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Author Topic: My 3D printing Odyssey, final RPG instalment page 11  (Read 20574 times)

Offline matakishi

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Re: My 3D printing Odyssey
« Reply #30 on: March 17, 2017, 09:11:31 PM »
Well, it's early days but it's been running almost constantly since it arrived and I've got a ton of new models to paint now.

It comes with a really good build plate that PLA sticks to like glue. I found it stuck too well and stuff was actually difficult to remove so I installed a glass bed which, with a spray of 3DLAC sticks everything when it's warm and releases them when it cools (5 mins and a re levelling of the bed to fit it so done in under 15 minutes).

It prints faster than the Wanhao.
It finishes the top of prints properly unlike my Wanhao (I won't tar them all with the same brush, might just be my one that doesn't finish the tops).
It has a bed levelling sensor and much longer adjusting screws so there's more room for adjustment and the initial set up took about 10 minutes. For a newbie this would be a great help, the original adjustment on my Wanhao took a lot longer because I didn't know what tolerances I was actually looking for. It was nerve wracking.
It has a filament sensor so if you run out or have a jam it pauses the print. It will restart where it left off. The Wanhao has nothing like this.
It has a better frame with 8 bolts holding the print head perpendicular to the base. The Wanhao has 2 bolts and is notoriously difficult to keep squared. I settled for nearly square.
It has a better cooling fan that's aimed properly at the print head.
It has a colour touch screen instead of a dial controlled menu.
It doesn't have a separate control box or the awkward bloody cable that accompanies it.
I has a flashing blue LED underneath (I don't know why).
The version of CURA it comes with isn't as good as the one I have from the Wanhao but this is a personal preference, it works fine I just can't find some of the more advanced settings.
It doesn't have it's profile loaded into CURA which was surprising. I assumed it was the Wanhao with extras and that seems to be working fine.

All-in-all it cost £100 more but there are far more than a £100 worth of improvements over the Wanhao.
I plan to keep my Wanhao for a year until the warranty ends then pass it on. It's currently not working again with something disconnected on the motherboard nd it's such a pain to open it up I've left it. I'll sort it this weekend though (if I can).
Technical support for both machines from the vendor is excellent.

Here's some (by no means all) of the new stuff:
edit: not the ratmen, I bought them off eBay.

« Last Edit: March 18, 2017, 09:21:27 AM by matakishi »

Offline Argonor

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Re: My 3D printing Odyssey
« Reply #31 on: March 17, 2017, 09:31:52 PM »
Hmmm... sounds good to me.

It's the one with build volume of 210 x 210 x 205mm, right?

Now, if I could just find a local vendor....
Ask at the LAF, and answer shall thy be given!


Cultist #84

Offline Elk101

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Re: My 3D printing Odyssey
« Reply #32 on: March 17, 2017, 09:47:10 PM »
Nice introductory article. I'm fascinated by 3d printing and remember my old CDT teacher talking about it some 25 years ago like it was magic. I'm assuming if you had a 3d cad programme you could use conversion software to put it into a readable form (probably pre-slicer programme use?). The Makerbot plus units look very handy.

Offline matakishi

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Re: My 3D printing Odyssey
« Reply #33 on: March 17, 2017, 10:19:37 PM »
Hmmm... sounds good to me.

It's the one with build volume of 210 x 210 x 205mm, right?

Now, if I could just find a local vendor....

That's the one.

Offline matakishi

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Re: My 3D printing Odyssey
« Reply #34 on: March 17, 2017, 10:20:40 PM »
Nice introductory article. I'm fascinated by 3d printing and remember my old CDT teacher talking about it some 25 years ago like it was magic. I'm assuming if you had a 3d cad programme you could use conversion software to put it into a readable form (probably pre-slicer programme use?). The Makerbot plus units look very handy.

All the 3D programs I've tried export files in a format my slicer program can read.

Offline Elk101

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Re: My 3D printing Odyssey
« Reply #35 on: March 18, 2017, 09:04:48 AM »
All the 3D programs I've tried export files in a format my slicer program can read.

I was thinking about AutoCAD which may need an additional stage? Those gallows you printed are great. The options are only going to get better as the technology progresses I suppose.

Offline YPU

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Re: My 3D printing Odyssey
« Reply #36 on: March 18, 2017, 09:06:45 AM »
I was thinking about AutoCAD which may need an additional stage? Those gallows you printed are great. The options are only going to get better as the technology progresses I suppose.

most programs should have a "save as" function at which point you can select .stl
3d designer, sculptor and printer, at your service!



3d files! (here)

Offline matakishi

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Re: My 3D printing Odyssey
« Reply #37 on: March 18, 2017, 09:20:17 AM »
most programs should have a "save as" function at which point you can select .stl

Certainly AutoCAD does.

Offline Hammers

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Re: My 3D printing Odyssey
« Reply #38 on: March 22, 2017, 10:38:30 AM »
Very cool. Paul. I could see myself getting one to print architectural details with. I am not 100% impressed by how 'organic' printouts come out.

Offline matakishi

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Re: My 3D printing Odyssey
« Reply #39 on: March 22, 2017, 05:52:58 PM »
Some allow commercial use, some don't. Since I'm not printing to order I'm just selling off unwanted mis-prints I consider it selling 2nd hand goods and not commercial.

I'd like to see some of your files. My efforts at designing anything are paltry (and still shit).

Offline matakishi

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Re: My 3D printing Odyssey
« Reply #40 on: March 25, 2017, 08:54:52 AM »
I've been painting some of my prints.
Here are some giant toads. They're on 50mm bases and cost 13p each to print.


Offline Elk101

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Re: My 3D printing Odyssey
« Reply #41 on: March 25, 2017, 09:07:30 AM »
They turned out rather nice. How long does something like that take to print?

Offline matakishi

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Re: My 3D printing Odyssey
« Reply #42 on: March 25, 2017, 09:25:39 AM »
They turned out rather nice. How long does something like that take to print?

Each one takes just under two hours printing at 60mm/second. My printer will go much faster for things without bridging or fine points such as these but I don't tend to bother changing the speed, it's not my time it's using.



edit: Obviously I put all three on at once and just leave it to it. Just under 6 hours for the three.
« Last Edit: March 25, 2017, 09:31:06 AM by matakishi »

Offline Elk101

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Re: My 3D printing Odyssey
« Reply #43 on: March 25, 2017, 10:18:14 AM »
It's a lot quicker than waiting for something to be posted!

Offline matakishi

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Re: My 3D printing Odyssey
« Reply #44 on: March 25, 2017, 02:06:46 PM »
More of my latest stuff:

Privy and kennel



Gossip stones



Clockwork door and clockwork turrets


 

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