Posted on by maenoferren22 · 1 Comment

3D Printer Test 4

I had another mess around with the printer today. I decided to tighten the belt on the x axis. It has made a difference to the shape of the models.

The one on the left is more oval. I think that the one on the right is still out slightly but it has definitely caused a change.

I also tried increasing the temperature and got better results on the top layer of the sundials too.

This time the better one is on the right, still not perfect but better than before.

One in the graveyard would be a useful addition (well the gravediggers would need to know when to get the hole dug by).

They painted up ok ish … The build lines are really visible, but not from a distance.

I was going to make a start on my raised bit of the graveyard however it is cold and wet out there and I am wimping out going to the shed to get the necessary bits and pieces.

I had another try at printing the ladder. Successful prints: 1 and total failures: 6. Not sure what the cause is apart from the bed must have lost level as the filament was extruding ok but wasn’t adhering to the bed properly.

I really need a bed levelling print, but need to splice one on Cura to make it work. At least that way I can get it all tickety boo.

Posted on by maenoferren22 · 2 Comments

3D Printing Painted

I decided that the cart would be a useful addition to my graveyard so I painted it up tonight along with the log pile… which isn’t much use for the graveyard unless I do a grave diggers hut!

There are still issues with the printing, but to be honest they really can’t be seen, well they can if you know where to look 😉.

As I said in an earlier post the laptop died so I can’t make any changes to the prints and can only print what I had in the card, which is very little to be honest. I could print wheels and the handles, but nothing else on the cart.

The other options to print are a short ladder, also useful for a graveyard, sundials, an altar and a water trough.

Posted on by maenoferren22 · 11 Comments

3D Printer… Test 3

Yesterday was four hours of frustration. Printer got half way through a sundial and then stopped printing. Dismantled the nozzle (twice) changed the nozzle (twice) still nothing, filament was dribbling through so it was heating up ok. Burnt fingers would agree, nozzle temperature was sitting at 200 degrees! Pulled the filament out too (guess how many times!)

Eventually as I was feeding it back in I noticed that the flow from the nozzle increased. So a bit more investigation occurred. I very quickly noticed that the filament wasn’t moving even though the filament pusher thingy (not the correct technological term) was turning.

It turned out that it had moved it’s way upwards on it’s spindle and was sitting above the filament.

The thingy is arrowed above. This is in the correct place for it, when I found it, it was sitting right at the top of the spindle shown.

Eventually I managed to get it going again…

Bits and bobs printed

I am still struggling with under extrusion you can see it on the picture below, the top should be smooth.

I was going to mess around with the splicing software today but unfortunately the laptop died! I can have a mess around on the printer settings as I go to print, but the software is the easiest method. By all accounts I need to drop the speed to about 95% and possibly the temperature of the nozzle, by 5 degrees or so.

I will print the sundial out again and compare the two.

Finally I found these on Thingiverse and just had to have them. First attempts were pretty unsuccessful. They got half way through and then moved on the plate. I overcame it by building a raft to begin with and voila… safely printed. Still problems with under extrusion (I think – still new to this)

I will get them painted up and photograph them again.

The biggest buggeration I have is that I need a computer to run the slicing program, so all I can print is what is already on the memory card.

Posted on by maenoferren22 · 8 Comments

3D printer test 2

I had another bash with my printer today and made my filament guides. I then chose an item to print. I decided on the free altar from Fat Dragon.

The one on the left was due to a PLA malfunction (aka my lower filament guide failed and jammed the filament.

Second one came out ok… I reckon I might be able to make it smoother, but something to check out.

It paints up okay, I think

I also made a start on my Ostarian Cavalry dog.

Posted on by maenoferren22 · 1 Comment

3D Printer Test Print

3D printer Shenanigans took place yesterday. I bravely hit print only to find the bed was at the wrong height. My bed was perfectly level, but only 3mm too low. This was easily sorted by dialling it up to the right height.

Drum roll please…….

Tadaaaaa

A dog!

He stands about 7 cm tall. The print took just short of 5 hours. He only weighs weighs 36 grams so not much PLA filament has been used from the kilogram spool.

I downloaded a pile of upgrades from Thingiverse (thanks Azazel) to upgrade the printer a bit, mainly fan covers and filament guides Cura has downloaded and I am giving the guides a go. These will take an hour and 36 minutes and will use 16 grams of filament.

I really have to fight the urge to go an watch it zip backwards and forwards. I suppose once the novelty wears off then I will be less likely to stand and watch it.

My youngest daughter has snaffled the dog and has ordered that I make her a kitten to match the dog. My wife is after stitch markers and sock ruler for her knitting.

As a total and bizarre aside I evidently sat bolt upright in bed last night and said ding a ling a ding a ling then went back to sleep. I have no recollection of this whatsoever. It really does make me wonder what I was dreaming!

Posted on by maenoferren22 · 1 Comment

3D Printing… making a start!

It has taken me a day and a half to pluck up the courage to make a start on assembling the printer. I got to the point where I had convinced myself I was going to break the thing getting it out of the box. Strangely enough I didn’t… but I did lose the micro SD card reader, only to find it was attached to a separate bit, therefore I didn’t get as far as a test print.

The pile of bits…

These somehow turned into this!

If you look closely just to the left of the centre at table level you can see the Slot for the card, not on the right anywhere near the screen where I thought it would be.

Anyway it is up and working to the point of nothing has gone bang or fizzzz.

Tomorrow I shall attempt to add the PLA!

I did manage to get a bit of painting done this evening. Mainly highlights, still the red to go at the very least.

I also reckon I am going to have to do something with the Dwarf’s hands, I painted them as yucky skin, but they look weird so I think I will repaint them as gloves.

I reckon they should be finished tomorrow night. If I do then the total this month will be eighteen full body miniature (well if you include Jose) and then a zombie breaking out from the ground.

I have got a cavalrydog, that I was going to use as a mounted officer. I might be able to squeeze him in before the end of the month.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas.