What are you 3D printing today?!?

Create a Post
Mike Labbe said:
Bambu is top of the line right now, but is a closed system. You'll pay a lot more, but it will be low hassle.

Creality Ender 3 V3 gets some high scores too, if on a budget.
Click to expand...
I have a heavily moded Creality Ender 3 V3 and I love it. It is low hassle once setup but does take a decent amount of setup patients.
 
My main concern is that it works out of the box.
If I didn't have the time to try out the second hand one (due to assuming it would need calibrating), then I'm sure I don't have time to do calibration on a new machine.
I also like the idea of it having a case due to an inquisitive small animal.

As for what am I going to use it for...I'm not sure.
I have a few ideas for things around the shop, as well as a few ideas for my wife's business.
I have a few ideas to be creative with it.
I want it to make stuff.
 
Eric A said:
I have a heavily moded Creality Ender 3 V3 and I love it. It is low hassle once setup but does take a decent amount of setup patients.
Click to expand...
We have 11 printers in the house. My most reliable FDM printer, believe it or not, is the original Ender 3 (V1 I guess youd call it). I did modify it with a Micro Swiss direct drive extruder assembly, and added an OctoPrint server to it (so I can print directly from the PC) I use that more than all the others, for one one off projects. I don't think it has EVER clogged. It also has a glass bed.

The 'tribbles' made it up to about 744, but have since stopped. Now what to do with them?!?
 
Mike Labbe said:
We have 11 printers in the house. My most reliable FDM printer, believe it or not, is the original Ender 3 (V1 I guess youd call it). I did modify it with a Micro Swiss direct drive extruder assembly, and added an OctoPrint server to it (so I can print directly from the PC) I use that more than all the others, for one one off projects. I don't think it has EVER clogged. It also has a glass bed.

The 'tribbles' made it up to about 744, but have since stopped. Now what to do with them?!?
Click to expand...
Tribbles?
 
If I were to purchase the following item, what else would be needed/a good idea to have?
store.creality.com

Ender-3 V3 CoreXZ 3D Printer - CoreXZ Design for 600mm/s Speed

Experience Ender-3 V3 stability with a metal build, direct extrusion, tri-metal nozzle, dual fans, and auto calibration. Unlock high-speed printing with...
store.creality.com store.creality.com
 
I'm a hobbyist 3D printer. Here's my experience.

No matter what you get, there is almost always going to be a process of calibrating / fine tuning at the outset for optimum print quality.

My Reality Ender 3 V2 was easy to set up and start using quite quickly.
It didn't take long to improve print quality over the"out of the box" test print.
It's been running reliably for a few years with only minor adjustments needed occasionally.

I bought a Sunlu S9 last year. While it was Assisi easy to put together, I've been disappointed with it failing to provide consistently reliable results.
It's been so frustrating I have given up on it for months.

Not saying the Sunlu is not a quality printer. Just that the setup has not been as easy as the Ender.
 
Nikodeumus said:
I'm a hobbyist 3D printer. Here's my experience.

No matter what you get, there is almost always going to be a process of calibrating / fine tuning at the outset for optimum print quality.

My Reality Ender 3 V2 was easy to set up and start using quite quickly.
It didn't take long to improve print quality over the"out of the box" test print.
It's been running reliably for a few years with only minor adjustments needed occasionally.

I bought a Sunlu S9 last year. While it was Assisi easy to put together, I've been disappointed with it failing to provide consistently reliable results.
It's been so frustrating I have given up on it for months.

Not saying the Sunlu is not a quality printer. Just that the setup has not been as easy as the Ender.
Click to expand...
I've had some issues with mine, too. Currently down.

My two Sunlu T3 have been reliable. Both models discontinued
 
alacrity8 said:
If I were to purchase the following item, what else would be needed/a good idea to have?
store.creality.com

Ender-3 V3 CoreXZ 3D Printer - CoreXZ Design for 600mm/s Speed

Experience Ender-3 V3 stability with a metal build, direct extrusion, tri-metal nozzle, dual fans, and auto calibration. Unlock high-speed printing with...
store.creality.com store.creality.com
Click to expand...
My new Ender 3 just arrived.
I won't have time to play with it until at least this weekend, as I have an RPG commitment, that I need to learn a mapping program in order to get my head around what I need to do.
Are there tools, such as side cutter, after market build plate, glue sticks, or anything else that I should purchase before (or after) I set up the printer?
 
It looks like a nice printer! Auto tensioning belts, auto calibration, direct drive extruder, remote printing, online firmware updates, crazy speed up to 600 (instead of 50), etc. i wouldn't count on quality printing at THAT speed, though. But I'm sure it can do more than 50. I run all my high speed printers at 50, usually, or maybe even 60, because of the quality factor.

Here is the manual https://wiki.creality.com/en/ender-series/ender-3-v3?spm=..product_1584a8ff-5f99-44e4-8a4b-95932c7ffd36.product_club_1.1&spm_prev=..index.album_1.1 Ender-3 V3

Here is a setup video. looks simple!
To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.


I'm not clear if it is a metal surface or a plastic one. If plastic, I suggest a flexible metal one.

Let us know how it does!
 
My Ender 3V2 came with a glass build plate.
I had trouble fine tuning the first layer to stick so have been using a basic office glue stick to help with that.
Not ideal. But works when you need it to work.
The glue washes off all the filament types I have used.
A bit of a pain to do when batch printing a lot of items, but not as aggravating as having failed prints.

The Sunlu came with a flexible plate. I also had trouble with first layer adhesion.
I didn't want to put glue on the flexible plate as I wasn't sure if it would wash off as easily as it does off the Ender glass plate.

I liked the idea of a flexible plate, so bought one for the Ender.
But, given my disappointment with the Sunlu flexible plate, I have not tried it on the Ender.

Both came with tiny snippers to cut away supports, rafts and little "fuzzies", they work well enough.
I also picked up a set of super fine files for removing "fuzzies" in hard to reach areas.

Of course, if you dial in your settings perfectly, you should have practically no "fuzzies" at all.

Eventually I upgraded some of the Ender components and mechanisms. All simple and not too expensive.
 
I have glass on my favorite printer (original Ender), and it has flawless adhesion. I mist it with a spritz of hair spray, and that works as an adhesion and release agent. I wash it probably every 8 months, scrape it in the sink with hot water and run it through the dishwasher.

The other prints all have flexible plates. Some are flat, some are textured. The textured ones have great adhesion, the flat ones are difficult. In general, the flexible are easy to work with because you can flex it to release a finished print that hasnt cooled down yet.

Z adjustment and making sure that first layer is "Squished" to the surface is the most important thing for success, beyond making sure it is level.

Mike

PS: Bambu makes a great reliable (yet overpriced) product, and yea a lot of people are upset because it isnt open source. Stratasys is suing them for patent violation, and there is a class action going to prompt a recall. The creators of Benchy don't want people re mixing their design and redistributing it, as a license violation, and many sites have pulled all the re mixes.
 
In the process of setting up the Ender 3v3 that I purchased in December.
It came with a bag with a coil of filament. I am uncertain what type.
The only label that may indicate the type is 600mm/s Hyper.
I do not know what that means.
Any idea?

I also have a few spools of Sunlu PETG. I guess I'll start with that.
 
Probably just PLA, which is easiest to use. I usually throw those out, not the best quality. But may work just fine!
 
I 3D printed this train over the past few weeks.

1000009043.webp


Printers 12 and 13 are out for delivery today. :)

One printer is a Sunlu evaluation printer for testing.

The other is a brand new Elegoo Centauri Carbon high speed printer. It is a clone of a Bamboo Labs P1S printer, with a great savings and some improvements. Our first CoreXY type printer.

us.elegoo.com

Elegoo Centauri Carbon | Best High-Speed CoreXY 3D Printer

Enjoy CoreXY high speed and advanced materials with Elegoo Centauri Carbon. Get ultra-detailed prints with easy Plug-N-Play, built for both beginners & pros.
us.elegoo.com us.elegoo.com
 
The new printer is blazingly fast.. it prints up to 500 mm per second instead of 50. Fully self calibrating all I had to do was snap on the filament holder and the screen and it was good to go.

 
It is huge. A set piece I was commissioned to make for a d&d game setup. They all open and have cabins, seats, controls, etc. Each car is unique
 
Some things on the new printer in the past 10 or so days:

Had an order for 50 candle wick holders, which I designed in Tinkercad. (in carbon fiber and PetG)
1756941031966.webp


Printed a "poop chute" (it is magnetic and catches the leftovers that get pooped out the back of the printer, between jobs. It extrudes some between every job, before self cleaning the nozzle), a spool holder protector so it wont scratch the side of the machine, a stand for extra plates, a tool box caddy, accent color keyed ring to go around controls, and a top riser that moves the glass higher and has its own LED lighting/moving vents, etc. Can open it for some materials, close it for others.

1756941281566.webp


1756941331160.webp


and a bunch of these custom mold systems that are used to make silicone molds from master items, which can then be used in the pressure pot to make the items out of RESIN. Andy has been making dice lately. I bought the design, which comes in 5 styles. These are printed in PLA-Carbon Fiber, PetG, and PetG-Carbon Fiber. Super strong.

1756941493913.webp


Some of Andy's Dice, so far:
1756941574815.webp


27 rolls of filament came in this past week, 3 that came with the printer, and I have 5 more rolls of the PLA-CF and one of the PETG-CF en route. Running out of spare here, and the new printer is currently in the dining room.
 
Love that printer so much, ordered her a sister today. It will hopefully be in by Saturday. This will be #14.

I need to sell some of the older ones, to make room! hehe
 
A ghost town is on the kitchen table, waiting to be painted.

1761692112085.webp
 
Mike Labbe said:
Some things on the new printer in the past 10 or so days:

Had an order for 50 candle wick holders, which I designed in Tinkercad. (in carbon fiber and PetG)
View attachment 53055

Printed a "poop chute" (it is magnetic and catches the leftovers that get pooped out the back of the printer, between jobs. It extrudes some between every job, before self cleaning the nozzle), a spool holder protector so it wont scratch the side of the machine, a stand for extra plates, a tool box caddy, accent color keyed ring to go around controls, and a top riser that moves the glass higher and has its own LED lighting/moving vents, etc. Can open it for some materials, close it for others.

View attachment 53056

View attachment 53062

and a bunch of these custom mold systems that are used to make silicone molds from master items, which can then be used in the pressure pot to make the items out of RESIN. Andy has been making dice lately. I bought the design, which comes in 5 styles. These are printed in PLA-Carbon Fiber, PetG, and PetG-Carbon Fiber. Super strong.

View attachment 53063

Some of Andy's Dice, so far:
View attachment 53064

27 rolls of filament came in this past week, 3 that came with the printer, and I have 5 more rolls of the PLA-CF and one of the PETG-CF en route. Running out of spare here, and the new printer is currently in the dining room.
Click to expand...
What model is this?
 
This is a model of a wheel to emboss our name and "Made in USA" on the back of our flooring. It will be made in case hardened 4140 steel once fully developed. We are working on putting a bevel on the edges of the letters to make them come to more of a point, but our cheap, i.e. free, program is struggling with that...

1761839195952.webp
 
Eric A said:
What model is this?
Click to expand...
It's the new Elegoo Centauri Carbon. I have a pair of them. Very pleased. Prints like $1100 BAMBU for only $279
1000010147.webp
 
David Waldmann said:
This is a model of a wheel to emboss our name and "Made in USA" on the back of our flooring. It will be made in case hardened 4140 steel once fully developed. We are working on putting a bevel on the edges of the letters to make them come to more of a point, but our cheap, i.e. free, program is struggling with that...

View attachment 53785
Click to expand...
Awesome use of 3d printing
 
This is amazing. Makes me want to get a 3D printer and start playing around. I really don't need one, but it could surely be useful for lots of things and it looks like great fun.

Mike, are these files readily available to print, or your own design?
Mike Labbe said:
A ghost town is on the kitchen table, waiting to be painted.

View attachment 53771
Click to expand...
 
Jim Miller said:
This is amazing. Makes me want to get a 3D printer and start playing around. I really don't need one, but it could surely be useful for lots of things and it looks like great fun.

Mike, are these files readily available to print, or your own design?
Click to expand...
You should do it!

Everything I posted recently are other peoples design. Some paid for, most are free.

You can see examples of free ones at:

Printables.com
Thingiverse.com
nexprint.com

and others like
yeggi.com
cults3d.com
myminifactory.com
instructables.com
stlfinder.com
etc

The list is much longer.

You can also modify any of the downloads yourself, or create new ones, with easy to use CAD/Drawing programs. It's not much different than using CMC software.
 
I got one the end of last year.
Waited a few months to print a Benchie, then ran out of time again.
I know I'm supposed to be able to calibrate it based on the results of the Benchie, but I haven't looked into what I should be looking into.
Hopefully I'll find some time post X-mas.
 
alacrity8 said:
I got one the end of last year.
Waited a few months to print a Benchie, then ran out of time again.
I know I'm supposed to be able to calibrate it based on the results of the Benchie, but I haven't looked into what I should be looking into.
Hopefully I'll find some time post X-mas.
Click to expand...
It will probably print just fine it's very unusual to need to recalibrate the printer other than the automated tools built into it for you.

These print right out of the box you just have to take all of the packing foam out.

This particular printer connects to your network wirelessly with Wi-Fi and prints directly from the PC without having to use an SD card or flash drive. The printer includes LED internal lighting as well as Auto leveling, auto calibration, and built in camera. It can do time lapse photography.
 
David Waldmann said:
This is a model of a wheel to emboss our name and "Made in USA" on the back of our flooring. It will be made in case hardened 4140 steel once fully developed. We are working on putting a bevel on the edges of the letters to make them come to more of a point, but our cheap, i.e. free, program is struggling with that...
Click to expand...
David, I have a commercial license for Fusion360. Can I assist?
 
JFeig said:
David, I have a commercial license for Fusion360. Can I assist?
Click to expand...
Hi Jerry, possibly! I will get my son (the guy in charge of this project) involved. Is j...y@minoxy.com still a good email address?
 
yes, Still a good address for about 4-6 months. I don't thing I will be renewing this email's URL. After I let the Fusion 360 professional license expire I can apply for a hobbyist license.

BTY, if you are heating the circular embosser to "burn in" the info, a draft angle might not be necessary as the heat will shrink the wood.
 
JFeig said:
yes, Still a good address for about 4-6 months. I don't thing I will be renewing this email's URL. After I let the Fusion 360 professional license expire I can apply for a hobbyist license.

BTY, if you are heating the circular embosser to "burn in" the info, a draft angle might not be necessary as the heat will shrink the wood.
Click to expand...
Thanks, will let you know if we end up needing additional help.

No heat.
 
Create a Post
Back
Top