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[url= https://www.3dprintersonlinestore.com/creality-ender2-mini-kit ]Link to the Ender-2[/url]
Interesting! It gets very good reviews
I haven't actually printed anything beyond that print volume either.
I do have something in the works, but to be honest I could do it in sections without too much bother.
On the CR-10 forums it seems dominated by cosplay costume makers and modellers who like to print massive anime figures and fill/paint them.
Apart from the fact that obviously [i]everyone[/i] would like [url= https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1779274 ]an IronMan suit[/url], I don't seem to be it's target market. Mainly because I'm too impatient to wait days for the big prints to finish 🙂
(Basically I should have bought the Ender-2 🙂 )
Apart from the fact that obviously everyone would like an IronMan suit,
Mate of mine's making one of those. Using foam rather than plastic though.
I think that's what holds me back is the what would I use it for question. But I could use it for work in many situations and my boys would love playing with it.
I have been following this thread with interest and that Ender 2 is really tempting.
I also have no idea what I would make with it, but still want one.
I was worried about what to print too (as you can read earlier in the thread), but now that it's here, ideas come from everywhere.
But then I am a designer by trade.
AlexSimon - Member
If I was buying now, I'd be tempted by the Creality Ender-2 (also rebranded HICTOP). Currently about £135 with codes.
Small print volume, but many shared parts with the CR-10.
I've had a look at the Ender-2 and it does seem to get good reviews.
I can't help but think that the cantilever nature of the design won't give as good results - particularly as things start to wear.
This might be of interest. Adam Savage with one of those 3D-printed mega-scale Curta
Amazing finish on that. I wonder if it's just an amazing printer, or if it's post-processed.
Unfortunately this isn't an amazing post with photo's of what I've printed. 😐
I have found a [url= https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/anet-a8-desktop-3d-printer-eu-plug-for-9169-using-code-gearbest-2814167 ]super cheap 3D printer[/url], under £100 and print volume is 220x220x240mm 😯
EDIT:
I did design a [url= https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2336437 ]Evil Wreckoning Clip Holder[/url]. This needs an update as over time it becomes loose.
I designed a [url= https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2370670 ]replacement top cup holder ring[/url] for the Sakura cup holder, it now holds a proper cup of coffee (Costa/Starbucks), this is fitted in my car as it only came with one cup holder.
The Anet A8 is very well known.
I put some comments in the end of that thread.
Basically, only buy it if you have plenty of time and patience, but once modded it can be safe and high quality.
If you value your time more than your cash - buy something better.
proper cup of coffee (Costa/Starbucks),
Go away and think about what you've done.
I looked briefly into getting a 3d printer at home, but talked myself out of it as I really don't have much to make or any time to play with it.
Instead I've used these guys a few times and find them to be very good.
https://www.3dprint-uk.co.uk
You send them an STL file of all the parts you want and they arrive about 2 weeks later.
They only use SLS (nylon) which is the process used by most engineering/design companies for working prototypes. The parts are very durable and stable over time.
I used to work for Dyson and SLS is used for almost everything, the machines cost big money.
The price is just set by the external dimensions, so you can position parts in such a way that gets best value for money. Anything hollow can be filled with bits which are effectivity free.
As clones of the Creality CR-10 go, this looks pretty good!
£259 with the code from the video seems good value.
I've just started my next big project.
A CNC Router made from a lot of 3d printed parts.
[url= https://cdn.thingiverse.com/renders/92/79/e0/06/de/8cf4ae8a1dc4a987229f62db85e7121c_preview_featured.jp g" target="_blank">https://cdn.thingiverse.com/renders/92/79/e0/06/de/8cf4ae8a1dc4a987229f62db85e7121c_preview_featured.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1750276
At first I thought I could build one for about £300, but the models that come in at this price (MPCNC and a couple of others) look a little flimsy for purely routing ply and aluminium, so I've gone for this one instead.
My Bill of Materials currently sits at £440 including PLA and everything. Slightly concerned that it's an awful lot of money to spend on something that also requires a lot of time and skill to get working, but I'm sure my son (and YouTube) will come to the rescue!
Most of the bits are currently on their way on a slow boat from China.
Hoping to do the bulk of the work over the Christmas break.
Time to get printing!
Decided to print the blue bits in the image above in PETG so that it's heat resistant and stronger, but having an absolute mare trying to get it to stay stuck to the bed during the long (12+ hour prints).
Glass on 70-degree bed and slow printing = Nope
Glass on 80-degree bed and slow printing = Nope
Pritt stick on 80-degree bed and slow printing = Nope
Hairspray stick on 80-degree bed and slow printing = Nope
Blue masking tape on 80-degree bed and slow printing = Best so far, but it's still starting to warp at 4 hours 🙁
I've heard PETG doesn't like to be as squashed into the bed as much as PLA, but my attempts to do that resulted in hardly any sticking at all (even the brim came off before completing).
Any tips?
I'd suggest giving ColorFabb XT a go. I bought some, not knowing it was similar to PETG, until yesterday when I went to re-order another roll. I find it sticks to the bed just fine, it's actually hard to get off the blue tape, I don't use a heated bed. Recently printed a part that was 250x80 by 60mm high and it didn't warp or lift.
I do print the first layer at 50% speed and about 10°C hotter than the rest of the print and no cooling until about layer 3, it also in an enclosure. Have a look at Simplify 3D, it is worth the cost, as has a lot of cool features such as custom settings for first layer and loads more things.
PETG can also take chunks out of your glass bed when you remove the finished item 😯
That would at least mean that I'd got to the end of a print! 🙂allthepies - MemberPETG can also take chunks out of your glass bed when you remove the finished item
Interesting. I can't really afford ColorFabb XT (need 2.5kg for this project), but then buy cheap buy twice!Milkie - MemberI'd suggest giving ColorFabb XT a go. I bought some, not knowing it was similar to PETG, until yesterday when I went to re-order another roll. I find it sticks to the bed just fine, it's actually hard to get off the blue tape, I don't use a heated bed. Recently printed a part that was 250x80 by 60mm high and it didn't warp or lift.
That is exactly what I have found. I don't buy cheap stuff anymore, gone through many reels of cheap stuff and just ended up chasing the settings, printing more than once and ruining a nozzle. 2.5Kg though 😯 How big is the part?
All those blue bits on the image above (the CNC router). It requires 50% infill.
I understand the act of making it is fun in itself but in this case wouldn't you be better off buying something? For example this is almost exactly the same as your bill of materials: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300W-3040-New-3-Axis-CNC-Router-Engraver-3D-Engraving-Drilling-Milling-Machine/263151299677 but all aluminium and already working.
That's pretty much the machine I started on. Very sturdy construction and worked well until I sold it on for about half what I paid for it and bought/built a much bigger one.
No help with the question about printing with PETG.
No help with anything else really, as I don't yet have a 3-D printer.
But, I've just been told that we are going to get a bonus this small Christmas bonus this year, because things are finally looking up in the industry I work in & the company is making good progress.
Anyway - I am planning on splitting it 50/50 with my Wife, but this will still hopefully leave me with enough to get a budget 3-D printer.
Excited already & I'm still not really sure if a) I'll get enough of a bonus to afford it, or b) what printer I would be able to get.
I like the idea of the CR-10, but not sure I need that much build volume.
Tevo Tarantula looks like a good performing printer for the price.
But, now the Anycubic i3 mega has popped onto my radar & also looks like a good bet!
I'll get Christmas out of the way first & then worry about it!!
AlexSimon, good luck with the 3-D printed CNC router and getting your parts printed!
Blimey - doing a quick search....has anyone bought anything from lightinthebox.com?
They've got the:
- Tevo Tarantula for £117
- Tevo Tornado (rip-off CR10) for £234
- Anycubic i3 Mega for £220!!
Even the Tevo Tarantula with dual extruders is only £173.....
Yes, that is pretty cheap as those things go (normally about that price without any electronics), but it's also about 1/4 of the working area that I'm planning. (900mm y axis, 600 x axis).nickjb - MemberI understand the act of making it is fun in itself but in this case wouldn't you be better off buying something? For example this is almost exactly the same as your bill of materials:
And - yes - building is part of the fun (family project).
But I agree that it's not for everyone - and obviously I didn't know I'd have such PETG trouble - although I can always revert to PLA - many have.
On the positive side.
Just before this, I completed a christmas present.
First time printing at 0.1 layer height.
First time printing with loads of support.
First time printing in bits and glueing together (you can just see the split line above the wavey split so that I could print in the correct orientation for each bit).
Designed in Illustrator and Fusion 360.
It's a soap dish - about 120mm diameter.
Support was a total mare to remove from the underside of the lid (as you can see). It's almost enough to make me buy Simplify 3D!
But happy with the colour, texture and shape.
[img] 
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I've been having mixed results with the PLA I got from RS. Just this morning DHL turned up with two reels of Colorfabb NGEN
I'm about 20% through a first test print but I'm utterly sold already ! Will post pics later..
Good to know! 😉
I've just ordered some NGEN from ColorFabb, 2.85mm/750g for £24 a roll, currently 25% discount on some colours.
The cool Grey looks good, but one of the reasons I felt comfortable with 3D printing was the corn starch/biodegradable nature of PLA. Still considering it though as I haven't found a good blueish grey for prototypes in this country yet.
Just before this, I completed a christmas present.
You've done a great job with that. [like]
Blimey - doing a quick search....has anyone bought anything from lightinthebox.com?
I was hovering over the buy button for a tarantula on there last night.
Guess you’d have to add on 20% duty plus the £35 uk delivery.
One thing I couldn’t work out was if the voltages were ok to use in uk?
pat12 - MemberOne thing I couldn’t work out was if the voltages were ok to use in uk?
If you look at the YouTube video reviews, most of them give a bit of detail about things like the PSU.
Of the ones that I have watched, most of them seem to be switchable PSU's - so you can run them 110 or 220v. You just need to make sure the switch is in the correct position before turning them on.
The closest adaptor option seems to be EU adaptor, so I assumed it would be necessary to have an EU-UK adaptor permanently plugged in.
[quote=stumpy01 said]Blimey - doing a quick search....has anyone bought anything from lightinthebox.com?
Yes, but not a 3d printer. Be warned that they use a courier which you're pretty much guaranteed to get tapped for import duty/vat and a fairly eye watering "handling charge". So factor that in when comparing options.
Most of them have a switchable PSU and use a standard kettle plug. The CR-10 certainly does.
I didn't get charged duty from Gearbest, Banggood or AliExpress when using standard free delivery. Never heard of lightinthebox.com - I would do a bit of due diligence. If thy are undercutting Gearbest/Banggood then it sounds a bit too good to be true.
Back to my warping PETG problem.
I splashed some cash on a PEI sheet (£25 for 300x300mm) and it seems to be working.
Latest one to come off the printer shows only 0.5mm warp on one corner.
Fingers crossed that it doesn't effect anything.
Of course it could just be the warm night as I print in my shed and it was 10-degrees last night as opposed to 2-3 the other nights.
Printing beautifully in all other ways though.
[img] 
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(new on the left | warped on the right)
pat12 - MemberOne thing I couldn’t work out was if the voltages were ok to use in uk?
I could be wrong but I think mine came with a 2-pin and a UK adaptor. It's got a UK plug on the end now though
Of course it could just be the warm night as I print in my shed and it was 10-degrees last night as opposed to 2-3 the other nights.
There is the problem! I've found my room needs to be 16-22°C for good prints. They don't stick to the bed very well if its cold and the quality is poor, same when humidity is high. Also wind can affect the print quality.
So, then....I have been looking more & more at 3-D printers & am pretty sure I'm gonna get one soon.
I just can't decide which one.
Tevo Tarantula is a good price, but from what I've seen it needs a lot of 3-D printed mods to get it working well (new fan shroud & fans, stiffer Z-Axis mount, stiffer bed mount etc.). I am not sure I want that level of fannying about.
Anycubic i3 Mega - looks very solid & gets good reviews. I probably don't need any more than 200x200x200 build volume
Creality CR-10 - still hankering after this one, but will probably never (or very rarely) need such a large build volume. Same goes for the Tevo Tornado, which seems to be a CR-10 clone.
Creality Ender - seems to get good reviews, but worried the bed size might be a bit small at 150x150x200. Also, the cantilever nature of the design doesn't look 'right' to me. Having said that, all the reviews I have seen reckon it prints very well.
Once I've decided what to get, I need to decide where to get it from!
The China suppliers seem to be AliExpress, Banggood & Gearbest. Some of them have EU warehouses which I guess will guarantee I will not have to pay import duty on top.
If I get one shipped from China I guess it is a lottery whether I get charged an extra 20% or not; and knowing my luck with this type of thing, I will be charged it!
AliExpress have got the AnyCubic i3 Mega available from a German warehouse for £233.15 with shipping bringing the total cost to £265.
Tempted to go with this, to be honest.
Gah! I need someone to make a decision for me!! 😆
Always always look for a code from GearBest. There will always be one - look for a recent youtube video review of the printer for e.g. and there might be an affiliate link in the description. usually 12% off.
For Gearbest I would order using the cheapest possible delivery. I haven't been charged extra with that on the 3 of 4 large things I've bought.
I don't have any experience with Banggood. AliExpress is usually dearer for these printers in my limited experience, but I do use them for parts often.
Printer-wise. You could go cheap first then see if you love it. If you grow out of the Ender (or even cheaper Tronxy), you will feel justified in getting another 🙂
Otherwise in the mid-price area there is also the [url= https://www.gearbest.com/3d-printers-3d-printer-kits/pp_778274.html?wid=21 ]CR-10 mini currently at £226.18 on GearBest[/url] (flash sale so codes might not work).
It's still massive compared to many!
Cheers AlexSimon.
Yeah, I don't know why I discounted the CR10 Mini.
I think when it first came out, it was only a bit cheaper than the CR10 and I saw a review where the bloke was saying for a price difference of only $30 you should get the CR10. But, the price gap appears to be bigger now and it certainly seems to print at a good quality.
That link you have provided does make the CR10 Mini look like a very good deal!
I don't think codes work with Gearbest's flash sale stuff, but I will definitely look into it.
I think I am tending to move away from the really cheap printers because I don't really want to get something that limits me in a couple of months & I wish I'd gone for something a bit pricier - mainly due to the build volume & the perceived longevity of the many plastic parts that seem to be on the really cheap printers.
Part of me is still erring towards the i3 Mega from that Germany warehouse on AliExpress because of the VAT thing.
I've not used any of these Far East shopping portals before so am a bit wary. The AliExpress seller has plenty of reviews & seems to get good ratings.
I'll have to do some more 'googling' tonight! Thanks for your help.
My son ordered a 3D printer from GearBest in mid November - still not arrived.
wwaswas - MemberMy son ordered a 3D printer from GearBest in mid November - still not arrived.
Yeah, this is another thing that concerns me. Quite a few of the questions asked on the product pages seem to be 'where is my printer?'.
Have they given him any idea of where it is or when he's likely to get it, or is it just silence from their end?
Got an email 'item with courier here's your trackign number' tracking shows 'waiting to pick up from warehouse' and has for the past 6 weeks.
Emailed a couple of times and been told 'we'll look into it' yesterday went back and said we'll be doing a paypal chargeback if they don't respond within 48 hours with some details on where it is.
Disappointing - it was his 21st birthday present.
^^ I was definitely intending to pay either via credit card or paypal to hopefully have some kind of protection should this kind of thing occur.
Ta for the info.