3D Printing Best 3d printer for rocketry?

[diyaerospace]

Hi,
I have been working on model rockets for almost a year and have incorporated 3d printing into my designs. However, my previous Creality ender 3 was disappointing. The print quality was relatively low and prints failed roughly 15 percent of the time. I did some research on a new 3d printer and was wondering if anyone here could recommend a 3d printer that worked for rocketry applications. I am looking to spend up to 600 dollars and am most interested in reliability and accuracy. As for how accurate, I would like something that can print things like thrust vector control mounts and screw holes. If anyone has any suggestions I would love them!
Thanks for your time.

 

[rharshberger]

Great another "glue" thread. Lots of opinions on which 3d printer is "best." I use a Creality CR10V2, and other than a few small issues with it have very serviceable results, is it the best, for me its good enough. Your Ender should do most things just fine, how long have you been using it and what maintenance have you done on it?

 

[dvdsnyd]

This is a tough question to answer, as RIch has eluded to.
The Ender 3 is a pretty proven design, with a lot of upgrades and mods. Many reliability issues can be tied to regular maintenance, or upgrading the hot end.
I keep a bunch of nozzles on hand, as that is the most common issue. I don't try to cold pull or unclog them. They can be had for cheap on Amazon. Just replace and toss. The next most important thing is bed adhesion and first layer, probably the single largest reason why prints fail. Other maintenance includes keeping the belts and other fasteners around the kinematics tight. Greasing linear bearings and slides as necessary.

New printer options -
It really depends on your use case.
Reliability - I would look at something with a direct drive extruder, vs a bowden set up.
Accuracy - I would look at printers that do not move the bed like the typical i3 style. Look at Core XY kinematics
I wouldn't get a machine that has a bed size less than 300x300 at this point in my life.

Dave

 

[rocketgeek101]

I was going to recommend the Ender 3 before I finished reading your post. I have one that I use for rocketry and it's great. You should be able to achieve very good print quality with a stock Ender 3. Have you checked that everything is properly calibrated? For pretty much any printer a bit of periodic tuning and/or maintenance is required to maintain the best results.

 

[Starz]

Hi,
I have been working on model rockets for almost a year and have incorporated 3d printing into my designs. However, my previous Creality ender 3 was disappointing. The print quality was relatively low and prints failed roughly 15 percent of the time. I did some research on a new 3d printer and was wondering if anyone here could recommend a 3d printer that worked for rocketry applications. I am looking to spend up to 600 dollars and am most interested in reliability and accuracy. As for how accurate, I would like something that can print things like thrust vector control mounts and screw holes. If anyone has any suggestions I would love them!
Thanks for your time.

Top of the line would be a Prusa i3 MK3S+, and i think its well worth the cost for its reliability and precision.

 

[David Schwantz]

I have 2 Ender 5 pros, each cost me about 300 bucks. Wait for a sale on amazon and then open an American Express with them and you will get another 70 bucks off. I have printed a 52nd scale Saturn V, Bomb rocket, Dirty Harry NC, many LPR , HPR HoJo.

 

[Hobie1dog]

Does yours give better quality than this?

 

[David Schwantz]

Yup

 

[diyaerospace]

Does yours give better quality than this?

The quality I get from the ender 3 is similar, I noticed some significant overlap in the middle of your print, I get spots like that from my printer as well. The main problem has been the reliability of the prints and printer, I have already had to take apart the printer and replace the motherboard to figure out a heating issue that still hasn't been solved!

 

[David Schwantz]

More stuff.

 

[diyaerospace]

More stuff.

The quality I get is a little worse than what is above.

 

[David Schwantz]

I am sorry, I am far from a pro at it. But if you post some pics, we might be able to help.

 

[cwbullet]

For me, there are only two worth the cash - Prusa and Anycubic. I own 2 Crealities, 3 Anycubics, One BIQU, and 8 Prusas. Prusas are a workhorses that just keeps printing. The support is only surpassed by their performance.

 

[Kelly]

This probably won't help the OP, but maybe others thinking about maybe buying their first 3D printer for rocketry: The Ender 3 is my first and only printer, and I love it. I print jigs and tools, nosecones (up to 3" diameter, so far), AVbays, centering rings, bulkheads, etc. I'm sure it's not "the best" printer for rocketry, but in my experience was a great intro into 3D printing, at a $180 price. Haven't had any problems with print quality.

 

[Greg Furtman]

I've got an Ender 3 V2 and have been very pleased. I did upgrade the extruder head. But if I bought one today I'd seriously look at the Creality Ender 3 S1 Pro. Lot's of improvements and a taller build height.

https://www.creality.com/goods-detail/creality-ender-3-s1-pro-fdm-3d-printer

 

[David Schwantz]

Hey Greg, how tall build height?? Dave.

PS, you going to be able to make it over to launch this year?

 

[Greg Furtman]

Hey Greg, how tall build height?? Dave.

PS, you going to be able to make it over to launch this year?

Hi Dave. 220mm x 220mm x 270mm. Take a look at it from the link I posted. It has built in bed leveling dual gear direct extruder, no Bowden tube, and some more goodies that the rest of the Ender 3 series never had.

Launching HPR is getting too spendy for me these days but I'd love to come over & watch some launches. Will you be flying your V2 again this year?

 

[David Schwantz]

Hope to, but I know your pain. the loads went up $130 for her. I have built a new rocket this winter with a new goal. Keep it light and simple so she will use 54 mm reloads. Used LOC tubing for MMT, that saved a ton over glass. 3D printed NC so that weighs a bit, and will need the weight up front anyway. Left off the fins so that will not add up the weight on the wrong end. I did cover it in aluminum though. She just had to look like a rocket

 

[diyaerospace]

Thanks for the input!
After looking through printers I think I'm going to get a Prusa mk3s(The kit version).
How has everyone's experience been with them?
Also, I noticed that the lead time is 4 to 5 weeks. Does anyone know another place that sells genuine Prusas?
Thanks!

 

[cwbullet]

Thanks for the input!
After looking through printers I think I'm going to get a Prusa mk3s(The kit version).
How has everyone's experience been with them?
Also, I noticed that the lead time is 4 to 5 weeks. Does anyone know another place that sells genuine Prusas?
Thanks!

Other places to buy one? eBay, but I would buy it from Prusa. 5 weeks wait is worth the quality and support you will receive.

I have over three years of experience and have 4 of them. They are workhorses that just keep printing. I also own 4 Minis. I order their new XL and am waiting for it to ship. All three printers are easy to dial in once you get them and auto-level.

I also own 3 other company's printers: Creality, Anycubic, and BIQU. The biggest difference is the support programs. The Prusa printers have a forum and online chat for support 24 hours a day. I have never had a problem they could not solve. The only thing I do on any of my printers is regular maintenance. You need to make sure the wires are intact and no screws have loosened about every 1-2 months. That with a little lubrication and dusting is all they really need.

I am one of a small group that has received a lemon from Creality. My Ender-3 took regular maintenance for over a year just to get it working regularly. Now it is more of a Prusa than it is an Ender with all of the upgrades I have placed on it.

Good luck with your purchase. If you buy, I can help via PM if you need assistance.

 

[Starz]

Thanks for the input!
After looking through printers I think I'm going to get a Prusa mk3s(The kit version).
How has everyone's experience been with them?
Also, I noticed that the lead time is 4 to 5 weeks. Does anyone know another place that sells genuine Prusas?
Thanks!

Great choice! The quality of the printers is outstanding, and if you have any problems with it, they have great support. I would also just wait it out and buy directly from prusa.

 

[Huxter]

Great Choice + 1 - the kit was not to bad to build. I took my time and it took me 5 days in total. Many people put it together much faster. you're going to use a 2.5 mm allen wrench for 90%+ of the build. An allen wrench w good handles are great - I got the metric set of these:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/reviews...le-SAE-MM-Hex-Key-Set-HTHKSM14PCN/204153272/5

 

[thzero]

Great Choice + 1 - the kit was not to bad to build. I took my time and it took me 5 days in total.

Thats about what I did it in roughly... it was not necessarily a fun experience (some of the prusa is "over-engineered"). But you will need to do a lot of dialing in, especially if you got with a non-PLA material.

 

[thzero]

The biggest difference is the support programs. The Prusa printers have a forum and online chat for support 24 hours a day. I have never had a problem they could not solve.

I'd agree with that... even if I have loaned out my Prusa (in favor of my Creality?!) to a buddy who wanted to start in 3d printing.

 

[tjkopena]

There's a good chance they'll ship in less than the lead time. I bought an MK3S+ over the winter and it shipped in half the time Prusa was saying.

 

[Bravo52]

... But you will need to do a lot of dialing in, especially if you got with a non-PLA material.

IDK. I built my Prusa and haven't touched it for "dialing in" beyond what is in the set up instructions. I've tweaked Slicer inputs until the cows came home but one of the things I love about my Prusa is it prints great right out of the box (or off the work bench) with "standard" settings. If you think about it, there shouldn't be any (much) adjusting that has to occur once it's built. All the interface comes through the Slicer software. I can't say the same about my Flash Forge. All that said, I think I might buy an Ender 3 S1 and a "next" printer.

However, I still think the Prusas are the gold standard and should be everyone's "first printer". Even though they are a bit pricy, it will keep you from getting frustrated as a new maker.

 

[thzero]

IDK. I built my Prusa and haven't touched it for "dialing in" beyond what is in the set up instructions. I've tweaked Slicer inputs until the cows came home but one of the things I love about my Prusa is it prints great right out of the box (or off the work bench) with "standard" settings. If you think about it, there shouldn't be any (much) adjusting that has to occur once it's built. All the interface comes through the Slicer software. I can't say the same about my Flash Forge. All that said, I think I might buy an Ender 3 S1 and a "next" printer.

However, I still think the Prusas are the gold standard and should be everyone's "first printer". Even though they are a bit pricy, it will keep you from getting frustrated as a new maker.

Must have built it better than I did . Although I heard it was doing fine with my buddy who is solely doing PLA, so who knows.

But yeah if it wasn't for price I'd certainly say it should be a first, especially given the support!

 

[Huxter]

I also read the online assembly instructions twice before my MK3S+ arrived! The user comments were a big help

https://help.prusa3d.com/en/category/original-prusa-i3-mk3s-kit-assembly_1128

 

[Pepe Le Pew]

I've been using an Artillery Sidewinder with great success.

 

[karaRobert]

I bought this Ultimaker S3 3D Printer from amazon. So far I'm very satisfied with it. For 4k$ it is a very good printer.