Part one: User interfaces and slicers
User Interfaces:
Also called platforms or controllers, a user interface is how you communicate with your printer. This can be an onboard display screen right on your printer, or it can be software on your laptop, pc, or tablet with a USB connection. It allows you to move motors, test sensors, start or stop prints, control temperatures, or monitor what the printer is doing. 3D printers can be open source or closed source. If open source, you have many options for what will control or drive your printer. If closed source, you get what you get. My 3D printer (the RoVa3D) is open source. In the RoVa3D setup guide, it gets you set up to use Pronterface. I am very happy with Pronterface to date, but I had some snags along the way. Thankfully each snag I hit in my initial setup was my own fault, and it was all software installation related.
A funny story that would never have happened to you:
Software installation is my Achilles heel. I love tools, hardware, tinkering, and getting into my zone. I love code! I love programs, spreadsheet formulas and design. It makes no sense, but ask me to reformat anything, Hell, ask me to install or extract anything, and you'd think I flunked third grade computer class. I was literally step by stepped through the process (with photos), and I still screwed up the simplest of things (huge shout out to the tech support at ORD Solutions, for getting me up and running with a straight face). I went from not having a custom set of buttons (provided in my setup guide) in my user interface, to skipping the use of the buttons and testing the sensors myself by controlling the motors (because who needs buttons?), to not being able to test one sensor because the bed wouldn't move up to the sensor. Here I was thinking there was a hardware problem somewhere, when in reality, the next step in the setup process was to hit the "home" button, so the printer can get its bearings by using all sensors. You should not hit the home button before testing your sensors, because nothing will tell your 3D printer to STOP if a sensor is not working. There was absolutely nothing wrong with my 3Dprinter. It is a software safety feature to not allow too much movement before it knows what coordinates it is sitting at. All of this happened because I couldn't copy a folder with my special buttons in it, into the correct folder. Eventually I asked for the code for the buttons, and as crazy as it sounds, that is what helped me get it all sorted out. I had buttons, tested my sensors, homed my printer, and conducted my first test print that same night.
A few examples of user interface software:
Autodesk Spark: Autodesk is an established entity in the 3D printing world, so this is intriguing. They very recently announced Spark will be embedded into the Windows 10 platform.
Pronterface: I have limited use, but I find it to be very user friendly, and easily customized.
http://www.pronterface.com/
Octoprint: Controlling and monitoring your 3D printer wirelessly? I may have to look into this a bit more.
http://octoprint.org/
Slicers:
A slicer is a software program that takes your specifications, and turns it into a very long and detailed list of instructions and movements that your printer can carry out step by step. It takes the information you define, (such as speed, wall thickness, bed temperature, hotend temperatures, infill, support structures, and dozens of additional paramenters) and slices your model into each layer, generating code, (called Gcode) for every single movement needed to complete the print from start to finish. I have two different versions of Slic3r, because one of them is specifically for multi-nozzle slicing. I look forward to learning the process, and will get into details as I progress.
A few examples of Slicer software:
Slic3r: I am still new to this program, but it is working well. I would like to be a little more comfortable with it. There is a version for multi-extruder printing, which I am just getting started with.
http://slic3r.org/
Kisslic3r: This intrigues me. I've seen video comparing this to Slic3r, and it showed much less jumping within prints for the same part. It seems to possibly be a cleaner, more organized slice. They have a pro version which supports multi-extruder printing, which is my main focus. I plan to look into this further down the road.
http://www.kisslicer.com/
Cura: So many people seem to have this one, so the wealth of information available may be well worth it. I'm not sure if it is compatible with multi-extruders.
https://ultimaker.com/en/products/software
up next
Part 2: Devices to drive your printer, and the interruptions that ruin everything!
Saturday, 9 May 2015
Wednesday, 22 April 2015
RoVa3D, Unboxing my new 3D printer
It is here!
My RoVa3D 3D printer by ORD Solutions is finally here! It arrived on a Friday, and was destined to sit a the depot all weekend until they could deliver it again on the Monday. I couldn't let that happen, so I packed up the kids and we went to pick up the new family member.
This machine is a thing of beauty! A lot of attention was put into the product, but the look, too. I have to say ORD, my machine looks sharp!
I have never done a YouTube video in my life, but several years ago I was playing around with a video editor and having a great time with it. My little guy was doing pretend cooking shows, and I had some fun with them, too.
YouTube has been an invaluable tool to me since planning the purchase of my first 3D printer. Who would have thought geeking out with my new super cool hobby would also drive me to do the absolute most uncomfortable thing I could ever imagine to do. Blogging and YouTube? Only something this amazing would have ever been worth it.
Self control was tough! Preparation wasn't so bad. I was so excited about my RoVa's pending arrival, that any opportunity to pick up a little something that would get me closer to it was thrilling! I already had the video equipment, my office had recently been purged to make room for the newest addition, I had started my blog a bit early, and my channel was ready to go. All I needed was my RoVa3D.
When I got it home, it was already past my kids bedtime on Friday night. I wanted nothing more than to tear it open, but once I got going I realized having video equipment means nothing if it's still in boxes and I have no idea how to really use it. I spent my first night setting up for taking video, and shaking from excitement.
Saturday night, this happened.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSXtGl4s7eo&feature=youtube_gdata
Not bad for my very first YouTube video!
My RoVa3D 3D printer by ORD Solutions is finally here! It arrived on a Friday, and was destined to sit a the depot all weekend until they could deliver it again on the Monday. I couldn't let that happen, so I packed up the kids and we went to pick up the new family member.
This machine is a thing of beauty! A lot of attention was put into the product, but the look, too. I have to say ORD, my machine looks sharp!
I have never done a YouTube video in my life, but several years ago I was playing around with a video editor and having a great time with it. My little guy was doing pretend cooking shows, and I had some fun with them, too.
YouTube has been an invaluable tool to me since planning the purchase of my first 3D printer. Who would have thought geeking out with my new super cool hobby would also drive me to do the absolute most uncomfortable thing I could ever imagine to do. Blogging and YouTube? Only something this amazing would have ever been worth it.
Self control was tough! Preparation wasn't so bad. I was so excited about my RoVa's pending arrival, that any opportunity to pick up a little something that would get me closer to it was thrilling! I already had the video equipment, my office had recently been purged to make room for the newest addition, I had started my blog a bit early, and my channel was ready to go. All I needed was my RoVa3D.
When I got it home, it was already past my kids bedtime on Friday night. I wanted nothing more than to tear it open, but once I got going I realized having video equipment means nothing if it's still in boxes and I have no idea how to really use it. I spent my first night setting up for taking video, and shaking from excitement.
Saturday night, this happened.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSXtGl4s7eo&feature=youtube_gdata
Not bad for my very first YouTube video!
Friday, 10 April 2015
ABS, PLA, or Potato Starch? Bioplastics, Bioploymers, Biodegradable 3Dprinting
I care about the environment. I like to recycle everything I can, even to the detriment of the cluttered space I call home. When asked my favorite summertime activity, I passionately say, "composting". I don't know why, but it's something about digging out all of that amazing smelling dirt. I brag that I have the best fed bugs on the block. I'm weird.
I am getting my multi-extruder 3D printer very soon, and I've been studying up for months. In the process, I've confused many facts, especially about what types of filament I would want to print with. One of the first things I was completely wrong about, was thinking ABS was biodegradable. (This is wrong). PLA is actually the biodegradable filament, which threw me for a loop because I had decided ABS was going to be my primary material.
Purchasing is a bit tricky when you have five extruders to consider. I had to figure out a primary material (ABS) in several colors. Then I chose a secondary material (PLA), because all plastics are not equal, and different prints have different needs. I chose a special filament (T-Glase), with colors that had more clarity, and then a flexible filament (FilaFlex), because I want to combine flexible filament it in my prints. This was my beginner list. I decided not to go with the really fancy stuff yet, because I still need to learn the basics. What am I going to make with wood filament, or conducting filament? I have ideas, but none I can actually DO yet. I made all the tough cuts, and still had an insane amount of filament.
Filament is expensive. I don't like waste, and I'm cheap. I have this image in my head of all of this expensive filament filling up the insides of prints, that will never be needed or seen. I keep wanting to find something "else", some filler material that would be less wasteful. (Please let this be normal thinking). I think of support material, because the more I learn about designing prints, the more I see how important support structures are for successful prints. Support material just gets cut away after the print is done, and then what? tossed away? this BOTHERS me.
I've come up with a solution of sorts. First, because I need a support material, it will be biodegradable PLA. That way anything I cut off of my prints can go into the composter. Unless my composter begins to resemble a large plastic mess, which is a very real possibility. I don't actually know how long it will take to compost. It might have to be in a commercial compost setting, and not a backyard composter. That would really suck, but I could still sneak bits of plastic from my pockets into the lunch napkins and leftover ketchup in the compost bins at work.
I have an automatic litter box that uses ridiculously expensive plastic pellets that biodegrade after a few months of use. This is far better than litter in a landfill, but it has a lot of drawbacks, too. I found my mind wandering back to these pellets over and over again.
I did more research, and came across biopolymers. I found a company overseas who manufactures a plastic pellet from leftover potato starch. There is no oil involved, and it is very biodegradable. It is quite weak, actually. As luck would have it, there is a plant a few hours away from me who has the contract to import it, and they add different bits of (also biodegradable) PLA to their mixtures to get the desired strengths their contracts need. They use it primarily for making items with a short life, or which are disposable. Things like pots for greenhouses, plastic cutlery, dishes, coasters, golf tees, and packaging are all great for biopolymers. It can be injection molded, and it has a melting temperature, and all of a sudden, it is looking like a viable option to try as an experimental support structure filament.
I send an email. I can't help myself. I ask if I can purchase two large bags to experiment with. I explain that I have a machine that I am seeking a suitable replacement biodegradable pellet for, and that I want to experiment with creating a biodegradable support material in 3D printing. I never expected much interest from them.
This morning I got a call from overseas. He explained that this base plastic was very weak, and very biodegradable. He asked about what exact function, strength, and biodegradability I needed. He offered to put together a few different variations with PLA (also biodegradable), to try. I explained that I am too small to be worth all of that effort, and that I would be happy to try the weakest unchanged pellets first. I also explained that I would have PLA that I could experiment with if it came to needing more strength.
As luck would have it, their business had recently taken a turn in a different direction. They had more of this sitting local to me than they presently needed, and since I insisted I didn't need any special alterations to the product, and I was willing to drive four hours to pick it up, they offered it to me as a gift. They've asked that I keep them posted on how well it works, and for what purposes. New markets are always interesting, and I did specifically seek this product out.
I was not prepared to start making my own filaments yet. When I got there, I met the man from overseas online. Everyone was so nice, and so passionate about their product. They surprised me with over 350lbs of pellets, so I could experiment to my hearts content. I had considered making my own filaments at some point in the future, but this unbelievable gift sealed the deal. The expense of the equipment had been gifted to me in pellets, and I had experimenting to do!
.
Of course now I'm very motivated to make my very own biodegradable potato starch golf tees.
I am getting my multi-extruder 3D printer very soon, and I've been studying up for months. In the process, I've confused many facts, especially about what types of filament I would want to print with. One of the first things I was completely wrong about, was thinking ABS was biodegradable. (This is wrong). PLA is actually the biodegradable filament, which threw me for a loop because I had decided ABS was going to be my primary material.
Purchasing is a bit tricky when you have five extruders to consider. I had to figure out a primary material (ABS) in several colors. Then I chose a secondary material (PLA), because all plastics are not equal, and different prints have different needs. I chose a special filament (T-Glase), with colors that had more clarity, and then a flexible filament (FilaFlex), because I want to combine flexible filament it in my prints. This was my beginner list. I decided not to go with the really fancy stuff yet, because I still need to learn the basics. What am I going to make with wood filament, or conducting filament? I have ideas, but none I can actually DO yet. I made all the tough cuts, and still had an insane amount of filament.
Filament is expensive. I don't like waste, and I'm cheap. I have this image in my head of all of this expensive filament filling up the insides of prints, that will never be needed or seen. I keep wanting to find something "else", some filler material that would be less wasteful. (Please let this be normal thinking). I think of support material, because the more I learn about designing prints, the more I see how important support structures are for successful prints. Support material just gets cut away after the print is done, and then what? tossed away? this BOTHERS me.
I've come up with a solution of sorts. First, because I need a support material, it will be biodegradable PLA. That way anything I cut off of my prints can go into the composter. Unless my composter begins to resemble a large plastic mess, which is a very real possibility. I don't actually know how long it will take to compost. It might have to be in a commercial compost setting, and not a backyard composter. That would really suck, but I could still sneak bits of plastic from my pockets into the lunch napkins and leftover ketchup in the compost bins at work.
I have an automatic litter box that uses ridiculously expensive plastic pellets that biodegrade after a few months of use. This is far better than litter in a landfill, but it has a lot of drawbacks, too. I found my mind wandering back to these pellets over and over again.
I did more research, and came across biopolymers. I found a company overseas who manufactures a plastic pellet from leftover potato starch. There is no oil involved, and it is very biodegradable. It is quite weak, actually. As luck would have it, there is a plant a few hours away from me who has the contract to import it, and they add different bits of (also biodegradable) PLA to their mixtures to get the desired strengths their contracts need. They use it primarily for making items with a short life, or which are disposable. Things like pots for greenhouses, plastic cutlery, dishes, coasters, golf tees, and packaging are all great for biopolymers. It can be injection molded, and it has a melting temperature, and all of a sudden, it is looking like a viable option to try as an experimental support structure filament.
I send an email. I can't help myself. I ask if I can purchase two large bags to experiment with. I explain that I have a machine that I am seeking a suitable replacement biodegradable pellet for, and that I want to experiment with creating a biodegradable support material in 3D printing. I never expected much interest from them.
This morning I got a call from overseas. He explained that this base plastic was very weak, and very biodegradable. He asked about what exact function, strength, and biodegradability I needed. He offered to put together a few different variations with PLA (also biodegradable), to try. I explained that I am too small to be worth all of that effort, and that I would be happy to try the weakest unchanged pellets first. I also explained that I would have PLA that I could experiment with if it came to needing more strength.
As luck would have it, their business had recently taken a turn in a different direction. They had more of this sitting local to me than they presently needed, and since I insisted I didn't need any special alterations to the product, and I was willing to drive four hours to pick it up, they offered it to me as a gift. They've asked that I keep them posted on how well it works, and for what purposes. New markets are always interesting, and I did specifically seek this product out.
I was not prepared to start making my own filaments yet. When I got there, I met the man from overseas online. Everyone was so nice, and so passionate about their product. They surprised me with over 350lbs of pellets, so I could experiment to my hearts content. I had considered making my own filaments at some point in the future, but this unbelievable gift sealed the deal. The expense of the equipment had been gifted to me in pellets, and I had experimenting to do!
.
Of course now I'm very motivated to make my very own biodegradable potato starch golf tees.
Friday, 27 March 2015
First 3D Printer, First Blog
I'm not the type to think I have much to say to the public world. I do have a weakness for wanting to fill voids, and I find myself in a void that I can't turn away from. I am the soon to be owner, of a brand new RoVa3D, 5 extruder 3Dprinter! I bought it back in the prototype/ start up stage, and I've been anxiously waiting for news of it being ready to ship. That news came this week, and I have been walking on clouds ever since.
There is a lot of information I will be drawing from, having never before owned a 3D printer, and having never used the tools needed to design an STL file. I will be gratefully taking from the pool of knowledge and hard invested hours of donated time already out there. This printer I am about to squeal over, has five extruders. Multi-material, multi-color printing is in the early stages, and I can't help but feel it would be so unforgivably wrong to go through such a learning experience and not offer it back in some way.
I will not only be learning multi-extruder 3d printing, but also how to design, blog, post videos, and who knows what else, in my attempt to share my experiences. I have a weakness for pushing myself outside of my comfort zone, and only the excitement for my new 3D printer can counter how terrifying a blog and YouTube channel are to me.
Here is what all the excitement is about!
http://ordsolutions.com/
There is a lot of information I will be drawing from, having never before owned a 3D printer, and having never used the tools needed to design an STL file. I will be gratefully taking from the pool of knowledge and hard invested hours of donated time already out there. This printer I am about to squeal over, has five extruders. Multi-material, multi-color printing is in the early stages, and I can't help but feel it would be so unforgivably wrong to go through such a learning experience and not offer it back in some way.
I will not only be learning multi-extruder 3d printing, but also how to design, blog, post videos, and who knows what else, in my attempt to share my experiences. I have a weakness for pushing myself outside of my comfort zone, and only the excitement for my new 3D printer can counter how terrifying a blog and YouTube channel are to me.
Here is what all the excitement is about!
http://ordsolutions.com/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)