Hi Folks,
I've been lurking here for a while and thought I'd join the discussion.
A little bit of my3D printing history.
My first attempt at purchasing a 3d printer was a failed kickstarter. It turns out that was probably a good outcome for me as I researched a bit and bought a Prusa i3 clone from a company called TronXY for $156. I think it was a good starter printer as it taught me a lot about 3D printers without costing a lot. I printed a few things for use around the house like laundry cup holders, shelves and that kind of stuff and fought the layer adhesion, warping and bed adhesion monsters while doing that.
At first, I would calibrate the printer and the cal would hold for quite a while. I was able to print all the parts for a string maker with it. Then I would notice different printings of the same part would be different sizes and have different surface finishes even though I was using the same filament and the same settings. Turns out a frame of threaded rod and acrylic are not the most reliable frames. I ended up having to tighten all the screws and bolts after almost every print to get good results. I decided to fix that by replacing the old acrylic and threaded rod frame with an extruded 2020 based frame. That new frame cost about $100 for extrusions and hardware and only about 1/2 of a 1kg spool of PETG. The only thing I need to do now between prints is hit the heated bed with glue stick and calibrate the Z axis when I hit it while removing a part. (I think I'll stop turning off all the motors when the print is done to keep the Z axis from moving so easily.) Repeatability and surface finish have greatly improved with the new frame but it has pointed to other things that need updating. Like replacing the ball bearings the timing belts run over with actual toothed pulleys.
Eventually I'll update the hot end with a E3D V6 all-metal, the heat bed with a 24V heater, and now I have to update the controller board since it's thermal runaway protection is non-existent. But it's getting better and I'm learning alot.
Speaking of updating my controller board, I was thinking of the Duet Wifi. Does anybody here have any opinions?
I've been lurking here for a while and thought I'd join the discussion.
A little bit of my3D printing history.
My first attempt at purchasing a 3d printer was a failed kickstarter. It turns out that was probably a good outcome for me as I researched a bit and bought a Prusa i3 clone from a company called TronXY for $156. I think it was a good starter printer as it taught me a lot about 3D printers without costing a lot. I printed a few things for use around the house like laundry cup holders, shelves and that kind of stuff and fought the layer adhesion, warping and bed adhesion monsters while doing that.
At first, I would calibrate the printer and the cal would hold for quite a while. I was able to print all the parts for a string maker with it. Then I would notice different printings of the same part would be different sizes and have different surface finishes even though I was using the same filament and the same settings. Turns out a frame of threaded rod and acrylic are not the most reliable frames. I ended up having to tighten all the screws and bolts after almost every print to get good results. I decided to fix that by replacing the old acrylic and threaded rod frame with an extruded 2020 based frame. That new frame cost about $100 for extrusions and hardware and only about 1/2 of a 1kg spool of PETG. The only thing I need to do now between prints is hit the heated bed with glue stick and calibrate the Z axis when I hit it while removing a part. (I think I'll stop turning off all the motors when the print is done to keep the Z axis from moving so easily.) Repeatability and surface finish have greatly improved with the new frame but it has pointed to other things that need updating. Like replacing the ball bearings the timing belts run over with actual toothed pulleys.
Eventually I'll update the hot end with a E3D V6 all-metal, the heat bed with a 24V heater, and now I have to update the controller board since it's thermal runaway protection is non-existent. But it's getting better and I'm learning alot.
Speaking of updating my controller board, I was thinking of the Duet Wifi. Does anybody here have any opinions?
