3d Printers South Africa

RedViking

Nord of the South
Joined
Feb 23, 2012
Messages
58,161
Is there someone in the Cape Town region who can print something for @Pineapple Smurf .

He is looking for a banana container.

 

avk

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2007
Messages
768
So printed these over the weekend. The original lens caps for my DSLR break very easily, and the genuine Sony items are not exactly cheap.

Printed the 55mm ones first. The left one at higher speed 80mm/s, 0.28mm layers. The right at 60mm/s and 0.12mm layer heights. Very impressed and happy with the first layer finish. Picture doesn't do it justice.

They are 'print in place' so the little springs break free the first time you use them. Going to print one for each lens. They are cheap, light and don't take a lot of space in the camera bags. There is even one for my 400mm lens. If anyone else wants to have a try, you can find the design here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3241700 STLs for lens cap sizes from 37mm to 105mm.

I was sceptical at first, but they work really well!

20210824_194713.jpg
 

rodga

Honorary Master
Joined
May 9, 2007
Messages
11,054
So printed these over the weekend. The original lens caps for my DSLR break very easily, and the genuine Sony items are not exactly cheap.

Printed the 55mm ones first. The left one at higher speed 80mm/s, 0.28mm layers. The right at 60mm/s and 0.12mm layer heights. Very impressed and happy with the first layer finish. Picture doesn't do it justice.

They are 'print in place' so the little springs break free the first time you use them. Going to print one for each lens. They are cheap, light and don't take a lot of space in the camera bags. There is even one for my 400mm lens. If anyone else wants to have a try, you can find the design here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3241700 STLs for lens cap sizes from 37mm to 105mm.

I was sceptical at first, but they work really well!

View attachment 1133504
Thanks... Needed one and didn't even occur to use my printer for one. Lol
 

xrapidx

Honorary Master
Joined
Feb 16, 2007
Messages
40,312
I fitted a CR Touch in the hopes of resolving my constantly shifting bed.... but, pretty much sitting with the same issue.

The Z-offset keeps changing slightly. If I set it to -1.48 - rehome the z-axis - and check again - it needs to be moved to -1.6.... rehome the z-axis again - and then its at -1.54.

Where/what can be causing this? Only thing that's moving is the z-axis.
 

howardb

Expert Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2003
Messages
3,652
I fitted a CR Touch in the hopes of resolving my constantly shifting bed.... but, pretty much sitting with the same issue.

The Z-offset keeps changing slightly. If I set it to -1.48 - rehome the z-axis - and check again - it needs to be moved to -1.6.... rehome the z-axis again - and then its at -1.54.

Where/what can be causing this? Only thing that's moving is the z-axis.
Have you got dual Z axis stepper motors? They may be going out of sync and causing the Z axis to drop slightly on one side or the other. I fitted a Z-sync belt setup to S4 to prevent this, and rarely have to re-level the bed now (only when the nozzle is changed)
 

xrapidx

Honorary Master
Joined
Feb 16, 2007
Messages
40,312
Have you got dual Z axis stepper motors? They may be going out of sync and causing the Z axis to drop slightly on one side or the other. I fitted a Z-sync belt setup to S4 to prevent this, and rarely have to re-level the bed now (only when the nozzle is changed)
Nope, just the one, bed also has silicone spacers which a pretty tight.
 

Mike7

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2011
Messages
820
Got my ender 3 yesterday and completed the assembly but struggling with the prints not sticking to the bed. My bed is levelled I think. Any advice?
 

karnuffel

Expert Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2010
Messages
4,777
Got my ender 3 yesterday and completed the assembly but struggling with the prints not sticking to the bed. My bed is levelled I think. Any advice?
Maybe post a photo of your first layer, might help us help you :)

Also, as xrapidx said, hairspray is your friend. I also found printing without the fan running for the first few layers and slowing down the print speed helps.

Did you try and print with a raft?
 

avk

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2007
Messages
768
Got my ender 3 yesterday and completed the assembly but struggling with the prints not sticking to the bed. My bed is levelled I think. Any advice?
As above, try the hairspray.

Else, on my Ender 5 I really struggled with adhesion on the standard magnet bed. Even with hairspray. Either getting bad adhesion, or the total opposite not getting prints off! Ended up printing using rafts for a few weeks...not ideal.

Chucked the magnet bed thing, had a mirror cut to size, held in place with clips. Clean with isopropyl alcohol between prints. Nothing else. Perfect bed adhesion. I removed prints while still on the plate a few times directly after the print finished, placing it on my kitchen counter. As the glass cools you can actually very clearly hear cracking sounds as the glass cools and the PLA+ pulls loose from the glass.

Getting absolutely the smoothest finish against the mirror printing at 210C Extruder and 60C bed with eSun PLA+. Mirrors cost R50 each for cut to size pieces of 235mmx235mm and 4mm thick.
 

Mike7

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2011
Messages
820
I've read about the hairspray trick. Will any hairspray do?
Maybe post a photo of your first layer, might help us help you :)

Also, as xrapidx said, hairspray is your friend. I also found printing without the fan running for the first few layers and slowing down the print speed helps.

Did you try and print with a raft?
I'll try and post a pic later if I get a chance. Raft? Can I slow down and speed up the print speed during printing?
As above, try the hairspray.

Else, on my Ender 5 I really struggled with adhesion on the standard magnet bed. Even with hairspray. Either getting bad adhesion, or the total opposite not getting prints off! Ended up printing using rafts for a few weeks...not ideal.

Chucked the magnet bed thing, had a mirror cut to size, held in place with clips. Clean with isopropyl alcohol between prints. Nothing else. Perfect bed adhesion. I removed prints while still on the plate a few times directly after the print finished, placing it on my kitchen counter. As the glass cools you can actually very clearly hear cracking sounds as the glass cools and the PLA+ pulls loose from the glass.

Getting absolutely the smoothest finish against the mirror printing at 210C Extruder and 60C bed with eSun PLA+. Mirrors cost R50 each for cut to size pieces of 235mmx235mm and 4mm thick.
I'm using the pla test sample that came with the Ender. Could it be just crappy filament? I'm using the default pla settings on the printer, 200c nozzle 60c bed.
 

karnuffel

Expert Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2010
Messages
4,777
I've read about the hairspray trick. Will any hairspray do?

I'll try and post a pic later if I get a chance. Raft?

I'm using the pla test sample that came with the Ender. Could it be just crappy filament? I'm using the default pla settings on the printer, 200c nozzle 60c bed.

I use Perfect touch Spray and stay ultimate hold.

Raft: When slicing you can choose to print with a raft, it sometimes helps with pieces that do not have a lot touching the build plate.

I dont think its the filament. Remember PLA likes to be squeezed onto the bed. Did you clean the bed? I use isopropyl on my glass bed and it also helps.
 

gregmcc

Honorary Master
Joined
Jun 29, 2006
Messages
25,514
Had my Ender 3 v2 for a good few months now and it's driving me completely mental. Ready to take a baseball bat to it.

Having constant issues with the first layer not sticking. Watched and gone through every setup tutorial I can find for bed levelling. Installed a BLTouch which didn't seem to improve things.

Also tried the glue which everyone recommends. Last week I install jyers firmware and gone through the UBL setup. On the bed level viewer the the whole thing is green.
However still no joy. First layer still not sticking. Have also tried increasing bed temperature. Now on 60C with PLA.
Cleaned bed with isoproprl then tried again with and without glue.

It can't be that difficult can it? :crying:
 

xrapidx

Honorary Master
Joined
Feb 16, 2007
Messages
40,312
Take a photo of your first layer? 90% of the time mine has been the bed level, either too close, or too far.
 

karnuffel

Expert Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2010
Messages
4,777
Had my Ender 3 v2 for a good few months now and it's driving me completely mental. Ready to take a baseball bat to it.

Having constant issues with the first layer not sticking. Watched and gone through every setup tutorial I can find for bed levelling. Installed a BLTouch which didn't seem to improve things.

Also tried the glue which everyone recommends. Last week I install jyers firmware and gone through the UBL setup. On the bed level viewer the the whole thing is green.
However still no joy. First layer still not sticking. Have also tried increasing bed temperature. Now on 60C with PLA.
Cleaned bed with isoproprl then tried again with and without glue.

It can't be that difficult can it? :crying:
Show us whats happening :) We've all been there
 

gregmcc

Honorary Master
Joined
Jun 29, 2006
Messages
25,514
I'm trying to print the XYZ dice from thingverse. The first thing is its supposed to draw a line down the left side. Then move to the center and start. The line starts but doesnt stick and when it moves to the center it drags the whole line with it. Also seeing a ton of PLA squished on the nozzle.

rsz_20210826_094354.jpg


rsz_20210826_094541.jpg
 

gregmcc

Honorary Master
Joined
Jun 29, 2006
Messages
25,514
Nozzle too close to the bed?
You could be onto something. I've been going round and round in circles for so long maybe I"m missing the obvious. Been thinking if its not sticking the nozzle must be not close enough :cautious:
 
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