1

Topic: First Solidoodle 3 clone

http://www.geeetech.com/assembled-me-cr … p-876.html

I think this qualifies as a true clone, as the unique staples of the Solidoodles strengths has been obviously replicated:

It is over-priced for a SD3, but if you look closely there are a lot of improvements over the original including real linear bearings, MK2 heated bed, what appears to be a 240 Watt PSU, true Z coupler, and metal extruder.

If they only put a E3D on it would it actually be interesting. Right now its just a joke.

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2 (edited by johnjack 2014-11-07 12:10:09)

Re: First Solidoodle 3 clone

Just judging by the photos, but I see 1) better extruder, 2) better bed heater, 3) better carriages, 4) better stock PSU and all in nice black color.
And since the SD3 is no longer available for sale and in all respects except no enclosure this even seems better than SD4 and $60 cheaper, even if it's a clone why not?
The only thing I don't like is 150x150x150 print volume. Why?

3 (edited by jagowilson 2014-11-07 13:21:45)

Re: First Solidoodle 3 clone

Eh without modification the Solidoodle really is too slow to utilize a 200x200x200 build area In any reasonable amount of time. A build maxing the build area could take more than 12 hours if quality is important. I wouldn't mind a smaller build area with a better stock carriage because less area means higher possible speeds that preserve quality.

4

Re: First Solidoodle 3 clone

Hazer wrote:

http://www.geeetech.com/assembled-me-cr … p-876.html

I think this qualifies as a true clone, as the unique staples of the Solidoodles strengths has been obviously replicated:

It is over-priced for a SD3, but if you look closely there are a lot of improvements over the original including real linear bearings, MK2 heated bed, what appears to be a 240 Watt PSU, true Z coupler, and metal extruder.

If they only put a E3D on it would it actually be interesting. Right now its just a joke.

Wow, this is actually quite astounding to look at. However, I am not actually certain that this is a whole cloth clone. Perhaps I am missing a detail, but this might just be a repainted, upgraded S3. Can we confirm this is a made from scratch clone?

Former Solidoodle employee, no longer associated with the company.

5 (edited by jagowilson 2014-11-07 17:30:29)

Re: First Solidoodle 3 clone

Has all the upgrades that should be standard and it's cheaper. Impressive if nothing else. At least someone gets the importance of linear bearings instead of teflon blocks.

6

Re: First Solidoodle 3 clone

jagowilson wrote:

Has all the upgrades that should be standard and it's cheaper. Impressive if nothing else. At least someone gets the importance of linear bearings instead of teflon blocks.

It's possible that sometime slurped up a few S3s during a sale, and intended to resale these upgraded models at a profit. I'd love to hear from anyone that ends up buying one.

Former Solidoodle employee, no longer associated with the company.

7

Re: First Solidoodle 3 clone

solijohn wrote:
Hazer wrote:

http://www.geeetech.com/assembled-me-cr … p-876.html

I think this qualifies as a true clone, as the unique staples of the Solidoodles strengths has been obviously replicated:

It is over-priced for a SD3, but if you look closely there are a lot of improvements over the original including real linear bearings, MK2 heated bed, what appears to be a 240 Watt PSU, true Z coupler, and metal extruder.

If they only put a E3D on it would it actually be interesting. Right now its just a joke.

Wow, this is actually quite astounding to look at. However, I am not actually certain that this is a whole cloth clone. Perhaps I am missing a detail, but this might just be a repainted, upgraded S3. Can we confirm this is a made from scratch clone?

They put the rivets in a different place than your former employer (back right corner). Its not a OEM SD, why would they sell a painted version for more than what it cost them to buy from Solidoodle and ship to China anyway?

http://makezineblog.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/sip06_buyguide_solidoodle_pi.jpg

http://www.geeetech.com/images/v/Geeetech_1%20me%20creator.jpg

Its a good thing Solidoodle never released STLs, DXFs, bolt sizes, etc. That would have allowed someone to clone their printer. roll

8

Re: First Solidoodle 3 clone

solijohn wrote:
jagowilson wrote:

Has all the upgrades that should be standard and it's cheaper. Impressive if nothing else. At least someone gets the importance of linear bearings instead of teflon blocks.

It's possible that sometime slurped up a few S3s during a sale, and intended to resale these upgraded models at a profit. I'd love to hear from anyone that ends up buying one.


Hahaha.

That's not how geeetech works.

You guys were so unaware of your competition. sad

9 (edited by jagowilson 2014-11-07 17:47:11)

Re: First Solidoodle 3 clone

solijohn wrote:
jagowilson wrote:

Has all the upgrades that should be standard and it's cheaper. Impressive if nothing else. At least someone gets the importance of linear bearings instead of teflon blocks.

It's possible that sometime slurped up a few S3s during a sale, and intended to resale these upgraded models at a profit. I'd love to hear from anyone that ends up buying one.

that's not true and you know it lol, from upgrading my own printer, even if i got it for say $200 i know i wouldn't come ahead at a price point of $540. they did a better job than you at a cheaper price point it seems, you might want to accept that

i could easily build a printer like a solidoodle or the one pictured here for under $400 though, so that's how they're coming ahead. it's the only way.

10

Re: First Solidoodle 3 clone

jagowilson wrote:
solijohn wrote:
jagowilson wrote:

Has all the upgrades that should be standard and it's cheaper. Impressive if nothing else. At least someone gets the importance of linear bearings instead of teflon blocks.

It's possible that sometime slurped up a few S3s during a sale, and intended to resale these upgraded models at a profit. I'd love to hear from anyone that ends up buying one.

that's not true and you know it lol, from upgrading my own printer, even if i got it for say $200 i know i wouldn't come ahead at a price point of $540. they did a better job than you at a cheaper price point it seems, you might want to accept that

But who knows where you'd be at buying parts at scale? Or if you happened to have a stock of such parts laying around at your factory.

At any rate, the clone is uncanny. I've never seen such a direct copy.

Former Solidoodle employee, no longer associated with the company.

11 (edited by jagowilson 2014-11-07 17:49:17)

Re: First Solidoodle 3 clone

the bed platform and the way it attaches to the z rod is really a direct copy, that does stun me. they even used the same wing nuts.

12

Re: First Solidoodle 3 clone

solijohn wrote:

At any rate, the clone is uncanny. I've never seen such a direct copy.


+1

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13

Re: First Solidoodle 3 clone

jagowilson wrote:

i could easily build a printer like a solidoodle or the one pictured here for under $400 though

I purchased a used SD frame and a platform. Altogether, I'm at $300+/- and all I need now is an extruder motor and some collar shafts.
I kinda wished I saw this before throwing in for a "DIY Solidoodle", but I'm still gonna get out about half the cost when it's all said and done.

Printit Mason and Printit Horizon printers
Multiple SD2s- Bulldog XL, E3D v5/v6/Lite6, Volcano, Hobb Goblin, Titan, .9 motor, Lawsy carriages, direct Y drive, fishing line...the list goes on
Filawinder and Filastruder #1870.....worth every penny!

14 (edited by jagowilson 2014-11-07 18:02:44)

Re: First Solidoodle 3 clone

AZERATE wrote:
jagowilson wrote:

i could easily build a printer like a solidoodle or the one pictured here for under $400 though

I purchased a used SD frame and a platform. Altogether, I'm at $300+/- and all I need now is an extruder motor and some collar shafts.
I kinda wished I saw this before throwing in for a "DIY Solidoodle", but I'm still gonna get out about half the cost when it's all said and done.

Yep with the motor and e3d You'll be right around $400 as predicted - a tad over.i was close! smile

15

Re: First Solidoodle 3 clone

Already got a spare E3D v5 and a soon to be working RUMBA, so I'm not really counting those in since I already had them.

Back on topic though, if I'm looking at the picture right, this seems like a terrible design with a wire bundle feeding out and over the belt. Anyone know what type of board this uses? My browser keeps kicking me off the Geeetech site.

Printit Mason and Printit Horizon printers
Multiple SD2s- Bulldog XL, E3D v5/v6/Lite6, Volcano, Hobb Goblin, Titan, .9 motor, Lawsy carriages, direct Y drive, fishing line...the list goes on
Filawinder and Filastruder #1870.....worth every penny!

16 (edited by jagowilson 2014-11-07 18:12:35)

Re: First Solidoodle 3 clone

From the position of the molexes it looks a lot like a printrboard to me.

I also see a Z backlash nut. The wiring is pretty bad though for sure.

17

Re: First Solidoodle 3 clone

AZERATE wrote:
jagowilson wrote:

i could easily build a printer like a solidoodle or the one pictured here for under $400 though

I purchased a used SD frame and a platform. Altogether, I'm at $300+/- and all I need now is an extruder motor and some collar shafts.
I kinda wished I saw this before throwing in for a "DIY Solidoodle", but I'm still gonna get out about half the cost when it's all said and done.

As nice as this thing looks, I wouldn't even think of buying one until I saw someone else actually *receive* their unit. Who knows in what conditions it ships in.

Former Solidoodle employee, no longer associated with the company.

18 (edited by jagowilson 2014-11-07 18:30:39)

Re: First Solidoodle 3 clone

the arrival conditions of my sd4 were pretty poor so the standards aren't crazy high. not trying to bash you without justification but you have shipping issues of your own and i hope you've addressed them with the new models. i can compile a list of issues i encountered if you want, but it's not necessary because i've fixed them all already. i'm just lucky my frame arrived square. i'm only driving this thread off-topic to help you improve by pointing out problems i've noticed. i'm not trying to be mean.

raleigh UPS seems to be particularly awful with packages so your packaging was good enough to make it arrive in one piece, so thanks for that.

19

Re: First Solidoodle 3 clone

jagowilson wrote:

the arrival conditions of my sd4 were pretty poor so the standards aren't crazy high. not trying to bash you without justification but you have shipping issues of your own and i hope you've addressed them with the new models. i can compile a list of issues i encountered if you want, but it's not necessary because i've fixed them all already. i'm just lucky my frame arrived square.

Just to be clear, I don't work for SD anymore. I do very much care about the community, however.
I think there are some inherent issues with shipping a big hunk of electronics shaped like a Solidoodle.

Luckily, I'm a software engineer, so I don't have to contemplate them! When I was working for SD, I remember ordering some g-force stickers to check the sort of forces that were being applied to the machines. We never ended up using them, but I was convinced that the packages were receiving unreasonable shocks. During the time I worked there, the shipping standards moved forward by miles, but shipping such a thing for any company is a fairly tricky endeavor.

Former Solidoodle employee, no longer associated with the company.

20

Re: First Solidoodle 3 clone

The linear bearings are an improvement, but without the pillowblock on the drive rod, I don't see this being any better than the SD2 when it comes to backlash.  Since they used a standard Mk8 extruder, it may be easier to add other extruders since most bolt to the top of the carriage rather than the front.

21

Re: First Solidoodle 3 clone

I don't think John works there anymore, jagowilson.

22 (edited by jagowilson 2014-11-07 18:44:33)

Re: First Solidoodle 3 clone

oh alright, i didn't know that. my mistake. smile

i'm a sotware engineer too so i understand not wanting to deal with hardware issues as well. tongue

and yes it's odd they did not include the pillow block. such a simple thing when they put in the effort for the other parts of the carriage.

23 (edited by jaques 2014-11-07 18:54:46)

Re: First Solidoodle 3 clone

elmoret wrote:

Hahaha.

That's not how geeetech works.

You guys were so unaware of your competition. sad

Never heard of geeetech. How does it work?

Found this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QE7LsoFLMU

EDIT: Here are the specs: http://c.dx.com/collection/201410/3DPri … 83dprinter

24

Re: First Solidoodle 3 clone

jaques wrote:
elmoret wrote:

Hahaha.

That's not how geeetech works.

You guys were so unaware of your competition. sad

Never heard of geeetech. How does it work?

Found this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QE7LsoFLMU

If anyone does get one, the first thing you should do is tether the wiring at the hot end to the carriage.  watch at about 40s into the video...those connections may not last long!

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25

Re: First Solidoodle 3 clone

Interesting machine obviously inspired by the solidoodle. Noting the specs of 150 mm build plate It looks more of the size of the SD 2. I agree a lot done better than the solidoodle and some things like wiring not done as well.  Depending on how well they are adjusted and tuned at the factory and how  well they are packed they could actually be a good value at that price point.
I see significant design improvements/changes . the SD shape and general appearance is there. But IMHO beyond a simple clone.
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