Looks like the print bed is warped a bit from the factory

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8yqM-2DsD0&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Here's the start guide , there were not any instructions included with the machine. Only a piece of paper with the URL for soliforum.com , wiki.solidoodle.com , solidoodle.com/blog and their facebook.

Wiki.solidoodle.com

Ok next print , 2 fingers the middle and ring finger. They were a 5 hour print and came out great except the top edge of one and bottom edge of another. The overhang was too much and needed support. It is a easy fix and very minor so these prints are keepers!






i will fill the tiny tips on the top edges with resin filler and they will be done. These tight overhangs are exactly what the extruder fan is intended to be used for. These edges were thin and we're too hot so they curled. I'm just waiting on the fan I ordered which should be here Friday but the prints are going good enough to continue.


next are the thumb and pinky fingers on the bed right now. Estimated 7 hour print.

These Prints I'm Trying With NO raft and support material for the overhang on the very edges. Hopefully I won't have a chipped edge this time and support will take care of it.



i started recording my prints with amcap which is the software that comes with the V3 ez robot cams. I could use these videos in the future for troubleshooting or technical assistance.

@jstarne1 I'm looking hard into getting a Solidoodle...you are making me really like it Plus the price is nicer than the MakerBot. You might have mentioned it elsewhere, but what software are you using to make your designs?

Since you've been using it a while, what would you say are like your top 3-5 tips for 3D printing - things you wished you had know when you started more or less.

Thanks for sharing these posts and your progress!

Hi Justin , i have had the solidoodle for one month now. I'm hardly a expert but I'm still working on it.

Ok so that list

1. I wish I had started by learning to use autodesk 123d or the pro version autodesk 3ds max before buying a printer. Imagine the printer is just a tool to print what is designed. Sometimes prints don't come out right because the design is not optimized for your printers capabilities. Getting to know how to slice objects and make slight changes is very important and I'm not there yet.

2. I wish I had either bought a makerbot ( yes way more money but I wish I had its ease of use) or at least the solidoodle 4 to have a bigger build area. 6 inches build volume is good size but bigger is better.

3. Soon as you get a solidoodle you need to spend your whole first month calibrating it. There are many many options and it takes a while to understand what each does. I'm still learning them and even need to get with solidoodle to show them various price and video of print so they know how to resolve the issues.

4. Consider using alternative software, different slicers for example because each one has its limitations. Document any changes you make so you can reverse them at a moments notice. Some settings work for one model but not a different one.

5. Print out all the recommended mods and also replacement parts for your solidoodle. Things like extruder fan shroud, adjustment knobs, z backlash mod, and a over the top filament roll holder. Even if you get a solidoodle with no case a case is absolutely needed as well as the heated bed. You can buy a model with heated bed and even a case included.

Document everything you do , don't make permanant changes to your machine so you still get tech support. Printable mods usually are held on with a screw or magnet but the machine is still intact.

Lastly read through soliforum.com that is your biggest asset considering there is no real instruction manual for these things.

Ok latest print , this is ring finger and pinky finger. One edge is a bit chewed up. Once agian a bridging issue but I believe the fan will resolve this and keep the material cool and stable. Otherwise I had great quality.









i am going to move the printer into a closet downstairs so i can print even when I am asleep and get more use out of it. I can absolutely see myself having another printer in the future. They are useful in so many ways.

@Josh- I see you as the kinda guy that might build his next one.

@antron , knowing me that's not too far fetched lol , you can use a generic board with this same software but there is lots of math to calculate steps for the motors on each axis. Considering solidoodle uses generic parts I was talking to my best friend about making a giant one like 2 or 3 ft wide. It would take forever to print but it would be awesome to print large items.

Great news , the 12v 40mm fan arrived. At full speed it pushes 7 cfm of air around the nozzle.

Josh,

I know you did several mods and have some more to go. Once all is said and done, how much do you think you will have spent above the original cost to have it really working the way you want? If you had just gone Makerbot from the start, does it have all the things you are adding/changing, or would you be starting with a higher price and still adding to it before it is the quality you need?

I am no where near being in a position to buy one and by the time I do there will probably be improvements and lower prices all around, but I think this kind of info might help those getting ready to pull the trigger now.

Alan

The Z backlash mod was less than 5 dollars and this fan mod , wiring and all is about 20 dollars. The plexiglass case I made was about 80 with all the magnets and stuff. The mods have been minimal as far as cost. Take in mind even buying a used makerbot is 1500 to 2000 on average in which you could have 3 or 4 of these. The makerbot is more user friendly and much easier learning curve but most people can't afford it. I imagine I will get one eventually and sell this one. The little improvements ar re things that the makerbot already has. Makerbot has a dc blower for example which makes bridging and printing this easier.

Josh, you might consider checking out the FlashForge 3D printer. It uses firmware similar to Makerware and is about half the cost at $1199. There is a new website now in the USA so support and parts are now much easier to obtain, you can check it out here:
Flashforge-USA

Ok so I've been lazy I guess and have not touched the printer a few days. I recieved the fan and magents. By the way neodium magnets are ridiculous strong for their size. Anyways I pulled out a 9 volt AC adapter I had in the tool box and tested it. 12.7 volts. I hooked up the fan and the voltage dropped to 11.97 volts. Given this is a 12 volt fan this is a spot on adapter for the fan. There are pins coming off the solidoodle specifically for this purpose but I don't know which pin is which voltage or ground so there no use popping a 170 dollar controller when i have a external option. Plus this doesn't actually modify the machine , it's just held on by two magnets.

because the shape is square and there is a screw that sticks out in the back. Also I used the soldering iron to widen the holes and fit in the magnets.











i soldered the 9 volt adapter to the leads of the fan and covered them with white heatshrink.

I kinda want to spray this black so that it blends in better. The brown burned marks are from the soldering iron where I heated the plastic up some to widen she shape around the square heat element. I covered the inside and outside of the fan duct with epoxy to help give it some heat resistance but it should be fine.

Out of curiosity, do you know what board you have? The Sanguinololu (aka Sanguino) or the newer Prntrboard? I'm expecting a Prntrboard though everything I've read so far seems to prefer the Sanguino. It seems they've been shipping with those for at least a few weeks now and I was just wondering if yours got made before the changeover. I don't think the Sanguino has pins for the fan by default. I could be wrong about that but I seem to remember someone pointing out somewhere that the Prnterboard did. So, it made it sound like the Sanguino didn't. I guess it makes no difference to me as I have no experience to compare it to. I was marked shipped yesterday so I hope to have it by next weekend.

Well overall it looks good. I used flex seal to give the piece a rugged finish. We will see if there are any heat issues but this is a duct that has been printed and used many times. I did widen the air outlet by trimming the edges all the way around. It clears the bed when the extruder is touching by about 3 mm. It does however stick out the front if I push the extruder all the way forward. I will extend the mounts by say half an inch for the front plexiglass so it will clear easily.

@ Antron , I will check the board today when I get home , i have to rearrange some stuff in my house to get ready to start casting stuff.

@Josh- Cool. I appreciate it. Whenever you get a chance.

I have passed on the solidoodle 2 pro on to Irongaming.Tv , i hung out at their studio set about a hour yesterday and their head honcho Aaron wanted a 3d printer to play with. They are thinking about printing custom trophies or plaques for contestants in gaming competitions. They have both online broadcast , prerecorded youtube videos, public events , online competitions and twitch tv. As a matter of fact in one of their segments they showed some prize money which were large stacks of bills but 50,000 is not as impressive in real life so they used stacks of 1 dollar bills with a hundred on top. So when he bought the solidoodle I was paid in 1 dollar bills lol.



Here is their set behind the scenes...










i will be back in their studio later this week I guess to teach them how to use the machine.

Cool. I'm glad it found a proper home. I think it will be well used there/