I could use some help with 3D printing

[TazMan2000]

I think the FDM printers have reached their technology apex at this point. The layer heights have gone to .05mm (0.04 in some cases) and I don't believe they can go much better. They may improve on the speed, size and material but that's it. For most of us that will be ok. The SLA printers still have room to grow and come down on their price point.

TazMan2000

 

[Mad Monkey]

I love the learning aspect of them. Like my prints are ok but I can see some ghosting. So it's all about learning what's up. I should look up a swont makers group. Maybe there's someone locally that can give me pointers! If not it's. Something to think about creating

 

[Great_Bizarro]

I think the FDM printers have reached their technology apex at this point. The layer heights have gone to .05mm (0.04 in some cases) and I don't believe they can go much better. They may improve on the speed, size and material but that's it. For most of us that will be ok. The SLA printers still have room to grow and come down on their price point.

TazMan2000

Wellllllll, I print with a .02 on an older machine ,wanhao i3, with good results. But damn it takes forever to print at that size!

Here is the best general guide on printing problems and how to correct them
Print Quality Troubleshooting Guide | Simplify3D Software

 

[Kokanee]

I've been getting outstanding results from my Ultimaker 3 printer, but even still I saw big improvements when I enclosed my printer so the air inside reaches a nice 26-28 degrees (82f for our American friends) which is optimal for PLA.

 

[Mad Monkey]

ive been busy printing up Christmas gifts lol bunch of puzzle tubes, doing a Make anything lockpick puzzle now.

printed a few more pokemon for my son. and some printer upgrades... overall im very happy i got this thing... and of course always keep my eyes open for #2+ (much to my wife's displeasure )

 

[Empiricus]

Just build a custom Railcore II with a E3D Titan Aero extruder (start [RailCore Wiki]). Fantastic output without much calibrating 30x30x34 cm Build volume - now I can start my The Martian helmet build.

 

[Pro Mod]

I've finally joined the club. Arriving Thursday is a CR-10s with dual Z axis and filament monitor.

What could possibly go wrong.....!

 

[Mad Monkey]

mines basically a clone of that cr-10s!

let me tell you... a few things can go wrong... many things can go right!!!

im currently printing a switch box/junction box for all my LED lighting for the printer...

thats right folks why buy a box when you can print one!!!

 

[MangyDog]

Just build a custom Railcore II with a E3D Titan Aero extruder (start [RailCore Wiki]). Fantastic output without much calibrating 30x30x34 cm Build volume - now I can start my The Martian helmet build.

Lol Thats kinda what ive done... Though still building... Im on the railcore irc channel....

I started off making it as a rodcore, with dual rods on xyz... but in the end ive now put rails on XY... been a damn costly endevour building this thing and its still not finished... I dont think I need to spend any more real money on it though...

 

[Empiricus]

Yes it gets pricey trying different solutions. Here is my Railcore II. 30x30x34cm print volume. IR probe for auto bed leveling. Tricky with an PEI bed so I may exchange for an inductive probe.

 

[Mad Monkey]

Today was printer upgrade parts day. Found a power supply for my lighting set up, so I printed a junction/switch box I modeled up. Gotta just tie in the lines now.also printed a bunch of 2020 clips for routing wires and clipping them to the frame.
Added a sheet of eva floor mat under it for vibrations, going to add some more chunks for feet. (I'll still order dampers but not needed instantly now) after lighting has been sorted out I think next upgrades will be quieter/more powerful fans.

 

[TazMan2000]

As I'm sure all of you know, the bane of us who use FDM printers is layer lines. A UK called Steelmans has released a new matte PLA called MatteForge that significantly reduces layer lines. This product was tested on another site, and there are some drawbacks with strength.

Other companies have released matte PLA but they haven't come close to reducing the layer lines of this product. I think the closest is ColorFabb.

This stuff isn't cheap though and as far as I know is only slowly being released to other countries. High hopes that Steelmans will expand or perhaps sell their invention to other manufacturers.

Steelmans' PLA-based MatteForge 3D printing filament available for $28 per kg via Kickstarter

TazMan2000

 

[mattycsi]

As I'm sure all of you know, the bane of us who use FDM printers is layer lines. A UK called Steelmans has released a new matte PLA called MatteForge that significantly reduces layer lines. This product was tested on another site, and there are some drawbacks with strength.

Other companies have released matte PLA but they haven't come close to reducing the layer lines of this product. I think the closest is ColorFabb.

This stuff isn't cheap though and as far as I know is only slowly being released to other countries. High hopes that Steelmans will expand or perhaps sell their invention to other manufacturers.

Steelmans' PLA-based MatteForge 3D printing filament available for $28 per kg via Kickstarter

TazMan2000

This really peaked my interest. Looking into it further, it is readily available on Ebay UK. At £30 per 1kg spool it is pricey but if its as good as it appears to be it would be worth it for the time and effort saved in finishing. I've seen a few mixed reviews, has anyone here tried it? It's a shame they don't offer smaller amounts as a trial offer.

 

[propmaster2000]

It would be nice to get a sample of this filament, maybe in white and run it through the printer comparing it to
a different brand, using the exact same settings and temperatures.

I wonder if it has a very rough texture to it on the spool, like Inlands "NEW FORMULA".
The new formula of Inland white was so rough, it gave the extruder a tough time pushing it through a Bowden tube
type printer.
If anyone gets this stuff, run the same stl. file using a few different filaments as a comparison exercise (such as new formula Inland White matte).
Is it worth the higher price?

In Matteforges description it said"
"We couldn't find anything available that would visually disguise the layers that hinder FFF/FDM printing without the addition of post processing....."

Does it actually reduce the print lines (because of their new formula) or just hide them better because there is less light reflection (matte finish)?

I would love to be able to get a free sample to test any of these claims:

• Matte finish, low gloss
• High impact resistance
• Good flexural strength
• Same print settings as typical PLA
• Great layer and bed adhesion
• Made from 100% renewable and natural raw materials
• Almost no odor
• No warping (low shrinkage, 0.3%)
• Available in 1.75 mm or 2.85 mm
• +/- 0.05mm diameter tolerance

This is an image from their web page. I guess it bends, but I see print lines?

.

 

[mattycsi]

Does it actually reduce the print lines (because of their new formula) or just hide them better because there is less light reflection (matte finish)?

I would love to be able to get a free sample.

This is what I cant find a clear answer on.
I would gladly pay a few pounds to get 100g or so to try it out. I just cant jystify £30 on something that could ultimately only be as good a finish as my usual £10 stuff.

 

[Mad Monkey]

anyone tried contacting them for that very point?

they might have test bits they can send out to try and attract new customers

 

[mattycsi]

anyone tried contacting them for that very point?

they might have test bits they can send out to try and attract new customers

I just emailed them. See what they come back with.

 

[mattycsi]

I got a reply, unfortunately they only sell the 1kg spools. Although it is a full kilogram of filament, a lot of places include the spool in the weight. It doesn't look like any of the resellers break it down to samples either.

 

[MangyDog]

Right i have to be honest right now and call ******** on a filament that hides layer lines... utter ********. You cant hide the physical structure of 3D printing. The only way to reduce layer lines is to reduce layer height. The lower the height less lines will be visible without post processing.

Sure a glossy filament will highlight layer lines when light is shown on it. But matt filament doesnt hide layer lines. Just makes the light less shiny.

The only way to get rid of layer lines is post processing work, which anyone making props should do regardless of the building medium... Be it casting or printing.

The only time your going to start making layer lines disappear from the naked eye, is to print at around 0.05mm layer or less. But this will significantly increase print times. In the end post processing a 0.1 or 0.15 height print will be far quicker.

And heck youll still need to post process a 0.05 print as well. As there will also be a little deformity of some type...

As for Railcore Im not building from the kit... I ended up taking there design and making my own... But ive made mistakes over the time. And im currently struggling with a ever ever ever so slightly unsquareness issue that might be causing my X rails to grind a little.

Though ive still got lots of work to do its not finished. But I did do its first ever test print you can see the latest post about it on my imgur here... Rodcore Got Railed, doing its first ever print....

 

[TazMan2000]

The samples that I have seen were from a distance of about 12", so it was difficult to tell if there were later lines due to the low reflectivity of the filament. I have seen a closeup picture of the filament and it has a rough, bumpy texture. The filament may have refractory or reflectory properties to "appear to have less layer lines, but the laters will still be there.

I'll try it out if they have a reseller in my area. With its new PLA formula, it might make post processing easier, whether it is with sanding or chemicals.

I still think it may be possible to have a much reduced look of layer lines by modifying the chemistry of PLA. Extruders push out the filament in a rope like fashion, with the top layer bonding to the one below it. The 'rope' bulges and solidifies with the bulge. What if the filament would shrink the bulge in on itself a little bit as it cooled. Shrinkage is never good, when you are making something to scale, but there may be a way to shrink the filament in only one direction. Or perhaps there is a way to extrude in a different shape. Kind of like decorating a cake.

They use ironing to smooth out the top layer, would it be possible to get the extruded heat to smooth out the outskirts of the print?

TazMan2000