3D Printer

[Sharkbait]

Can you take a CAD file and input it into the printer? If not what files or file type does it require?

[GiulianoM]

The usual file type is a STL file, basically a 3D mesh of triangles representing the shape of an object.

A straight 2D DXF won't work...

[Sharkbait]

Originally Posted by GiulianoM

The usual file type is a STL file, basically a 3D mesh of triangles representing the shape of an object.

A straight 2D DXF won't work...

Well inventor has a nifty feature where I can export my typical CAD file to a STL file.

[ichthyoid]

I used this program years ago while in R&D. It was the only thing around that would convert raster to vector formats. I could then scan objects and import them into a CAD program.

I haven't looked over the features to see if .STL files are supported or not. In any case, you might find other uses.

Fwiw-
It used to be my 'Swiss army knife' program, and often enabled me to leave our engineers shaking their heads.

At the time they used $100k Intergraph workstations. Using this, Visio and a copy of AutoCAD I could run circles around them on a high end pc. I found great irony in it all.

http://www.imsidesign.com/Products/C...3/Default.aspx

[GiulianoM]

I ordered an upgrade kit to make this printer capable of printing in 3 colors or materials...

Should be pretty cool, but the parts probably won't be here for a month.

[SuperClown]

Originally Posted by GiulianoM

I ordered an upgrade kit to make this printer capable of printing in 3 colors or materials...

Should be pretty cool, but the parts probably won't be here for a month.

I saw those the multi extruder kits look pretty cool


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[GiulianoM]

The software they're working on is pretty neat also, you'll be able to print different parts of the model at different layer heights..

[SuperClown]

Originally Posted by GiulianoM

The software they're working on is pretty neat also, you'll be able to print different parts of the model at different layer heights..

If u don't mind I will share a photo of my reprap thought I would be polite and ask since u started this second obsession... err now that I think about it more this my be my 4th or 5th lol.

I figured out the issue with mine was 2 bad pololu drivers and I put my ramps 1.4 in a oven for 5 minutes right at soilder melting point and that fixed my shorts in my board so after I get the new stepper motors I will be attempting my first prints next week

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[GiulianoM]

Ah yes, DIY reflow soldering...


Pictures are welcome!

[SuperClown]

Originally Posted by GiulianoM

Ah yes, DIY reflow soldering...


Pictures are welcome!

Here is mine

uploadfromtaptalk1362756755680.jpg

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[GiulianoM]

Originally Posted by SuperClown

Here is mine

Attachment 43756

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Nice!

Have you printed directly on the glass?


You'll want to print a spool holder.

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:49250


I need to get myself a bunch of cheap 608 skate bearings.... no idea where I can find any locally, though.

[SuperClown]

I ordered mine from eBay but if u have a sports authority near or any skate shop should have shielded bearings . My new pololu drivers showed up today to my surprise so hopefully I will be extruding by the weekend.

My first thing I'm going to make is a spool holder and a fan/case for ramps

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[SuperClown]

And no I have not done any prints yet

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[GiulianoM]

A few tips:

Isopropyl alcohol or acetone / unscented nail polish remover to clean the glass.

Nozzle should be set to be a piece of paper's thickness away from the bed at Z endstop.

Calibrate that with bed and nozzle hot - they expand when hot. Measure at center and 8 points across the bed - edges and corners.

If the PLA doesn't stick to the glass, try blue painters tape. Sticks almost too well.

I'm going to try blue tape with a light coat of bees wax, to see if I can get it to stick and release better...

[SuperClown]

I have abs I tried printing directly on the glass and I couldn't get abs to stick at all. Then I put blue painters tape on my surface scuffed it with sand paper and that worked better. My prints however are horrible lol I'm really going to have to do some calibrating and try some different configurations until k figure this out.

My first layer doesn't stick without a little encouragement from from me and I also keep getting warping issues
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[GiulianoM]

ABS requires high temperatures, and doesn't stick to glass well - some PLA does.

What are your bed and nozzle temps?

[SuperClown]

Bed is 110 and nozzle is 230 for first layer then 200 for remaining layers its default settings in pronterface

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[GiulianoM]

Look into Kapton tape for the bed... Appears to do well with ABS.

[JDavid]

the possibilities are endless. What a cool thing to own. If I had one I would spend all my free time trying to think of items that I need to print, although Im sure that comes much easier when you actually need something and you realize.. hey, I can print that
lol

[SuperClown]

I got a few other ideas ima try first instead of the kapton tape that stuff is very pricey but if nothing else works out I will go that route.

There is something called abs juice that is a mixture I've also heard of people using a diluted mixture of elmers glue that works well but sounds like a pain and hassle

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