Started this what feels like months ago. May actually be months ago. I wanted a smaller version of the skull gears so to differentiate my version I use the Celtic Skull. This involved figuring out OpenSCAD, fixing an extremely non-manifold base model, and doing some modification. I love the idea of a key sticking out of the back of the skull, but …
Why the 3D Doodler doesn’t thrill me
The moment I saw the 3D Doodler I was underwhelmed. Doubly so when I saw the price tag. Let me express why the 3D Doodler disappoints in mathematical terms: Hot glue gun + Computer Control = 3D printer.3D printer – Computer Control = X.Solve for X. Okay, a 3D printer’s hot end is slightly more complicated than just a hot glue gun. …
Newest tool in the family
Sometimes those stuck prints just need a little love tap. Sometimes your 5-in-1 tool needs some love getting under the edge. A full sized hammer might be just a little too much for the job but the 4oz build and grow hammer from Lowe’s is perfect. Actually, I suppose and 4oz hammer would work since I haven’t really needed the claw but …
Fixing the crack by poking holes
Problem: Printing large flat surfaces in ABS causes cracks in the final build. Theory: Increasing the plastic around corners will strengthen adhesion. Method: Adding little holes in the print around the corners the result will use the shells to increase the plastic around the corners. I’ve proven that more plastic does decrease cracks, but adding extra shells adds plastic everywhere. …
Buy my junk
A few additions to the store. Restocked the hypnorings, added the PLA TARDIS charms I made to test print temperatures effect on PLA translucence, and finally I’ve added something new. Since I did the resolution test I’ve had these chess knights just sitting on my desk feeling like I should do something with them. Finally I had the bright idea that I should …
Now I know where the value is
Restocking Glow-in-the-Dark 3D Hypnorings had a the black filament stop midway through the print. Actually, it’s kinda of cool looking. But when I tried to figure out why the black stopped none of the usual suspects presented themselves. No knot in the spool, things were going good on that side. But if I did the load procedure no filament came …
Fixing the Heated Build Platform Cable
When my heated build platform cable burned out my more DIY centric friends suggested I just cut the cable and solder directly to the connectors. Maybe one day, but for now I’ve got the new cable from makerbot support so I’m gonna go that route. The PDF that makerbot sends with instructions to help you install your cable looks like this: …
Filament by the foot is not enough for every job
Today’s lesson is 100g of plastic, while enough to make one side of a pocket tactics game, is not enough to print a whole chess set, even if you scale it down 70%. That is the supposedly clear PLA. Not exactly clear, but it does have a good look. I’ll probably get more and try again. In fact I’ve got a …
Quick Repair to the Ceramic Insulation
I’m a little bit surprised there’s not more about doing this online. It seems to me that the way the insulation is wrapped around the hot end that a lot more people would be having trouble with this. But maybe it’s just me. The goal this time was getting it back to working with the minimum effort possible. So instead …
More PLA experiments
So far I’ve confirmed: PLA likes painter’s blue tape. I’m using Duct brand. PLA can print cooler than ABS. I’ve been printing at 185 C. Printing without a cooling fan causes increased stringiness. What I printed to fix it didn’t work, so for now I’m back to a fan on a box. You need to cool down or turn off …