hoping to join the makergear community soon!

[Spotopolis]

When I ordered one last spring, the lead time was seven weeks! I knew that upfront, but I could barely stand it taking so long. Once it arrived, all that anxiety vanished. It was well worth it - I am SO happy with my purchase and love my machine. Once it arrives, you'll forget all about the wait.

I am no expert, but I think the rings are made to fit a special type of diving lure. I think it dives down around a hundred feet or so when it is being trawled. My guess is that the rings alter the stock diving depths. Pretty cool to be making money off the M2.

[helifrek]

Now I just need to figure out what to do to pass the time!

Do you guys think S3D is worth the money or should I wait until I get the printer first?

[insta]

I print pretty successfully with a toolchain of Repetier-Host + (Slic3r | Cura) + SD card. It's taken me a long time to get established but I don't mind sharing my config.

S3D will work better and out of the box. If you don't have any experience with printers before, I'd use it. If you're willing to get into the weeds of tweaking things my free toolchain should work well enough.

[jimc]

Yes any if the slicers will work but the advantage to s3d is that most of the makergear community uses it so you will get alot more response here on the forum when you need to tune.

[helifrek]

I only have experience with RepG and makerware. I believe makerware uses Slic3r and I used Skienforge with RepG. The only issue I really had with either one was support material and not being able to preview the print.
I suppose I will lower the price on my rc helicopter and use the money for S3D! I am sure it will save me some headaches in the long run! I can always print me a new heli! well, almost.....

Thanks again everyone for all the support and help, it played a big part in my decision of getting the M2 over anything else.

Brandon

[Wayneswift]

Totally elated with the M2! I am a product developer and use the M2 for making prototypes. The mind is my only limit! This incredible machine does 36 hour prints and never EVER complains! I can't remember the last time I leveled the bed, and set Z height. Seriously it has to have been at least 90-110 hours of printing ago. I always un-clip the glass and slide it off of the bed when removing the last print, or when taping it. The first layer just needs to mash good on the painters tape, and if for some reason it is either not extruding from being too close to the bed, or not adhering from being too far away, just turn the Z knob a "pop" or two to adjust it and get that mashed first layer. I almost always print PLA and shut the bed heat off right after the first layer. HTH someone enjoy this incredible machine even more! Wayne

[jsc]

Regarding Simplify3D vs. free slicers/hosts, it is not perfect, but there are some advantages. #1 for me is the support, which removes the cleanest of any slicer I've used. Plus you can go in and manually set up your own support. I've also used Cura and Slic3r.

+ vs Slic3r:
better supports that remove easily
better tool paths (less jumping around/crazy motions)

- vs Slic3r:
Slic3r has nice cosmetic options, like special top and bottom layer infill patterns;
filament-saving tree supports;
"fat extrusion" for thin wall fill, instead of machine gunning

[helifrek]

This pretty much sums me up right now....

Thanks again for the help guys.

[Capt. John]

Want to comment on the pricey UPS shipping. UPS has no mercy when it come to delivering to residential addresses.
I lost 60 bucks on my first off brand machine (returned, cuz it was junk) both ways, and that was from Florida to Georgia.

If anyone has a friend that's business owner with a commercial address have it delivered there
and the cost will drop by 50%. UPS used to be reasonable, but this company has went sky high
since it went public.

I can international from US to Canada with Priority Mail for 2 pounds around 30 bucks.
If UPS international is used, it's as least twice as much.

Then, the rates UPS gives a business is completely arbitrary, Amazon gets cheap rates
because of volume, while Makergear and my tackle company pays thru the nose.

Thanks to member, insta for the lowdown on the Creative Commons license.

[helifrek]

I didn't know they used UPS. I almost always ship via priority mail. The flashforge cost me $50 to ship! I am sure UPS would have cost a lot more than that. Not much I can really do now until I get the printer except twiddle my thumbs....
I am in the process of selling one of my rc helicopters to fund the LCD screen and S3D. Having the LCD probably isn't going to be a huge deal because I plan to leave the printer on my computer desk but it would be a nice touch.
As for the power supply, I think attaching it to the bottom of my desk might hide it nicely. For an on and off switch, do you guys think a surge protector would be ok?

Do you guys have any links to remote monitoring/control of the printer. Just in case I had to leave while doing a print job.

With the Flashforge, I was constantly worried about catching my house on fire! I would like to have some sort of safety!