Jules wrote:I keep 7 spare hotends, a half dozen nozzles, a bunch of boros with PEI, and a couple zebras.
As a counterpoint, lest you think that's the required spare parts inventory you must have ready for immediate use...
I've been running an M2 since April 2013 and, since then, I've installed:
- a customized platform in late 2013
- a better Z-axis motor in mid 2013
- a V4 hot end in March 2015
- a fine-tooth drive gear in April 2016
... and have zero spare parts on the shelf. Granted, I have tinkered up a few custom mods, because I'm that type of guy, but the hardware remains pretty much old-school M2.
Unlike some folks I could name but won't, I print a few parts a week for my other projects / repairs around here. I'm not running a production shop.
I started with PLA, switched to PETG in early 2015, use a single spool until it's empty, and remain completely insensitive to the filament color. That's certainly atypical, although folks who hand-finish fancy art projects with a 3D printed armature may have similar needs.
Under those conditions, the M2, its firmware, and the entire software stack, become invisible after the initial setup. I design a part, slice it, send the G-Code to the printer, and eventually pick the part off the platform(*) without any drama.
Now, if you're doin' this and tryin' that and tryin' to make some weird plastics, do what the Nice Lady says and stock up on spares, because you'll need them. The more you tinker with your factory, the more you must learn about its technical processes: you must become a maintenance technician.
But when you want a machine that does a magic trick every single time, the M2 Just Works.
(*) Hairspray on glass with PETG causes the part to stick ferociously while hot and release completely when cool. YMMV.