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Topic: Poll: Whats the Trick Printing PLA ?

I spent plenty of hrs reading online about printing PLA .
Months printing PLA and ABS.
My DAV 1.0 has been completely modded for printing PLA.

But still not getting those really nice fine prints.

If you were to sum up the methods needed for a really great PLA print, what would those be ?

DaV1.0  10/13
Repetier FW 0.92, Solidify3D

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Re: Poll: Whats the Trick Printing PLA ?

knucklbustr wrote:

I spent plenty of hrs reading online about printing PLA .
Months printing PLA and ABS.
My DAV 1.0 has been completely modded for printing PLA.

But still not getting those really nice fine prints.

If you were to sum up the methods needed for a really great PLA print, what would those be ?

Completely change out the head to an E3D or PICO. That is the only way to do it with no chance of failure. As long as you are using the stock throat and heat break there will always be a chance of PLA failure especially on really long prints where the heat will build up.

Printing since 2009 and still love it!
Anycubic 4MAX best $225 ever invested.
Voxelabs Proxima SLA. 6 inch 2k Mono LCD.
Anycubic Predator, massive Delta machine. 450 x 370 print envelope.

3 (edited by scobo 2015-04-05 07:14:07)

Re: Poll: Whats the Trick Printing PLA ?

The longest print I've managed so far is 2.5 hours using Woodfill which is 70% PLA.
This is with the stock extruder using additional heatsinks around the metal block, thermal compound on all heatsinks including the stock one and repositioning the extruder fan.
I haven't tried a print longer than that yet with PLA.
I can also print Colorfabb Bronzefill pretty well with this mod and Colorfabb XT clear which was proving impossible to print without any proper modding.

Davinci 1.0 with repetier firmware & E3D V6 Lite
Anycubic Photon DLP printer, Einscan-S 3D scanner
Simplify3d, 123D Design, Meshmixer
http://www.thingiverse.com/scobo/designs

4 (edited by knucklbustr 2015-04-06 15:52:58)

Re: Poll: Whats the Trick Printing PLA ?

I guess there isnt many people using a modded DAV for PLA.

Have no probs using PLA w/ modded setup and stock hot end. No jams, etc.
I have a machined PEEK extruder tube replacement, but if there are no jams, no need to use it.
The ABS prints come out decent, but PLA isnt quite up to par.
Im comparing to PLA printed pics on the web.
If I print a .2, 20mm box and a thin wall box PLA is perfect.
Have done a 2 hr print. A 2 foot chain. Bumat Silver. But had pimples all over it.

I know slicing software has also alot to do w/ it.
Couldnt get anything right w/ Slic3r. Repetier Curaengine is much better.
But has limitations. Its speed map is confusing.

DaV1.0  10/13
Repetier FW 0.92, Solidify3D

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Re: Poll: Whats the Trick Printing PLA ?

Take a look over on the Voltivo forum, there's plenty guys modding their Davincis on there.

Davinci 1.0 with repetier firmware & E3D V6 Lite
Anycubic Photon DLP printer, Einscan-S 3D scanner
Simplify3d, 123D Design, Meshmixer
http://www.thingiverse.com/scobo/designs

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Re: Poll: Whats the Trick Printing PLA ?

scobo wrote:

Take a look over on the Voltivo forum, there's plenty guys modding their Davincis on there.

How did the Bronzefill work out. and the Copper ?
I made some Jesus crosses for the kids this Easter, but painted them.

DaV1.0  10/13
Repetier FW 0.92, Solidify3D

7

Re: Poll: Whats the Trick Printing PLA ?

The Bronzefill prints great with this mod but I ran out of Copperfill before I had the chance to try it.
The Copperfill was much more tricky to print with the previous mod I was using but I reckon it would work better with my current setup.

Davinci 1.0 with repetier firmware & E3D V6 Lite
Anycubic Photon DLP printer, Einscan-S 3D scanner
Simplify3d, 123D Design, Meshmixer
http://www.thingiverse.com/scobo/designs