MakerGear Forum

Hello everyone! I just ordered an M2 kit a few days ago, looking forward to getting it in a few weeks. I just have a few things I would like to get some opinion on from those here who have more experience with the M2.

What's the deal with the Viki? Does it help significantly? I know its sexy, but is it more than just a pretty face? I know that it is best to print from an SD card (I own a Makerbot Replicator 2, so believe me, I know, he he he) and I know that you can print from an SD using Simplify3D. I would like to know what other significant benefit that can be had using a Viki. Oh, and can the M2 use Viki 2.0?

I would like to try using experimental filaments, that's the reason I have a heavily modified Rep2. I have been able to print with polycarbonate with mixed success. And one of the filaments I would like to try is Colorfabb's XT-CF20 (carbon fiber reinfored) but they recommend stainless steel or hardened copper alloy nozzle. Am I correct in assuming the standard nozzle that M2 ships with is bronze? I tried doing a google search for steel or copper replacements but to no avail. Any ideas about what I could do? Another filament type I would like to try are some glow in the dark ones, which I have heard are notoriously abrasive. Again, a harder nozzle would fair better, right? Or is my information severely outdated? I do know that E3D V6 has stainless steel nozzle replacements, but I was hoping for a nozzle replacement for the stock hot end that comes with the M2 kit. I also ordered the M2 spare parts set (because I am an international buyer) so I will have a spare extruder.

I'm sure I will have more questions in the coming weeks, but for now these are all the questions I have.

Cheers and thanks in advance!

the bed leveling tool in s3d is just a routine you run and it shuffles the nozzle around the bed to key locations so you can level it. i used it when i first got my m2 then simply found it easier to just do my own thing. the viki is only necessary if you plan to use your m2 and not have it hooked to the computer. it just lets you run prints from the interface. i personally find no reason for it. i have one of my m2s that is not hooked to the computer running on octoprint via a raspi. that give me more control and a good interface. as for the nozzles. the makergear nozzles as well as everyone elses are brass. brass gives the best performance. stainless steel nozzles dont wear out with the carbon filament like brass does but they dont conduct heat well. if you plan on using the carbon filament alot just stick with a brass nozzle but plan on swapping out every so often. they are cheap and should prob be changed as a routine anyway.

rsilvers has been printing in polycarbonate. Requires an all-metal extruder with a high temperature thermistor (or is it thermocouple, I can never remember; whichever one the stock extruder does not come with). I think you need to print close to 300C. Also probably need an enclosure.

I adopted OctoPrint early on and highly recommend it for standalone printing. I don't even use the SD card for prints, just sending from the OctoPrint host.

Hello again!

Thank you jimc and jsc! I've never actually heard of OctoPrint before, this is great news! I already have a couple of RaspPi just gathering dust somewhere, now I can use it! I might connect a touch screen LCD on it for coolness factor.

I get your point about just swapping nozzles, jimc. I think I will stock up on some nozzles early on. But before I do that, yae or nay on upgrading to E3D or MG V4?

Can't wait until I get my hands on my M2!

Cheers!

Yay on upgrading. Either one will be better than v3b. Not that its bad just that the v4 and e3d are way more advanced. V3b is more old school. V4 or e3d....probably no advantage between those two. I use e3d just because i made the switch before the v4 was available.