<![CDATA[SoliForum - 3D Printing Community — Things to know before you buy...]]> https://www.soliforum.com/topic/2689/things-to-know-before-you-buy/ Wed, 13 Nov 2013 18:27:22 +0000 PunBB <![CDATA[Re: Things to know before you buy...]]> https://www.soliforum.com/post/41582/#p41582 bump for new users

]]> Wed, 13 Nov 2013 18:27:22 +0000 https://www.soliforum.com/post/41582/#p41582 <![CDATA[Re: Things to know before you buy...]]> https://www.soliforum.com/post/29145/#p29145 Some other useful things I found out: In my printer the original solidoodle filament printed best at 185 degrees. I then switched to octave.com (cheap and very good customer service), and I found out that it needs to be printer at 195 degrees, else the extruder has to push too hard to get it trough the nozzle and might skip. The new filament seems to bond better and has also a glossier look smile

]]> Sat, 06 Jul 2013 00:29:21 +0000 https://www.soliforum.com/post/29145/#p29145 <![CDATA[Re: Things to know before you buy...]]> https://www.soliforum.com/post/26175/#p26175 Its in the line in Configuration_adv.h that you need to edit as a comment at the end of the section, under "Make your own!" ...

Its from memory M303 E1 S90 C8 .....

]]> Thu, 13 Jun 2013 04:23:15 +0000 https://www.soliforum.com/post/26175/#p26175 <![CDATA[Re: Things to know before you buy...]]> https://www.soliforum.com/post/26168/#p26168 Updated my list: Found bed temp of 85 degrees to be best, and had no more clogs after lowering the extruder temp from 195 to 185. Added enclosure and glass bed (w/ hairspray) which fixed my warping issues.
Had a hard time to change the default dumping coordinates and default extruder temperature. Changing them in the preference tab didn't work. Found out that you need to change the G-Code in the advanced slicer setting.

Does anybody know how to do a pid tuning of the bed heater?

]]> Thu, 13 Jun 2013 03:45:26 +0000 https://www.soliforum.com/post/26168/#p26168 <![CDATA[Re: Things to know before you buy...]]> https://www.soliforum.com/post/25758/#p25758 The most important thing you have to know before buying a 3d printer is:

buy 2 or more at the same time!

not because they break, but because they are slow! just started a 4 hour print, and i got the larger parts yet to do. gonna be a long night. haha

]]> Sun, 09 Jun 2013 17:24:16 +0000 https://www.soliforum.com/post/25758/#p25758 <![CDATA[Re: Things to know before you buy...]]> https://www.soliforum.com/post/25605/#p25605 Just had my second clog sad. I'm not sure if I'm running at too high temperature (don't have an IR temp meter). Lowered extruder to 185 degrees and so far it is fine. Just found out that PID tuning for the Mac is slightly different from the PC... Also melted my x-carriage a little bit because I mounted the heating block 180 degrees reversed. Updated my first post.

Another little learning experience I had: Never dry to clean out a stock nozzle over your gas stove (even if your fan is on). All of the sudden the plastic inside the barrel started burring and produced hundreds of little ash particles that started to float all over my place. When trying to clean those ash particles up, they smear and are almost impossible to get off white surfaces.

]]> Fri, 07 Jun 2013 23:14:31 +0000 https://www.soliforum.com/post/25605/#p25605 <![CDATA[Re: Things to know before you buy...]]> https://www.soliforum.com/post/25501/#p25501 jenkinsear1 wrote:

Thanks in large part to all the tips I was up and running very quickly.  My printer came late yesterday... I've now got a nice looking cube, cylinder, and flying disc on my desk.

The only hiccup for me was that the test piece of filament in the extruder did not come out all of the way past the rollers (no idea how that is even possible... maybe they ran it all the way through and left the extruder at temp so gravity did the rest).  Anyway, I was able to push it down into the PEEK barrel using a small drill bit and the feeding of the new filament thankfully did the rest. 

I did have a bit of an issue with sticking to the Kapton initially, but wiping with acetone and adjusting the z-offset definitely helped.  I had already gotten a piece of 8x8 mirror (from JoAnns), so I quickly went to printing on glass with hairspray.  I also added the "poor man's" anti-backlash nut (sorry... I can't add links yet).  I'm really impressed with the results.  Minimal banding (as far as I can tell).  I have had a little trouble with larger parts not sticking, but I think adding a new layer of hairspray before those prints is helping with that issue.  I'm on a Mac and I have had Repetier crash a couple of times mid-print ... that's probably the biggest issue I've had so far.

Next steps for me (based on recommendations) ... get a spare hot end, print MK4 Jigsaw, and build an enclosure.

Well done! I wish I had been smart enough to find these forums before firing up my machine. Sounds like you are all set to start making some great prints.

]]> Thu, 06 Jun 2013 23:59:24 +0000 https://www.soliforum.com/post/25501/#p25501 <![CDATA[Re: Things to know before you buy...]]> https://www.soliforum.com/post/25500/#p25500 1.  You will end up modifying your printer!!!

Sounds like jenkinsear is already there big_smile

]]> Thu, 06 Jun 2013 23:56:06 +0000 https://www.soliforum.com/post/25500/#p25500 <![CDATA[Re: Things to know before you buy...]]> https://www.soliforum.com/post/25487/#p25487 Thanks in large part to all the tips I was up and running very quickly.  My printer came late yesterday... I've now got a nice looking cube, cylinder, and flying disc on my desk.

The only hiccup for me was that the test piece of filament in the extruder did not come out all of the way past the rollers (no idea how that is even possible... maybe they ran it all the way through and left the extruder at temp so gravity did the rest).  Anyway, I was able to push it down into the PEEK barrel using a small drill bit and the feeding of the new filament thankfully did the rest. 

I did have a bit of an issue with sticking to the Kapton initially, but wiping with acetone and adjusting the z-offset definitely helped.  I had already gotten a piece of 8x8 mirror (from JoAnns), so I quickly went to printing on glass with hairspray.  I also added the "poor man's" anti-backlash nut (sorry... I can't add links yet).  I'm really impressed with the results.  Minimal banding (as far as I can tell).  I have had a little trouble with larger parts not sticking, but I think adding a new layer of hairspray before those prints is helping with that issue.  I'm on a Mac and I have had Repetier crash a couple of times mid-print ... that's probably the biggest issue I've had so far.

Next steps for me (based on recommendations) ... get a spare hot end, print MK4 Jigsaw, and build an enclosure.

]]> Thu, 06 Jun 2013 20:40:13 +0000 https://www.soliforum.com/post/25487/#p25487 <![CDATA[Re: Things to know before you buy...]]> https://www.soliforum.com/post/25381/#p25381 Also be aware of the power cord power supply problem and be prepared to re-solder the plug receptacle to the circuit board.

]]> Wed, 05 Jun 2013 17:43:02 +0000 https://www.soliforum.com/post/25381/#p25381 <![CDATA[Re: Things to know before you buy...]]> https://www.soliforum.com/post/25360/#p25360 This is very timely for me... UPS will be bringing my new SD3 today!  I don't have a replacement hot end on order yet... after reading your posts I'll probably get that ordered today.  I'll also bump up the MK4 jigsaw to one of the first prints I do.

]]> Wed, 05 Jun 2013 13:00:58 +0000 https://www.soliforum.com/post/25360/#p25360 <![CDATA[Re: Things to know before you buy...]]> https://www.soliforum.com/post/25350/#p25350 Also: Run all STL's through netfab

]]> Wed, 05 Jun 2013 11:52:31 +0000 https://www.soliforum.com/post/25350/#p25350 <![CDATA[Re: Things to know before you buy...]]> https://www.soliforum.com/post/25323/#p25323 Also: Push the plug into the power supply HARD. I spent so much time trying to figure out why it wouldn't power on because I was being too gentle.  There's a bit of flashing midway into the power supply plug.

]]> Wed, 05 Jun 2013 07:18:39 +0000 https://www.soliforum.com/post/25323/#p25323 <![CDATA[Re: Things to know before you buy...]]> https://www.soliforum.com/post/25307/#p25307 I got mine last Thursday, no clog or break yet. Great points, I have some to add:
1. Do not expect to be printing perfect models the first day.
2. Get to know the software a week before so you can actually get something done on day 1.
3. Be prepared for breaks and know that eventually, something will break.

]]> Wed, 05 Jun 2013 03:14:49 +0000 https://www.soliforum.com/post/25307/#p25307 <![CDATA[Re: Things to know before you buy...]]> https://www.soliforum.com/post/25305/#p25305 I have only been printing since the end of April and these are excellent comments. Additional thoughts:
1. Work with simple parts to get used to how everything works. Just get it operating as it comes.
2. Slowly extend your efforts.
3. Remember whatever happens can be fixed. Don't be in a big hurry.
4. Work in one change at a time; glass & hairspray, enclosure, KISSlicer, NetFabb.
5. Your probably doing this for fun, remember

By the way I haven't had a nozzle clog yet, probably tomorrow:-)

]]> Wed, 05 Jun 2013 02:43:00 +0000 https://www.soliforum.com/post/25305/#p25305