3D_Printing

I recently (9/28/23) purchased the Ender 3 Max Neo printer to replace the Robo 3D 1R printer.  

Ender 3 Max Neo 3D Printer 

Robo 3D 1R Plus

Intro to 3D Printing

Gears and Horology 

Video on Unboxing and Setup of Creality Ender 3D Neo Max printer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p82TT4tNsb4

Began experimenting with 3-D Printing...

Machine:   Bokabot by Deezmaker

Materials:  Experimenting with both PLA and ABS

Software:

• • Design Software:  Tinkercad

  • Slicing Software:  Slic3r

  • Printer Driver:  Repetier-Host V1.0.6

PLA:

• • Seems to be more brittle than ABS.

  • RECOMMENDED TEMPS:

    • Bed:  60-80C

    • Extruder:  215-235C

  • RECOMMENDATIONS from Protytype Supply (Toybuilderlabs.com) for 3.00mm PLA

    • 50-60C

    • 190-220C

    • Latest Blue PLA - 

      • Bed: 65

      • Extruder: 225C

      • Z-axis offset:  0.5mm

  • Needs some heating on the table.

  • Printing "wall" block - 6" x .5" x 2" tall with two .156 dia holes one inch from end

    • Printed on Blue Tape

    • Temps:  

      • Bed: 63C

    • Extruder:  220C

    • Overall, block printed "fairly" well - went to completion, most of it is good.  There was some slight lifting on the ends of the block.

      • Block height dimension is 2.0".  On ends, measured 1.950"

  • Attempted to print 6" x 6" base plate with 2 risers.  Plate is 1/8" thick, risers are total of .5" tall.

    • Attempted 1:  Blue tape

      • Bed:  90C (?)  It was at least over 80C

      • Extruder:  235-240C

      • Bed started lifting.  Killed run before it had completed the flat surface.

    • Attempt 2:   Blue Tape, Bed 52C, Extruder 210C

      • Base completed without lifting (so far...)

      • SOOOO close!!  Base printed ok.  Got the mounting blocks printed to a height of .47 out of .5", and the PLA spool fell, causing the head to crash into the workpiece and make huge blob...

  • Attempt 3:  Wall4

    • Blue Tape, Bed 50C, Extruder 210C

    • Had to kill at a height of .77" out of 2" (ran out of time) - but was looking great at that point - no warping.

  • Attempt 4:  Intel Keys (2)

    • Blue Tape, Bed 50C, Extruder 210C

    • Printed without any problems.

ABS:

• • RECOMMENDED TEMPS:

    • Bed:  80-100C  

    • Extruder:  230-240C

    • Attempt ABS01:

      • Design:  wall4

      • Bed: 80

      • Extruder: 235

      • Surface (used) Blue tape

      • RESULT:  Started lifting on end within first few passes.

    • Attempt ABS02

      • Design:  wall4

      • Bed: 100C

      • Extruder 235C

      • Surface:  Blue Tape

      • Killed after about 30 min., and height of about 1/2".  Significant lifting had already started.

    • Attempt ABS03

      • Design:  wall4

      • Bed: 90C

      • Extruder: 235C

      • Surface:  Blue tape with Elmer's Purple Disappearing Glue Stick applied.

      • Killed.  Glue stuck the work to the tape, but the work lifted the tape.

    • Attempt ABS04

      • Design:  wall4

      • Bed 90C

      • Extruder: 235C

      • Surface:  Kapton tape with Elmer's Purple Disappearing Glue Stick applied.

      • Killed.  Kapton tape stayed down, but the work broke the glue bond and started lifting significantly on the ends.

    • Attempt ABS05

      • Design:  wall4

      • Bed 70C

      • Extruder 230C

      • Surface:  Kapton tape (old!) with Elmer's Purple Disappearing Glue Stick applied

      • Added 5mm brim - in "Sli3r", went to configuration, clicked tab for Brim

      • Failed miserably.  Warped worse than above attempt.

    • Attempt ABS06

      • Design: wall3_25

      • Bed: 100C

      • Extruder 250C

      • Surface: Kapton tape (old) with old Elmer's

      • Still has 5mm brim

      • Slowed print speed to 50% for both perimeter and fill

      • Small part - 3" x .5" by .25" with 2 holes

      • SUCCESS!!!!  (FINALLY!!!)

Tinkercad:

• • See tinkercad.com

  • Relatively easy to get started with.  

  • Very limited documentation.

  • Entirely web based - Designs are saved on the cloud.

    • Great for being able to easily design on one laptop, then download to a laptop used for the printer.

  • ISSUES:

    • No "ruler" tool that can be used generically.

    • Impossible to backwards annotate after design is grouped and saved.

    • Doesn't provide any way to document or print dimensioned design.

SketchUp:

• • Much better design interface than tinkercad.

  • Issues:

    • Have to download and install extension package to get *.stl files out.

    • First attempt to download a simple design failed (.stl file was bad).

Notes:

• • Using Blue Painter's tape on glass base.

  • Adding small square .1 x .1 x .05" in corner to control offset of print on bed so that project is centered better.

  • ??  Kapton tape??

Notes from NathanP:

• • Printer:

  • Media:   (size, abs,pla?)

  • Plate coating:  (hair spray, blue tape?)

  • Temp Settings:

    • bed

    • extruder

  • Software used for design:   (tinkercad, sketchup?,  repetier?)