by ccobra » Mon Jul 16, 2018 6:44 pm
For the time I like the extruded filament, FFF, using the 3mm filament. One thing I wish my Luztbot Mini had would be a network hookup. As it is, I use it with another computer to print out a project that can print from 1/2 hour to 8 hours. The first Printer I had was a Solidoodle that used the 1.75mm filament. Another thing to check is the temperature. For the ABS filament that I use, requires 250 degrees C for the best results. You'll need to check the material of the platform for when I was using the Solidoodle, I had to use hairspray to get the parts to stick. The Mini uses a Borosilicate Glass/PEI platform and I've never had to use hairspray with it, just replaced the glass about a year ago and got around four years of printing on the original glass. The program I use is the CURA program which I find to be quite easy to use and runs a lot quicker than the program that I downloaded for the Solidoodle. One thing about the Solidoodle was it was only good for a 45 minute print before it would start acting up from the heat.
The programs that I use are Netfab for cleaning up and modifying the downloaded files and Inventor for modeling up a part. I like the Mini for I can model up detail like tubular frames as long as I make them 3/32" diameter or when I do front suspension detail I use a cylinder within the coil spring so that I can print out the springs at 0.035 to .050 inch diameters.
I've looked a a couple of Stereolithography printers but those still look pretty messy to me and like with the Mini, I would like to print some things a little larger that 6x6x6 which is just 1/32. With the FFF Printer, you have to be concerned with how you set the part on the platform to be printed. With the way it does print in layers, the parts will be brittle and break at the layers, even with the 250C temperatures.
Hopefully this doesn't make you change your mind for these printers can be a real hoot to print out slot cars and honey-do jobs around the ol'homestead.