1 Topic by harrype

  • harrype
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Topic: New printer, Looking for advices

Hey!

I'm considering buying a 3d printer and at this moment the solidoodle 4 is what intrests me the most!

But i still want some last minute advice.

What i look for in a printer:

     - Whole equipment for below 1500USD (including possible spareparts)
     - ABS plastic printer
     - low maintainace (I'm an electrical engineer, but still :P)
     - Large printing surface (about 8x8x8)
     - Ships to sweden (so don't want to order spareparts to often from US)
     - preferbly USB or SD connection so i can have the printer in a separte room from my pc
     - Cheap Filement
     - accurate and precise printing

If solidoodle meets these requirements, or lack in one, i would be happy to know, and maybe be suggested another printer

Othervise, If this might be the printer from me, What additional gear or spareparts should i BUY from the site? just want to do one order (below 1500) Since i live in sweden.

Any help is appreciated, and please excuse my weak english

2 Reply by wardjr

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Re: New printer, Looking for advices

harrype wrote:

Hey!

I'm considering buying a 3d printer and at this moment the solidoodle 4 is what intrests me the most!

But i still want some last minute advice.

What i look for in a printer:

     - Whole equipment for below 1500USD (including possible spareparts)
     - ABS plastic printer
     - low maintainace (I'm an electrical engineer, but still tongue)
     - Large printing surface (about 8x8x8)
     - Ships to sweden (so don't want to order spareparts to often from US)
     - preferbly USB or SD connection so i can have the printer in a separte room from my pc
     - Cheap Filement
     - accurate and precise printing

If solidoodle meets these requirements, or lack in one, i would be happy to know, and maybe be suggested another printer

Othervise, If this might be the printer from me, What additional gear or spareparts should i BUY from the site? just want to do one order (below 1500) Since i live in sweden.

Any help is appreciated, and please excuse my weak english

It Sounds to me like The SD4 would do everything your looking for.  I would suggest that you won't want to put it in a separate room as your PC though.  To many things going on that you control from the PC and then adjust on the printer itself.  As an example just adjusting the Z-endstop.  Would be a real pain in the butt to have to run to the next room just to turn a screw a little bit and then back to the PC to hit HOME....
As far as extra things to order get some filament to get started then after that find a  source closer to you.
While your waiting for you printer to arrive you should look into the E3D hot end as a replacement.  Many users on this forum can vouch for the E3D.  http://e3d-online.com
It isn't needed but certainly appreciated... especially when you clog your SD hot end because you forget to turn it off.

Mostly a Solidoodle will do everything in your list right out of the box with some fine tuning.   This community is a great resource if for some reason it does not,  we are here to help you figure it out.

Happy Shopping and Welcome to the forum

Printit Industries Model 8.10 fully enclosed CoreXY, Chamber heat
3-SD3's & a Workbench all fully enclosed, RH-Slic3r Win7pro, E3D V6, Volcano & Cyclops Hot End
SSR/500W AC Heated Glass Bed, Linear bearings on SS rods. Direct Drive Y-axis, BulldogXL
Thanks to all for your contributions

wardjr's Website

3 Reply by agentsmith

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Re: New printer, Looking for advices

I would suggest to buy the SD4 from imakr.com because they are based in London, or other European resellers.
This has several advantages:
- faster shipment (SD4 is in preorder now but when it will be in stock it will be 3-4 days instad of 30 days)
- no custom duties hassle, it's already baked in the final price
- 6 months warranty, while Solidoodle itself offers none - don't know if this has changed with SD4

4 Reply by saymo606 (edited by saymo606 2013-12-19 12:56:47)

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Re: New printer, Looking for advices

SD4 for me...but I'm biased as  I already have the SD2 & SD3 and am thinking about getting an SD4.

if your printing in a separate room from the printer then get a webcam and use Yawcam or something similar to monitor it from that room. However,. the ideal scenario is to to have it in the same room.

undoubtedly you will need a spare hot end or two... when one gets clogged...(not if....when) it is easier/faster to replace one and then fix the clog...

imakr are shipping jan 8th. for £840....seems reasonable... I paid £780 for the SD3 from them..

I see there's a new metal printer on the go for preorder now too at imakr.vc... the newton 3D printer... anyone know anything about these...

welcome to your brand new hobby!! smile ho ho ho !!

5 Reply by harrype

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Re: New printer, Looking for advices

Thanks for the replies guys!

I've decided to go for a SD4 , and atm the things I've added to my overall shopping list is

    - 20x20x20cm glass/mirror bed
    - E3D hotend (i have to ask tho, Bowden or direct feed? diffrences?)
    - Filement
    - Cube's glue

So what more might i need?
And im guessing i should start with writing out a couple of spare parts...

6 Reply by wardjr

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Re: New printer, Looking for advices

harrype wrote:

Thanks for the replies guys!

I've decided to go for a SD4 , and atm the things I've added to my overall shopping list is

    - 20x20x20cm glass/mirror bed
    - E3D hotend (i have to ask tho, Bowden or direct feed? diffrences?)
    - Filement
    - Cube's glue

So what more might i need?
And im guessing i should start with writing out a couple of spare parts...

Since your just starting out you will want direct feed.  However, I think if you get the bowden setup you can use it as a direct feed by just unscrewing the bowden connector on top.  That is what I would do just to keep my options open.
Maybe someone that has done this can chime in here.

Printit Industries Model 8.10 fully enclosed CoreXY, Chamber heat
3-SD3's & a Workbench all fully enclosed, RH-Slic3r Win7pro, E3D V6, Volcano & Cyclops Hot End
SSR/500W AC Heated Glass Bed, Linear bearings on SS rods. Direct Drive Y-axis, BulldogXL
Thanks to all for your contributions

wardjr's Website

7 Reply by harrype

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Re: New printer, Looking for advices

Since your just starting out you will want direct feed.  However, I think if you get the bowden setup you can use it as a direct feed by just unscrewing the bowden connector on top.  That is what I would do just to keep my options open.
Maybe someone that has done this can chime in here.

This sounds really interesting!

I would love some more information about the diffrences between Bowden and direct feed, Aswell if what you say is possible, Hence the fact that I'm an electrical engineer, the difficulty of the installation doesnt really matter, however, The parts are hard to come by in sweden...

8 Reply by wardjr

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Re: New printer, Looking for advices

The difference is a bowden setup has the advantage of removing the mass from the X,Y Carriage.  The downside is you are pushing your filament through a tube.  Therefor you will have to compensate for the play between the tube and the filament via different settings.  When I bought my E3D the bowden wasn't available but it would be nice to have if ever I want to change my setup.

Printit Industries Model 8.10 fully enclosed CoreXY, Chamber heat
3-SD3's & a Workbench all fully enclosed, RH-Slic3r Win7pro, E3D V6, Volcano & Cyclops Hot End
SSR/500W AC Heated Glass Bed, Linear bearings on SS rods. Direct Drive Y-axis, BulldogXL
Thanks to all for your contributions

wardjr's Website

9 Reply by harrype

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Re: New printer, Looking for advices

wardjr wrote:

The difference is a bowden setup has the advantage of removing the mass from the X,Y Carriage.  The downside is you are pushing your filament through a tube.  Therefor you will have to compensate for the play between the tube and the filament via different settings.  When I bought my E3D the bowden wasn't available but it would be nice to have if ever I want to change my setup.

seems fair enough, thanks, But is it possible to use the bowden setup as direct feed? in that case i see no reason to buy direct feed?
Am i correct? (still talking about the E3D)

10 Reply by elmoret

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Re: New printer, Looking for advices

harrype wrote:
wardjr wrote:

The difference is a bowden setup has the advantage of removing the mass from the X,Y Carriage.  The downside is you are pushing your filament through a tube.  Therefor you will have to compensate for the play between the tube and the filament via different settings.  When I bought my E3D the bowden wasn't available but it would be nice to have if ever I want to change my setup.

seems fair enough, thanks, But is it possible to use the bowden setup as direct feed? in that case i see no reason to buy direct feed?
Am i correct? (still talking about the E3D)

You are correct, but the reason for buying direct is that the bowden version costs more.

Filastruder - the robust, inexpensive filament extruder
E3Dv6 All Metal Hotend - the premier 3D printing hotend

11 Reply by wardjr

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Re: New printer, Looking for advices

harrype wrote:
wardjr wrote:

The difference is a bowden setup has the advantage of removing the mass from the X,Y Carriage.  The downside is you are pushing your filament through a tube.  Therefor you will have to compensate for the play between the tube and the filament via different settings.  When I bought my E3D the bowden wasn't available but it would be nice to have if ever I want to change my setup.

seems fair enough, thanks, But is it possible to use the bowden setup as direct feed? in that case i see no reason to buy direct feed?
Am i correct? (still talking about the E3D)

I do believe it is possible... the only difference I see are the threads in the top.  I can't see why that would bother anything at all.  If you are worried about it email them and ask they are very easy to work with.
I am sure the answer to our question is somewhere here on the forum.

Printit Industries Model 8.10 fully enclosed CoreXY, Chamber heat
3-SD3's & a Workbench all fully enclosed, RH-Slic3r Win7pro, E3D V6, Volcano & Cyclops Hot End
SSR/500W AC Heated Glass Bed, Linear bearings on SS rods. Direct Drive Y-axis, BulldogXL
Thanks to all for your contributions

wardjr's Website

12 Reply by wardjr

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Re: New printer, Looking for advices

elmoret wrote:
harrype wrote:
wardjr wrote:

The difference is a bowden setup has the advantage of removing the mass from the X,Y Carriage.  The downside is you are pushing your filament through a tube.  Therefor you will have to compensate for the play between the tube and the filament via different settings.  When I bought my E3D the bowden wasn't available but it would be nice to have if ever I want to change my setup.

seems fair enough, thanks, But is it possible to use the bowden setup as direct feed? in that case i see no reason to buy direct feed?
Am i correct? (still talking about the E3D)

You are correct, but the reason for buying direct is that the bowden version costs more.

Hey Tim do know any users that are running their Bowden E3d Direct?

Just curious if they are having any issues with binding.  I am running a bulldog XL and there is very little space between the drive gear and where it enters the E3D direct.  The Bulldog came with brass inserts the diameter of the filament that screw into the extruder assembly and the threads are the same as the bowden inserts that came with it also.  I was just thinking I could use one of those to close the gap with the bowden E3D.

Printit Industries Model 8.10 fully enclosed CoreXY, Chamber heat
3-SD3's & a Workbench all fully enclosed, RH-Slic3r Win7pro, E3D V6, Volcano & Cyclops Hot End
SSR/500W AC Heated Glass Bed, Linear bearings on SS rods. Direct Drive Y-axis, BulldogXL
Thanks to all for your contributions

wardjr's Website

13 Reply by harrype

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Re: New printer, Looking for advices

Alright. sounds like a bowden E3D hotend then... Shall i go for the 750mm, or 1000mm?

14 Reply by wardjr

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Re: New printer, Looking for advices

I would think 750 would be plenty.  If you ever switch to the Bowden setup you'll cut that to length anyway.

Printit Industries Model 8.10 fully enclosed CoreXY, Chamber heat
3-SD3's & a Workbench all fully enclosed, RH-Slic3r Win7pro, E3D V6, Volcano & Cyclops Hot End
SSR/500W AC Heated Glass Bed, Linear bearings on SS rods. Direct Drive Y-axis, BulldogXL
Thanks to all for your contributions

wardjr's Website

15 Reply by techbuilder2175

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Re: New printer, Looking for advices

I would of went with a flash forge just saying

Powder coated steel enclosure, 1/4" Surface grounded hardened aluminum plate, MK2A Heat bed, .200 Polished fused quartz plate, Machined quick change hot bed mount, E3D hot end, Ramps 1.4, DRV8825 stepper motor drivers