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Post by curufin on Feb 9, 2016 13:58:49 GMT
Wilmanric: YES!!! Love it! Watching it print is so mesmerizing. Glad to see you are up and running.
Meph: I think smoke detection and added safety features is ALWAYS a good idea. I didn't think of it that way before. But I certainly wouldn't run out to the store and leave my hot glue unattended and still plugged in.
My own update: I have discovered that MakerBot Desktop, while free, simple and intuitive, does not allow my printer to print to the limit of it's abilities. I have tried 4 different softwares for it and not did everything I wanted to be able to do. With the printer only printing X3G files, the number of usable softwares is very small. After reading everything I could on the internet about it, I have decided to give Simplify3D a try. It is $150... I know, I know... I dont want to spend that either, but Im on a 2 week trial, in which I can still get a full refund if I dont like it. I started using it last night, and I spent about 5 hours getting it dialed in. I still have plenty of room for tweaking, but I am happy to say that I had my first two successful prints WITHOUT RAFTS! I was able to use skirts instead (something Makerbot Desktop doesn't support). Also, the supports it uses are far and away better than the webbing MD uses. I printed another hezerou demon and this time, there was no additions clean up needed... no raft to sand/file off, no rough areas, left to smooth out. Anyway, Im happy with it so far. I'll report more findings as I go.
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Post by wilmanric on Feb 9, 2016 14:06:53 GMT
My own update: I have discovered that MakerBot Desktop, while free, simple and intuitive, does not allow my printer to print to the limit of it's abilities. I have tried 4 different softwares for it and not did everything I wanted to be able to do. With the printer only printing X3G files, the number of usable softwares is very small. After reading everything I could on the internet about it, I have decided to give Simplify3D a try. It is $150... I know, I know... I dont want to spend that either, but Im on a 2 week trial, in which I can still get a full refund if I dont like it. I started using it last night, and I spent about 5 hours getting it dialed in. I still have plenty of room for tweaking, but I am happy to say that I had my first two successful prints WITHOUT RAFTS! I was able to use skirts instead (something Makerbot Desktop doesn't support). Also, the supports it uses are far and away better than the webbing MD uses. I printed another hezerou demon and this time, there was no additions clean up needed... no raft to sand/file off, no rough areas, left to smooth out. Anyway, Im happy with it so far. I'll report more findings as I go. curufin , I'm using Makerbot Desktop and I've been selecting files from Thingiverse (.stl files) and loading them directly into desktop. The operation is quite seamless. Then, I set the preferences for the print and I print. Done. My laptop is connected to the printer via USB. I haven't been doing ANYTHING with X3G files, other than my first test print from the card. Why isn't this working for you? I'd hate to see you spend all that cash when MBD seems to be working great -- for free... EDIT: upon second read, I totally get what you are saying about the rafts -- they are HUGE on MBD. I haven't been able to print anything without one yet either... The .stl thing is working, but rafts are another issue altogether... Keep us posted!
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Post by curufin on Feb 9, 2016 14:43:47 GMT
Please don't get me wrong. MBD has been working great for straight printing from .stl. But, I have found a few cons in MBD that I'm having trouble seeing beyond. 1) doesn't support skirts and brims. 2) Doesn't support manipulating an object more than rotating, moving, or scaling. I cant separate a creature from it's base, for instance. 3) MBD thinks you are printing on a MB 3d printer that has a smaller build platen than the MA3d printer actually has. This means you can't print something to the limit of your printer. There isn't any overwrite control to say "dont worry about the build size, just print anyway" 4) Using another program, like Slic3r, to do modifications sometimes results in MBD altering the model in ways you cant change.
So far, Simplify3D has addressed all of these issues. Trust me, I would much rather not spend additional money...or at the very least, spend it on plastic instead, but at the end of the day if it allows me to print everything I want... I think it will be worth it. That, however, doesn't mean I'm not open to any other suggestions.....
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Post by jennifer on Feb 9, 2016 18:16:14 GMT
curufin, okay you are getting so advanced I'm worried I'm too dumb to get the most of this printer I'll be getting tomorrow hehe.
I now have to google skirts vs stilts etc.
Does Simplify3D have full editing tools kinda like sketchup?
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Post by curufin on Feb 9, 2016 20:30:23 GMT
Jen, two weeks ago I couldn't spell "3D printer". Trust me, no one is dumber than I am when it comes to this kind of stuff. I do have friends that have 3D printers though (and luckily they are much smarter than I am), so I have been hammering them with wave upon wave of questions.
Don't worry, we wont leave you behind. Meph and Wilmanric already seem to be going full steam ahead, and Im sure that 17arkness will be willing to help out when he is up and running. There will be plenty of people to help out. Everything the I have printed and shown here so far was with MakerBot Desktop. It is capable of doing lots of things, especially if you just want to print stuff off of thingiverse.
Im not sure to the full extent of editing that is possible with S3D. I've only been playing with it for a few hours....and that was mostly me just trying to get the settings right to get a successful print. It does allow you to ungroup pieces in a file, and then manipulate each piece separately though. So if you downloaded a file of an OpenForge tile with a door, you could separate the door and delete the tile, so you could just print the door.
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Post by Meph on Feb 9, 2016 21:22:09 GMT
I am going to look into simplify 3D because the rafts with Makerbot are huge. My 6 print of tiles spent and hour just preparing the rafts. They also require trimming every tile. I am on vacation as of an hour ago and don't go back to work until the 23rd. I just ordered 2 more kg spools of white last night so I have a lot of printing ahead of me in the next two weeks.
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Post by Meph on Feb 9, 2016 21:28:54 GMT
Looking at their list of supported printers, I don't see Maker Architect on the list. What printer are you telling it you're using?
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Post by curufin on Feb 9, 2016 21:45:51 GMT
Looking at their list of supported printers, I don't see Maker Architect on the list. What printer are you telling it you're using? The Monoprice 3d printer. Meph and wilmanric, do me a favor. Please download this Goristo (you may need to create a sign in if you havent already done it), drop him into MBD standing up, add supports and then run the preview. You dont need to print it. The preview for me, said unknown time, unknown material. It was one of the minis that I couldn't get to work on MBD. Im wondering if it is just on my end, or if it is something with the file/software. Thanks. As a side note, I have been keeping all my rafts, supports, and failed prints in a bag for that fateful day I build an extruder. Im up to 128g so far.
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Post by Meph on Feb 9, 2016 22:00:56 GMT
With and without supports. I am currently doing a batch of corridor tiles but as soon as they finish I will try printing that.
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Post by Meph on Feb 9, 2016 22:03:04 GMT
Ahh I didn't notice the "Monoprice 3D Printer" on the list. I was looking for the Maker Architect which is what ours is called.
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Post by jennifer on Feb 9, 2016 22:08:44 GMT
I am going to look into simplify 3D because the rafts with Makerbot are huge. My 6 print of tiles spent and hour just preparing the rafts. They also require trimming every tile. I am on vacation as of an hour ago and don't go back to work until the 23rd. I just ordered 2 more kg spools of white last night so I have a lot of printing ahead of me in the next two weeks. Interesting how this is all new to you guys but you use some pretty techy terminology! hehe.. What's a "raft"? Does the user manual cover a lot of this stuff? Do they supply that software with the printer? To print something first do you have to transfer the file to an SD card or is the printer hooked to the puter via usb or ethernet cable?
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Post by l7arkness on Feb 9, 2016 22:12:09 GMT
Looking at their list of supported printers, I don't see Maker Architect on the list. What printer are you telling it you're using? The Monoprice 3d printer. Meph and wilmanric , do me a favor. Please download this Goristo (you may need to create a sign in if you havent already done it), drop him into MBD standing up, add supports and then run the preview. You dont need to print it. The preview for me, said unknown time, unknown material. It was one of the minis that I couldn't get to work on MBD. Im wondering if it is just on my end, or if it is something with the file/software. Thanks. As a side note, I have been keeping all my rafts, supports, and failed prints in a bag for that fateful day I build an extruder. Im up to 128g so far. I would love to be kept in the loop on the extruder, i have been doing a lot of research and plan on making one as soon as my project plate gets a little cleaner
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Post by Meph on Feb 9, 2016 22:13:56 GMT
www.simplify3d.com/support/tutorials/rafts-skirts-and-brims/That should help. I actually never saw that until you just asked but it explains it all. We have talked and with your technical background you will also pick this up really quickly. As for software, they do include software on the SD card. I didn't realize that until after I had already downloaded some. It's all still a learning experience and i'm trying to do all I can to cut down on print times. Rafts use a lot of material and for me, sometimes they don't print right. You can hook it up to a computer and I think this week once I get a desk setup in the back room I will probably just hook it to the laptop I use back there and skip the SD card entirely.
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Post by curufin on Feb 9, 2016 22:55:53 GMT
Thanks, Meph. For some reason, I couldn't do anything with that file.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2016 23:35:47 GMT
curufin ok I don't like to butt in, but have you tried Cura software? It says it supports most printers and I like it so far. (and its free ) What I like is it has a simple mode and an advanced mode, so as you learn you can do more.
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Post by curufin on Feb 10, 2016 0:25:24 GMT
curufin ok I don't like to butt in, but have you tried Cura software? It says it supports most printers and I like it so far. (and its free ) What I like is it has a simple mode and an advanced mode, so as you learn you can do more. I did. If fact, Cura is one of the recommended softwares for use with this printer. However, I was unable to get Cura to recognize my printer. Im not sure if it is a compatibility issue or pilot error, but I didn't have any luck with it. Im also running windows 7 on my laptop, which might explain some of my issues....
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2016 1:07:01 GMT
curufin ok I don't like to butt in, but have you tried Cura software? It says it supports most printers and I like it so far. (and its free ) What I like is it has a simple mode and an advanced mode, so as you learn you can do more. I did. If fact, Cura is one of the recommended softwares for use with this printer. However, I was unable to get Cura to recognize my printer. Im not sure if it is a compatibility issue or pilot error, but I didn't have any luck with it. Im also running windows 7 on my laptop, which might explain some of my issues.... I wouldn't be so sure. I run windows 7 as well and have no real issue, but then again it does recognize mine, so there is that.
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Post by jennifer on Feb 10, 2016 2:58:39 GMT
Check this out. It takes an STL file and makes a 2 part mold STL file out of it that you can print. Thinking this might be handy if I wanted to use toilet paper mache in a mold for quick cheap builds. www.thingiverse.com/thing:31581
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Post by Meph on Feb 10, 2016 3:51:30 GMT
Well, this was the first mini I printed. I am definitely going to have to up the resolution for minis. Not great but it's not too bad I guess. It needs to be trimmed up better and once it's painted I think it will look ok. The horns didn't print so good and the chest looks a little funky. Hopefully tomorrow I can get it painted up. Hard to see the detail in these pics but the face actually does have some detail.
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Post by Meph on Feb 10, 2016 3:52:36 GMT
Lol, just realized after posting that....he kinda looks like my avatar =)
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