1 Topic by crankytoz

  • crankytoz
  • Newbie
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2016-03-24
  • Posts: 6

Topic: Complete beginner questions

Hi guys, be nice,, my first ever post,and first ever foray into the amazing world of 3D printing.
I'm about to get my first printer the Da Vinci Jnr, and I have a few complete noob questions, so I apologise if I'm breaking any rules, it's just that I could really do with some answers as I have absolutely no clue on we're to go or what to do right now.

OK, the whole filament lock down on the JNr question....
I have read a lot today on hacks and tools and gadgets to make it possible, and I have to say I'm no closer to actually even knowing what my best option will be.

So first question...what is the best way for me to approach this,? And get the Jnr hacked so I can use more, cheaper filaments.?
I do have a good knowledge on PC's and have run software hacks in the past for a few things, so not bothered going down that route.

So a basic question to go with this, is it possible to use other filaments, if so what's the best choices in the UK.?
Is it just a matter of, resetting the chip on the spool, buying cheaper filament, and just refilling the spool?, that's the kind of feeling I get on what I've read today, just no idea on best option.

Also, wh the best website for actual 3D item files?

And finally, best software to have a go myself somewhere down the line.?

All in all guys, I don't mind reading, learning myself, so any helpful links or sites would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your time, and I can't wait to get into all this.....

2 Reply by jakecrowley

  • jakecrowley
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2016-01-02
  • Posts: 85

Re: Complete beginner questions

Currently, the only option for you to use other filaments is to reset the nfc chip with a logic analyzer and nfc shield (or app if you have an android phone/tablet capable of NFC).

If you buy those items, you will be able to use third party filaments. Plase keep in mind that you can only modify the temperature by using ThreeDubber to decode the 3W file, modify the gcode, then recompile it which, for some reason, messes up the estimated time on the printer which i have been messing around with but haven't been able to figure out how to fix.

You will probably want to stick with PLA because printing ABS is tough without a heated bed although there are videos out there on YouTube about printing ABS without a heated bed.

There are many websites out there to download 3D models but my favorite is www.thingiverse.com.

3 Reply by kauboy (edited by kauboy 2016-03-24 17:20:22)

  • kauboy
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2016-03-21
  • Posts: 11

Re: Complete beginner questions

jakecrowley wrote:

Currently, the only option for you to use other filaments is to reset the nfc chip with a logic analyzer and nfc shield (or app if you have an android phone/tablet capable of NFC).

If you buy those items, you will be able to use third party filaments. Plase keep in mind that you can only modify the temperature by using ThreeDubber to decode the 3W file, modify the gcode, then recompile it which, for some reason, messes up the estimated time on the printer which i have been messing around with but haven't been able to figure out how to fix.

You will probably want to stick with PLA because printing ABS is tough without a heated bed although there are videos out there on YouTube about printing ABS without a heated bed.

There are many websites out there to download 3D models but my favorite is www.thingiverse.com.

What is ThreeDubber?
Google is useless, for some reason.


To the OP, for your question on what software to start in when wanting to make your own models, there are a few choices to get the basics down.
Autodesk's 123D Design is a good one that's free to download.
Tinkercad is an online version, similar to the AD interface.
Even XYZ has released their own version called XYZMaker. It's in beta, so keep that in mind.
These all have similar "drop object, modify object, add other objects" methods of building a model.

For slightly more advanced model building, you can grab SketchUp(used be owned by Google) to build models from scratch using simple and complex tools. This one takes quite a bit of time to learn, and tutorials are vital.
It doesn't natively support STL files yet, but with a little searching, you can find an addon which installs that ability.

For even more advanced modeling, Blender is supposed to be amazing, but far exceeds my current skill set, so I can't pretend to even tell you what it's capable of.

I've also had some use for Autodesk's Meshmixer when trying to repair a model, or when I want to add custom supports before sending it to XYZWare. Youtube is great for learning these easy tasks.

4 Reply by crankytoz

  • crankytoz
  • Newbie
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2016-03-24
  • Posts: 6

Re: Complete beginner questions

Thanks guys, a bit techy answer on the hack lol, but I don't mind paying the £20 for a spool for now, as its all new and I'm loving it tbh, done a couple of test prints off the SD card, and all great no problems at all.

Got one tiny niggle, the xyz software that came with it, for some reason will not let me print direct to the printer, comes up with a daft error, "no SD card, please insert SD card and try again"
Which kinda don't make sense, as its the MacBook, I've tried with SD card in MacBook, in printer , but same error, daft thing is, it sees the printer in the settings, even gives temp status readings, and even says printing, when I'm going off the card.
But just will not print direct from software to printer...

So for now it's a case of taking SD card out printer, loading file onto card, then back into printer..pain in the ass, but for now it's ok....
I'm going to try PC later, just that MacBook is more convenient for me, so would like to sort it at some point.

Thanks
J

5 Reply by jakecrowley

  • jakecrowley
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2016-01-02
  • Posts: 85

Re: Complete beginner questions

kauboy wrote:

What is ThreeDubber?
Google is useless, for some reason.

ThreeDubber is a program that was posted a while ago in the Da Vinci Jr Cartridge Reset thread. It allows you to convert GCode to 3W and vice versa.

6 Reply by crankytoz

  • crankytoz
  • Newbie
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2016-03-24
  • Posts: 6

Re: Complete beginner questions

Just to say guys, fixed the cable problem, needed a firmware update.

I have had first coup,e of errors tonight, E30 right at the end of a 7 hour print, but fixed itself, although did know if get stuck on model and made a noise.

Had to power off just yo get it back, but then I got a 0007 error when trying to print again, couldn't read spool content, but it fixed itself, and is currently printing.

I think I might have to switch it off for a while, lol enjoying it so much, probably needs. Rest ...
Anyway not much filament left, be glad to get a new coloured one, the basic white is so boring...
Still loving it though, never gets boring , just brilliant.

7 Reply by Anthem

  • Anthem
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2016-05-21
  • Posts: 136

Re: Complete beginner questions

Sucks about the errors. I have a Jr and haven't seen anything like that yet.

As for the software, lots of people will tell you that if you're at an old firmware version you can use an older hacked version of XYZware they call XYZAdvanced to import custom gcode. I have firmware 2.2.6 and you probably have something similar. I've had no luck with such options, especially since I'm a Linux user and would have to deal with running XYZware in a VM.

So my suggestion is dump XYZware totally. Use ThreeDubber or my port of it and learn to use another slicer like Slic3r or Cura. I keep two or three SD cards by my printer so I can just swap them around when I want to print.

Whatever slicer you use you'll need to set up some custom start gcode. I have some examples for slic3r here: http://www.soliforum.com/post/123228/#p123228

8 Reply by Anthem (edited by Anthem 2016-06-16 01:38:02)

  • Anthem
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2016-05-21
  • Posts: 136

Re: Complete beginner questions

jakecrowley wrote:

Currently, the only option for you to use other filaments is to reset the nfc chip with a logic analyzer and nfc shield (or app if you have an android phone/tablet capable of NFC).

If you buy those items, you will be able to use third party filaments. Plase keep in mind that you can only modify the temperature by using ThreeDubber to decode the 3W file, modify the gcode, then recompile it which, for some reason, messes up the estimated time on the printer which i have been messing around with but haven't been able to figure out how to fix.

You will probably want to stick with PLA because printing ABS is tough without a heated bed although there are videos out there on YouTube about printing ABS without a heated bed.

There are many websites out there to download 3D models but my favorite is www.thingiverse.com.


The estimated time problem is a sort of a bug in ThreeDubber because it doesn't tell the machine how much filament to expect to use.

And if you start out using a different slicer than XYZware, then you won't have to decompile and recompile the .3w file. You can just enter the M109 code in your start gcode to let the slicer set the temp.