What's a modified SD3 worth? (Page 2 of 2)

AS a quick test for the "Y" skipping problem, have you tried adding a fan to cool off the board?  I had the same thing as you, albeit for me it didn't happen immediately, rather it started to appear randomly after nearly 6 months of use. 

Someone mentioned it may be related to the steppers getting overheated, so I just propped a fan behind it, blowing cool air directly on the board, and never seen the problem since.  One of these days I'll probably mount the fan to the back permanently, but for now it works as is.

I mean this is a quick a dirty (not to mention cheap) test to see if it solves your problem.  If it does, then you know where the problems is, and how to fix it.  If you have a Sanguino board, replacing the stepper is simple, as it's socketed and the individual steppers are about $6.  If you have the Printrboard, then it's a bit more complicated (and costly), since you'll probably have to replace the entire board, unless you're very skilled with a soldering iron and replacing surface mounted components.

Anyway, the fan this at list will tell you if your problem is with the steppers.

Last but not least, changing to a different brand is not necessarily the solution.  Give n that this industry is still in the "garage" phase, there's no guarantee that any other brand would perform better or have less problems.  Let's say you get the Flash Forge, I don't know anything about that model, but I would bet that it doesn't have the kind of community the Solidoodle does.  What do you think would happen then?  At least here you have lots of people with various level of experience that will try to help.

Just a few things to consider before you give up on your SD3.

Edit: Deleted post.

Edit: Deleted post.  Nothing gained by responding to certain unconstructive things.

Wow, and I though I was trying to help with my suggestions... I guess I better shut up.

To update this, I could probably have sold this for about $900-$1000 on eBay but I decided I didn't want to go that way, I preferred to sell local.  Mostly to avoid the hassle of dealing with shipping, and what if it gets damaged in transit, and the costs of insurance.  But also just to try to encourage the local 3D printing scene.

So I listed it at $750 (could have gotten more, I'm sure) and it sold yesterday.  Not quite as local as I wanted, but close enough for a pickup at my house, with a demo and all.  (No, not a Yoda, an octopus at half size.)  I think the new owner will be very happy with it; he and his son, between them, have a ton of experience with CNC and similar machines, have worked in machine shops, etc.  So it should be a good fit for them, better than it was for me.

Coincidentally my FlashForge Creator also arrived yesterday, so I only had a couple of hours in between with no 3D printer in the house.

Even though you don't have the Solidoodle anymore, I still want to hear about the Flashforge and your projects.  Especially any dual extrusion stuff you try.

Haven't done much with it on account of the holiday.  Happy to say that I did the assembly in about a half hour, plugged it in, turned it on, started a test print from the front control panel, and got a perfect print with a perfect circle.  No mods, no calibration other than the basic bed leveling (which it walks you through).  I've done about a half-dozen simple prints today, mostly from the SDcard but one from PC control, and every one came out perfect.

I'm still finding myself hearing it print and thinking I need to go over and take care of it as it prints, and then having to stop myself, because it just takes care of itself; no need to go loosen the filament so it won't bind up, no worry it's skipping, don't even have to watch its temperatures.

As I'm printing right on the kapton and bed, after each print I have to wait for it to cool, then heat up again.  So even though I get great prints (so far), I may still go for the glass bed just so I can swap out one print and start the next straightaway.

Eventually I'll start to get into deeper things.  I look forward to learning about the dual extruder option, both for two-color prints and for eventually using one for dissolvable supports for overhang.  And of course printing in PLA.  But with the holidays going on, I won't have much time for a week or two to do more than just print.

In all, I think it's a much better fit to my personal abilities and desires.  Not to say I'm unhappy with the Solidoodle, I just think it and me aren't as good a match.

My Facebook photo album of the printer and its prints, which I've made public so you can see it without friending me:
https://www.facebook.com/HawthornThistl … amp;type=3

Let me know how the dual prints works. Been wanting to get a flashforge myself, but a guy at work said the dual print had problems.