My 3d Printing saga

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Shakey
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Re: My 3d Printing saga

Post by Shakey »

Ya'll need jesus- I mean dual power supplies

Image

My printers heated bed was a little lacklustre so I fitted a power supply to the heated bed input that supplies 15v. Only a small increase but had a really great effect on the warmup times and top temperatures. Before I had to use a tea towel to cover the bed to get it to temperature.
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Spaceman
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Re: My 3d Printing saga

Post by Spaceman »

Dose that cause issue with the element? I assume not. I assume thats beafing up to 15v from 12 volt?
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Shakey
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Location: Reading

Re: My 3d Printing saga

Post by Shakey »

Yeah overvolt from 12v to 15v. There's no real element to have problems with, the heated bed is just a PCB with one long track going across the face of it.

If you have a RAMPS 1.4 based printer there's an input for the heated bed meaning only the heated bed gets that power.
Nuts And Bots - For all your components and ready built antweights!

Alex Shakespeare - Team Shakey / Nuts And Bots / Team Nuts:
AWS 44, 45, 49, 51 & 55 Winner - Far too many robots!
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UserFriendly
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Re: My 3d Printing saga

Post by UserFriendly »

MY process is:
Design on iPad 123D Design (although I think Autodesk have removed it from the UK iTunes store now)
Export to Dropbox
Download from Dropbox on desktop PC
Import into Repetier Host Geetech (slice with slic3r)
Export GCode and upload to astroprint

Setting are usually (abs)
Extruder: 240
Bed: 110c (first layer 115c)

I print directly onto glass.
I've found that the distance between the nozzle and bed is critical for a good print. I level the bed, running a sheet of 80gms paper between the nozzle and the bed, so it can move, but gives a little resistance. Gap too small, and plastic doesn't come through, gap too big, and it doesn't adhere to the bed.

I've never used any coating to make it stick to the bed. Because the bed is quite hot (110), it seems to stick well. When the bed temp drops to below 80c, then the piece easily pops off, making me think that I would probably get away with a lower temp bed, but if it aint broke, don't fix it etc.

To get the bed upto temp, I use a bit of cardboard, covered with Kapton tape:
Image
I just have to make sure I take it off before it starts printing!
I'm pretty happy with my printer. I love the ability to tinker and upgrade it!
Andy B - Team UserFriendly
Reading Cybernetics Graduate 1996
Trying not to take Antweights too seriously. I think I'm failing.
First AWS was 46.
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Spaceman
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Location: Oxfordshire

Re: My 3d Printing saga

Post by Spaceman »

Cheers for all the advice.

Getting along with the printer now. Not tried abs or modding it for abs yet but its on the list of things to do.
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