1 Topic by TahoeTim

  • TahoeTim
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  • From: Lake Tahoe
  • Registered: 2013-09-05
  • Posts: 22

Topic: Hello from Lake Tahoe

Since my SD3 shipped I figured I should come out of the shadows before it arrives.

I am an electrical contractor and hold an engineering degree. I have some practical real life projects ready to print.

I am hoping I can muddle throw the set up without too much trouble. I have dabbled with Linux but I could never understand why it is so cryptic (like old DOS).

In a week I will be deep in it!

Hardware: SD3, Octoprint, Raspberry Pi
Software: Cura and ViaCad

2 Reply by ronsii

  • ronsii
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  • Registered: 2012-10-28
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Re: Hello from Lake Tahoe

Welcome TahoeTim smile , Tons to learn on this site!!! Make sure you browse through the http://www.soliforum.com/forum/6/helprepairmaintenance/ section and read as much as you can handle, this will help you avoid most of the pitfalls out there wink and should keep you out of trouble smile

I see you mention linux... most of the mainline distro's have gone nearly 100 percent graphical for the most part, not sure when you last tried one... of course if it doesn't like the hardware you have... well then it can get a little cryptic smile

3 Reply by TahoeTim

  • TahoeTim
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Re: Hello from Lake Tahoe

Thanks. I spend a little time each evening reading. I am wondering if I should add the glass bed right from the get go.

Hardware: SD3, Octoprint, Raspberry Pi
Software: Cura and ViaCad

4 Reply by ronsii

  • ronsii
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Re: Hello from Lake Tahoe

Some people would say definitely yes!!! However all of my abs printers are still using kapton and work good for what I print... but it sometime takes a knack to know just how to clean it and first layer gap and such..... The glass/tile with hairspray/abs slurry makes the process more forgiving but with the added cost of a bit messier and more cleanup among other things. I plan on changing one of mine to ceramic one of these days just to try it out.... but been pretty busy so it may be a while. smile

5 Reply by 2n2r5

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  • Registered: 2013-05-09
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Re: Hello from Lake Tahoe

As you will read on the forums and maybe even find out for yourself. The aluminum bed isn't always 100% flat. That's where it can be nice to have glass or ceramic tile. It actually gives you something that you know you can level.

SD3 w/ mods:
Glass bed with QU-BD heat pad upgrade, threadless ballscrew w/ 8mm smooth rod, spectra line belt replacement, lawsy MK5 extruder, Lawsy replacement carriage, E3D hotend, Ramps 1.4 w/ reprap discount controller, DRV8825 drivers, 12v 30A PS, Acrylic case, Overkill Y-idlers, Filament alarm, Extruder fan + more.

2n2r5's Website

6 Reply by Tony Holmes

  • Tony Holmes
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  • From: NJ USA
  • Registered: 2013-06-23
  • Posts: 50

Re: Hello from Lake Tahoe

+1 on the glass bed.

Greetings Tim,the 2nd thing you should do is calibrate your extruder flow rate.

http://solidoodletips.wordpress.com/201 … libration/

Your two biggest obstacles to good prints are an uneven surface and over-extrusion,correcting these will do wonders for your stress level.

SDs tend to over-extrude,my SD2 was delivering 135mm for every 100mm that was asked for.Correcting that did wonders for layer quality.

7 Reply by TahoeTim

  • TahoeTim
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  • Registered: 2013-09-05
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Re: Hello from Lake Tahoe

Thanks everyone. I am counting down to my delivery day next Monday.

Hardware: SD3, Octoprint, Raspberry Pi
Software: Cura and ViaCad