SoliForum - 3D Printing Community — Simple Arithmetic (or whether to buy and/or when to dump your DaVinci)

Re: Simple Arithmetic (or whether to buy and/or when to dump your DaVinci)

null@example.com (carl_m1968) — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 04:19:51 +0000

darkhawk wrote:

Another thing you could do is use Windows Firewall to block XYZWare from contacting XYZ, thereby defeating their ability to lockout your printing ability.
I haven't done this, and I'm not 100% sure it will work, but I would imagine that if you block the program from sending the data, it won't get anything back and will just allow you to print. (Bear in mind, I'm not 100% sure this will work....but it's something worth trying)

Be careful, last I heard the newest firmware has to call home. If it cant it will disable the printer as well. Not sure if this is true or confirmed. Would be great if one of use who updated could test it.

Re: Simple Arithmetic (or whether to buy and/or when to dump your DaVinci)

null@example.com (darkhawk) — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 04:09:04 +0000

Another thing you could do is use Windows Firewall to block XYZWare from contacting XYZ, thereby defeating their ability to lockout your printing ability.

I haven't done this, and I'm not 100% sure it will work, but I would imagine that if you block the program from sending the data, it won't get anything back and will just allow you to print. (Bear in mind, I'm not 100% sure this will work....but it's something worth trying)

Re: Simple Arithmetic (or whether to buy and/or when to dump your DaVinci)

null@example.com (Oldsirhippy) — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 11:21:33 +0000

@lachupacabra Thanks for those links.

Luc & Garry572 (and others) have done a brilliant job at getting Repetier working on the 1.0A motherboard and it looks like the LCD issue is fast disappearing.

The upgrade to RH is fantastic news for using filament from any source.

I would like to upgrade a bit later - probably when I get frustrated with XYZ or am forced to if they disable my printer because I am resetting the cartridge eeprom.

Re: Simple Arithmetic (or whether to buy and/or when to dump your DaVinci)

null@example.com (lachupacabra) — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 22:37:10 +0000

@Oldsirhippy

yeah, I'm not sure, but I think some progress has been made.. check this github link if you haven't already:

github.com/luc-github/Repetier-Firmware-0.92/issues/10

and also this:

voltivo.com/forum/davinci-firmware/540-lcd-failure-on-1-0-1-0a-tester-feedback-needed

hope it helps

Re: Simple Arithmetic (or whether to buy and/or when to dump your DaVinci)

null@example.com (Oldsirhippy) — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 18:41:00 +0000

@lachupacabra thanks for those links - I had seen the "new-davinci-10a-with-repetier" but I think only a few people have reported success. There was still an issue with the LCD screen, do you know if it has been cured?

The replacement board looks very interesting and appears to have the same facilities as the Da Vinci XYZ 1.0A motherboard. The print example with the very smooth (no steps) curves was very good. Unattended long prints are a concern especially when there is a 200+ degrees heater in the machine so the stop / start facility would be useful.

Re: Simple Arithmetic (or whether to buy and/or when to dump your DaVinci)

null@example.com (lachupacabra) — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 17:31:41 +0000

@Oldsirhippy
check out this thread too:
soliforum.com/topic/9011/new-davinci-10a-with-repetier/

also, possible solution for the motherboard:
http://3dfilamenta.com/motherboards/290 … tc_/type-c

can't post links yet, so put 3 x w in front

Re: Simple Arithmetic (or whether to buy and/or when to dump your DaVinci)

null@example.com (Oldsirhippy) — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 16:05:03 +0000

Thanks rockosmodlife for the link.

It looks like aversano.tyler has tried downloading and is having difficulties, I hope the problems he is facing will soon get resolved and I will look forward to his solution.

Re: Simple Arithmetic (or whether to buy and/or when to dump your DaVinci)

null@example.com (rockosmodlife) — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 15:05:56 +0000

Oldsirhippy wrote:

Thanks darkhawk, your reply was very useful. Wow - printer and 7 cartridges for $580 ! You got yourself a great deal.
We don't get prices like that over here. A $499 printer in the US is £499 ($755.51) over here - it should really be £395.50 ($598.80) if one takes the current exchange rate at £1 = $1.51 and adds 20% VAT. So the mnf are making a tidy profit from us Brits.
My cartridges with postage cost £32.83 which is $49.71, hence the need to refill the cartridges with lower cost ABS/PLA.
we won't talk about 1.0A.... I have just bought a Da Vinci XYZ 1.0A! Have I made a mistake?
I bought it for 3 reasons - off the shelf/ready to go, good price and I thought the filament cartridges could be refilled by resetting the EEPROM.
But I now find that if I use non XYZ filament by refilling my cartridges and use a refilled cartridge whilst on line, the XYZ software or the firmware is likely to contact XYZprinting corp and they can disable my printer. Is that correct?
Or can the FW disable the printer without being online?
Repetier Host would be a great workaround but understand that the installation for the 1.0A board is currently under development. Has anyone successfully upgraded the new 1.0A board (FW 1.0.1) with RH?

http://www.soliforum.com/topic/9159/rep … vinci-10a/

Re: Simple Arithmetic (or whether to buy and/or when to dump your DaVinci)

null@example.com (Oldsirhippy) — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 12:26:00 +0000

Thanks darkhawk, your reply was very useful. Wow - printer and 7 cartridges for $580 ! You got yourself a great deal.

We don't get prices like that over here. A $499 printer in the US is £499 ($755.51) over here - it should really be £395.50 ($598.80) if one takes the current exchange rate at £1 = $1.51 and adds 20% VAT. So the mnf are making a tidy profit from us Brits.

My cartridges with postage cost £32.83 which is $49.71, hence the need to refill the cartridges with lower cost ABS/PLA.

we won't talk about 1.0A.... I have just bought a Da Vinci XYZ 1.0A! Have I made a mistake?

I bought it for 3 reasons - off the shelf/ready to go, good price and I thought the filament cartridges could be refilled by resetting the EEPROM.

But I now find that if I use non XYZ filament by refilling my cartridges and use a refilled cartridge whilst on line, the XYZ software or the firmware is likely to contact XYZprinting corp and they can disable my printer. Is that correct?
Or can the FW disable the printer without being online?

Repetier Host would be a great workaround but understand that the installation for the 1.0A board is currently under development. Has anyone successfully upgraded the new 1.0A board (FW 1.0.1) with RH?

Re: Simple Arithmetic (or whether to buy and/or when to dump your DaVinci)

null@example.com (darkhawk) — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 04:02:12 +0000

Oldsirhippy wrote:

Is it possible to refill a cartridge and reflash the EEPROM to its virgin state?
Of is there another gotcha in the XYZ that stops this?

Newer versions of the 1.0 firmware (we won't talk about 1.0A....) and XYZ Software 'phone home' about the cartridge, and what the filament length is. If that filament length suddenly goes up, XYZ will remotely disable the print.

The only real solution in that situation is to use an old version of the software, or block the 'phone home' aspect (via firewall, etc...).

Personally, I'm still on 1.1.1J firmware and not even using XYZ's Software anymore (I'm using Simplify 3D). I have great results with my prints, and I'm very happy about it (even though I spent $140 on the simplify 3d software).

As the OP and carl can probably agree with, for the money, the Da Vinci is worth it. If you're a home hobbyist, as many of us are, we tinker, play, and modify EVERYTHING we get. This isn't new to us.

Again, personally, I'm very happy with my Da Vinci. Down the line I'll probably be upgrading to a new board (although that will be difficult, given the available boards out there right now....). And I'll be doing an e3D upgrade very soon. Either way, it's well worth the money.

As a side note, I purchased my 1.0 back when Newegg had a sale, whereby for $580 I got the Da Vinci 1.0 and 7 cartridges. I was QUITE happy with that purchase. It felt like highway robbery at the time given the Da Vinci was still selling for $500.

Re: Simple Arithmetic (or whether to buy and/or when to dump your DaVinci)

null@example.com (Oldsirhippy) — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 09:40:27 +0000

Is it possible to refill a cartridge and reflash the EEPROM to its virgin state?
Of is there another gotcha in the XYZ that stops this?

Re: Simple Arithmetic (or whether to buy and/or when to dump your DaVinci)

null@example.com (boxcarmib) — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 03:27:03 +0000

i posted simply in response to the numerous claims made about the cost of 3d printing on a DaVinci and to work out just exactly where the price point break was and to share the conclusions I have finally arrived at after pondering what the best way to approach DaVinci ownership... in point of fact, I think its primary objective was to move me off my butt and get me to install Repetier and kiss XYZ goodbye for good.
In fact, I actually own 6 DaVinci's (just couldn't say 'no' to those incredibly great prices on Ebay auctions on what were clearly returned models -- before XYZ obviously put a stop to it).
My apologies if you found my post long and boring... but I would counter that there are a lot of potential buyers who check out this forum when contemplating their first purchase. I know I did.
I don't think I made a mistake in buying a DaVinci at all... I just think I've been overly optimistic about XYZ's support and innovation, and better to move to Repetier sooner than later.

Re: Simple Arithmetic (or whether to buy and/or when to dump your DaVinci)

null@example.com (montressor) — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 02:38:06 +0000

What's the point of the OP? To convince himself that *not* buying a DaVinci was the right thing to do? Or to convince DaVinci owners that they did the wrong thing? Just seems like a lot of effort for not much reason - I can't imagine anything but a tiny minority of prospective Davici buyers would visit this forum before purchasing one.

Re: Simple Arithmetic (or whether to buy and/or when to dump your DaVinci)

null@example.com (rockosmodlife) — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 21:11:53 +0000

boxcarmib wrote:

So what is an DaVinci worth? I don't think its a total piece of garbage, my personal experience of the machine is that it gives prints of comparable quality to other machines that cost much more, but i'll concede that there seems to be a lot of subjective evaluation about how well one machine prints over another.
And that's why I conclude that the smartest thing to do is buy a DaVinci printer then load it up with Repetier and treat the whole purchase as a preassembled homebuilt. You no longer have an XYZ printer, but a capable Repetier open source printer for a lot less than buying a kit or the next most expensive machine of similar capability.
Is the Solidoodle that goes for $1,000 worth $500 more than a DaVinci? There is nothing to suggest it gives superior prints or from the standpoint of hardware has better quality components, and reading the Solidoodle message boards reveals that it has its own problems. I'm not convinced that a $1000 machine is a superior machine just because it costs more. The reason the Solidoodle costs more is simply because Solidoodle is wanting to make a profit on the machine whereas XYZ is playing the longer game of making their profit on higher priced filament.

QFT

Re: Simple Arithmetic (or whether to buy and/or when to dump your DaVinci)

null@example.com (boxcarmib) — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 20:59:25 +0000

So what is an DaVinci worth? I don't think its a total piece of garbage, my personal experience of the machine is that it gives prints of comparable quality to other machines that cost much more, but i'll concede that there seems to be a lot of subjective evaluation about how well one machine prints over another.
And that's why I conclude that the smartest thing to do is buy a DaVinci printer then load it up with Repetier and treat the whole purchase as a preassembled homebuilt. You no longer have an XYZ printer, but a capable Repetier open source printer for a lot less than buying a kit or the next most expensive machine of similar capability.
Is the Solidoodle that goes for $1,000 worth $500 more than a DaVinci? There is nothing to suggest it gives superior prints or from the standpoint of hardware has better quality components, and reading the Solidoodle message boards reveals that it has its own problems. I'm not convinced that a $1000 machine is a superior machine just because it costs more. The reason the Solidoodle costs more is simply because Solidoodle is wanting to make a profit on the machine whereas XYZ is playing the longer game of making their profit on higher priced filament.