Friday, May 29, 2015

Latest addition to the 3D printing equipment

Recently I have been looking at improving my 3D prints, and after some searches around, SeeMeCNC (the manufacturer of my longest running 3D printers), was selling this Android-based tablet called MatterControl Touch.  Based on the literature on the website (http://seemecnc.com/products/mattercontrol-touch-tablet) the ease of use and relatively fast process of starting a new print was an appealing factor in my decision to purchase the MatterControl Touch earlier this week.

Based off of the software of the same name, the tablet takes over the role of downloading, slicing/repairing the .STL files and ultimately the handling of the GCode to the printer.  After some initial trial and error, I printed the default test print (a square object roughly 1cm3).  The initial test print had a warping issue on one of the corners, which I later determined was from the printer set too fast of a print speed.

Since then I have successfully printed eight different objects;  Five (5) coasters from the NES 8bit Coaster Set (http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:104371), a tablet holder (http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:303952) and the latest print (http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:403031), all came out extremely well with little sanding required.  Below is one of the prints at extremely close up.

Since I received my unit on Wednesday, I have been very impressed with the ease of use of the software, as well as the speed of which I can find a new item on Thingiverse, download it, slice/repair the STL, generate the GCode, and finally start printing within 10 minutes.

As I do more of YouTube videos of each unique Thingiverse item, the speed of which I can start a new print, will easy pay for itself in no time.

If you are new to 3D printing, and you have never used Slic3r or Cura, I highly recommend using this tablet, as a starting block.

If you would like to see more content regarding the MatterControl Touch, be sure to leave a comment here!














Wednesday, May 27, 2015

GCode | for the GoPro Hero Seat Post Mount

Hello everyone,


In the interest of sharing my GCode for each print I run on the SeeMeCNC Orion Delta printer, I will include the entire GCode in a separate post from the original work log.

Below is what Slic3r generated for my printer based on the following perimeters:

Print/Slicing settings:
Filament: 1.75mm PLA (Natural color)
Filament Needed: 11453mm
Quality: 0.1mm
Print Speed: 15mm/s
Outer Perimeter Speed: 28mm/s
Infill Speed: 20mm/s
Infill: 80%
Shell Thickness: 0.8mm
Temperatures: (Hotend) 180C, (Bed) 65C


GCode

https://www.dropbox.com/s/aw1j2viauq4etnp/goproseatpost_gcode.txt?dl=0

(Unfortunately I couldn't paste the actual block of GCode here, as the block is over 90 thousand lines of text.  I have provided a DropBox link so you can download the GCode and observe the file yourself).

Saturday, May 23, 2015

Work Log | 3D printing a GoPro Hero Seat Post Mount

Worklog

Last weekend I received a request from a friend to print him a seat post mount for his mountain bike, and found this Thingiverse item to print (GoPro Seat Post Mount by tonecoder).

After slicing the part, and putting it through the SeeMeCNC Orion Delta, the part came very well, with some rough spots of stringing along the hinge of the mount.

Pictures from the print (after 20 minutes of sanding and removing brims):









Slicing/Print information:
Print time:  3h:12m:37s
Filament: 1.75mm PLA (Natural color)
Filament Needed: 11453mm
Quality: 0.1mm
Print Speed: 15mm/s
Outer Perimeter Speed: 28mm/s
Infill Speed: 20mm/s
Infill: 80%
Shell Thickness: 0.8mm
Temperatures: (Hotend) 180C, (Bed) 65C

Printed on:  SeeMeCNC Orion Delta

YouTube video of the print in action:

Saturday, May 16, 2015

Work Log | 3D printing a GoPro Hero Chest Plate

Worklog

Earlier this week I printed out a couple of the GoPro Chest Plate, courtesy of Maxxi from Thingiverse.  Overall the SeeMeCNC Orion Delta printer printed this part very well, at 80% solid, with no defects.  The only remaining items left for this part, is to install straps for the chest harness, and to add a camera mount for the GoPro Hero 4 Black.

Pictures of the print post processing:






With some sanding and filing I can clean the edges even more.
Slicing/Print information:

Slicing/Print information:
Print time:  3h:12m:37s
Filament: 1.75mm PLA (Natural color)
Filament Needed: 11453mm
Quality: 0.1mm
Print Speed: 15mm/s
Outer Perimeter Speed: 28mm/s
Infill Speed: 20mm/s
Infill: 80%
Shell Thickness: 0.8mm
Temperatures: (Hotend) 180C, (Bed) 65C
Printed on:  SeeMeCNC Orion Delta


YouTube video of the print in action:
Time Lapse | 3D Printing the GoPro Hero Chest Plate

Thingiverse item:
Gopro ChestMount

Saturday, May 9, 2015

Work log | 3D printing an under desk cable tidy clip

Worklog

Earlier this week I printed out a couple of the under-desk cable clips, courtesy of natko from Thingiverse.  Overall the SeeMeCNC Orion Delta printer printed this part very well, at 100% solid, with very little defects.  I still need to mount these on my desk and route the cables properly.  Even with the warmer temperatures out this spring, this part never curled off of the print bed;  That is the magic of blue painter's tape.

Pictures of the print post processing:





With some sanding and filing I can clean the edges even more.

Slicing/Print information:

Print time:  2h:47m:9s
Filament: 1.75mm PLA (Natural color)
Filament Needed: 9978mm
Quality: 0.1mm
Print Speed: 20mm/s
Outer Perimeter Speed: 28mm/s
Infill Speed: 20mm/s
Infill: 100%
Shell Thickness: 0.8mm
Temperatures: (Hotend) 180C, (Bed) 60C


YouTube video of the print in action:
Time Lapse | 3D printing a cable tidy clip

Thingiverse item:
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:796100