Anet A8 3D Printer.

[bigegg]

Printing this now:

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:780807

holder for no.22 low angle block plane.

Printing with 0.3 layer, 1mm wall, 10% fill.

3hr 39mins apparently.

things I've discovered:
Bed level is *CRUCIAL* - and a pita to get right. (bed sensor + glass bed now being researched).
Prints *always* take longer than quoted time - it is SLOW. I probably need four of them running 24/7 for a month to print just the job list I have now!
My "hot end" is broken :-( so I need to print another - probably part of the reason the bed level is difficult to set.
I need a bigger printer: 18" x 18" x 12" would be *perfect*
Its sort of hypnotic - and addictive!



In conclusion:
Anet a8 is a bit like owning a landy, or a locost
at least 50% of the time is spent "tinkering" so dont buy one expecting it to be a Lexus (tinker time: zero%) because its *not*
but it is FUN.
I've spent most of the day spotting jobs that I can do with the printer, except they're usually too big, and/or could be done in 1/10 of the time by "conventional" techniques.

 

[PhillipM]

Yes, a lot of people fall into that trap, try to print *everything* - when a lot of the time you're better just printing some of it and make the rest normally, it's not a fast process, even with my machine (which if you're still doing 50mm/s is about 3-4x faster).
It's funny you should say you need more and bigger ones....I'm building another 2 bigger ones atm

 

[bigegg]

and now Ive found this:
https://www.gearbest.com/3d-printers-3d-printer-kits/pp_701649.html?lkid=12386232

330 x 330 x 400mm print volume for £255 + import+vat+postage.
this could get expensive!

 

[bigegg]

Yes, a lot of people fall into that trap, try to print *everything* - when a lot of the time you're better just printing some of it and make the rest normally, it's not a fast process, even with my machine (which if you're still doing 50mm/s is about 3-4x faster).
It's funny you should say you need more and bigger ones....I'm building another 2 bigger ones atm

lol.

2-3 hours per print would be ok tbh - its the 12 hrs + where it becomes a drag. especially watching it every 10 minutes to make sure it hasnt gone fubar, or aflame.

 

[bigegg]

just read an article which mentions printing at low <10% infill, and filling, post print, with expanding foam...

that could go two ways - and either way would end up with me cutting dried foam out of my hair.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

I did try running my printer at night but they are noisy beggars, the whine of the stepper motors drove me nuts!

 

[130]

Printing this now:

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:780807

holder for no.22 low angle block plane.

Printing with 0.3 layer, 1mm wall, 10% fill.

3hr 39mins apparently.

things I've discovered:
Bed level is *CRUCIAL* - and a pita to get right. (bed sensor + glass bed now being researched).
Prints *always* take longer than quoted time - it is SLOW. I probably need four of them running 24/7 for a month to print just the job list I have now!
My "hot end" is broken :-( so I need to print another - probably part of the reason the bed level is difficult to set.
I need a bigger printer: 18" x 18" x 12" would be *perfect*
Its sort of hypnotic - and addictive!



In conclusion:
Anet a8 is a bit like owning a landy, or a locost
at least 50% of the time is spent "tinkering" so dont buy one expecting it to be a Lexus (tinker time: zero%) because its *not*
but it is FUN.
I've spent most of the day spotting jobs that I can do with the printer, except they're usually too big, and/or could be done in 1/10 of the time by "conventional" techniques.

actually you will go through a learning curve and then if you don't mod and play with it for the sake of it, it will just work, no messing.

I've had mine a year.

and now Ive found this:
https://www.gearbest.com/3d-printers-3d-printer-kits/pp_701649.html?lkid=12386232

330 x 330 x 400mm print volume for £255 + import+vat+postage.
this could get expensive!

I bought mine on the uk version of their site. No import or vat surprises

 

[bigegg]

actually you will go through a learning curve and then if you don't mod and play with it for the sake of it, it will just work, no messing.

yeah, got to admit, there will come a time when "just enough IS enough".

 

[slim_boy_fat]

and now Ive found this:
https://www.gearbest.com/3d-printers-3d-printer-kits/pp_701649.html?lkid=12386232

330 x 330 x 400mm print volume for £255 + import+vat+postage.
this could get expensive!

Repeat after me...."Must resist, must resist....."

 

[bigegg]

Yes, a lot of people fall into that trap, try to print *everything* - when a lot of the time you're better just printing some of it and make the rest normally,

I'm currently looking at woodworking jigs:
things like kreg drawer jigs, or trend hinge jigs, or a kerfmaker
they cost a fortune, but apparently usable clones can be done for pennies.
I LIKE that price!

Plus, I've realised it will be really good for making templates for router, or paint, or etching or even sand blasting.

ooooooh. So many ideas...

 

[bigegg]

22% done in 1hr.
= 4hr 32mins.

so not 3hrs 39 like cura said

 

[130]

22% done in 1hr.
= 4hr 32mins.

so not 3hrs 39 like cura said

The progress on the panel seems more related to layers than actual progress

 

[130]

yeah, got to admit, there will come a time when "just enough IS enough".

screw the frame down to some MDF or something
Put it somewhere you won't move it and in week or two you won't do anything but load filaments, print and change frog tape on the heatbed

Oh and you can use it to print parts for a 1200x1200 one on thingiverse if you want bigger......

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Oh and you can use it to print parts for a 1200x1200 one on thingiverse if you want bigger......

They used to reckon a lathe was the only machine on which you could make all the bits to make....a lathe.
Old hat now, I suppose.....

 

[bigegg]

screw the frame down to some MDF or something
Put it somewhere you won't move it and in week or two you won't do anything but load filaments, print and change frog tape on the heatbed

Oh and you can use it to print parts for a 1200x1200 one on thingiverse if you want bigger......

I'm already in the processs of pricing up some 4040 extrusion and some 16mm linear bearings, shafts, motors + drive screws.

 

[130]

They used to reckon a lathe was the only machine on which you could make all the bits to make....a lathe.
Old hat now, I suppose.....

Google Rep Rap

 

[130]

I'm already in the processs of pricing up some 4040 extrusion and some 16mm linear bearings, shafts, motors + drive screws.

I think you are suffering from scope creep

 

[130]

Repeat after me...."Must resist, must resist....."

Just buy Bigegg's after he's used it to print his next one

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Google Rep Rap

Fascinating!! There's a whole new world out there about which I realise I know nothing. It's a good job I don't have a garage [or larger] workspace.....CNC plasma, mill, welding bench, and now 3D printing.

 

[bigegg]

Fascinating!! There's a whole new world out there about which I realise I know nothing. It's a good job I don't have a garage [or larger] workspace.....CNC plasma, mill, welding bench, and now 3D printing.

And then there's foundry work: 3d print the pattern, cast it in aluminium