3d Printers South Africa

[xrapidx]

Ive seen some people complain about the tolerances on SA Filament, but the grey roll PLA Im currently using from them is great. I hope it stays like this.

I've been through about six roles of SA Filament without issue.

 

[valiente]

Just have to give a Shout Out to DIYElectronics...

Placed an order which I spent a couple days building up and chopping and changing.
I finally placed the order and exactly 90 minutes later, the order is shipped:

 

[xrapidx]

Getting the hang of ABS (Funkiments), printing a new shroud... Don't like the current one, maintenance is difficult.

Also just got notification my CR Touch is here - so hopefully it'll put a end to my damn bed levelling issues.

 

[xrapidx]

All done.

 

[karnuffel]

Getting the hang of ABS (Funkiments), printing a new shroud... Don't like the current one, maintenance is difficult.

Also just got notification my CR Touch is here - so hopefully it'll put a end to my damn bed levelling issues.

On the topic of Funkiments, I was busy cleaning up yesterday and found one of my old empty spools can actually be taken apart. So Im saving that one for my Funkiments order

 

[xrapidx]

On the topic of Funkiments, I was busy cleaning up yesterday and found one of my old empty spools can actually be taken apart. So Im saving that one for my Funkiments order

If you order from them, order the spool sides, much quicker/easier than printing.

 

[karnuffel]

If you order from them, order the spool sides, much quicker/easier than printing.

The reuse makes sense. I still have a few more empty spools to check, maybe I have more that I can take apart. Guess Ill save R60 or so

 

[B-1]

The reuse makes sense. I still have a few more empty spools to check, maybe I have more that I can take apart. Guess Ill save R60 or so

Lucky, I was thinking of cutting two of my old spools in half and then just designing/printing a center piece to hold them together again.

 

[karnuffel]

Lucky, I was thinking of cutting two of my old spools in half and then just designing/printing a center piece to hold them together again.

If only I could remember what brand used that spool.

 

[valiente]

If only I could remember what brand used that spool.

I have a couple that can easily disassemble:

• eSun (Clear Spool)
• Verbatim (White Spool)

2 Screws and it comes apart



Simply clicks in and out, screwdriver to pop it out

 

[eye_suc]

On the topic of Funkiments, I was busy cleaning up yesterday and found one of my old empty spools can actually be taken apart. So Im saving that one for my Funkiments order

Lucky, I was thinking of cutting two of my old spools in half and then just designing/printing a center piece to hold them together again.

I have a couple that can easily disassemble:

• eSun (Clear Spool)
• Verbatim (White Spool)

2 Screws and it comes apart
View attachment 1129194


Simply clicks in and out, screwdriver to pop it out
View attachment 1129196

If you are going to be trying Funkiments, be aware that you might run the risk of the spool not being the right dimensions. If this happens the filament can lift over the sides of the spool and then you will be having great fun with tangles. The Funk spool was designed to a very specific size to work on their own cardboard cores.

The splitting of a normal spool can work, if it is a big ass spool, but all of those we tried tends to fail when the spool is still full. Even the eSun spool (which I have loads of) didn't want to play ball.

I'll see if I can dig up some old pics that shows the results of using the wrong spool.

 

[xrapidx]

If you are going to be trying Funkiments, be aware that you might run the risk of the spool not being the right dimensions. If this happens the filament can lift over the sides of the spool and then you will be having great fun with tangles. The Funk spool was designed to a very specific size to work on their own cardboard cores.

The splitting of a normal spool can work, if it is a big ass spool, but all of those we tried tends to fail when the spool is still full. Even the eSun spool (which I have loads of) didn't want to play ball.

I'll see if I can dig up some old pics that shows the results of using the wrong spool.

I had exactly this with the silver ABS Fortunately because if my setup it was easily reversible.

 

[eye_suc]

Not my pics, but a very nice example. This is Funkiments loaded on an AMS spool. You can clearly see the filament bulging over the sides. This caused the guy to loose 13 hours of print time, and after the first knot he couldn't get it sorted cause he had missed a few knots.
As a side note, it is physically impossible for the winder to wind a knot into the spool. If you have knots, something like the above must have happened.

Not trying to dissuade you guys from trying, but these are the lessons we learnt along the way, hence the new spool design.

Also, to reduce the print time of the spool, use 0.28 layer height, 0.6mm layer width and crank the speed as high as your printer can handle.

 

[valiente]

Anyone know where I can have a DXF file sent to be CNC'd? They need to provide the material and cut to size and drill a couple holes.

Looking for Polycarbonate and Aluminium?


Edit: Gauteng I don't mind driving a bit to get good service!

 

[saor]

Anyone know where I can have a DXF file sent to be CNC'd? They need to provide the material and cut to size and drill a couple holes.

Looking for Polycarbonate and Aluminium?

Probably help if you mention where you are.

 

[B-1]

Made some progress over the weekend with my VZbot. Will need to make another order for parts that I still need but its getting there slowly.

 

[valiente]

How thick ?

4mm would be ideal but I can also settle for 3mm...

 

[avk]

I bought an Ender 5 Pro about 2 months ago. My first 3D printer, and I must say this is a rather addictive hobby.

Upgrades I've made so far:

• Bed supports - I found that when the X and Y axis travelled quickly a slight shudder would go through the bed. A result of the bed only being connected on one side. This sometimes resulted in the head slamming in to the print and lifting it. Reducing travel speed helped, but I wanted to make it as solid as possible.
• Chucked the magnet bed thing after a few weeks. Could not get PLA+ to adhere the first layer perfectly. When it did adhere, I struggled to get it off. So now printing on a 4mm mirror cleaned with isopropyl alcohol between prints. Working perfectly.
• BL Touch - one of the best upgrades I reckon you can do. The 5 Pro ships with an MB that already has the plugs, so installing was easy. Note: the cable needs to be at least 1.5m long to reach, but 'side cutters + soldering + heat shrink = perfect length' as well.
• Designed and printed mounts for LED strips to see what's cooking. Also designed a box to hide the wires and mount the switches for the LEDs that fits in the corner around the aluminum crossbars.

Future updates include moving the front cross bar down with this as it is in the way when trying to see first layer adhesion properly. Printing those as I type.

Living at the coast I was a little apprehensive on humidity having an influence on the PLA. Started designing a drybox to permanently store the PLA+ rolls, but couldn't find a large enough transparent container in our little town...so in the end found these 'cake boxes' at PEP for R18.99. Few bolts and nuts later, they work really well. Clearance inside is perfect for the eSun rolls. Remixed an existing design on Thingaverse.

If you want to try it yourself: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4939764

This 3D printing thing is a good game.

 

[Gnome]

Looks great.

What tupperware are you using there? Like where did you buy it, price, name etc?

 

[avk]

Looks great.

What tupperware are you using there? Like where did you buy it, price, name etc?

generic type, no name brand bought at my local PEP for R18.99 each.