The Benchbin - Multi Color 3D Printing Torture Test

The Benchbin is as a 3D Printing torture test designed to benchmark the quality, speed and waste of various multi-color 3D printing systems. It can be printed completely without any supports or brim, with the lid and the wheels being a functional moving parts once removed from the build plate.

Print it yourself and post a Make of your result! Include photos, the total weight of the waste, and the total print time.

Highlighted bechmark results

A collection of results both from the community and from the in-house testing at Prusa Research.

The Benchbin is designed to be printed from 4 different colors:

1. The striped area is white & red. 
2. The recycling symbol, the lid hinge and lock, the wheels (except for the middle part) and the lid seal is to be printed in black.
3. The main body of the bin is to be printed in green, yellow, blue, or other color distincly different from black, white and red.

Using different colors for parts of the model in black, white and red is NOT allowed. Such changes would affect the number of color changes per layer, and as a result, change the print time and material waste.

Think about it at as a real recycling bin. You can differentiate between a bin for plastic and a bin for glass thanks to the main accent color, but the wheels will always be black.

Benchmarking features

Filament waste

Essentially all multi-color 3D printing solutions waste some amount of material during the color change. Meassure the total weight of any wipe tower, filament flushed to the side, priming intro lines, skirts, supports (if used) or any other material not directly deposited into the model.

Print time

The obvious goal is to print the model in the shortest time possible, without noticable drop in print quality. The time it takes for a 3D printer to change the currently loaded color has huge impact on the total print time.

Color bleed

The goal of using black color on the recycling symbol and several few other features is to show if the 3D printer can deal with color bleed, as black color is notoriously difficult to clean from single nozzle multi-color systems.

A good result will have no apparent change of shade of colors, where black is present in the layer.

A bad result will have visibly darker shade of the other colors, where black is present in the layer.

Moving parts

The Benchbin features several moving parts, which test the dimensional accuracy of your 3D printer.

It features a lid, which can swivel and locks into place when fully closed.

The 4 wheels snap into holes at the bottom of the bin, they should all be able to rotate both around the vertical axis to change their direction, and also rotate around a horizontal axis, e.g. as if you tried to push the bin forward. It's likely you will have to break the wheels free after printing, before you'll be able to spin them.

Overall Print Quality

The many features of the Benchbin will help you judge the overall print quality of your 3D printer.

The top of the Benchbin featuires several bridges and overhangs. These should come out perfectly clean, without any supports.

The large flat bottom side of the bin will help you judge the quality of the first layer.

The vertical walls will reveal any inconsistencies in extrusion, ringing or other print artifacts. 

The lid has a fairly small contact area with the heat bed, insufficient adhesion to the print plate may cause this part to get loose during printing.

Print instructions

Layer height - 0.2 mm

Perimeters - 2

Scale - 100%

You are free modify the rest of the settings as you wish, to achieve the best print quality, fastest print times and minimal waste.

We suggest starting with the default profile provided by the manufacturer as a reference result of quality, speed and waste.

Once you print it, post a Make of your result, including photos, the total weight of the waste, and the total print time.