Anet A8 3D Printer.

[130]

Barring a circular cooling duct and some stiffeners I printed and some new microswitch mounts and filament guides I drew and printed mine is stock as a rock and worked fine for a year now


Inheriting something built by someone else is always going to give you some extra fun

 

[ukracer]

Barring a circular cooling duct and some stiffeners I printed and some new microswitch mounts and filament guides I drew and printed mine is stock as a rock and worked fine for a year now


Inheriting something built by someone else is always going to give you some extra fun

Funny thing was it printed perfect when i had it. I never even levelled the bed.

The difficulty came when the software took over lol. I was not armed with historical faults that the other guy had worked through.

Reading other forums it seems like Cura messed a lot of hotends up by setting retraction to 6.5 in a upgraded version.

I am well pleased with adhesion though. I printed a small test piece out vertical and it stuck like a limpit.




I have order a sheet of PEI as the lead time on the printbite was up to 5 weeks. but i wont be using it while i am still learning the basics and happy with adhesion.

I do need to find a glue to stick PLA as the super glue i tried failed miserably and the Gorilla glue stuck but took ages and always expands 3 times its size and makes a white mess.

 

[130]

Changing things for the better is cool but why change working methods? You invalidate your previous testing. Just make the jump and go from there

 

[ukracer]

Changing things for the better is cool but why change working methods? You invalidate your previous testing. Just make the jump and go from there

I had purchased the replacement mat before i got it all sticking again.

 

[AndersK]

I do need to find a glue to stick PLA as the super glue i tried failed miserably and the Gorilla glue stuck but took ages and always expands 3 times its size and makes a white mess.

Loctite super glue works great on PLA

 

[tlovatt]

I finally gave into temptation and ordered a Creality Ender 3 today, should arrive for the weekend. I wanted to make some hangers to help organise my ever growing collection of Makita batteries and equipment, but then looked at buying some but for the prices charged you can almost buy a 3D printer and print your own (well that is my excuse anyway)

That warm fuzzy feeling that comes from buying new toys

 

[ukracer]

I finally gave into temptation and ordered a Creality Ender 3 today, should arrive for the weekend. I wanted to make some hangers to help organise my ever growing collection of Makita batteries and equipment, but then looked at buying some but for the prices charged you can almost buy a 3D printer and print your own (well that is my excuse anyway)

That warm fuzzy feeling that comes from buying new toys

Have you already got the files to print the hangers?

I have an Anet A8 and tweaked a few things. Prints well now but as they are so slow i need a few more. seems the ender 3 is the best bang for buck and needs the least tweaking out of the box.

I am going to the show at the NEC and taking cash to see if we can get any show deals.

 

[armalites]

I've been looking at the Prusa I3 Mk3, it's a chunk of money but from the reviews it seems to be usable from the start and the removable/flexible bed sheet looks really good.

 

[tlovatt]

Have you already got the files to print the hangers?

I have an Anet A8 and tweaked a few things. Prints well now but as they are so slow i need a few more. seems the ender 3 is the best bang for buck and needs the least tweaking out of the box.[ /QUOTE]

I have downloaded the files - just need to work out all of the steps needed to get things going.

The reviews of the Ender 3 do seem really good - although the pricing for a lot of the A8 units does seem very attractive, but from what I understand, the first things you need to print on the A8 are a load of mods to improve it. There seem to be 5 common ones for the Ender 3 but these are more filament guides and a fan cover.

I did look at the ender 10, but could not justify the extra expense for a bigger print area (at least until I have had a play with one)

What is the show at the NEC?

 

[armalites]

I am going to the show at the NEC and taking cash to see if we can get any show deals.

Is that the one 25-27th Sep? It says free entry, that's a novelty in this day and age

 

[ukracer]

Is that the one 25-27th Sep? It says free entry, that's a novelty in this day and age

Yep thats the one...

 

[PhillipM]

Doubt there'll be any deals on the cheap stuff, it's all rock bottom shipped from china anyway, maybe on filament and other parts though. I'll probably be there one of the days as I've got some parts on a stand there. And I need(well, I want...) a new milling machine.

 

[AndersK]

I've been looking at the Prusa I3 Mk3, it's a chunk of money but from the reviews it seems to be usable from the start and the removable/flexible bed sheet looks really good.

Me too, the 5 filament option is tempting

 

[130]

although the pricing for a lot of the A8 units does seem very attractive, but from what I understand, the first things you need to print on the A8 are a load of mods to improve it.

Not true. You can, but you do not have to.
Had mine over a year.

• Printed a circular cooling duct - didn't have to, obviously original was sufficient as used to print replacement, but circular is quieter.
• Printed an extruder button for comfort
• Printed the two triangular braces - again it was working to print these but easy and quick enough to print
• Drew and printed new micro switch mounts - I believe you can do offsets in the software but I like vanilla, also one switch was loose so it sorted that.
• Drew and printed filament guides - again not required
• Printed tool holder from someone else's design - again not required, but makes tools tidily out of the way
• Drew and printed cutters holder - not required but all tools that came with it now on it
• Printed someone else's hold down clips to hold it on a piece of MDF - not required but convenient

No X, Y or Z tensioners or braces and it makes usable things. Like anything your choice depends what you want. A8 will do quite high quality finish out of the box.
A lot of accuracy depends on calibration

 

[ukracer]

Not true. You can, but you do not have to.
Had mine over a year.

• Printed a circular cooling duct - didn't have to, obviously original was sufficient as used to print replacement, but circular is quieter.
• Printed an extruder button for comfort
• Printed the two triangular braces - again it was working to print these but easy and quick enough to print
• Drew and printed new micro switch mounts - I believe you can do offsets in the software but I like vanilla, also one switch was loose so it sorted that.
• Drew and printed filament guides - again not required
• Printed tool holder from someone else's design - again not required, but makes tools tidily out of the way
• Drew and printed cutters holder - not required but all tools that came with it now on it
• Printed someone else's hold down clips to hold it on a piece of MDF - not required but convenient

No X, Y or Z tensioners or braces and it makes usable things. Like anything your choice depends what you want. A8 will do quite high quality finish out of the box.
A lot of accuracy depends on calibration

Dont suppose you have links to the stl's you used?

 

[ukracer]

Doubt there'll be any deals on the cheap stuff, it's all rock bottom shipped from china anyway, maybe on filament and other parts though. I'll probably be there one of the days as I've got some parts on a stand there. And I need(well, I want...) a new milling machine.

I am hoping to get one of these. (I think) lol

 

[ukracer]

I would like a creallity cr-x (i think) or possibly a new Prusa. But that seems to run at about a grand in the UK.
BUT its a bigger minefield than buying a vinyl cutter. So many models and makes etc..

 

[Normsthename]

I bought a Qidi Tech 3D printer a year or so ago.
It has dual extruders and the print quality is brilliant.
My previous 3D printer was a homemade Prusa which printed ok
But I was forever tinkering with it.
The only mod I have done to the Qidi is to replace the print surface with glass with PEI plastic.
Not using any clamps either to hold the glass in place.
Had major problems with various printed clamps coming undone.
The solution was to use self adhesive heat sink pads.
They are approx. 20mm square and mounted every 40mm or so
The PEI is stuck to the glass and the glass sits on the heat sink pads.
Never moved once and the glass can still be removed if needed.
Never have to do any setting up, just prints perfect every (almost) time

Andy

 

[armalites]

Doubt there'll be any deals on the cheap stuff, it's all rock bottom shipped from china anyway, maybe on filament and other parts though. I'll probably be there one of the days as I've got some parts on a stand there. And I need(well, I want...) a new milling machine.

For me it may be a chance to pick up a Pusa Mk3 without having to wait 5-6 weeks.

I never assume shows deals these days, I used to go to VW shows 25+ years a go and you really had to turn up with a pocket of cash, these days there are rarely any deals that make it worth carrying something round all day, it's easier to just pay £6 postage and get it sent to your house.

 

[ukracer]

I bought a Qidi Tech 3D printer a year or so ago.
It has dual extruders and the print quality is brilliant.
My previous 3D printer was a homemade Prusa which printed ok
But I was forever tinkering with it.
The only mod I have done to the Qidi is to replace the print surface with glass with PEI plastic.
Not using any clamps either to hold the glass in place.
Had major problems with various printed clamps coming undone.
The solution was to use self adhesive heat sink pads.
They are approx. 20mm square and mounted every 40mm or so
The PEI is stuck to the glass and the glass sits on the heat sink pads.
Never moved once and the glass can still be removed if needed.
Never have to do any setting up, just prints perfect every (almost) time

Andy

Problem is they are between 500 and 700.......i would expect it to print better than a sub £100 printer.