I've wanted a 3D printer for a long time so I jumped at the chance. My main reason I want it is to make some headstones for my favorite cemetery. My husband recently mowed one which we have had since 2015 and need another. So instead of ordering them from the company we usually use, I thought I'd make them. They are approximately 5 x 5 inches, half an inch tall and lie flat on the ground. I figured it should be easy enough. I unpacked and assembled the 3D printer. It probably took around 90 minutes since I've never assembled any of this before. I landed and the legs weren't straight and if I made them swing they would swing. Luckily I had something to tuck under one to keep it straight. I installed the free Cura program on my computer and started creating the tombstone I wanted. It wasn't particularly practical to create something myself, but since I had a background in computer art, I used other programs and managed to finish the design. it took me about 4 hours. I load the thread into the machine. You really have to push it through to get to the nozzle. And sometimes it can be difficult to align it in the right direction. Not user friendly at all and I want to keep the filament in it. I did the alignment. I went to print their test product. small buddha (wish they had another choice). Sometimes there was a little foundation and sometimes not, but I couldn't get over it. I've pumped it half a dozen times, trying again and again with varying degrees of success. I tried making the plate hotter. I tried to make the thread hotter or colder. Each time, the nozzle eventually caught what was already done and pulled it up. The filament would not stay low and flush with the plate, but would curl up. WHAT SETTINGS DID NOT TRY! I probably worked on this for at least 6 hours. I also tried the theme I created. I could say even if I could print it it wouldn't be good enough or thick enough for the purpose. At 50% density this was estimated at 12 hours and full density would take almost 2 days for a 5x5x0.5 plate with an inscription on it. I've given up for now. Apparently it doesn't work for what I wanted. I'm sure I'll play with him in the future, but so far I'm not impressed. I mean regardless of orientation or settings, I can't get it to print anything. I don't know how others made it work. Not satisfied with the product at the moment. 12 hours wasted and not a single product to show off. UPDATE: They finally got their Buddha working after over half a dozen base sticking errors. I've found that low temperatures and preheating the plate work best. I then went to the cooker and it took 13 hours despite the rating being a 10. It feels a bit crunchy on the inside and not smooth, but it did the job. However, this caused the base to deform slightly. However, the PLA material doesn't seem to stand up to the task it was designed for. the time will show. I'm adding 1 star because it can print, but if that's typical of 3D printers then it's annoying and I'm not sure if it's worth the hype.
Flashforge Adventurer 3D Printer with Detachable Precision Leveling System
6 Review
Economic Ender 3D Printer DIY Kit With Resume Printing Function, Large Printable Area Of 220X220X250MM By Creality 3D
18 Review
π¨οΈ ANYCUBIC Assembled Innovation Off Line Printing: Streamline Your Printing Process with Cutting-Edge Technology
5 Review
π¨οΈ FLASHFORGE Adventurer: Enhanced 3D Printer with Removable Extruders and Monitoring Features
4 Review