3d Printer, Ender3 NZ$229

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Forums › Bargains and Deals › 3d Printer, Ender3 NZ$229

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#2890515 23-Mar-2022 10:44

richms:

Only issues I have had on my other one was levelling it before it had heated up. Letting it heat up good and proper first means its all expanded into place as it will do. When starting the second print, pre-heat it, leave it to sit for a while and the gap will become correct.

If I re-heat it first then I can just pull one print off and start the next one in almost all cases. And if you stand and watch the first layers its pretty obvious if its pushing down enough to stick or if its just laying strings ontop of the plate.

^ This.

I preheat the hot end too - about 160 deg so filament won't ooze out when I'm levelling.

elpenguino

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#2890537 23-Mar-2022 11:43

1101:

elpenguino:

I carefully levelled the bed but when the print started it looked like the nozzle was ~5mm above the bed and so the filament was just looping everywhere.

Did you 'home' (then disable steppers) before leveling the bed ?

I don't know what I've done - I'm on the vertical part of the learning curve right now.

Looks like I need to RTFM.

I suppose there's always a first time.

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

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#2890726 23-Mar-2022 15:05

Wakrak:

No idea if this is cheap or not. Kogan has a free shipping deal going at the moment and there's a bunch of Creality gear there.

Use code EOFY at checkout.

Creality in EOFY Free Shipping Computers/Tablets & Networking on Kogan.com

They have the V4.2.7 Silent Motherboard upgrade for $59.95 which appears to be the cheapest I can find anywhere - it's up to $100 in NZ, $70 on ebay (shipped from Sri Lanka), $68 via Amazon Australia

richms

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#2890805 23-Mar-2022 15:29

How much quieter is it anyway? The thing makes less noise than my ethernet switch fan as it is....

Richard rich.ms

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#2890901 23-Mar-2022 18:31

richms:
How much quieter is it anyway? The thing makes less noise than my ethernet switch fan as it is....

Yeah, I barely notice the current noise, so don't know why they use "Silence" as the main selling point - I'm more taken by the claim that it's faster, more sensitive and has higher printing precision.

elpenguino

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#2891030 23-Mar-2022 21:47

mdf:

Getting your z limit switch right is something of a known issue with Creality. From memory, I ended up cutting off the protruding notch so I could get it where it needed to be with a glass bed. More help here: https://all3dp.com/2/ender-3-pro-z-offset/

Yes, that's the problem. The Z switch cannot go low enough because of that protruding tab. I've dropped the switch and it has done a test print ok.

I'll have to cut the tab off because the switch plate is just hanging there by one screw at the mo.

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

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#2891099 24-Mar-2022 08:38

This is a really interesting read for a novice like myself with an interest in gadgetry. I like the idea of owning a 3D-printer but I'd just want it to 'print stuff'.

Am I right in concluding from this thread that 3D-Printer ownership and use demands a level of 'enthusiast' involvement (i.e. continual maintenance and reconfiguration) in order to produce worthwhile 'prints'?

Sometimes I use big words I don't always fully understand in an effort to make myself sound more photosynthesis.

1101

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#2891105 24-Mar-2022 08:57

floydbloke:

Am I right in concluding from this thread that 3D-Printer ownership and use demands a level of 'enthusiast' involvement (i.e. continual maintenance and reconfiguration) in order to produce worthwhile 'prints'?

Thats the fun part of 3D printers.
Tinkering , printing upgrades, making it better . Within reason .

You have to remember these are sold at hobbiest prices .
Its a $200 , $360 machine. you are buying a box of very very very cheap parts .
You arnt paying for a high precision, fully tested & supported CAD machine.

mdf

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#2891159 24-Mar-2022 09:12

+1. If you want it to "just work", have a look at Ultimakers. And then have a look at Ultimaker prices (though Tim at Mindkits is top drawer).

At the Creality pricing end of the spectrum, you will need to invest a few hours figuring to get a decent print - which IMO is part of the fun of a hobby, learning something new. If you really want to continually tinker and refine, you can do that and results will improve, but there is a very fast tail off into the law of diminishing returns. Ocassionally stuff will go wrong and you will need to figure out why (usually something isn't as tight as it should be, maybe a nozzle is clogged). But I've gotten to the point where I know the likely settings to use for most prints and can produce something good enough for my needs with only a bit of work. I tend to go through a phase of printing heaps, then nothing will happen for a bit as I get distracted with other interests.

What did you think you would print? Hobby parts? Funk little pop culture tokens? Or super high end refined and smooth objet d'art? And a model someone else has designed, or designing your own stuff (I suspect I've put significantly more hours into learning CAD than the 3D printing part).

frankv

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#2891163 24-Mar-2022 09:18

Figure that a 3D printer will cost you $1000. You can either buy one for $1000 (or more) and "just print stuff", or you can buy one for less, and pay off the difference in time, plus sweat, tears, and maybe a little blood. Figure on $1/hour if you don't know anything about electronics or mechanical devices, maybe $10/hr if you're electronically or mechanically skilled. If you don't enjoy tinkering and learning, spend the grand.

floydbloke

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#2891168 24-Mar-2022 09:24

mdf:

...

What did you think you would print? Hobby parts? Funk little pop culture tokens? Or super high end refined and smooth objet d'art? And a model someone else has designed, or designing your own stuff (I suspect I've put significantly more hours into learning CAD than the 3D printing part).

Hobby parts mostly. I like to mess around with Lego Mindstorms/Technics from time-to-time and every now and then I'm looking for a particular piece that simply doesn't exist.

The occasional DIY thing. A few months ago I needed a plastic pully for a curtain draw-string mechanism.

My design or someone else's? Bit of both I expect.

I guess there's nothing stopping me designing and finding someone local to print it in return for fair payment.

Sometimes I use big words I don't always fully understand in an effort to make myself sound more photosynthesis.

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elpenguino

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#2891169 24-Mar-2022 09:27

Our local library has a couple of printers, I presume available for a small fee.

Knowing that, I agree the real skill to develop is the design / drawing side.

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

mdf

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#2891174 24-Mar-2022 09:41

floydbloke:

Hobby parts mostly. I like to mess around with Lego Mindstorms/Technics from time-to-time and every now and then I'm looking for a particular piece that simply doesn't exist.

The occasional DIY thing. A few months ago I needed a plastic pully for a curtain draw-string mechanism.

My design or someone else's? Bit of both I expect.

I guess there's nothing stopping me designing and finding someone local to print it in return for fair payment.

Physically where are you? A makerspace could be what you're after, either to do it for you or go to a course and see if you like it.

floydbloke

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#2891177 24-Mar-2022 09:49

mdf:

...

Physically where are you? A makerspace could be what you're after, either to do it for you or go to a course and see if you like it.

Greater Wellington, an easy drive into town if needed. I might check out what's around.

Sometimes I use big words I don't always fully understand in an effort to make myself sound more photosynthesis.

mdf

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#2891185 24-Mar-2022 10:11

floydbloke:

Greater Wellington, an easy drive into town if needed. I might check out what's around.

Me too, so happy to help with specific projects if you're ever stuck. But in terms of makerspaces:

Johnsonville Library has The Hive: https://wellington.govt.nz/news-and-events/news-and-information/our-wellington/2021/06/waitohi-makerspace

Nigel @ Makeroom is another one out of the top drawer (top drawers twice in one thread!) but in Miramar so potentially less geographically convenient: https://makeroomwellington.nz/pages/adult-classes. He doesn't seem to be running an adult 3d printing class this term but if you ask nicely/register an interest he might add it to the program for later in the year.

Fablab @ Massey used to offer adult stuff, but I'm not sure if that is still the case / pandemic limited.

If it ever starts up again, the annual Maker Faire is *awesome* - Both in general, and for figuring out what's out there.

If you did go down the makerspace/use others machines, I guess something to bear in mind is being open to using other tools. Laser and router cutting is _significantly_ faster than 3D printing. I use a lot of 3D printing since I have a 3D printer, but it's not necessarily always the best tool for the job.

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