GeekDoc 226 Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 I backed the RigidBot on KickStarter, so I should be getting a Rep-Rap style 3D printer in November. I've always wanted a 3D printer, but couldn't buy/build one for less than $800-1000. Through their Kickstarter, I'm getting one with some upgrades and 3kg of PLA filament for $610. (In case you want in, the KickStarter runs 'til some time on 10 May 13.) My question to 3D printer owners is: Where do I start? What modeling programs are good to design with? What slicer works well with that modeling program to translate to the printer? Any design/slicing tips? What tips do I need to know while actually running the machine? Any good material sources? Any tips are appreciated. If I can replicate a sun-visor clip for my son's 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible, I will consider myself to have mastered the system. ;-) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jazz 209 Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 BTW, here is DIY MSP430F5xx based solution http://3dprinter.zemris.fer.hr/index.html izdane and GeekDoc 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bluehash 1,581 Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 @GeekDoc My question to 3D printer owners is: Where do I start? I'm totally overwhelmed by this. The amount of 3D printers in the market makes it quite hard to decide on one. I'm more afraid of the vendor dropping support for a purchased one. I'm new in this area too, so looking forward to this thread. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GeekDoc 226 Posted May 6, 2013 Author Share Posted May 6, 2013 I'm totally overwhelmed by this. The amount of 3D printers in the market makes it quite hard to decide on one. I'm more afraid of the vendor dropping support for a purchased one. I'm new in this area too, so looking forward to this thread. The nice thing about this project (other than the low cost) is that it is a Rep-Rap variant. It uses the typical threaded rod for the z-axis and belts for x and y. So, even if there is no support after I get the printer, there are many similar printers that share enough in common to make repairs/changes no problem. It's a very DIY community, even when it comes to the printer. I've been looking at 3D printers for a long time, too. If you're interested, I highly recommend you take a look at the RigidBot. In the last update, they printed a 1" test cube at 100 micron (0.1mm) resolution. The overall dimensions were within 50 microns, and the finish was the smoothest I've seen from a non-resin printer (close-ups in the update). Where else can you get a 3D printer for under $350? bluehash and izdane 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cubeberg 540 Posted May 6, 2013 Share Posted May 6, 2013 Printrbot has a $300 printer now - although I doubt the quality is a the one you're getting. GeekDoc 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fred 453 Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 I won an Up printer a while ago but must admit I haven't used it as much as I'd like and haven't had time to get used to 3D modelling packages. I've played around with 123D and that seems reasonable for free software. I found that OpenScad very useful for what I wanted to do - but that's the complete opposite end of the spectrum. It lets you script rather than design your models. As far as software for the machine goes I can't help. The Up is very much closed source so has it's own slicing and control software. bluehash 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PentiumPC 119 Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 You definitely can build a 3D printer for $800 to $1000. The current reprap build that have seen (with my own eyes physically ), the quality is very good. Anyway it is a good kick-starter project, $750K and 3 more days to go for a reprap is amazing as it offer not much of whats already established reprap community. I got my printer about 2 years ago, I opted for a Makerbot after see how bad his reprap performs. that was then, if I were to do it again, I will build a reprap since I have gain some experience. I printed mounts for a slider over the weekend for a time-lapse slider. check out the post here - http://forum.43oh.com/topic/3811-motorised-slider/#entry34507 GeekDoc 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PentiumPC 119 Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 As with any hobbyist 3D printers, there is a lot of tweaking needed, many companies tries to make it as foolproof as possible and have some success in it. Since we are Makers and tinkerers, we are not fools, welcome to the roller coster ride of 3D printing. Where do we start? You must get rid of the "santa clause machine" mentally, you do not punch in the file and instantly get a toy.. no, no.. that is not true, you have to print many times to get your print right, unless it is a pre-tested print done by someone else with the same machine, it usually needs alot of tweaking but the result is usually extremely rewarding.. haha. Replicator-G is the de-facto software for RepRap with slicer etc built in. As for CAD, you can use many free cad programs or sketch-up, SCAD etc. anything that can output an STL file. Depending what your machine is made for, the common options for 3D printing is ABS, PLA and PVA. ABS is "LEGO Plastic" more elastic than PLA, more care needed for printing. PLA is the current rave, it doesn't warp (that much) and is harder but more brittle, warp in heat about 100 to 110 degree (centigrade). High resolution doesn't necessary means high quality print, if you are printing stuff with very little ridge details anything from 0.27 to 036mm is good, as it prints fast and will incude ess printing error. Learn to read the symtoms from the prints, no, you don' need a PHD for that.. there are plenty of info the net, read them and be rewarded immensely Don't be afraid to waste plastic, use them sparing as much as you can. Keep your plastic dry, esp PLA and PVA, dunno about ABS but I just keep them in a box with a drying agent when not using it for a while. Remember to print something for the wife. Do not punch someone in the face when you proudly show them your 3D print of a spoon and all they can say is "I can buy that for 10 cents". The above are my personal rantings and comments based on the past 1 to 2 years experience with my Makerbot , it is in no way authoritative nor do I claim to be an expert in 3D printing. Above all, remember to have fun. I am sure you can print that sun-visor in no time, you just need a lot of patience for a start, after that you are an expert. haha. I backed the RigidBot on KickStarter, so I should be getting a Rep-Rap style 3D printer in November. I've always wanted a 3D printer, but couldn't buy/build one for less than $800-1000. Through their Kickstarter, I'm getting one with some upgrades and 3kg of PLA filament for $610. (In case you want in, the KickStarter runs 'til some time on 10 May 13.) My question to 3D printer owners is: Where do I start? What modeling programs are good to design with? What slicer works well with that modeling program to translate to the printer? Any design/slicing tips? What tips do I need to know while actually running the machine? Any good material sources? Any tips are appreciated. If I can replicate a sun-visor clip for my son's 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible, I will consider myself to have mastered the system. ;-) izdane, bluehash and GeekDoc 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PentiumPC 119 Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 Just to share some idea what I do with my 3D printer. I made a lot of customised hooks bumpers and mounts or my electronics project stuff for my RC hobby clips for CNC mill enclosure mounts for my motorised slider stuff for my wife and kid. phone stands. and many things you can buy for 10 cents or less. bluehash and GeekDoc 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GeekDoc 226 Posted May 7, 2013 Author Share Posted May 7, 2013 @@PentiumPC Many thanks for the words of experience! This is the kind of advice I was hoping for. Thanks for the "keep dry" tip for filament. I will be sure to follow it. I didn't want my son to have to wait until Christmas to stop the sun visors swinging wildly in his car. So, we checked some dealers and found one with two in stock. I have plenty of other ideas for printing, though! I've been browsing Thingiverse.com and finding plenty of things I'd like to print. I upped my pledge since he's offering 5x 1kg spools of PLA for $100. It seems to run $40-60/kg from the sources I found on the 'net. Add that to the 1kg I get with the printer, and I'll have 6kg (different colors) to experiment with. I'm thinking Black, Black, White, Red, Blue, and Yellow or Green for the colors. Thanks again. Any other 3D printer owners, please chime in. :-) PentiumPC 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PentiumPC 119 Posted May 8, 2013 Share Posted May 8, 2013 Hi GeekDoc, you can get PLA at $24 to $30 locally, imported from china. check this out - http://www.mbot3d.com/collections/all?page=3 , I have never dealed with them as I can get it around that price locally, but you can try. I paid some like $55 per kg for Makerbot's branded ABS and PLA, I bought 5 to 6 different colors for a start, lasted me a very long time, only topped up a black reel and got a new reel of natural color, all china made, unbranded at about $30. Even with Makerbot branded filament, the specs can be wildly off, I have a reel that is 1.8mm and 1 that is 1.6 in some parts, that created some problem with the feed slipping or jams. Even with the Replicator, it took me some time to get it to work the way I want, yes. it print out of the box but not reliably, it took about 6 month to get it to a point that I am happy with it, (working on it only on my free time). I made quite a few mods to the machine over time. So do expect to tweak your machine. I thing for sure, the current results I am getting, made all the setup pains go away. haha. exciting time ahead. GeekDoc 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GeekDoc 226 Posted May 8, 2013 Author Share Posted May 8, 2013 I made quite a few mods to the machine over time. So do expect to tweak your machine. Expect it? I'm looking forward to it! Thanks for the PLA link. :-) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tingo 22 Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 Slicers: you'll have to try a few. Just now, many people at the local 3D printing community thinks that slic3r gives better print results, compared to others. Some people likes KISSlicer, Almost everybody thinks that Skeinforge is the hardest one to use. More info here: http://edutechwiki.unige.ch/en/Slicers_and_user_interfaces_for_3D_printers GeekDoc 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bluehash 1,581 Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 Looks like the printer passed 1m today... and you got quite a good deal! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GeekDoc 226 Posted May 11, 2013 Author Share Posted May 11, 2013 Looks like the printer passed 1m today... and you got quite a good deal! I didn't think they were going to make it to that last goal. I'm glad I was wrong! I hear that a heated build bed really helps keep the plastic from warping as it's printed. I'm getting the RigidBot, with the upgraded z-axis stepper motors, front control panel with USB, heated 10x10" build bed, and 6kg of PLA filament for $660. From the quality I've seen in their updates, I think I am getting an amazing deal! Sent from my Galaxy Note 2 using Tapatalk 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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