OT - Anyone Here Been Doing 3D?

J

Joe Loyd

Contributing Member
Member
Wondering if anyone on here is doing any printing? Recently built an E3 and am enjoying doing all the mods (Petsfang, TH3D, and BLTouch done, Octoprint in the works!). Wouldn't mind some experienced advice on bed leveling, profiles, slicing, and such.....
 
Such a dangerous question on the CACC site! You can’t put a 3 and a D together on this site without it heading South in a hurry!:cool:
 
"Wouldn't mind some experienced advice on bed leveling, profiles, slicing, and such..... "

My advice on bed leveling....use wood shims, slicing...use a knife.

And I can change your profile photo if you like.Schrapnel_s_butt3.jpg
 
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Sorry Joe, I don't get to check the site that often. I have been doing a bit of 3D printing. Not a lot but some tinkering. I've made dash bezels to hold led idiot lights for the dash change in the Fairmont. Putting those in once I finish fixing some other things. Have also made a number of other handy things around the house. Haven't started down the octoprint path yet but the concept sounds cool.
 
Thanks Doug, it was beginning to feel very lonely around here! What printer and filaments are you using? I've actually got the Octoprint working but still working on making it secure as I don't need some Russian hacker burning my house down..:knuppel2:
 
Joe Loyd said:
Thanks Doug, it was beginning to feel very lonely around here! What printer and filaments are you using? I've actually got the Octoprint working but still working on making it secure as I don't need some Russian hacker burning my house down..:knuppel2:
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I just have the little Monoprice MP Select Mini. I have been running Hatchbox PLA through it. I have been surprised for how well and reliable it has been considering how cheap the printer is. I just gave it to my son to take to college with him. So that's a good reason for me to by a shiny new Prusa. So I might be getting something new and cool soon. I have also used the Flashforge Creator Pro that my brother got for my father. I liked it even better than my little Monoprice printer. I found it to be more consistent and the larger print volume was really nice.
 
Amazing has far this tech has come and how fast the prices have dropped. The Ender 3 cost me $200 and a little assembly time, plus another $40 for auto-bed leveling. It doesn't have an enclosure yet (I see a quick visit to IKEA in my future!) so I've stuck with PLA+ and PETG will excellent results, but avoided ABS for now...
 
Petsfang, TH3D, BLTouch, Hatchbox PLA, Prusa, Ender 3, PLA+, PETG,

WTF?

IMO IHNFIWYATA.
 
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Interesting thread. How are you-all finding the tensile & shear strength of the parts you produce? Reason I ask is the parts I've bought for my underwater housing (external macro lens holder, pushbutton holder) have all failed when subjected to what I thought were relatively light loads. This was maybe 3 years ago so maybe things are stronger now?
 
I don't have a way to give you a scientific answer except to say that I've found them to be pretty good. I've made things to hang heavy extension cords, etc without having to use a lot of reinforcement. Were the parts you bought 3D printed? I also printed a C clamp that I downloaded from Thingiverse. I was surprised at how sturdy it came out to be.
 
Doug,

Yes the parts that failed were 3D printed. I bought items from two different vendors - they each failed due to lack of strength.

If the parts had been machined aluminum they wouldn't have failed; I bought a replacement item from another vendor who did an aluminum version of the original part and I'm still using it.

This was maybe three years ago so maybe things have improved since then with the strength of 3D printed parts. I certainly hope so!

Tom
 
Doug Smith said:
Makes this thread even better! :moon:

The Ender 3 looks like a great value. The build volume is a big deal. What's the most useful thing you've made so far with it?
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Useful is kinda relative...I got it originally to make an electronics case for one of my projects...but the Queen quickly adopted my first test print , the !....infamous Creality Dog, and a few roses for Valentines day..... Anything that makes the boss smile I find very useful!...O0
 
Tom, while plastic's still no replacement for metal, it largely depends on what filament your parts were made from (and of course the printer itself). A few years ago probably the only readily available filament was PLA. The filaments have improved probably more than the printers themselves and there's a whole range to choose from, for example PLA, PLA+, ABS, PET, PETG, TPU, TPE, TPC, Nylon, PEET....plus the exotics, woodfills, Metals, carbon fiber, etc....
 
Joe,

Sounds like good progress.

Would there be a printer and material combo that could approach the strength of aluminum parts?

And would it be an economical alternative to machining?

Tom
 
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