A good start

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willnewton
Posts: 479
Joined: Wed Apr 09, 2014 8:32 pm

Re: A good start

Post by willnewton » Mon Apr 14, 2014 5:54 am

The 50 mm fan dragged on the bed, but I got it adjusted with a little twist and without stopping the print, but it did drag a bit on the outer perimeter of the skirt and caused a bit of thread to detach, but other than that.....
firstprint.jpg
WooHooo!
firstprint.jpg (68.58 KiB) Viewed 18551 times
This bracelet is pretty cool. I am impressed with the speed, the quiet running, and the quality of the end product. It took just a few minutes to print, but I spent some time waiting for the bed to cool (I just printed on the bare, heated glass). I gave it a bit of gentle jiggling and the bracelet popped off intact and only needing a little trim with an xacto.

I'd say other than a few hiccups (my fault), some technical issues (all resolved), and a manual needing a few tweaks to make it even more noob friendly, I had a good time getting this project together the past few days. Once I added in info gathered from the wiki and S3D software and MG Googlegroup and this new forum, I say this was about very positive experience and I am looking forward to taking the next steps.

I have documented several projects on various forums, but this is the first time I have been able to document a hobby from the very first time I tried it for myself. It's kinda cool that my M2 order coincided with the creation of this forum! I hope that this little build will help someone in the future.

Thanks MG and groups/forum members, it was a good start!
I'm finally back to where I started two days ago!

A thread with some stuff in it I update every once in a while. viewtopic.php?f=8&t=9
See some of my stuff http://www.thingiverse.com/willnewton/favorites

jsc
Posts: 1864
Joined: Thu Apr 10, 2014 4:00 am

Re: A good start

Post by jsc » Mon Apr 14, 2014 5:58 am

You are being very thorough, I was running the bracelet off very shortly after I had first moves. I am more impatient and foolhardy, I suppose. "What could possibly go wrong" is my thinking.

Toby
Posts: 330
Joined: Wed Apr 09, 2014 9:44 pm

Re: A good start

Post by Toby » Mon Apr 14, 2014 5:17 pm

This was a fun thread to follow. Good job!

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MichaelH
Posts: 40
Joined: Fri Apr 11, 2014 1:10 am
Location: Fredericton - New Brunswick - Canada

Re: A good start

Post by MichaelH » Mon Apr 14, 2014 6:20 pm

Thanks for the thread it brought my back in time. :)

Michael

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willnewton
Posts: 479
Joined: Wed Apr 09, 2014 8:32 pm

Re: A good start

Post by willnewton » Thu Apr 17, 2014 5:36 pm

Thanks guys I have been printing a bunch the past few days. First thing I made were tools and accessories for the M2. The Z-stop stay http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:53886, 7mm Z-stop wrench http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:53870, Z-stop jam nut knob http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:105616, Z-axis hard stop http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:54014, tool holder http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:132171and this M3 wrench I wish I had during the build http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:130949. Then the MG vase (which failed after 4-5 inches) to hold pencils and exacto knife!

After a few tests I printed a knob to fit a part that I designed in Rhino3d. Next in my plan was to make sure the wife and daughter were interested, so it was bracelets, and jewelry, and Dr. Who bits. My daughter was impressed enough to request a few more items. I hope to get her hooked and designing and printing on her own, but she is a budding teen, so it will have to wait until it is HER idea to start printing. ;)

I started printing things that were more complicated and was starting to have a few failed prints (bad starts from not sticking), so went to Lowe's and got the W-I-D-E blue painters tape, which solved most of that problem immediately. Also, I have started becoming much more interested in the workings of Simplify3d and there are other threads on S3D, but I will say adjusting your layer heights is great way to fine tune your extruder height and I was able to get better starts, which solved the other half of the sticking issues.

I am having a few issues getting the SD card to be recognized in the Macbook, so have been printing a lot over USB, which is not much of an issue since this computer lives in the garage. I have also installed a cheap webcam so I can monitor the printing once I have it well started. I have been able to work on my wife's greenhouse while prints are running.

Overall, still very pleased with the quality of the prints. I have seen many books and magazines that have some pretty sketchy prints, but the high quality parts of the M2 make a high quality prints.

My neighbor however was NOT impressed. He was excited to come over and see the printer, but was unimpressed with the product. He was expecting something that would copy and print EVERYTHING. :roll: Need a lighter? Print a Bic! Need a TV remote? Print one! Want another plate? Copy this one! :lol: Obviously, he expected a Star Trek replicator and the 3D field isn't there by a long shot, but I was sad that there was little appreciation by an average Joe for what actually can be accomplished in your garage.

Thankfully, I have seen many other friends/folks since then who though it was neat and have realized I need to carry a 3d-printed item on my keychain to show folks what can be done.
I'm finally back to where I started two days ago!

A thread with some stuff in it I update every once in a while. viewtopic.php?f=8&t=9
See some of my stuff http://www.thingiverse.com/willnewton/favorites

jsc
Posts: 1864
Joined: Thu Apr 10, 2014 4:00 am

Re: A good start

Post by jsc » Thu Apr 17, 2014 6:08 pm

Will, check out my latest printer tool: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:301592 Helps get stuck prints off the bed.

Razor blade scraper redrawn from jimc's model, which uses (apparently) narrower single edged razors. Mine uses double edged; added a slip cover, and now includes retention lugs to hold the blade in.

A wood chisel works, too, if you have one of those. Might not be necessary or suitable for use with painter's tape. Once you start working with ABS, or with parts with very little bed contact, you may find yourself with the need for more bed adhesion, and then you will get into the realm of chemical aids, where the prints no longer pop off after cooling on their own accord.

I think a lot of people who have just heard of 3D printers through the news have wildly optimistic visions of what they can do today. I mean, come on, you can only print plastic things? And there are limitations on the designs you can print? But it is interesting for me to see what you can get away with in just plastic.

You totally could print a remote, by the way, but the electronics and IR LED is a bit beyond current technology. And just how was your neighbor imagining you would print a lighter flint? A plate is easy, but I wouldn't want to eat off a printed plate (nooks and crannies trap bacteria, you can't machine wash, etc.) There are a lot of cups and spoons on Thingiverse (one by me!); don't actually use them. Maybe if you could seal the surface with something non-toxic.

Try reformatting the SD card in your Mac using Disk Utility. Use the FAT filesystem.

Toby
Posts: 330
Joined: Wed Apr 09, 2014 9:44 pm

Re: A good start

Post by Toby » Thu Apr 17, 2014 9:17 pm

I've had good luck using an ordinary paint scraper getting parts off the bed. It's flexible and thin enough that it can get under the models without damaging them. Just a good swift push and off they come.
scraper.JPG
scraper.JPG (30.05 KiB) Viewed 18530 times

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willnewton
Posts: 479
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Re: A good start

Post by willnewton » Thu Apr 17, 2014 10:04 pm

I already have one these parked next to the M2.

http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-28-100-16 ... B0006JJS30
razorholder.jpg
I have had one of these for years. Love it.
razorholder.jpg (14.12 KiB) Viewed 18527 times
I'm finally back to where I started two days ago!

A thread with some stuff in it I update every once in a while. viewtopic.php?f=8&t=9
See some of my stuff http://www.thingiverse.com/willnewton/favorites

User avatar
willnewton
Posts: 479
Joined: Wed Apr 09, 2014 8:32 pm

Re: A good start

Post by willnewton » Sat Apr 26, 2014 3:53 am

I don't have millions of friends on facebook, but posting this pic is how to make your Facebook page blow up on a Friday night. This week I have watched the first time many people have ever touched a 3d printed thing or even imagined that you could do such a thing. You might recognize some favorites from http://www.thingiverse.com
3dprints.jpg
whale, vase, chunky bracelet, bust; octopus, 3-axis gimbal, castle bracelet, nautilus earrings, spike bracelet, and SASQUATCH!
3dprints.jpg (104.57 KiB) Viewed 19391 times
Last edited by willnewton on Sun Jan 24, 2016 4:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I'm finally back to where I started two days ago!

A thread with some stuff in it I update every once in a while. viewtopic.php?f=8&t=9
See some of my stuff http://www.thingiverse.com/willnewton/favorites

jsc
Posts: 1864
Joined: Thu Apr 10, 2014 4:00 am

Re: A good start

Post by jsc » Sat Apr 26, 2014 4:36 am

Great prints. What are you using for the white and shiny prints (bust, vase, whale, octopus).

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