Apex 3D Printing Software by Airwolf 3D

UPDATES

Apex Slicing Software

Developed by Airwolf 3D and Exclusively for Airwolf 3D Printers

259

40

47051

10

Version History

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD APEX

  • 1.8.6 – 08/07/2023
    1. EVO Printers:
      • Add EVO 2X
        • Build size adjusts depending on material
      • Improve build parameters for second nozzle
      • Darken go/no-go zones for easier part placement
  • 1.8.5 – 03/06/2023
    1. All Printers:
      • Update notification improved
      • Support infill accuracy improved
    2. EVO R, EVO, EVO-T, EVO 22, and EVO22-T:
      • Increase PETG cooling tower size
      • Compatibility with upcoming G2 hot end
  • 1.8.4 – 12/01/2022
    1. All Printers:
      1. Improve small infill control
    2. Axiom Printers:
      • Add new versions of firmware for MaxGrip build plates
        • Space head further from build plate
    3. EVO R, EVO, EVO-T, EVO 22, and EVO22-T:
      • Improve PETG settings
      • Cooling tower size increased for large nozzle prints
      • Remove decimal from ASA bed settings
      • Revise material settings
  • 1.8.3 – 09/06/2022
    1. All Printers:
      • Support strength adjustability improved
    2. EVO R, EVO, EVO-T, EVO 22, and EVO22-T:
      • Improved speed and quality for large nozzle prints
      • TPU prints with cooling tower for improved thin-walled prints
      • Revise material settings
  • 1.8.2 – 03/10/2022
    1. All Printers:
      • Adjustable distance wipe tower
        • Expert config->Wipe tower X/Y offset
    2. EVO R, EVO, EVO-T, EVO 22, and EVO22-T:
      • Improve Remote Connection – now includes automatic refresh and STOP
        • active with TouchScreen 1.67+
      • Increase FAST speed settings
      • Improve dual nozzle surface finish
      • Improve top surface finish
      • Retraction added between small part and cooling tower
      • Revise material settings for large parts
      • Add chamber heater settings for Hydrofill
  • 1.8.1 – 01/21/2022
    1. All Printers:
      • Additional filament primed when increasing speeds
        • Activated with Retraction Compensation
      • Multi-material parts sliced strictly according to material selection
        • Avoids incorrect gCode generation
      • Improved string support generation for easier removal
      • Improved smart print functionality for quicker print speeds
      • Improved infill generation for small areas
    2. EVO R, EVO, EVO-T, EVO 22, and EVO22-T:
      • Retraction hop increases when support selected to minimize skipping
      • Speeds adjusted depending on part size rather than part amount
      • Stepper current adjusted according to material
      • Revise/add chamber heater settings
      • Plugin values corrected for simple settings mode
  • 1.8.0 – 07/16/2021
    1. All Printers:
      • Cooling tower option for small parts
        • Builds cooling tower to minimize heat soak
        • Full settings->Cooling->Cooling tower
      • Retraction compensation improved
        • Varies retraction and Z hop amounts based on speed and distance
      • Parts stay in position when switching between simple and full settings
      • Object sink defaults to “0” when switching to simple settings
    2. EVO R, EVO, EVO-T, EVO 22, and EVO22-T:
      • NEW FEATURE – Remote Operation (Wi-Fi/Ethernet)
        • Remote->Remote Operations Menu
        • Control EVO(s) from PC (Print/Save/Update)
        • Follow instructions to add machines via IP addresses
        • Requires EVO 1.65 TouchScreen update
      • Graduated initial layers
        • Initial 3 layer heights are graduated to improve quality
        • i.e., .3mm, .26mm, .22mm
      • Cooling tower defaults to “On” for small parts
      • Material settings improved for larger parts
      • Improved dual nozzle settings included graduated retraction
      • Speeds capped on smart print to avoid under-extrusion
      • gCode provide more descriptive information, i.e., print temp, date, etc.
  • 1.7.9 – 4/29/2021
    1. All Printers:
      • Triangle infill improved for small features
      • Retraction compensation improved
      • Now accounts for distance in addition to speed
    2. EVO R, EVO, EVO-T, EVO 22, and EVO22-T:
      • Material settings revised for higher quality prints
      • Shrinkage compensation added for EVO R
      • Correct sample part included for each machine
  • 1.7.8 – 3/23/2021
    1. EVO R, EVO, and EVO 22:
      • New Printers
        • Added EVO-T and EVO22-T
        • Available from TRAK Machine Tools
      • Improved solid layer surface finish
      • Revised material settings
  • 1.7.7 – 2/16/2021
    1. All Printers:
      • New Feature
        • First layer flow %
        • Full settings->Basic->Filament->First layer flow (%)
      • Improve support strength adjustment
        • Expert->Support->Structure strength
    2. EVO R, EVO, and EVO 22:
      • New Feature
        • Shrinkage compensation
          • Preferences->Shrinkage compensation
      • Automatically compensates for shrinkage
      • Shrinkage factor (XY body ratio) scales model according to filament type
      • New Feature
        • Speed adjustment
        • Quickprint->Speed
      • Revise material settings
      • Revise 1.0mm nozzle settings
      • Hydrofill standalone material added (lost wax-style printing)
  • 1.7.5 – 11/25/2020
    1. All Printers:
      • New Feature
        • Support retraction
        • Expert->Open expert settings->Support->Support retraction
      • Correct bridging default speed
      • EVO R, EVO, and EVO 22:
        • Add Carbonite ABS, Carbonite PETG, and Carbonite Nylon
        • Add ASA with HIPS support
        • Default to support retraction
        • Improve .35mm nozzle settings for better small part definition
        • Improve bridging
  • 1.7.4 – 10/19/2020
    1. All Printers:
      • Improve gCode layer view
    2. EVO R, EVO, and EVO 22:
      • Improve dual color settings
      • Improve .35mm nozzle settings for better small part definition
      • Improve retraction compensation
      • Add slight overextrusion to second layer to better connect first, second, and third layers
      • Vary travel acceleration based on part size
  • 1.7.3 – 5/19/2020
    1. All Printers:
      • New Feature
        • Adjustable solid layers for support interface
        • Expert->Open expert settings->Support->Solid interface layers
      • Acceleration adjustment feature revised to improve print accuracy
      • Retraction compensation feature revised to also shorten retraction when possible
    2. EVO R, EVO, and EVO 22:
      • When Nylon selected, bed preheats to 125C briefly to seat Wolfbite Nitro
      • Chamber heat gradually increases to account for heat from bed
      • Increased minimum speeds for ABS and Nylon
      • TPU/TPE solid interface layers default to 6
  • 1.7.2 – 4/20/2020
    1. All Printers:
      • Split expert config into three columns for easier viewing
      • Configurable wipe tower
      • Adjust to one of six positions
      • Expert->Open expert settings->Support->Wipe tower location
    2. EVO R, EVO, and EVO 22:
      • Travel speed increased on larger prints
      • PC settings improved for higher accuracy
      • Supports spaced out farther from part on large prints
      • Draft layer heights increased and infill decreased to speed up prints
      • Turn off layer subdivision on small (less than 10 layer) parts
      • TPU min speeds increased to prevent dripping
      • Hydrofill defaulted to string support for quicker prints and support removal
  • 1.7.1 – 2/14/2020
    1. All Printers:
      • NEW FEATURE: Retraction Compensation
        • Adjust retraction amount dependent on print speed
        • Expert->Open expert settings->Retraction->Retraction compensation
      • NEW FEATURE: Bridging Speed and Fan Control
        • Adjust print speed and fan speed when bridging
        • Expert->Open expert settings->Bridging->Print speed/Side fan speed
      • Improvements to smart print automatic speed adjustment
      • Correct minimum layer time calculation for slowing print
    2. EVO R, EVO, and EVO 22:
      • Retraction compensation defaults to “on”
      • Bridging speeds set for ABS and PLA
      • Revisions to Speed, Temp, and Support for ABS Dual Color settings
      • Increase ABS Draft 1.0mm nozzle layer height to .34mm
      • Increase ABS and PLA support z spacing for Draft settings
      • Improvement to dual nozzle long retractions
      • Minimal print speed lowered to 2mm/s
  • 1.7.0 – 1/15/2020
    1. All Printers:
      • NEW FEATURE: Acceleration adjustment
        •    Cleaner prints, adjusts acceleration depending on infill, perimeter, skin, support
        •    Expert->Open expert settings->Quality->Enable acceleration adjustment
      • NEW FEATURE: Triangle infill
        •    Expert->Open expert settings->Infill->Infill type->Triangle
      • NEW FEATURE: String support
        •    Better support interconnection, useful when lines support is scattering
        •    Expert->Open expert settings->Support->Structure type->String
    2. EVO R, EVO, and EVO 22:
      • Acceleration adjustment defaults to “on”
      • Infill defaults to Triangle
      • Support for most materials defaults to String
      • Add Nylon Fine settings
      • Add PC Dual Color settings
      • Revisions to ABS and PC retraction
  • 1.6.9 – 12/11/2019
    1. All Printers:
      • NEW FEATURE: Retraction on layer change
        •    Cleaner prints, especially PLA and single perimeter parts
        •    Expert->Open expert settings->Quality->Enable retraction on layer change
      • APEX defaults to Quickprint on start up
        •    Avoids potential inconsistencies between expert mode and preferences
    2. EVO R, EVO, and EVO 22:
      • Retraction on layer change defaults to “on”
      • Revisions to PC and PET settings
  • 1.6.8 – 11/20/2019
    1. All Printers:
      • NEW FEATURE: Adjustable support strength
        •    Easier support removal
        •    Expert->Open expert settings->Support->Structure strength
      • Lines+ support reconfigured to parallel lines with higher density
        •    Easier support removal
      • Dual extrusion retraction rate momentarily reduced
        •    Occurs when filament re-enters hot end
        •    More reliable dual nozzle printing
    2. EVO R, EVO, and EVO 22:
      • Dual nozzle prints
        •    Retraction speed slowed for ABS and PLA
        •    Retraction distance increased for ABS and PLA
        •    Wipe tower size increased for TPE, ABS and PLA
      • PC temps now user adjustable
        •    Prints start auto-level sequence at 282C
        •    User-defined temp implemented on first layer
  • 1.6.7 – 11/1/2019
    1. All Printers:
      • NEW FEATURE: Spot fan cooling for small parts
        •    Enables side fans to be used only to cool small layers
        •    Useful for cooling engineering materials where fan is only needed periodically
        •    Expert->Open expert settings->Side Fans->Fans only for small features
      • NEW FEATURE: Increased layer time criteria for side fan activation
        •    Enables user to specify layer time below which fan is activated
        •    Fan speed modulates depending on layer size
        •    Useful for cooling intricate parts with small layers
        •    Expert->Open expert settings->Side Fans->Added layer time for activating
      • NEW FEATURE: Enable smart print
        •    Automatic slow down for small features and speed up for large features
        •    Speed changes occur part to part in layer depending on part geometry
        •    Expert->Open expert settings->Quality->Enable smart print
      • Side fans only operate above minimal layer height and modulate more accurately
    2. Axiom and EVO Printers:
      • NEW FEATURE: Slow cooling for bed when printing with ABS and PC variants
        •    Reduces bed temperature slowly after print is completed
        •    Prolongs glass life by minimizing thermal shock
        •    Expert->Open expert settings->Slow bed cooling->Slow cool
    3. EVO R, EVO, and EVO 22:
      • Print speed adjusted based on quality selection (in addition to part size and material selection)
        •    Increased quality on small parts, decreased print time on larger parts
      • Slow bed cooling defaults to “on” for ABS and PC variants
      • Spot cooling defaults to “on” for Nylon variants
      • Smart print defaults to “on”
      • Quicker slicing because less “tweaks”
      • Better side fan modulation on small layers
      • Light sequence to signal end of print
      • Print time and material amount added to gCode description
      • Added ABS DUAL COLOR PRECISE settings
      • Correlated ESD ABS, PC ABS, PC ABS with PLA, Carbon Nylon, PET, T-GLASE, and COLORFABB-XT settings to Quickprint menu
  • 1.6.4 – 10/15/2019
    1. EVO R, EVO, and EVO 22:
      • Change nozzle size depending on head chosen
        •    EVO R secondary nozzle defaults to .8mm
        •    EVO and EVO 22 secondary nozzle defaults to 1.0mm
      • Normalize print speeds for better outer wall surface finish
      • Fix print temperatures for secondary nozzle
  • 1.6.3 – 9/26/2019
    1. All Printers:
      • NEW FEATURE: Temperature reduction for inactive nozzle
        •    Reduces temperature of unused nozzle to minimize dripping
        •    Expert->Open expert settings->Temperature reduction for inactive nozzle
      • NEW FEATURE: Verbose identification
        •    Identifies printer and material when exporting gCode
        •    File->Preferences->Verbose identification
      • Print parameters now included in beginning of gCode
        •    Apex version, printer type, nozzle, nozzle size, material, quality, layer height, perimeters, fill rate
      • Increase build area for dual nozzle prints with wipe tower
        •    Wipe tower now accurately represented in part v. bed area go/no-go calculation
      • Ooze shield reliability increased with change in minimum shield angle
        •    Increase reliability and precision of dual color prints
    2. EVO R, EVO, and EVO 22:
      • Vary first layer height and overextrusion based on part size
        •    More precise first layer for smaller parts
        •    May be necessary to update firmware to lower first layer
      • Modify PLA parameters for increased precision
        •    Lower fine and precise layer height
        •    Lower extruder temps
        •    Lower bed temps
        •    Modify start code to keep fan on 100%
      • Increase retraction distance for dual color prints
      • Increase travel speeds for quicker printing
      • Revise ABS temperature and retraction settings
  • 1.6.1 – 8/13/2019
    1. Airwolf introduces EVO R
      • Dual extruders, Airwolf TouchScreen, linear motion system, Hepa/Carbon air filtration, approx. 12″x8.75″x9″ build volume
    2. All Printers:
      • Please navigate to File> Reset Apex to enable all features in 1.6.1
        •    Reminder:  Auto slicing can be turned off in the Preferences dialog box this makes part manipulation significantly easier
      • Top Surface Quality Apex now adjusts the quality of top surfaces by dividing the top layer into multiple finer layers for higher resolution
        •    Adjustable in Expert Config menu in Full Settings (Precise, Standard, Draft)
      • Infill Interface Density Infill density is adjustable immediately prior to top layers
        •    Adjustable in Expert Config menu in Full Settings (Dense, Medium, Sparse)
        •    Only triggered when less than 6 top layers specified
    3. EVO R, EVO, and EVO 22:
      • Apex now automatically adjusts speeds, temps, accel values, and tweaks depending on size of all parts on build plate
      • Improve secondary nozzle printing
      • Default support precision to “precise”
      • Add TPU with Hydrofill precise settings
      • Revise TPU settings
      • Revise TPE settings
      • Revise ABS and PLA Dual Color settings
      • Revise ABS settings for 1.0mm nozzle
  • 1.5.9 – 6/10/2019
    1. All Printers:
      • Please navigate to File> Reset Apex to enable all features in 1.5.9
      • Autoslice selectability feature allows user to turn off automatic slicing File>Preferences>Automatically slice models (off/on)
      • Concentric solid layer support for easier part/support separation
      • Solid layer support generation for same material support (smooth undersides to parts printed with single material)
      • New “Lines+” support option builds enhanced lines-style support under solid interface layers (above)
      • New “Structure precision” support option allows support generation control for hard to reach locations
      • Change background, menu, and part colors
    2. Axiom 20:
      • Revise print area dimensions to better correspond to machine make sure to “Reset Apex” 
    3. EVO and EVO 22:
      • Fix tweak settings for primary/secondary temperature adjustments 
      • Increase first layer speeds
      • Smooth perimeter walls for all materials
      • Revise TPU settings
      • Revise PC settings
      • Revise HYDROFILL settings
  • 1.5.8 – 5/9/2019
    1. All Printers:
      • Solid layer support generation with grid selection (smooth undersides to parts with Hydrofill)
      • Support generation optimized to account for more overhangs
      • Prime tower location, base and infill optimized
      • Linear infill calculation
    2. EVO and EVO 22:
      • Revised PC settings
      • Revised ABS settings
      • Revised HYDROFILL settings
  • 1.5.7 – 4/24/2019
    • Adjust prime tower according to height for Hydrofill
    • Revise Hydrofill settings
    • Revise TPU/TPE settings
    • Revise PC settings
    • Improve part centering
    • Change speed on tall prints to minimize swaying
    • Expand print volume
  • 1.5.5 – 1/28/2019
    • Minimum print speeds increased
    • Adjust raft settings for different nozzle sizes
    • Retraction settings updated
    • Axiom:
      • Increased build size settings for Axiom Dual
      • Adjust raft settings for different nozzle sizes
  • 1.5.4 – 1/21/2019
    • Improved menu in simple mode for ease of use
    • Chamber heat option added with automatic bed heat adjustments
    • Print temperature automatically adjusts based on print size
    • Print speed varies based on print size
    • Support percentage increased for fine quality prints
    • Adjust raft settings for different nozzle sizes
    • Retraction hop added to increase print reliability
    • Center fan speed increased for ABS for enhanced print reliability
    • Axiom:
      • Improved menu in simple mode for ease of use
      • Default quality settings for selected materials
      • Adjust raft settings for different nozzle sizes
  • 1.5.1 – 12/7/2018
    • Hydrofill can now be printed without raft bed temps adjust automatically
    • Added Strength setting to adjust infill percentage and wall thickness
    • Footprint setting now linked to bottom layer print speed and travel speed
    • Print speeds now linked to material and quality
    • Support parameters now linked to nozzle size, material, and quality
    • TPU settings modified to reduce fan speed to avoid over-cooling nozzle
    • Axiom:
      • Hydrofill can now be printed without raft bed temp adjusts automatically
  • 1.4.9 – 11/26/2018
    1. EVO and EVO 22:
      • Added Footprint setting to correlate bed temperature to part size
      • Nozzle size now adjusts shell thickness, layer height, wall thickness, and infill
      • Side fan speeds adjusted for all relevant materials
      • No-go zones adjusted for primary and secondary nozzles
    2. All printers:
      • Material defaults to preferred material on opening
      • Raft spacing adjusted
  • 1.4.8 – 10/11/2018

    • Revised Draft ABS and PLA settings for Evo and Evo 22
    • Added ESD ABS settings for Evo and Evo 22
    • Added XLARGE ABS settings for Evo 22
    • Added 1.0 nozzle selection for Evo and Evo 22
    • Adjusted center fan speed based on material selection
    • Simplified File menu
    • Improved Draft Quality for Evo Materials

ALL SOFTWARE UDPATES