My first 3D prints

[nicer20]

As I mentioned in another post I got myself a 3D printer for Christmas. Managed to assemble it and tune it up. Here are a couple of my first prints -

1. Pistachio opener - wanted to try something small to begin with and also trying to address big ???? all over my wife's face ("why have you bought this and what is the use?")

2. Missing throat plate for my bandsaw. Yeah I know it is using PLA material and one should be using sturdier materials. But this is just the start. Also, I am discovering that in order to print ABS or Nylon I might need to upgrade the printer with higher temperature nozzle. (All my hobbies are bottomless pit )

But I am happy so far. My goal has been to be able to print useful things around house and workshop. I am not into figurines or models.

Looks like this is going to be fun.

[dbhost]

I wouldn't worry about using P LA on that throat plate since you will probably lose it before it breaks haha. Just out of curiosity which printer do you get? I would like to upgrade the hot end on my voxelab Aquilla fairly soon to one little handle ABS and nylon.

[nicer20]

I got an Ender 3 V2. I think we pretty much have identical machines albeit by different manufacturers.

Let me know which one you decide for ABS & Nylon. I think you need an all-metal hot end. Also at least on my machine I think I need firmware upgrade to let the nozzle run at higher temperatures. It is capped at 260c for safety reasons.

[dbhost]

The Ender 3 is yes, more or less the same machine. I think the difference is literally just the branding on the box and in the firmware. They are both open source designs and open source firmware... I use Ender 3 profiles a lot for my slicing software.

I have been half hearted on the hot end upgrades, but yes, I believe an all metal hot end is in order. I also have one of the metal print beds to replace my OE glass one as my glass one started giving me adhesion problems...

Fun little time sucker, I mean hobby...

[dbhost]

I should have asked. Did you design it, or what STL file did you use for the throat plate?

[cwsmith]

I'm very happy to see you guys here!

I've been interested in 3D printers for some time and last summer, BobD over on the 'now gone' Ridgid forum had a running thread about "3D Printing" that was very interesting. So much so that I ordered a Prusa MK3S at the very end of September. I also ordered a Prusa Enclosure with it and that caused quite a delay in shipment. It didn't arrive until after Christmas!

I had talked to my grandson about 3D printers and he seemed quite enthusiastic at the time and I thought this might be something to give him some focus, as he's always been mechanically inclined, but doesn't seem be committed to much. I thought this might be just the thing. Unfortunately he's still sort of 'out there' and the three boxes containing the 3D kits and supplies is still sitting in my shop, waiting for us to go at it. I'm at that point where I may well have to just jump into it myself.

Worst part of the whole thing is that on Christmas day I found out that 'BobD' had passed away just before Thanksgiving. He was only 67! What a loss to all of us who followed his many creations and esperiences over more than a decade on that forum. Bob lived in New Jersey and was just terrific about helping every forum member. Bob was a pipe fitter by trade and Senior Technical Specialist at Con Ed according to his Obit. Bob also had a terrific YouTube page and because of him, I took the jump and ordered the Prusa.

So, now seeing your interest and the examples that you've shown, I'm hoping you might be there for any questions I might have as I (and hopefully my grandson) get moving on this new adventure). In the past I"ve done a few drawings for parts here on the forum and I helped another member in their design of the SMT slides for the BT3. Like you mentioned, I'm more interested in making parts than I am using creative figurines and models found on most of the 3D sites. No doubt there are some really creative people out there that have designed really marvelous stuff though.

CWS

[nicer20]

Sorry to hear about BobD.

[nicer20]

I should have asked. Did you design it, or what STL file did you use for the throat plate?

I didn't design these - got STL off thingiverse. If you are interested please let me know & I can post the links. But eventually I will like to get into 3D design aspect. It seems Fusion360 is the most recommended software for that although it has some learning curve.

[nicer20]

I'm very happy to see you guys here!

I've been interested in 3D printers for some time and last summer, BobD over on the 'now gone' Ridgid forum had a running thread about "3D Printing" that was very interesting. So much so that I ordered a Prusa MK3S at the very end of September. I also ordered a Prusa Enclosure with it and that caused quite a delay in shipment. It didn't arrive until after Christmas!
........
So, now seeing your interest and the examples that you've shown, I'm hoping you might be there for any questions I might have as I (and hopefully my grandson) get moving on this new adventure). In the past I"ve done a few drawings for parts here on the forum and I helped another member in their design of the SMT slides for the BT3. Like you mentioned, I'm more interested in making parts than I am using creative figurines and models found on most of the 3D sites. No doubt there are some really creative people out there that have designed really marvelous stuff though.

CWS

Glad to hear that you are also interested in this. I will definitely check out your drawings and ideas - I assume they are here on the forum somewhere.

Coming back to your Prusa MK3S those are awesome machines. They are supposed to be well built, easy to assemble and also supposedly easy to get working.

The machine that I got (& also dbhost has) are fantastic too, but they are definitely not kid-friendly, especially during the build phase. Of course, the price difference is 4-5x so Prusas got to be good.

I highly encourage you to assemble your machine soon - I can definitely help with whatever I can. Most cases it will be exploration together as I am also new in this journey.

[cwsmith]

Thanks!

My grandson is 23 years old, and has had a bit of a struggle with having to move several times, college, jobs, etc. He's living with a couple of old highschool friends and I think to many distractions.
I thought the 3D printer would be something we could bring some focus, but he just started a new job, so who knows.

I appreciate the fact that there is some interest here on this forum, so perhaps we can learn together.

Thanks,

CWS

[nicer20]

Definitely looking forward to learning together. I wish good luck to your grandson and his new job. As far as I can tell for myself, this 3D thing is quite addictive in a positive manner :-)

[dbhost]

nicer20 cwsmith I am not sure where but late last spring / early summer I started a thread here sharing STL files / links to STL files related to the BT3x00 and other plastic bits and pieces related to the woodworking hobby. Including my own updates / modifications to (made them more accurate to the originals) end pieces for the sliding miter table fence. I printed mine out of bright orange for safety... I will have to dig back and see if I can find the link. LCHIEN is so much better at searching here than I am....He has it down where I kind of butcher through it... One thing I do need to do / add / upgrade other than an improved hot end for higher temp filament, I need a filament dryer. My printer has sat for a few months not doing anything. I have printed very little since Debi passed, kind of unmotivated, getting my mojo back but it is slow... anyway, I have had the same spool of filament on the printer and it needs to be dried. I have a vacuum bagging system for it and was going to toss some fresh dessicant pouches in and vacuum it up and hope it works. It is easily half a spool of black PLA that I need to dry out...

[cwsmith]

While I've posted a few drawings over the years, I think I've only posted one 3D printable and that was for the SMT slides. I'll check the files on my older laptop and find the STL file and post it here. In the meantime.

At the moment I'm trying to re-educate myself with the SketchUp program. I just downloaded the Prusa Slicer a couple of days ago. This weekend is too busy and the coming week I've got a couple of medical appointments but hopefully I can find the time to start assembling the 3D printer and enclosure. I've cleaned up the shed and made room for the printer assembly and where it's going to be located. Right now I'm shopping for a LAN extender and so I can add a remote camera and control device. The "Beagle" looks like a low-cost way to do that. (https://www.amazon.com/Mintion-Monit.../dp/B0B216FX71)

CWS

[nicer20]

Those SMT slides may be worth checking out - so please share those files when you get a chance. TIA.

[nicer20]

cwsmith: Good luck with your printer assembly - from what I have read Prusa's are way easier to assemble. Also for a veteran woodworker & machine enthusiast like you, it should be a cake walk.

For designing I was also thinking of Sketchup given my familiarity designing woodworking projects. But what have heard from others is that Sketchup is "old" and we are better off using things like Fusion360, FreeCAD, TinkerCAD etc. I have a feeling our familiarity with Sketchup might help us pick up one of these "modern" CAD programs relatively quickly.

In terms of remote access and control you are way ahead of me - I will learn from you on that.

[dbhost]

I'm still using Sketchup 2017, I am NOT going to "upgrade" to their subscription plan, and the free online version is badly reduced in functionality. I need to dig into FreeCAD...

[Dedpedal]

A friend made me some plates for my router tables. Much better than having the open hole.

[dbhost]

Mind you, PLA filament is as basic as it gets in 3D printing, and it can be brittle, but for something like throat plates, or my miter fence end caps, it is just fine.

[dbhost]

I found the thread on the STL files. These are exclusively BT3x00 components, but might be useful to one of you folks.

[nicer20]

Please share when you get a chance.

[dbhost]

Ugh. The link didn't paste!

[dbhost]

Here is the link for the 3D Print files for various BT3x00 parts. Been a while I hope my updated miter fence end design is in there!

[nicer20]

That's great - a link worth saving !!