What have you 3D printed for your TJ?

[NashvilleTJ]

Please don’t tell Santa - she still thinks the printer is a surprise…

 

[k1n3k]

Get an entry level Voxelab or Ender to get your feet wet. Then you can figure out what direction you want to go. I have a Voxelab that I paid $150 for. Is it a {insert high end 3d printer here}? Nope, not even close. So far, its done everything that I need. I'll probably outgrow it some day, but that day isn't today.

I have to disagree here. Those low end 3d printers have a steep learning curve to get a print worth a rats ass. the extra 70 bucks to go to a bambu a1 mini is well worth the cost. Bed leveling and self calibration are such game changers that it really alters the experience. I went from an ender 3 and Mingda magician pro to the A1 and was shocked by how much easier it really was. Thats what led me to sell the A1 to a buddy and buy an X1C then later the H2S. My buddy had the same experience, his wife took over the A1 as part of her business and he's buying an H2C. Being as Cooper and his wife already are going to have a learning curve getting the files and learning the software side, tossing the hardware problems of manual leveling, E-step calibration and bed adhesion on top of it is a bad idea. Plus, should they decide that its just not for them, that printer can go to a grandkid or be sold for nearly what they paid for it fairly easily.

 

[Apparition]

I have to disagree here. Those low end 3d printers have a steep learning curve to get a print worth a rats ass. the extra 70 bucks to go to a bambu a1 mini is well worth the cost. Bed leveling and self calibration are such game changers that it really alters the experience. I went from an ender 3 and Mingda magician pro to the A1 and was shocked by how much easier it really was. Thats what led me to sell the A1 to a buddy and buy an X1C then later the H2S. My buddy had the same experience, his wife took over the A1 as part of her business and he's buying an H2C. Being as Cooper and his wife already are going to have a learning curve getting the files and learning the software side, tossing the hardware problems of manual leveling, E-step calibration and bed adhesion on top of it is a bad idea. Plus, should they decide that its just not for them, that printer can go to a grandkid or be sold for nearly what they paid for it fairly easily.

I also went with an Ender first and was impressed with it once I got it up and running and made a few things.

Then I got my X1C and it made me realize I didn't know what I didn't know.

They aren't even in the same realm of utility and usefulness.

 

[sab]

I have no experience with Voxelab or Ender, but I chose the Bambu for its ease of use. That becomes even more important if you're only printing things others have designed because you're technically challenged. I've espoused before that there are two types of owners of 3D printers: people who just want to make stuff, and people who are into 3D printing. John, you sound to be in the former, rather than latter, type (like me). If that assumption is correct, ease of use should be your #1 decision factor.

 

[sab]

Please don’t tell Santa - she still thinks the printer is a surprise…

View attachment 661152

Yellow filament? Really? What the heck are you going to use that for?

(seriously, though, I've learned that PLA and vehicle parts aren't a good match because PLA softens at a very low temp, so keep that in mind)

 

[NashvilleTJ]

(seriously, though, I've learned that PLA and vehicle parts aren't a good match because PLA softens at a very low temp, so keep that in mind)

Fully aware, thanks to you guys. This is just my "print the inexpensive stuff until you learn what's what" supply of filament. I also see using it for prototype prints when I'm developing items which will ultimately require the more exotic filaments. It will also be cool to blast out a few things for the older grandkids when they are here over Christmas. My oldest - LJ, who is 5 - will be especially intrigued.

You guys, and this thread, have given me a huge head start in that understanding.

Yellow filament? Really? What the heck are you going to use that for?

[IGNORE]

 

[Apparition]

Yellow filament? Really? What the heck are you going to use that for?

(seriously, though, I've learned that PLA and vehicle parts aren't a good match because PLA softens at a very low temp, so keep that in mind)

It's ok, he doesn't keep these in his vehicle

 

[NashvilleTJ]

It's ok, he keeps doesn't keep these in his vehicle

View attachment 661164

Definitely my first big print. I'll emblazon "Nashville TJ Loves You!" across the chest and then send one to all of you bastaads...

 

[Apparition]

Definitely my first big print. I'll emblazon "Nashville TJ Loves You!" across the chest and then send one to all of you bastaads...

 

[Zorba]

I have to disagree here. Those low end 3d printers have a steep learning curve to get a print worth a rats ass. the extra 70 bucks to go to a bambu a1 mini is well worth the cost. Bed leveling and self calibration are such game changers that it really alters the experience. I went from an ender 3 and Mingda magician pro to the A1 and was shocked by how much easier it really was. Thats what led me to sell the A1 to a buddy and buy an X1C then later the H2S. My buddy had the same experience, his wife took over the A1 as part of her business and he's buying an H2C. Being as Cooper and his wife already are going to have a learning curve getting the files and learning the software side, tossing the hardware problems of manual leveling, E-step calibration and bed adhesion on top of it is a bad idea. Plus, should they decide that its just not for them, that printer can go to a grandkid or be sold for nearly what they paid for it fairly easily.

You may be entirely right - I have no experience. I will ask how often you level your bed, every time I've checked mine, its been dead nuts on. But the Voxelab at least comes as a Box O' Parts that you have to assemble, so there's that. I also upgraded the extruder as the one that came with it sucked donkey balls. Needed to print a filament guide also - then re-design same and re-print when the new extruder was put on because it was higher than the POS it came with. Then I had to massage the new filament guide and re-print it AGAIN just two days ago because Tinkercad does strange and wonderful things when rendering two merged shapes that I wasn't aware of the first time and the guide suddenly broke in half. Ran the STL through "meshinspector" to get it re-rendered as one solid part. So yea - if that kind of thing is a PITA to someone, they'd be better off avoiding it if they can. I'm a geek, I don't mind it. An interesting learning experience for sure.

 

[Zorba]

I have no experience with Voxelab or Ender, but I chose the Bambu for its ease of use. That becomes even more important if you're only printing things others have designed because you're technically challenged. I've espoused before that there are two types of owners of 3D printers: people who just want to make stuff, and people who are into 3D printing. John, you sound to be in the former, rather than latter, type (like me). If that assumption is correct, ease of use should be your #1 decision factor.

That makes sense. I'm pretty much in the "just make stuff" camp, but my Voxelab hasn't said "no" to me as yet - although I'm sure it will at some point as I've only done simple stuff.

 

[chili_pepper]

Get an entry level Voxelab or Ender to get your feet wet. Then you can figure out what direction you want to go. I have a Voxelab that I paid $150 for. Is it a {insert high end 3d printer here}? Nope, not even close. So far, its done everything that I need. I'll probably outgrow it some day, but that day isn't today.

Given his self-admitted lack of computer knowledge and likely hers as well, I'm not sure these would be a good choice. I don't see either of them messing around with bed leveling or anything of the sort, I think a plug and play solution would be best.

 

[sab]

Definitely my first big print. I'll emblazon "Nashville TJ Loves You!" across the chest and then send one to all of you bastaads...

You cheap S.O.B. You’re gonna make us all share one???

 

[NashvilleTJ]

You cheap S.O.B. You’re gonna make us all share one???

...each of you bastaads?

 

[sab]

Yellow filament? Really? What the heck are you going to use that for?

[IGNORE]

Solidarity :

Notice that the order date is before you revealed your purchase. Don't share this with any other forum member, Jeff, but I'm not really a yellow-hater. I don't want the others to think I'm gay.

 

[chili_pepper]

Don't share this with any other forum member, Jeff, but I'm not really a yellow-hater. I don't want the others to think I'm gay.

You assume this is the only reason we would think that about you...

That said, if'n it's yellow that makes one gay, I'm afraid I have a roll of yellow ABS, so can't say too much there. If'n it's the PLA that does it, well, I don't typically buy or use it but did just pick up a roll of PLA-CF for some unknown reason during the bulk sale...

 

[Obi-Wan]

Well then it comes down to if the existing stuff is enough to justify the expense.

Here's some of the things I found with one search. This stuff can be printed without much involvement, especially if you can use an app on a phoooooonne. Can also be done using a computer but I don't think it's as easy IMO.

I count six O's. That's @Zorba approved.

 

[Obi-Wan]

I ran several Ender 3 V2 rigs for years. I used them to teach myself the ins and outs of printing, then upgraded to a X1C and holy hell was it nice to send it a print and know it was just going to work. And with the price of an A1 at $299, it's a no brainer to start there.

@John Cooper, If you or your wife is at all interested in learning CAD, use Onshape. It's free (yes free, not 3 month trial, submit your credit card crap to get access). I use Solidworks at my day job and Onshape at home. It doesn't have FEA / flow sims in the basic version, but it does everything you could need for making parts and assemblies. It also supports a slew of community plugins for TONS of feature updates.

My next question is, what scale are your wife's dollhouses? This would help to determine if an FDM printer with a 0.2 nozzle would produce a fine enough resolution for her liking, or if a resin printer would be a better investment.

Word of advice, resin printing sucks in the post-processing stages.

 

[John Cooper]

I ran several Ender 3 V2 rigs for years. I used them to teach myself the ins and outs of printing, then upgraded to a X1C and holy hell was it nice to send it a print and know it was just going to work. And with the price of an A1 at $299, it's a no brainer to start there.

@John Cooper, If you or your wife is at all interested in learning CAD, use Onshape. It's free (yes free, not 3 month trial, submit your credit card crap to get access). I use Solidworks at my day job and Onshape at home. It doesn't have FEA / flow sims in the basic version, but it does everything you could need for making parts and assemblies. It also supports a slew of community plugins for TONS of feature updates.

My next question is, what scale are your wife's dollhouses? This would help to determine if an FDM printer with a 0.2 nozzle would produce a fine enough resolution for her liking, or if a resin printer would be a better investment.

Word of advice, resin printing sucks in the post-processing stages.

I will have to check on the scale and thanks for the heads up.

 

[lBasket]

Aren't resin fumes more toxic too