Solidoodle 3 Arriving Today!

...did you read the customer support center, or either of the wikis?

So, a couple of days in, and some observations.

I still have yet to do a careful calibration. I looked at the YouTube video by the Solidoodle tech of calibrating the Y axis, and noticed that although he said that shade at the back of the machine should remain in the bearings equally on both sides, my shaft is long enough that it protrudes. I'll need to see whether I can get things so that it doesn't move back and forth during printing.

Checking extruded rate confirmed that the printer is over extruding, as seems to be common.

I carefully leveled the bed and tried to calibrate the Z axis, but now things don't stick. I'll try a good cleaning of the Kapton tape with acetone and try again, hopefully I'll work next time.

Still pleased with the printer, although I clearly need to calibrate it, and likely should change to a glass table bed and acrylic enclosure.

I'm hoping to get my acrylic pieces tomorrow to make my enclosure, but I was surprised how much of an improvement there was, even just taping cardboard to the printer.  I was printing earlier today and prints were lifting and nothing really completed successfully.  Toss on some cardboard, and suddenly everything sticks just fine, no lifting of the edges, etc.

Set up a brim for the item in Slic3r.  2-4mm is standard and this should allow you to print without curling. 

Also make sure that the print bed is fully heated so the glass has soaked up the heat.  Usually heat the bed to temp and let it sit  for 10 mins or so to allow the heat to distribute fully.

Elmer's is pretty harmless.  It should just scrape off the glass without problems, but you could remove it with a wet rag if you have to.  Krazyglue on glass is mildly effective, but you'd be better off buying acetone and using some failed prints to make a ABS slurry to paint the glass.  Just take 2-4oz of acetone and melt about 2-4g of abs into it.  I recommend using very small or thin pieces as these will dissolve more rapidly.  The acetone will turn milky, then you can paint it on with a q-tip or natural hair brush.  You could even use a paper towel if that is all you have available.  Just make sure that you have ventilation where you are printing as acetone fumes can get pretty bad if you use too much and dispose of the paper towel outside.  Letting it sit outside for a few minutes will allow the acetone to evaporate as well.

Thanks guys, I gave a wide brim a shot (5mm), and it seemed to work, until the SD stopped communicating with the computer... Another problem to solve.. Heh