RMweb Gold big jim Posted November 27, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 27, 2017 mine arrived this morning and after 10 mins putting it together and a similar time levelling the bed a couple of times its sat next to me printing off a mini me as i type can confirm no usb connection but the supplied SD card is simple enough to transfer files from the computer to the machine and open them in the menu watch this space........ 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BG John Posted November 27, 2017 Share Posted November 27, 2017 mine arrived this morning and after 10 mins putting it together and a similar time levelling the bed a couple of times its sat next to me printing off a mini me as i type can confirm no usb connection but the supplied SD card is simple enough to transfer files from the computer to the machine and open them in the menu watch this space........ 10 minutes!!!! I've spent a good part of the morning checking I have everything on the parts list, and removing the protective paper on the parts of the acrylic frame, on my (non Aldi) printer! Now I've got hours of work assembling it. You've missing out on lots of fun by buying a RTP one . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold big jim Posted November 27, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 27, 2017 Here we go, first attempt That’s about 3cm high, set to the 2nd finest setting, took about 35 mins to print, the original scan of myself was done using an Xbox Kinect as the scanner, really pleased with the result for a 1st go 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold big jim Posted November 28, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 28, 2017 been playing about with the printer was varying results, after the initial sucess of the mini me bust ive had mixed results with other open source items from thingiverse i tried to print off a few itmes in one go, a 1/2 sized container and a couple of figures for my lad from team fortress 2 computer game, the figures failed misirably as the legs started to flex as the "crotch area" began to print throwing the print out of skew and doing nothing above that level, however the container on the same print came out quite good there is no roof as that has been omitted from the original designers gcode file just a bit of a rough area towards the top end but that is where some of the non printed pla that should have been the character stuck to the side its currently printing out an inspection platform with pretty fine legs and handrails so heres hoping it will complete that without major issue, there are a few dodgy bits looking at it but as it stands so far (68% complete) its not looking too bad ive had another look at the figure were trying to print and have rotated it so its lay on its back this time to get maximum hold, also added supports and base adhesion rings Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin2 Posted November 28, 2017 Share Posted November 28, 2017 been playing about with the printer was varying results, Your printer does not seem to have a fan for cooling the plastic as it emerges from the nozzle. If you look at the link in Reply #66 you will see how it can have an effect. I have put a fan on my printer and it has made a big improvement - especially for a small feature. I can now see all the way through a 1mm diameter hole. Without the fan the last few layers were very messy and overflowed across the hole. And, as mentioned above I made the fan duct from card. ...R Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold big jim Posted November 28, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 28, 2017 There is a fan on the extruder head (see bottom pic) or are you on about one being needed somewhere else? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold big jim Posted November 28, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 28, 2017 TBH, the other thing I noticed is the original bust printed with the pla heated up to 175 degrees whereas the next batch I’m playing with seem to have changed to 200 degrees Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff mcghie Posted November 28, 2017 Share Posted November 28, 2017 (edited) Jim, Check that in the file for the printer in Cura that the heated bed is ticked. I couldn't find one on the SD card or the website so created one from scratch but initially forgot to tick heated bed and had some issues with adhesion. Edit: just found the cura profiles for PLA and ABS on the Balco customer support webpage. Cheers Jeff. Edited November 28, 2017 by jeff mcghie Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin2 Posted November 28, 2017 Share Posted November 28, 2017 or are you on about one being needed somewhere else? Yes. Look at the link I posted. ...R Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold big jim Posted November 28, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 28, 2017 3d printing one as we speak! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BG John Posted November 28, 2017 Share Posted November 28, 2017 From what I've been reading on "hot end" fans, they need to cool the print as quickly as possible, but not reduce the nozzle temperature. That fan seems to blow cool air everywhere, rather than directing it where needed. I've got no practical experience yet, as my printer parts are neatly laid out on my workbench ready to be assembled, but I think the air needs to be ducted to exactly the right place. There's no fan supplied with my Geeetech Prusi i3 Pro B, but there are loads of designs for fitting them online. I've just bought this fan, that should direct the air well. I think this style of duct is probably good, but I'm not sure about the holes directing the air at the nozzle. This one looks better, as it directs the air down onto the work, and away from the nozzle. You may find lots of designs for modifying your printer on Thingiverse, and other such places. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damo666 Posted November 28, 2017 Share Posted November 28, 2017 Anyone who missed out check out amazon today, Black Friday deal on the wanhao i3, £270 Wanhao i3Plus Duplicator; 3D Printer https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01LX8KNV3/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_ZNcgAbWQTEYTW Meant to thank you (I think). I kept hesitating on the Aldi printer until such time as it was sold out, then I was able to say to myself "I really was going to buy one, but now they are all gone, Ah well". Then you had to find the Amazon deal. It arrives this weekend. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damo666 Posted November 28, 2017 Share Posted November 28, 2017 there is no roof as that has been omitted from the original designers gcode file OK. Stupid question time. The 3D file wouldn't have printed it upside down? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold big jim Posted November 29, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 29, 2017 OK. Stupid question time. The 3D file wouldn't have printed it upside down? No the bottom has lifting fork pockets in it and the g-code description on thingyverse has feedback saying there is no roof file Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold big jim Posted November 29, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 29, 2017 This is the platform, not fantastic but still useable, some of the fine bits have just not taken, possibly due to the fan issue mentioned above Any idea what will have caused the platform to not fully render? It appears the start of the print is not too bad but the end (ie the sides closest the camera) go a bit wonky around the legs The outer support for the platform didn’t take at all and was just a series of individual strands which I cut off, easily replaceable with plastistrip though As I say still useable after a tidy up I recon, good enough for inside the depot 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin2 Posted November 29, 2017 Share Posted November 29, 2017 Referring to the platform in Reply #90. The front legs don't seem to be connected to the platform. Are they meant to be? If so are you sure that the drawing was correct? The spidery bits of plastic might be due to the wrong nozzle temperature - I wonder if it is a bit too high? ...R Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold big jim Posted November 29, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 29, 2017 That’s what I was saying, the front bar holding the legs to the platform just came out as strands of pla, that bit was pretty much the final few layers that was printed Regards the temp it was 200 degrees so I’m the next thing I attempted at printing I dropped the temp to 175 degrees which is what the busy printed at and it failed pretty much straight away on the first couple of layers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin2 Posted November 29, 2017 Share Posted November 29, 2017 Regards the temp it was 200 degrees so I’m the next thing I attempted at printing I dropped the temp to 175 degrees I think a change of 5 degrees between tests would be plenty. My printer (using PLA) seems to be working nicely at 195°C (down from 200) but I have no idea how close that number is to the actual temperature. My thermocouple reads about 20°C lower and I can't be sure that it is in the right place for measuring properly. At lower temperatures (around 70°C) the thermocouple agrees closely with the printer. ...R Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff mcghie Posted November 29, 2017 Share Posted November 29, 2017 That’s what I was saying, the front bar holding the legs to the platform just came out as strands of pla, that bit was pretty much the final few layers that was printed Did it have support built into it as a freestanding bar with nothing underneath is a tall ask for a printer? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold big jim Posted November 29, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 29, 2017 (edited) Did it have support built into it as a freestanding bar with nothing underneath is a tall ask for a printer? i didnt print any additional support off, i did wonder if it was just printing to thin air as it were i printed off a cooling fan housing without issue and tried it out, had another go at the platform afterwards only to find i got to the same point in the print and the filament "plopped" out of the nozzle, not long after the fan kicked in, tried it a few times and got the same issue on every attempt (it was luckily on the first "raft" layer) , even after taking the custom cooler off and reverting back to normal i still got the same result at the same point in the print at that point i gave up for the night before i got too frustrated with it, the only thing i've set up different was the layer thickness which i'd changed from 0.1 to 0.15 Edited November 29, 2017 by big jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 30, 2017 Share Posted November 30, 2017 I do hope you get these issues sorted Jim, and I'm sure you will. I had debit card in hand to buy one of these but dithered, and I'm kinda glad I did. I'm just not sure the technology is "there" yet and definitely not at this price level. I'll just continue to play the waiting game and take a longer look at SLA printers. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold big jim Posted November 30, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 30, 2017 I revisited the printer last night and tried printing something else with more success, not brilliant but it printed ok, the issue seems to be adhesion to the base plate, I fully didn’t expect to be an expert after a day with it and I feel that despite the setbacks I’ve done better than I thought I would after a couple of days the first print got as far as this... Then the 2nd one successfully printed but I noticed about 1/3 of the way up the raft on one side had come away from the base, it was still printing ok though so I left it running but it’s an issue that needs looking at, my initial thought is maybe the base wasn’t completely level and as the extruder is travelling left to right it’s catching the print and pulling it off the base Anyhoo, I’ve started a thread about my printer save clogging up this one http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/128665-big-jim’s-adventures-in-3d-aldi-printer-and-xbox-kinect/ 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BG John Posted November 30, 2017 Share Posted November 30, 2017 As I understand it, it's best to apply certain kinds of tape to the bed, or give it a coat of Pritt stick or hairspray, to help the work stick to it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold big jim Posted November 30, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 30, 2017 It does say in the manual to add ‘blue’ masking tape (designed to not leave a residue) I’ll give that a try if I can find some Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BG John Posted November 30, 2017 Share Posted November 30, 2017 (edited) This sort of stuff https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/262928351041?chn=ps&adgroupid=46622246639&rlsatarget=pla-380277463811&abcId=1128946&adtype=pla&merchantid=113268121&poi=&googleloc=1007440&device=c&campaignid=857250873&crdt=0 Kapton tape is another that's suggested. I haven't even built my printer yet, and I'm discovering that 3D printing is a world of trial, error and conflicting advice! Trying to make sense of what adhesives to use for sticking PLA, and reading about things that work for one person, but are useless for another, I came across a comment that acetone works for some brands of PLA, but not others. Although I'd also read that it doesn't work with PLA at all, but is ideal for ABS! I think the same applies to just about everything to do with 3D printing. My brain is hurting already! Edited November 30, 2017 by BG John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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