3D Lab
Our 3D printers are second-hand, which means they aren't perfect even at best.
They are good for rapid prototyping parts which you can then make more carefully at home or through a 3rd party manufacturing service. And, of course, for one-off projects and experiments.
When inducting beginners to the 3D Lab, make sure they are aware of the following:
- 3D printers can do cool things, but they are not consumer toys. You must follow safety precautions as with any other powered tools.
- Understand the basics of how a printer works and the main components: extruder, hotend, nozzle, print bed, XYZ axes.
- While using a printer, you are responsible for ensuring the printer is safe, not a hazard to anyone else (including e.g. ABS fumes), and usable by others afterward.
- Before starting a print, it's a good idea to double check in your slicing software:
- Nozzle size
- Material type and temperatures
- Print duration--someone (i.e. you) needs to be around to monitor the job
- During a print: You must always attend the first layers, and check in regularly until it completes. You should be present at the space for the whole print duration (brief excursions are OK).
- After finishing your print, undo any changes you made to the machine. (If you used a non-standard filament, unload it.)
When modifying a printer, make sure you check the wiki and update any outdated details. This includes:
- Changes to nozzle diameter or material (bronze/steel/etc.)
- Changes to extrusion path
Routine changes don't have to be reported:
- Changing the loaded filament (but please leave only a recommended material for the machine)
- Changing worn print surfaces
Please test new materials before adding them to the Recommended list for a machine.
Manufacturer page: https://www.flashforge.com.hk/store/p8/creator-pro-2.html
Currently our recommended machine for beginners. It is sturdy, accurate, and can do fancy things like 2-color, 2-material or breakaway supports due to the dual extruder design. However, the bundled software is fairly basic and the build volume is a bit small.
We have a tutorial!
- Volume: 200 X × 148 Y × 150 Z
- Extrusion: direct drive with gap, 0.4mm bronze (left), 0.4mm bronze (right)
- Recommended materials: PLA
- Possible materials: PLA+PVA, PETG, HIPS, ASA (we don't have yet)
- Not recommended: ABS (for now), flex (stock extruder is not fully direct drive, despite appearances)
Our large format printer. Basically usable now but could use more calibration.
It's fully enclosed and has an air purifier on the side, so could work with ABS once we have room ventilation.
- Volume: 300 X × 300 Y × 400 Z
- Extrusion: bowden, 0.5mm bronze
- Recommended materials: PLA
- Not recommended: ABS (pending ventilation), PETG (retraction limited by hotend, see notes), flex
Instructions: TBD
Misc notes:
- Make sure slicer doesn't output long (over 2mm) retractions, as the stock hotend has internal crevices. Also if the extrusion jams, this is probably where the filament got stuck.
- The extruder is very finicky to load through. May want to replace this (and also the hotend...)
- Some settings like E-steps require you to plug in the black USB cable to a computer.
Direct drive with “Red Lizard” (believe it's a Volcano style) nozzle. Currently not quite usable: needs X/Y axis jitter fixed, and potentially other fixes.
- Volume: 220 X × 220 Y x 200 Z (double check this)
- Extrusion: direct drive, 0.4mm bronze
Instructions: TBD
TBD
Board version: Creality 3D V4.5.2
Product page: CR-6 SE
As of October 2 2024, the firmware has been updated to the community firmware release 6.1. Video documenting how to upgrade the firmware: Creality CR6 SE Community Firmware UPGRADE : CR6 SE Firmware Update (YouTube)