3D Printing Options

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MadEngineer

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#265576 28-Jan-2020 21:13

I'm wanting to get a few of these printed https://www.instructables.com/id/SimpleSumo-Educational-Fighting-Robots/ but don't yet have a 3D printer. Looking to purchase one in the next few weeks (with the SO approval).

My son went to a holiday activity at the Feilding library (for $20!) and came home with one. I'd like to build three or four of them programmed with different qualities for fun.

Questions - there are a few places around town that I can take the stl files to and get it printed but when looking at the chassis stl file for example it appears to be sitting on its left hand side rather than flat on the z-axis. Is that normal and will it print fine off an SD card? Will the 3D printer re-orientate that automatically or will it need editing first?

On that page is a print of all the items sitting on a 250mmx250mm bed - what's the best way to reproduce that?

chevrolux

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#2409391 28-Jan-2020 21:57

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You will take the STL files and stick them in to a slicer (Cura, Slic3r, etc). In the slicer you arrange the parts and can set the orientation and placement there. The slicer spits out a gcode file that you stick on your sd card and the printer reads that.

My personal experience has told me to minimise the use of supports as much as possible, especially directly on the build plate.

A 250x250 build plate is kind of big-ish. My printer is 210x210 (Anycubic i3) and I think the Prusa is the same, I guess the ender plate would also be well under 250. What printers do they have at the library?

Edit: They have a Prusa. So just a case of assembling the print to suit that. Also note they want to use PLA. I would agree with the instructables though and use ABS as PLA is too brittle.

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#2409706 29-Jan-2020 14:13

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The actual print area used looks way less than 250x250 - I would imagine this would fit fine on my Ender 5 (230x230) and even if it didn't you could re-arrange the components or even print fewer off at one time.

I would actually use PETG over ABS - has most of the strength and longevity advantages and is far easier to print with.

I can do a print of one on my printer as a test this week if you like?

MadEngineer

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#2409737 29-Jan-2020 15:22

Hey that would be awesome if you could, what would I owe you for it?

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#2409740 29-Jan-2020 15:35

MadEngineer:

Hey that would be awesome if you could, what would I owe you for it?

Nothing - It's fun to do!

I think I only have boring colours in PETG at the moment though...black or grey. I ran out of transparent orange!

Will give it a crack once my current print has finished - probably late tonight.

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#2409976 30-Jan-2020 08:01

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MadEngineer:

Hey that would be awesome if you could, what would I owe you for it?

Someday soon your prints will come...

Going well - should be done before I get home tonight. There are a couple of the smaller mount pieces which I may redo with a different orientation just to minimize the bridging and maximise quality and I need to do another set of wheel parts.

Assuming it comes out well, I will try another in Black PETG if I have enough and then I can arrange to get them to you!

CokemonZ

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#2409991 30-Jan-2020 09:01

This looks like an awesome project.

AKL Central library has a couple of 3d printers - have you given them a go?

I must admit I got scared off when looking to print some small parts but for this sort of thing could be worth while.

MadEngineer

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#2410084 30-Jan-2020 11:19

That's awesome - can spot what looks like 3D printed mods for that printer?

My lad's robot didn't have the wheels printed, rather it was supplied with off the shelf servo wheels from the likes of Amazon or Aliexpress

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#2410086 30-Jan-2020 11:26

MadEngineer:

That's awesome - can spot what looks like 3D printed mods for that printer?

It has been extensively modded in the 9-10 months or so that I have had it, yes!

The bits you can see in orange are indeed printed by me - the hot end carriage has a customised version of the HeroMe fan mod which I bodged together in 3D Builder which incorporates the mount for the EZABL Bed levelling sensor into a single piece unit to reduce flex and the weaknesses in the original.

Other orange bits are some cable management, a Rasperry Pi case and mount and the mount for the filament run out sensor.

Bits you can't see are the camera and LED light mounts as well as the under-the-hood stuff such as the EZBOARD lite motherboard etc.