tools:digitalfabrication:3dprinters:home [HSBNE Wiki]

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--- tools:digitalfabrication:3dprinters:home [2020/04/11 12:01]
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+++ tools:digitalfabrication:3dprinters:home [2020/12/30 17:25]
jabelone [HSBNE 3D Printer Design Tips]
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-====== 3D Printers ======
+======= 3D Printers =======
+{{:tools:digitalfabrication:3dprinters:printers.jpg?nolink&400|}}
 <WRAP center round alert 60%>
-Never leave any filament 3D printer running unattended.
+Never leave any filament 3D printer running unattended. The entire bench and print area must be 100% clear of debris and tools. DO NOT start a print before checking this.
 </WRAP>
 __**:?: These machines are maintained by members of the Digital Fabrication Cause. Please speak with the listed maintainer before trying to maintain them.**__
-==== Using Filament ====
+===== Want to get started printing quickly? =====
-If you're using our 3D printer filament please read [[https://wiki.hsbne.org/tools/digitalfabrication/3dprinters/filament|this page]] first.
+Unfortunately, there is no way to get started quickly. If you try to skip any steps or don't ready everything you're meant to, you will **most likely damage something**. Please read this entire page, then click on the printer you want to use, and read that entire page.
+===== Using Filament =====
+{{ :tools:digitalfabrication:3dprinters:filament.jpg?nolink&400}}
+It is expected that you pay for any filament that you use for the 3D printers. Octoprint will automatically calculate the time taking into account the estimate print time, and filament usage. The below filaments are compatible with our printers. If you have been authorised to use your own slicer, please use an approximate cost of $40/kg of filament when calculating the cost. If you've been authorised to use your own filament, please donate approx $2/hr for printer usage and maintenance.
-==== 3D Printer Experts ====
+==== ABS ====
+We do not recommend people print with this as PETG is a generally a better alternative for most situations. ABS is very strong and has high heat tolerance. It has a glass transition temperature of around 100 degrees which means this is when it gets soft. However, it's plagued by warping problems and is notoriously difficult to print with.
+==== PETG ====
+PETG is recommended over ABS as it's nearly as strong but has slightly less heat resistance. It's much easier to print with and does not normally have printing or warping issues. It has a glass transition temperature of around 80 degrees.
+==== PLA ====
+PLA is the most brittle and weak of filaments (comparatively) and also has a fairly low glass transition temperature of around 60 degrees. However, don't think PLA is weak or bad to print with, it's most suited to models like figurines etc. due to the ease of printing. PLA *will* melt if left in a really hot area like a car. PLA is recommended for it's ease of printing whenever you don't need the strength or heat resistance of PETG.
+===== 3D Printer Maintainers =====
 These people know the ins and outs of 3D printing and are generally happy to help out when needed:
   * Brendan Halliday (@nogthree)
@@ Line 19: / Line 31: @@
 If you consider yourself in the know, add yourself to the list! (but ask one of us first so we can keep track)
-===== HSBNE 3D Printer Design Tips ======
+===== HSBNE Design Tips ======
 If you follow these basic design tips when creating 3D models, you'll get the best results:
-  * Avoid overhangs - the printers work by building up plastic layer by layer, it can't lay down plastic into thin air! (or can it?)
+  * Avoid overhangs - the printers work by building up plastic layer by layer, it can't lay down plastic into thin air! (or can it? read on to find out)
   * Shallow overhangs are OK - anything steeper than about 30 degrees from vertical will have poor results. (ie |/ between those two lines should be <30 degrees)
-  * Use "Bridges" - if you have a gap between two sections (ie |-|) it can normally be "bridged" as it's supported on both sides. Bridges <1-2cm work best.
+  * Use "Bridges" - if you have a gap between two sections (ie |-|) it can normally be "bridged" as it has support on both sides. Bridges <5cm work best and Cura will automatically do this for you.
   * The vertical (Z) axis is weakest due to the layered design. Try to design parts with the X/Y axis bending/taking the force instead of the Z axis. Think of Lego blocks, it's much harder to break a single long piece than a tall stack of short pieces.
-  * If you need something to fit together exactly, make it slightly bigger or smaller than necessary, depending on how it's supposed to fit. 3D printed parts generally don't produce 100% dimensionally accurate parts (but are pretty darn close for most stuff).
+  * If you need something to fit together exactly, make it slightly smaller than necessary (approx 0.5-1mm) if it's going on the inside, or slightly bigger (approx 0.5-1mm) on the outside. 3D printed parts don't produce 100% dimensionally accurate parts (but are pretty close for most stuff).
   * Don't be afraid to use bearings, screws and nuts/bolts. If something needs to turn use a bearing, plastic on plastic isn't smooth and won't last. If you need to attach parts to each other or something else, using screws or nuts/bolts is fine. (remember the tip above, try to clamp/compress layers, not split them)
 ===== How to help the maintainers (and possibly become one) ======
-HSBNE's fleet of 3D printers are maintained by members who volunteer their time to keep the machines working so that you can print things. All of our printers have personalities and battle-scars, so before you do anything to maintain them it's worth checking with the maintainer first. There could be specific models for replacement parts that you need.
+HSBNE's fleet of 3D printers are maintained by members who volunteer their time to keep the machines working so that you can print things. All of our printers have personalities and battle-scars, so before you do anything to maintain them (including simple things like re-level it!), please check the printer's individual wiki page. There could be specific models for replacement parts that you need etc.
-When using the 3D printers it helps the maintainers if you clean the bed when you're done, a wipe-down with some IPA (isopropyl alcohol) will clean the bed on the Taz. A sharp razor blade works well at removing old bits of glue, hairspray, etc from the heated bed of the CR10 machines. Please be careful as razor blades are sharp! A wipe down with IPA afterwards is not a bad idea.
+When using the 3D printers it helps the maintainers if you clean the bed when you're done, a wipe-down with some IPA (isopropyl alcohol) will clean the bed on the Taz. A scraper works well at removing old bits of glue, hairspray, etc from the heated bed of the Creality (CR-X and CR-10) machines. Please be careful as even blunt edges of a tool can cut!
-Try not to leave any debris or print detritus around the printers too, as they may get caught up in the mechanical parts, and mess attracts more mess. Don't see a profile that works for your printing needs? Check out the Octoprint Configurations below.
+Try not to leave any debris or print detritus around the printers too, as they may get caught up in the mechanical parts, and mess attracts more mess.
+===== Individual Printer Pages & Other Resources =====
+To get started printing something, you must read the printer's individual page *in full*. Please don't try to just "work it out" or you can damage the machine.
-==== Links to Individual Printer Pages ====
 <nspages -exclude:home -usePictures -h1 -textNS="" -subns -pagesInNs -naturalOrder>
 ===== Other Notes =====
-==== Octoprint Configurations ====
-Octoprint is set up on each machine to use Cura as its slicer.
-The slicing profiles for each machine are stored in their own **branches** in this github repo:
-[[https://github.com/HSBNE/RepRap-Configurations|Configuration files for our 3D printers]]
 ==== Cron Job ====