
- Large 260mm diameter x 330mm tall build volume
- Direct drive Titan extruder
- Auto bed leveling and nozzle cleaning
- Excellent reliability and components
- Intuitive touchscreen interface
- Low noise during printing
- Pre-assembled kit for easier setup
Cons:
- Manual bed height calibration is tricky
- Can’t print extremely tiny objects well
- No heated bed (but can be added with upgrades)
- Small community/ecosystem compared to other brands
- Low cost means less refinement than pricier printers
For the price, there’s no denying the Super Racer delivers exceptional performance and value. But as with any budget 3D printer, be prepared to do some tinkering and adjustments to get the best results.
Super Racer vs. The Competition
The FLSUN Super Racer was one of the first affordable delta 3D printers focused on speed. But it has inspired competitors trying to beat it on price and performance.
The Elegoo Neptune is one of the most popular budget printers aimed at competing with the Super Racer. It costs slightly less but is limited to 100mm/s print speeds. The Neptune lacks auto bed leveling and direct drive extruder of the Super Racer though.
Another competitor is the Anycubic Vyper. It features a larger 300x300x400 mm build volume and a touchscreen similar to the Super Racer. However, it maxes out at 80mm/s print speeds. Some users also report more quality issues versus the finely tuned FLSUN.
When it comes to speed, the Original Prusa MK3S clocks in at 200mm/s, but costs over $750. You can achieve similar speeds with the Super Racer for a fraction of the cost.
Overall, the Super Racer still reigns supreme as the fastest budget delta 3D printer under $400. Alternatives like the Anycubic Vyper provide larger build volumes but sacrifice on raw speed capabilities.
Should You Buy The FLSUN Super Racer?
If you’re looking for an affordable 3D printer that can churn out prints at a blazing fast speed, the answer is a resounding yes!
The FLSUN Super Racer delivers exceptional performance and remarkable print quality at print speeds rivaling machines costing many times more.
Here are some great applications where the Super Racer would excel:
- Engineers needing quick prototypes and iterations
- 3D printing farms or print services
- Cosplay and costume builders
- Model makers
- Entrepreneurs and inventors
However, the Super Racer isn’t ideal if you want to print miniatures or highly detailed models at very slow speeds. The fast-moving print head can cause vibrations that reduce quality for small, intricate prints.
For most users who need to print functional parts or larger detailed pieces quickly, the Super Racer hits the sweet spot of speed, quality and affordability.
The large community provides many upgrades and mods to enhance the printer down the road too. With its accessible price, remarkable performance and quality, the FLSUN Super Racer is a worthy investment for your home or workshop.
