qid int64 1 2.78M | question stringlengths 2 66.6k | answers list | date stringlengths 10 10 | metadata list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
33 | There is a 3D desktop printer [RepRap](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RepRap_project) which can print most of its own components.
Assuming each printed printer will print the next one and so on. Are there any limitation how many times this can be achieved?
For example somebody printed for me printer and I do the same ... | [
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"text": "As long as you maintain each printer and keep a proper calibration, go for it, this is what they were designed to do, ... | 2016/01/12 | [
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35 | On a number of occasions I've broken small plastic parts that are nearly impossible to replace but could easily be 3-D printed. The latest such mishap is the volume knob on the factory-installed radio on my car.
I have little experience in 3D printing, and would like to be able to replace these parts with something v... | [
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"text": "The easiest way is as you currently do: model the pieces by hand, using (digital) calipers to measure them.\n\... | 2016/01/12 | [
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38 | I have a few kg of 3 mm filament when I only have use for 1.75 mm.
How can I make 1.75 mm from 3 mm filament? | [
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"text": "The best option is to find somebody in need of 3 mm filament and trade them for it (either in exchange for 1.7... | 2016/01/12 | [
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48 | I am printing a print using PLA on a Prusa i3 printer and an MK8 extruder, at 210 degrees celsius, 60 mm/sec, sliced with slic3r. The print consists of a base, with 4 tower-like projections that then join with a near-vertical overhang slope that isn't posing a problem for my printer.
However, even before the overhang ... | [
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"answer_id": 52,
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"text": "Stringing is often a result of too-high a temperature, or insufficient retraction. When there is highly liquid filament ... | 2016/01/12 | [
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54 | I want to print a model of an animal cell.
What I have so far: I managed to use different colors to print out the different parts of the cell.
My question is: what is the best way to connect plastic 3d printed parts?
Glue? Melted plastic? I need it to have a strong connection and not very visible when used well,... | [
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"text": "For ABS print, I recommend [acetone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acetone). It is not a glue, but it will dissolve the p... | 2016/01/12 | [
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59 | Is it possible to re-use ABS or PLA filament material from printed parts?
If so, what is the techniques to reform it? | [
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"text": "There are a few options.\n\n1. Machines are available which grind the used plastic into fine pieces, melt it down, and... | 2016/01/12 | [
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61 | I print ABS on a LulzBot Taz 5 and frequently have issues with the corners of objects lifting off the bed.
My extruder is at 230 °C and the bed is at 90 °C for the first layer and 100 °C for the rest of the layers.
I have experimented with using ABS slurry (ABS + acetone) on the bed for increased adhesion, building a... | [
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"text": "The solution I prefer to prevent ABS withdrawal is using [Blue tape](http://reprap.org/wiki/BlueTape) on the bed, and the... | 2016/01/12 | [
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65 | Taken from the [answer provided by @EricJohnson](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/a/60/47),
When should I use a raft, and when should I use a brim? What advantages does each have over the other?
Raft
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/rOghM.jpg)
Bcit
... | [
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"text": "A raft helps when the part has few points of contact with the print bed, and doesn't therefore adhere well at points w... | 2016/01/12 | [
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78 | I made a test print for a small gear (~ 1.5 inches in diameter) a few months ago, with a hole through the center. On the first try, the filament (ABS) fused to the print bed, meaning that I had to spend ten minutes scraping off material to loosen it. One solution to this is to use painter's tape spread across the print... | [
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"text": "This can highly depend on the slicer you are using. Some software such as Makerware and Slic3r allow you to adjust the set... | 2016/01/12 | [
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81 | Acetone can be used to smooth ABS prints. What safety precautions should be taken during its use? | [
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"text": "There are a few main safety precautions you should consider.\n\n* **[Make sure the area is well-ventilated.](http://sin... | 2016/01/12 | [
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83 | I would like to print multiple parts continuously (non-interactively), so
I can leave the printer alone for a longer time. So after finish, parts could be moved somehow out from the printing area, so the next can start.
Are there any methods of achieving that with standard desktop printers without having to use multip... | [
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"text": "The only thing I can think of off hand is an old mod for the early MakerBot machines. It first was released for the Thing... | 2016/01/12 | [
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84 | For standard ABS and PLA filament, most distributors recommend storing the filament in an airtight bag. Does not doing this actually make print quality worse? I have left mine in the open for a year and have had no noticeable problems. | [
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"text": "**Humidity may be the problem.**\n\n[Humidity tends to degrade filament, making it weaker.](http://3dprint.com/68083/a... | 2016/01/12 | [
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91 | I want to fabricate a sample holder and shadow masks to use in vacuum chambers. The type of printing material is not important to me PLA/ABS/PC-ABS/nylon).
I'm worried that 3d printed objects (FDM) would degas under high vacuum. Is that an actual concern? | [
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"text": "Almost all of the FDM materials outgas even at normal atmospheric pressure, and, in fact, most plastics outgas. Furth... | 2016/01/12 | [
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107 | I have a 3d printer that uses ABS filament. The software I use will generate vertical supports for my objects before printing that can be easily broken off after they have been used during print to hold sharp angles up that would normally fall.
After breaking off the stints, the print is far from smooth. Is there a ma... | [
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"text": "I use normal wet/dry sandpaper and it works just fine. If I remember correctly, I usually start with 220 and then wo... | 2016/01/13 | [
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109 | I'm going to 3D print a part that needs to meet certain strength requirements, due to its usages. I know how strong a particular plastic (eg. comrpessive/tensile/shear strength) is when dealt with in a solid chunk, but not when it is 3D printed. What is a good way to estimate the change? | [
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"text": "I use normal wet/dry sandpaper and it works just fine. If I remember correctly, I usually start with 220 and then wo... | 2016/01/13 | [
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132 | When you add a raft in Slic3r, the first layer of the raft prints at the first layer speed. After the raft is finished, the first layer of the print prints at the standard speed. How can I make the first layer of the actual print slow down to the first layer speed? | [
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"text": "You shouldn't need to. The purpose of a slower first layer is to help with need adhesion. With a raft the first layer ... | 2016/01/13 | [
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134 | Assuming you have a high quality printer with a fast processor, will you see a noticeable improvement by upgrading from 16X/32X microstepping drivers to 64X/128X microstepping drivers? (e.g. smoother surface finish). In what ways do they perform differently from the more common 16X or 32X stepper drivers. I'm thinking ... | [
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"text": "Prints benefit from higher microstepping in two ways:\n\n**Noise level**\n\nUsing microstepping reduces noise... | 2016/01/13 | [
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140 | I've had my printer for almost a year now.
Is there something I should be doing to maintain the motors? | [
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"text": "No, stepper motors do not require maintenance. They are a brushless kind of motor, so they do not have brushe... | 2016/01/13 | [
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147 | What materials which are [commonly used in 3D printing](http://www.shapeways.com/materials/), are food-safe?
Are there any certifications/grading process for such materials, which can help me with my cross-checking and selection?
---
I have been using an [FDM printer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fused_deposition_m... | [
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"text": "Food safety is a property of both the process and the material. You can't stick food-safe material in a printe... | 2016/01/13 | [
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149 | Suddenly, my printer has started producing prints that have a very pronounced layering. Normally, the alignment between layers is very good, and the prints look very smooth. Suddenly, the prints have become much worse and the layers are misaligned with respect to each other.
[![enter image description here](https://i.... | [
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"text": "There are many factors, here are a few things to check:\n\nI'd first suspect filament feeding. This type of ridging c... | 2016/01/13 | [
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150 | I am working on a robotics project and need to print some gears. These will probably by under a LOT of pressure. Which material/filament should I choose so that the gears don't wear off easily?
PS: Newbie here...
**EDIT:**
According to my instuctor, it has to be some sort of plastic (not metal).
It also has to be lig... | [
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"text": "So, as you say you want to materials for printing robotics parts. And as you have not given any budget constraint, I wo... | 2016/01/13 | [
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156 | I am currently working on parts for a custom prosthesis.
My main concern at the moment is to find biocompatible materials that can be 3D printed from a UP or a Reprap.
The piece would need to be in contact with the skin for extended periods of time, probably around 17 hours a day on average.
The main concerns I have ... | [
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"text": "There are printers designed for medical use, and the manufacturers supply them with varying levels of [certification ... | 2016/01/13 | [
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162 | I'm interested in finding online APIs where you could perform a call to some third party service with some print preparation request with my model (i.e. "heal a model" or "set up support") and get in return GCODE file I can send to a 3D printer.
My input will be :
* The 3d model (obj, stl)
* My printer (makerbot, ulti... | [
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171 | I would like to print edible cookies or ornamentation for a cake.
Is printing with edible materials achievable by standard thermoplastic-like 3D desktop printer? Or you need to buy a special printer to do that? | [
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"text": "You can, but that doesn't mean it's very easy.\n\nYou don't have to buy a special printer, but you need a special ex... | 2016/01/13 | [
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181 | I would like to print fancy plastic cutlery sets or plastic glasses.
Is it safe to do it? Or bad for your health, if so, why? | [
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"text": "Having performed a quick search through all the resources at the FDA Food Contact Substance resource, I cannot find P... | 2016/01/13 | [
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182 | In my slicing software (Slic3r) some of the vertices/walls of my model seem to have disappeared, so that the inside of the model - which should be solid - is visible, while the surface appears as a thin shell.
Why does this happen? Is it still safe to export the model for printing? | [
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"text": "Some STLs aren't exported properly from the CAD software.\n\nUse a repair tool or service like <https://modelrepair.azu... | 2016/01/13 | [
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191 | I'm interested in designing & 3D printing as a hobby (e.g. printing chess sets, small toys for family etc.)
Conducting a Google search has brought up a range of small, cheap printers, but beyond that I don't know how to differentiate them.
E.g. selling points include:
* "liquid light-sensitive resin"
* "partially as... | [
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"text": "Here are few things to consider from my point of view\n\n---\n\n**Printing technology**\n\nThe first thing that you ne... | 2016/01/13 | [
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198 | I'm reading about wiring up the electronic components to my Prosi i3 using an Arduino Mega 2650 and Ramps 1.4.
I have step sticks, a heated bed, and a [Switching Power Supply 12v Dc 30a 360w](http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/B007KG0ZYI) (more details on that later when I can add which ones to the post).
I've ... | [
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"text": "I'd say polarity and voltage are the biggest things -- about all you can do is double- and triple-check everything; the... | 2016/01/13 | [
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199 | Printer: FDM printer (FDM == Fusion Deposition Modelling).
Raw Material: Thermoplastics.
How do I do multicolor printing? What changes should I make to the printing process/to the raw material used?
(Answer in the context of printing a basic 3X3 Rubix cube)
---
Bonus: What are the best practises while doing multi-... | [
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"text": "There are a few different approaches I've seen which you could look into.\n\nThe easiest and most common is multiple extru... | 2016/01/13 | [
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203 | I have noticed that [Slic3r](http://slic3r.org/) offers a speed setting called "[auto speed](http://slic3r.org/blog/new-stable-1.2.9)" meant to give a constant filament pressure at the extruder, which I believe could eliminate filament grinding issues at higher printing speeds.
According to the tooltip in Slic3r, aut... | [
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"text": "Auto speed is calculated from maximum volumetric speed in mm3 per second. If you normally print at 80 mm/s, your e... | 2016/01/13 | [
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204 | I upgraded to an Mk9 dual extruder, and it came with thermocouples installed instead of the thermistors I had before.
No matter what I did with the thermocouples, the indicated temperature jumped around by as much as 30C or more. In short, after several weeks of fiddling I never got the thermocouples to work well, an... | [
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"text": "It sound like you just have a defective thermocouple. But, I just did a google search for \"Why are thermocouples inaccu... | 2016/01/13 | [
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208 | I'm considering buying [this package](http://reprapworld.com/?products_details&products_id/783/cPath/1680), the Kossel, as my first 3D printer.
It's not the cheapest model, but apparently a high resolution and stable, which is what I'm after.
The question is, what is the life expectancy of this printer, given the co... | [
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"text": "Much like your car, the number of miles, or the number of prints that you can get out of it is entirely up to how wel... | 2016/01/13 | [
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209 | A fellow maker has tried printing a 3D model in clear PLA (<5% infill, 1 or 2 perimeters), burying it most of the way into casting sand, and then pouring molten aluminum. This melts and burns the PLA, and the aluminum takes the space that the printed model used to take.
There's plenty of room for improvement in his pr... | [
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"text": "I believe casting typically uses a wax for the positive when using casting sand. So, I would suggest using [wax filament... | 2016/01/13 | [
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210 | How do I determine how much an individual print costs?
I'd like an answer including support material, failed prints, and (ideally) wear and tear / printer maintenance costs.
To clarify, I'm not asking how to *predict* the cost before printing, but rather how to calculate the actual cost after printing. Though predict... | [
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"text": "For [FDM](http://3dprintingfromscratch.com/common/types-of-3d-printers-or-3d-printing-technologies-overview/#fdm) printing... | 2016/01/13 | [
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211 | I would like to make custom cake molds.
I've asked about this in a few stores that specialize in cooking equipment, they said this wasn't possible.
I wonder if 3D printing makes it possible. It would require a material that is food-safe, as per [Which are the food-safe materials and how do I recognize them?](https:... | [
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212 | When the print head changes direction, the printer must accelerate and decelerate the print head. When calibrated correctly, the printer is able to do this quickly and without causing the printer to shake too much, without drastically slowing down the print process.
If I set it too high, my printer shakes violently, e... | [
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"text": "A tool that you might find useful for experimenting with acceleration is [RepRap Centrals Acceleration Calculat... | 2016/01/13 | [
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214 | Using a thermoplastic MDF printer with a 0.4mm extruder nozzle, I frequently have trouble with the nozzle getting clogged.
I am not sure what's causing the clog, but my guesses are dust and/or burnt filament (from leaving the hot end on without extruding).
What can I do to prevent, or at least minimize, the extruder ... | [
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"text": "Lubricating the filament is the most common solution I've heard of to stop filament jams and clogs. Lubricating makes... | 2016/01/13 | [
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215 | I've occasionally had issues with excess filament residue getting stuck to the print bed. [There are ways to prevent this](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/78/how-can-i-stop-my-print-bed-tape-from-sticking-to-the-filament), but sometimes even these precautions aren't enough. Over time, residue can build u... | [
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"text": "* If you are printing with ABS (or PLA), acetone will dissolve it. Simply pour\nsome on the bed and wipe it off (be... | 2016/01/13 | [
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216 | My thermoplastic FDM printer has a heated bed and uses glass as the printing surface. Sometimes the glass will chip or break entirely when I'm removing my print. This happens most often when the print has a large area in contact with the glass.
What can I do to keep this from happening? | [
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"text": "Some things I've tried that have helped:\n\nLay down a layer of masking tape. Most people who do this use blue painter's ta... | 2016/01/13 | [
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223 | For a science project, I'm 3D-printing some custom pipes and tubes to regulate the flow of gas (a combination of ethyl alcohol and water vapor) through an apparatus. They need to be pretty small, as the entire experiment is designed on a small scale. I'd also like the use a little filament as possible.
How thin can I ... | [
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"text": "The thinnest wall your printer can print is determined by its nozzle size, and will be a little thicker than ... | 2016/01/13 | [
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233 | I often switch my print material, i.e. ABS / PLA / Wood / Flex,
How can I best clean out my extruder between them to ensure I don't contaminate my next print? | [
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"text": "In most cases, removing the old filament from the printer, inserting the new filament in, and running the new filam... | 2016/01/14 | [
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239 | After multiple jams from bulging filaments on two spools I'm getting frustrated. One, right before a job was done.
Is there something I can do to prevent these bulges in filaments from ruining jobs?
What can I do to prevent this from happening in the future before it's a disaster?
He's a picture of one I found using... | [
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"text": "How to catch *and* fix these on the fly? That would be difficult..\n\nBut this is an issue you really should not have... | 2016/01/14 | [
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241 | I have a strange issue with my heated bed. It has been working well for a long time, but recently it has developed an issue where the temperature reported by the thermistor will occasionally jump by around 10 degrees.
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/aMRF... | [
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"text": "It really looks like either a bad thermistor or bad electrical joints. Are the connections to the thermistor itself c... | 2016/01/14 | [
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250 | I am designing a part that has to clamp around a 11mm bushing, and due to other design constraints, it has to be printed with a semicircle-shaped overhang:
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/LcLSm.png)
This is proving very challenging to print. Two copies ... | [
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"text": "If your printer is printing support material that is too strongly attached, you can increase the space between the su... | 2016/01/14 | [
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253 | I'm thinking of recycling some filament from a couple of recently failed prints. I can reuse them in the future for basic prototypes, so I'm not concerned with whatever weird mixture of colors come out (they are of a few different colors).
The thing is, I have both PLA and ABS, in small quantities. I originally intend... | [
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"text": "This is not a good idea. Both filaments have different melting points, that of ABS being much higher than that... | 2016/01/14 | [
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256 | I am operating a laser sintering machine, using polyamide 2200 powder (with a grain size of approximately 50 micrometers). During a print, a lot of powder goes unsintered and can theoretically be reused. However, using purely recycled powder degrades print quality to an unacceptable level.
Mixing a little used powder ... | [
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"text": "You'll find generally that mixing 40% new polyamide with 60% recycled polyamide will result in a reasonable finish and... | 2016/01/14 | [
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258 | Usually it will either will rip the tape, or break the print somehow. Currently using ABS on a taped glass bed with a layer of hairspray for adhesion. | [
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"text": "I moved to a plain glass heated bed with a brush applied acetone and ABS mixture. Using an old emptied nail polish bot... | 2016/01/15 | [
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259 | Let's say I print a part out of ABS and wait for it to cool. I could theoretically do this with several copies of the same printer, modified to use print beds of different compositions.
Will the material a bed is made out of affect how long it takes a part to cool? | [
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264 | Why do we have two standard filament sizes, 1.75 mm and 3 mm? Does it really make a difference when printing? Or is the 1.75 mm just for smaller printers?
In what situations should I be using 1.75 mm?
When should I be using 3 mm? | [
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269 | As an extension from [this](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/264/when-to-use-1-75mm-vs-3mm-filament) question, is there any reason that you would not be able to use 1.75 mm filament in a printer that takes 3mm filament? I know you would have to change the filament size in the slicing of prints but would t... | [
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"text": "1. It may work for a short time but you're going to fill the melt chamber quickly and possibly overflow to a point where ... | 2016/01/15 | [
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271 | I've been printing for a week now on my new printer and have been getting great results, including great adhesion. However, most of my prints have had a fairly small footprint.
Now, I'm stepping up the types of items I'm printing, and I've started to run into a problem. Long, thin parts are starting to lift off the be... | [
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"text": "There are several things you could try without spending much but even PLA will warp on an unheated bed. I had a Legacy Kos... | 2016/01/15 | [
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279 | With [fdm](/questions/tagged/fdm "show questions tagged 'fdm'") printers, the 3D object that should be printed can be positioned anywhere in the build volume. But it's only practical to place it on the bottom, because otherwise support material would be necessary.
stereolithography has the same problem. Even though th... | [
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284 | There must be a trick to doing a good job of applying Kapton tape on a printer bed plate…
We built a Bukobot and even with a great deal of care ended up with bubbles under the tape and occasional overlaps. I'd appreciate any pointers. | [
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293 | E3D hotends use a thermistor whose legs are insulated with glass fiber sleeving and clamped down with a screw and washer:
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/IAJDy.jpg)
This solution enables the printing of high temperature materials, but it's a bit fragile... | [
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"text": "I like the mounting method on my Mk9 extruder: there's a small hole drilled into the heat block, parallel to the heater... | 2016/01/16 | [
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296 | From what I understand, when you hook up the [Switching Power Supply 12v Dc 30a 360w](http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/B007KG0ZYI) to the wall outlet, you have to be **very careful**; careful not to get the wires mixed up; careful not to have anyone or anything touch the leads (in fact the first proper project ... | [
{
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"text": "It is okay to just use bare wires in the type of screw connector found on your power supply. They're designed ... | 2016/01/16 | [
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303 | [This article](http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/1115.html) states that 3D printing has been accomplished in outer space, on the International Space Station.
I'm curious as to how this works differently from 3D printing on Earth. Are there any extra measures that needed to be taken to ensu... | [
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"text": "Most likely, the 3D-printers used on ISS does not incorporate some fundamental difference that allow them to pri... | 2016/01/16 | [
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319 | Are there any techniques for getting a smooth finish for parts printed with co-polyester (PET) filaments? More specifically, I am looking for an alternative that does not roughen the look of the part - such as using sandpaper - but rather works like acetone baths for ABS.
In particular, I want to treat ColorFabb's XT ... | [
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"text": "I've found a [chart](http://www.plasticsintl.com/plastics_chemical_resistence_chart.html) which covers several plastics a... | 2016/01/18 | [
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321 | Common 3D printers (read "cheap") may be used to print masks for PCBs (printed-circuit boards) which use PTH (through-hole) components.
But can they be used to print PCBs which use SMD components? I'd like to make boards at least for Arduino-like SMD chips. | [
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"text": "In theory, I imagine you can, but there are some practical considerations that might need some thought:\n\nIf y... | 2016/01/18 | [
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322 | When designing parts that should either fit with external objects or other printed parts, what measures can one take to ensure that the dimensions of the final print are accurate and fit the other object?
To my knowledge, you at least have two options to account for printer inaccuracy and shrinkage:
* Adjust the spac... | [
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"text": "I think the best way to go about this would be to calibrate your printer and slicer as best you can. One of my pet peeves ... | 2016/01/18 | [
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331 | I upgraded to a dual Mk9 extruder, and quickly discovered how critical it is to get the ends of both nozzles exactly level with each other -- that is, equally distant from the build plate at all times. Otherwise the lower one will crash against the plastic just extruded by the higher one.
So, what's a good procedure f... | [
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"text": "1. Make sure that the **bed is level**. As the saying goes, a level bed is next to godliness or something like that. ... | 2016/01/19 | [
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341 | I just received this printer and while it seems to talk to Makerbot Desktop software I'm not sure if I should be trying to update the firmware.
The printer comes with firmware v7.2 and while Makerbot Desktop offers an upgrade to v7.5 I'm not sure if it's a good idea with this non-Makerbot branded printer.
I've also s... | [
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"text": "The Monoprice Architect is is a bare-bones FlashForge Creator that has been re-badged for Monoprice. The Creator l... | 2016/01/19 | [
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343 | When I use Cura with the Pronterface UI it sometime just stops printing.
When it stops the printer just stops, the UI looks like it's still printing but nothing is moving in the printer, also, trying to control the printer from the UI does nothing.
It always stops early in the printing process, usually during the aut... | [
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344 | I'm in the process of building a 3D printer and have all the stepper motors wired up and the controller connected to the computer running pronterface.
I can move each axis and also send g-code to the printer.
Now **how can I define the current position to be the 0/0/0 position?**
I'd like to move the printer into a p... | [
{
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"text": "> \n> G92 X0 Y0 Z0\n> \n> \n> \n\ntells the printer that the current position is (0,0,0)."
},
{
"answe... | 2016/01/19 | [
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358 | I found a story about someone [3D-printing equipment for their Lego minifig](http://www.fablabamersfoort.nl/en/node/534), using an Ultimaker. (Article is in Dutch, but accompanied by photographs).
I noticed that what they made weren't the actual connecting bricks, but the tools used by the minifig. And that even so, s... | [
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"text": "It's really more about calibration than resolution -- a poorly calibrated printer will have dimension errors that... | 2016/01/20 | [
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361 | I was just shopping for filament, and saw some glowing claims about PETG being as easy to work with as PLA, but as strong as ABS, and less brittle. Anyone know if that's actually true, or what the tradeoffs are? | [
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"text": "PETG is great stuff to work with. It is stronger than ABS also. It prints slower than ABS and PLA. The formulas va... | 2016/01/21 | [
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365 | [Stereolithography](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereolithography) produces parts by projecting ultraviolet light on the top of a vat of liquid photopolymer, causing it to harden. [CLIP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuous_Liquid_Interface_Production) produces parts by projecting ultraviolet light through the bo... | [
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"text": "It's important to understand what specifically is being compared. **CLIP is much faster than bottom-up technologie... | 2016/01/21 | [
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369 | In Cura, I can edit my .ini profile settings as needed, for example, when I change filament or models. It's annoying to have to edit the profile on another computer and update it on my Pi just to change the infill, etc. I've searched <http://plugins.octoprint.org/> and can't find any plugins that do this. | [
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"text": "As far as I know, this is currently not possible."
},
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"answer_id": 1155,
"author": "thopiekar",
"autho... | 2016/01/21 | [
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371 | [E3D-Online](https://e3d-online.com/blogs/news/are-abrasives-killing-your-nozzle) and [Make Magazine](http://makezine.com/2015/09/11/carbon-fiber-filament-ruins-nozzles/) have written about the potential damage printing carbon fiber and glow in the dark filaments can do to your printer's nozzle.
What I can't seem to f... | [
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"text": "I believe the little experiment made by E3D - the same link you provide - answers your question very well. Sever... | 2016/01/22 | [
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380 | I need to do some post processing of my 3D-printed models that includes adding some holes. For each of PLA, ABS, PETG and other 3D-printing materials:
In what ways is drilling a hole in a model made from that material like or unlike drilling wood? Is it worth getting special "plastic drilling bits" that cost tons of m... | [
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"text": "I wouldn't recommend drilling a hole in a 3D printed part in a traditional sense like with wood. Instead, I would merely... | 2016/01/23 | [
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383 | On one of the nozzles on my printer, the filament comes out at a 45 degree angle. It seems that this causes problems with adhesion to the bed and overall quality.
* What caused this problem?
* How do I fix it?
* How do I prevent it from
happening in the future? | [
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"text": "If you're extruding into the air, it's actually quite normal for the filament to come out in seemingly random... | 2016/01/24 | [
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386 | I"m considering making my own filament, with a device like the one at <http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:380987>. Partly because it's another machine to build, which is cool, but also to save money on filament.
Has anyone here tried to make their own filament? My main questions are:
* Is the quality comparable to typi... | [
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"text": "You can basically use any machine that pulverizes your pellets into small pieces.\n\n[**One guy on 3dhubs, explaine... | 2016/01/25 | [
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388 | When installing and using a new hotend for the first time, which steps of action should be taken before. This will probably be more applicable to chinese clones than to authentic products (is the statement true?): **Should a certain cleaning procedure be carried out** (removing swarf/shavings for example)? **Should mec... | [
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"text": "I haven't done anything special to set up mine. But it's probably worth doing a general cleaning. I'd swab it off with ... | 2016/01/25 | [
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389 | What are the specifications of the three wires inside a PC cable that is used to connect the switching power supply to a US AC outlet.
The positive, negative and ground appear to be the same gauge stranded cable, and I've heard that it can handle 10A, but beyond that I don't really know what the rest of the specificat... | [
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"text": "*Very* basically speaking, electricity works like this:\n\n1. There's some source that delivers a certain **v... | 2016/01/25 | [
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394 | If I need to test out some of the components of a RAMPS 1.4 based 3D Printer, can I only plug some of them into the board (not all of them) and test them out?
I'd like to test out the NEMA 17 motors without testing the heated bed or extruder. Is this safe and why? | [
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"text": "Yes, you can. By leaving components unplugged you would simply have some pins powered that are not in use. But ... | 2016/01/26 | [
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402 | This is in with [my other question about components](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/394/when-building-a-ramps-1-4-based-printer-can-i-safely-plugin-just-some-of-the-co) and the [other question about electricity](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/389/in-the-standard-pc-cable-wire-that-goes-f... | [
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"text": "To measure amps (current), the meter has to be wired in series with the item to be measured (for this reason, ammeters a... | 2016/01/26 | [
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403 | There is a little circuit board, or breadboard or something [in the diagram of the wiring for the i3](http://reprap.org/wiki/Prusa_i3_Rework_Electronics_and_wiring#Wiring).
And it's mentioned that the z-axis motors need to be [wired in parallel](http://reprap.org/wiki/Prusa_i3_Rework_Electronics_and_wiring#Motors_wiri... | [
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"text": "In the diagram, they do show the wires connecting together, which is right. You can accomplish that just about any way y... | 2016/01/26 | [
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409 | I'm thinking about buliding my own 3D printer from scratch.
Is it better to buy a starter DIY kit and try to build your printer around it, or to order separate parts for printer, and then to combine a printer? | [
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"text": "From a general point of view, there are a few things to consider.\n\n**If you buy a kit**:\n\nPros:\n\n* You get... | 2016/01/27 | [
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413 | How do I smooth 3D printed objects? What is the best / common method to do this? | [
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421 | I have seen lots of printers that print chocolate using a syringe with molten chocolate. But, even cooler, would it be possible to print chocolate using some kind of feed system for **continuous** chocolate printing, so large objects and for a prolonged time, not only lasting the content of one syringe with molten choc... | [
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"text": "Update: I found a nice article about chocolate printing: <https://all3dp.com/2/chocolate-3d-printer-all-you-need-to-know/>\... | 2016/01/31 | [
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423 | I recently found out carbon fiber and glow in the dark PLA can damage the printer nozzle, now I'm suspicious of all the "exotic" filaments.
So, does wood filament cause damage to the nozzle? (under normal use, or at least what someone who only used PLA/ABS before would consider normal use)
Let's assume a normal quali... | [
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"text": "If you haven't been to their site before, you should check out the forums on 3DHubs. There's a lot of how-to's. A quick ... | 2016/02/01 | [
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442 | In general 3D printers are compact and smaller than RP machines. That's ok. But, what's the difference? 3D printers can be used as RP machine too. | [
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"text": "All rapid prototyping means is automatically producing a physical part from a cad model. 3D printing is a way to achi... | 2016/02/02 | [
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445 | I'd like to customize and modify some parts on Thingiverse, beyond just simple scaling for 3D printing.
I've been looking for some tools that convert the STL files into something that is easily edited, but so far all that I've found are really buggy and crash frequently as soon as one loads a reasonably complex model.... | [
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"text": "There is no argument that the most successful FOSS 3D editor is Blender. It can both import and export STL files and... | 2016/02/02 | [
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450 | I have a Robo 3D. However A while ago, the print bed was fractured, and now it has a long crack cutting it in half. The bed still works because it is held together, by the screws holding the bed to the tracks. So I want to continue using it, because it still is fairly good, the heating element works fine, and a replace... | [
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"text": "IMHO your best bet is to use some kind of a tape. I do not have any experience with robo3dprinter but, I have been ... | 2016/02/03 | [
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454 | I'm using Cura as my slicing/printing software and I just started using the BuildTak printing surface.
The BuildTak is damaged by pushing a hot nozzle into it and my printer's (Robo3D R1+) autoleveling feature works by pushing the nozzle into the build surface.
Is there a way to configure Cura so that it runs the Z p... | [
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"text": "In Cura (and Slic3r), you can 100% customize what the printer does before printing your actual model through cus... | 2016/02/03 | [
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456 | I am wondering how people that use standalone 3D printers (printers that have the ability to print autonomously from SD Card) feed in filament, prime the printhead and/or change filaments without a laptop ?
Do the printers have a menu to arrange all these tasks ?
I often only see the options to preheat the head to a c... | [
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"text": "There are options for tablets. They are running software **[(for example)](http://www.3ders.org/articles/20130408-c... | 2016/02/03 | [
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458 | I'm thinking of another extruder on my printer, and I'm curious about this one....
Is it necessary to have both hot ends on same height? Why yes / why not? (if there is not) | [
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461 | I have searched the internet and found various 3D printers with different advantages and materials which they can print - some even multi color.
However, I cannot seem to find a printer that can print multiple material with different properties; for instance, simultaneously printing PLA and metal. Is there currently ... | [
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470 | Is there a good method or tool to level the bed of 3D printers? I find myself making small adjustments a lot and it's mostly just trial-and-error. A normal bubble level is of limited help and trying to figure out if the head is the thickness of a sheet of paper from the bed in all corners is beyond the capability of my... | [
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"text": "The easiest way I know of (unless your printer has a Z-probe and automatic leveling), is to bring the nozzle(s) down fa... | 2016/02/03 | [
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475 | Occasionally, while printing, my *y* axis will slip and the layer will, from that point forward, be shifted, ruining the print.
What might be the causes of an axis slipping? I have tried cooling the motor which seemed to have been getting warm, and the belts are not too tight.
This does not happen with every print, a... | [
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"text": "From what I've experienced, there could be three potential reasons.\n\n1. Your belt(s) could be loose. Simply loosen you... | 2016/02/04 | [
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502 | From what I understand, it takes a really long time for the heated bed to heat up using an MK2a heated bed. I've heard some people suggest that using [Polyisocyanurate (PIR) foam](http://forums.reprap.org/read.php?4,584582) (insulation that takes quite a bit of heat to catch on fire) can be used under the headed bed to... | [
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"text": "If you use a seperate powersupply for your bed (or if your controller has a built in voltage regulator so it... | 2016/02/04 | [
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505 | Wnass is always level, easy to clean, easy to work with.
Aluminium allows for the addition of automatic bed leveling with an inductive sensor and distributes heat a little more evenly.
When printing mostly ABS and PLA, which one is better? | [
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507 | I currently print with a .4mm nozzle on my extruder, and my prints seem to come out fairly accurate; would I see much of a difference if I went to a .3mm?
What are the pros and cons of larger and smaller nozzle sizes? | [
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513 | **Given the emissions that 3d printing gives off (ABS = styrene and other chemicals, PLA give some off, etc), what options are there to filter the air in the enclosure other than venting the air out of a window?**
More information on the chemicals 3d printing emit:
* <http://built-envi.com/portfolio/ultrafine-particl... | [
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"text": "My residential materials expert referred me to these links ([3D Printing Fume Extraction Solutions](http://www.bofaameri... | 2016/02/06 | [
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514 | Some electronics come as a single PCB. They have CPU and everything on just one board.
Other electronics are a shield for an Arduino. So these are always two boards. The Arduino and the other PCB.
You probably don't want to exchange the Arduino unless it is broken. Does it break that often or are the two boards just ... | [
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"text": "Many 3d printer motherboards are based on Arduino/Atmega microcontroller and just add some stepper motor drivers, MO... | 2016/02/06 | [
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522 | My printer has an auto-leveling feature that works by touching the build plate with the tip of the nozzle.
I started using a BuildTak surface and BuildTak is damaged when you push a hot nozzle into it.
So I edited the start G-code to run the auto-leveling before heating up the hotend
But ABS doesn't stick to the bui... | [
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"text": "An alternative solution to using a hard delay with the [G4 dwell command](http://reprap.org/wiki/G-code#G4:_Dwe... | 2016/02/07 | [
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540 | I just added a fan to my printer because very small layers seem to come out very badly. For example, the 5mm PLA cube that's the top level of the test shape shown below. Watching closely, I can see that the newly-extruded fiber is pushing the previous layer(s?) around pretty freely. And when the object is finished, the... | [
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"text": "Layer Times\n-----------\n\nSee my answer to [this question](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/516/what-para... | 2016/02/09 | [
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542 | Most electronics use micro-controllers like an AVR, but I'm seeing ARM chips in new electronics. ARM chips are said to be more powerful, but in what areas related to 3D printing could this help? What are the features that the AVR struggles with and where an ARM could be better?
High Speed movement? Delta printers? Gra... | [
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"text": "Generally, AVR is in fact less powerful than many ARM cores used today. Most printers with AVRs don't have floating-po... | 2016/02/09 | [
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554 | I want to upload some of my works to [Thingiverse](http://www.thingiverse.com/) without making my real name public (displaying it on the profile page).
I think it is OK to register my name to the site unless the make it public, and it is required by the terms to provide truthful and accurate information.
I tried crea... | [
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"text": "You can put whatever name you want in when you make an account - You decide what your name is, people go by pseudo... | 2016/02/11 | [
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573 | everyone.
I'm a relative newcomer to 3D printing, so I don't know what constitutes an unacceptably bad spool of filament.
About 1/6 of the way into a roll of PETG (and maybe 4 hours into a 6-hour print), an over/under wrap brought things to a screeching halt. I aborted the print, then snipped the filament and started... | [
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"text": "Filament should come off of the roll without overlapping itself. That being said depending on what you paid for it w... | 2016/02/13 | [
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582 | **I was wondering if this printer(daVinci 1.0) had the ability to print very small objects, like insects, coins, or small nuts. (About the size of 1 -2 cubic centimeters)**
[Here](http://us.xyzprinting.com/us_en/Product/da-Vinci-1.0-AiO) is a link to the printer on the website.
The reason I ask is someone asked me if... | [
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"text": "1) If we're talking about FFF/FDM printers:\n\nAccuracy of the electronics and motors allows it, yes.\nBut how FDM pr... | 2016/02/15 | [
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