
cfernandez
I had purchase a EZ-B developer kit about 1 year ago. I was able to build some basic robots and had a blast. I wanted to build something more solid, so my wife gave me 3D printer for fathers day. I have downloaded the STL for JD Humanoid and I have started to print some of the parts. I have a Da Vinci 3D a printer and am wondering how many cartridges it will take to print the hold robot?
I am using the XYZprinting PLA Filament Cartridge, 1.75 mm Diameter, 600g, Nature to print.
A lot will depend on the orientation of pieces, and your choice of raft, supports, infill rate and layer thickness. Most slicer software will estimate the amount of material use as well as the time to print based upon your settings, so I'd recommend grabbing the .stl files, slicing each and adding the totals.
Depending on your bed size you'll likely want to import more than one of the smaller stl's at a time into the slicer software (for instance print both feet at once) and look at the combined material usage for those components for better estimation.
Disclaimer: I'm also new to 3D printing so everything I say may be (and probably is) wrong. But that's the great thing about our community here, there's a huge brains trust who can correct my mistakes
I would start with small things, like brackets. I would also highly recommend 3rd party software Simplify3D, it has greatly improved my print quality. Don't forget to calibrate the bed as well, it also make a big difference but can be pain to adjust to tolerance.
I would recommend printing the items for a lever servo first to see how the quality prints and, especially the servo hub area of the print. And also the female slot of the servo cover. Test to see if you can slide a male ez-bit piece in and out of the slot without breaking it.
,Ive tried printing a few parts like the camera body halfs and one of new the JD Hip parts. Not too bad. The camera parts needed some trimming to be able to fit together. the hip part, not so lucky. the printers sd card indicated an error and started messing up the part when almost completed. Other parts did just fine.
Nice starter printer though. Have been printing so many little items, I have actually gone thru the entire first reel, and had the printer only a couple weeks now .
I called support and spend over 1 hour on the phone, then finally the hung up on me. I did some research and think I can figure out how to do it myself.
I was doing some research last night did find quite a few people talking about the Simplify3D software. I plan to purchase the software today and try it again.
You are right, I will start with the smaller pieces and check the quality to make sure it will work at the end.
I will tell you that there is hope at the end of the tunnel. Over the next few months, you will learn to feel and understand the printer - almost like a Buddha you will become :). Once it "clicks", you just get it and can predict of a print will be successful right away.
I have a funny sheet of paper that used to be on my wall for my first 3d printer. It read... SUCCESSES/FAILS and i added checkmarks to each category. If you can guess, the FAILS category had a ridiculous number of checkmarks.
If you can, print with SUPPORTS as well
I generally don't print with supports because it takes a lot more effort to clean up the mess. But when you do, the prints usually turn out better.
No matter what you choose about SUPPORTS, always always always use RAFT.
When I first watched the videos it made it look like "Oh, I just start spinning knobs and via magic it will align correctly." And that's not how it works. Or I'm just not good at adjusting knobs, one or the other, lol
Simplify3D will have a learning curve as well, their website has links to their you tube videos that show different features. My best advice for anyone is start slow. With each print I try to learn something that helps me improve my next print.
Oh and don't print if it's storming or if it might. Otherwise you'll have a very sad face when the power flickers and the printer resets.
I found a youtube video where they spoke about an Android application to help you calibrate the printer, did some research took a drive down to T-Mobile, purchase a pay as you go Android phone, purchase application from Amazon, and ..
6 hours, 28 minutes, 2 calls to customer support, 1 trip to t-mobile with a purchase android phone and the calibration application ... the printer is calibrated!
YAY Let the printing begin!
Will purchase the recommended software tomorrow.
Thank you again, next step LETS PRINT!
I've seen people resort to making their own tools to calibrate their beds, using calipers and dial indicators. A dial indicator is not a bad idea, I'm going to research that more my self in the future.
Am like a little kid, I keep on pressing OK so that the light turns on and I can see how is going
printing P6 A-01 a small piece to make sure its working
The outside look good, the inside looked like spyder webs?
their next model up, would allow you use something like Simplify 3D which I too have heard is really good.
I also like useing Tinkercad to view the EZb parts before printing.Am just starting to learn 123D now, should be fun.
Check out the image of my 1st prints. I also think that my support settings are not right, I ended up throwing away allot of support in one piece was almost as much as the actual piece.
YAY!
Here are my settings for support, and I am using PLA do they look right?
I have already purchase the DIY kit, so I have servos, camera and processor, and I am going to order the battery and charger today.