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Old 03-09-2021, 04:17 PM   #1
jwslam
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Just got on the 3D printer train this past week after finding the Ender 3X on sale for $202CAD shipped to my door.

Just wanted to start a thread around here for discussion, support, etc.

Had a couple failed prints already
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Old 03-09-2021, 04:26 PM   #2
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Just a basic question... but how difficult was it to figure out getting 3D prints, setting up the printer/loading filament/fine tuning etc.? Couple hours? Couple days and still figuring it out?

...and how long does a small print take (ie: a 1 inch x 2 inch ish figurine)?

I was thinking about nabbing one after busy season to tinker around with and print little toys/terrain things for my kid. I was also thinking about 3d printing a chess board.

I keep seeing stuff where some guys say it took a few hours to figure out, but it seems like quite a few of them have previous experience with 3D printing or have someone to guide them. I've also seen other people basically saying that they had to spend a few weeks and a few spools of filament before they basically started getting comfortable with putting out a decent print.
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Old 03-09-2021, 06:30 PM   #3
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Soooo many variables

The ender 3x took 2 hours to build
after you learn how to level the bed, there's stock files in the SD card that you can print right away.

1x2x2 can range from hours to days depending on : print speed, nozzle size, layer height (resolution), how much fill... I've been printing stuff at 10-20% fill and something that size is around 3 hours for me. Plus all the time for picking out the failed ones.

My biggest problem by far has been adhesion... the first layers some how let go from the bed half way through the print and then i end up with a puddle that just moves around with the nozzle.

Last edited by jwslam; 03-09-2021 at 06:35 PM.
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Old 03-09-2021, 06:57 PM   #4
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Yeah it's one of those things that seems fun but also seems like it could become a money pit. Very fiddly once you go off the beaten path, a support community seems like a basic requirement still.

But once you have the skills to recognize what tweaks you need to make to the slicer or account for whatever overhang or whatever obscure thing will make your particular print work it seems neat.

I'm a bit more interested in the resin printers at this point, but they have their own set of things that make prints fail.

I'll stick to watching YouTube videos about it for now.

But that's a good price for that printer, the entry point is so low now.
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Old 03-10-2021, 07:38 AM   #5
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The biggest thing is to make sure your bed is level when it is warm.
For bed adhesion the biggest change I made was to get a glass bed. That has been great. You don't need to get the actual branded glass bed, just any piece of glass, some people just buy an old mirror and then cut it to fit.

Get familiar with Cura and the settings on printing. Chep on YouTube is great and explains a lot. https://www.youtube.com/user/beginnerelectronics
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Old 03-10-2021, 10:11 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Superflyer View Post
The biggest thing is to make sure your bed is level when it is warm.
For bed adhesion the biggest change I made was to get a glass bed.
My 3x came with glass but I have no clue how to use it. Currently using the rough mat on top of the glass... not sure it makes a difference if I had no glass at all under.

What do you use for adhesion on glass?

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Old 03-10-2021, 02:44 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jwslam View Post
My 3x came with glass but I have no clue how to use it. Currently using the rough mat on top of the glass... not sure it makes a difference if I had no glass at all under.

What do you use for adhesion on glass?
I actually use nothing special for adhesion and have not had any issues. I know some people do and they will use something like painters tape, glue stick or hair spray. I can't say if they work though.
As for using it, I just find that the bottom of the print is much smoother. If you start using it just make sure that you adjust your print head up to compensate or it will ruin it before you get a chance to use it.
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Old 03-10-2021, 03:39 PM   #8
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I've found that my printer is horrible if there isn't good adhesion.... The nozzle just grabs onto the print and drags everything around making a PLA puddle.
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Old 03-10-2021, 11:35 PM   #9
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I seem to recall reading somewhere that someone suggested using a birthday candle and dripping some hot wax onto the surface and mashing it completely flat like you're doing a wax seal before printing... but I had thought that idea was just for someone who had a seriously crappy printing surface. I had no clue that the 3D print could legit have issues staying stuck to the bed.
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Old 03-16-2021, 02:52 PM   #10
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Using a resin Elegoo Mars Pro and it's been fun for small trinkets here and there. Apart from using it to make little things for a diorama or something, it doesn't have much use since I don't do tabletop gaming. Resin is a bit too brittle to make mechanical parts from it, and the prints take forever. Very finicky to get working right as well, lots of failed prints until you learn the in's and out's.

I'm thinking of adding a filament printer for larger items where detail isn't as much as a concern, and for mechanical adapters/cases etc.
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Old 03-28-2021, 10:39 PM   #11
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Tightened the bed leveling on my stock Ender 3x glass bed and adhesion is amazing now, even without the whole hairspray, glue stick, painters tape stuff.
The stock mat is ruined but I'm very happy with the textured glass.

Where's good to buy PLA?
I'm not ready to do ABS again since I don't have an enclosure for temp regulation.
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Old 03-28-2021, 10:43 PM   #12
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I wanted to get into 3D printing until I read this thread
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Old 03-29-2021, 06:34 AM   #13
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We haven't even got to see one example of a print! It's like a photo thread with no photos.
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Old 03-29-2021, 09:01 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fuzz View Post
We haven't even got to see one example of a print! It's like a photo thread with no photos.
Here are a few I made. Put them under spoilers because they are a little big

Bulbasaur flowerpot I made for a friend

Spoiler!


Vacation countdown magnets I made for another friends trip to Disneyland

Spoiler!


Gringotts Bank dice tower
Spoiler!


LOTR Dice tray
Spoiler!

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Old 03-29-2021, 10:45 AM   #15
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Quote:
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We haven't even got to see one example of a print! It's like a photo thread with no photos.
Lol

I printed this yesterday
https://www.thingiverse.com/make:919725
Spoiler!


Resized the original to fit my vacuum. Very happy with it.
(blah blah blah someone make a joke about how I had to make it smaller to suck)
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Old 03-29-2021, 12:50 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fuzz View Post
We haven't even got to see one example of a print! It's like a photo thread with no photos.
Here's a few. I should really get it setup again, have some more complex prints I want to throw at it.





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Old 03-29-2021, 06:45 PM   #17
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I did a lot of 3d printing in school, but the shop never actually let us play with the printers. We just modelled what we needed, prepped it, and brought it to the shop tech. I'm pretty annoyed that, despite printing a lot of fairly large pieces, I have almost no experience running the print.
I have a small printer a friend gave me that I've been meaning to practice on; I even have a pretty simple model ready, but I can't seem to find the time/motivation to figure out the set-up.
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Old 03-29-2021, 08:18 PM   #18
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Seems like a really neat toy. Not sure about actual practical use for most people though. Lots of trinkets and "wow, that's neat."

Youtube videos are neat to check out.
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Old 03-30-2021, 08:16 AM   #19
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Quote:
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Seems like a really neat toy. Not sure about actual practical use for most people though. Lots of trinkets and "wow, that's neat."

Youtube videos are neat to check out.
Check out this sub-reddit. It is all about people that have designed and printed actual functional things

https://www.reddit.com/r/functionalprint/
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Old 03-30-2021, 09:39 AM   #20
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Quote:
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Check out this sub-reddit. It is all about people that have designed and printed actual functional things

https://www.reddit.com/r/functionalprint/
Do you live in Airdrie Superflyer? I'm looking to get this printed. I can order it from etsy but i'm the type of person that would rather go out and buy a printer and make it myself if I can't get it locally, lol. I don't have the room for it right now though.

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4627924
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