As a member of 3d printing forums and Facebook groups I see a lot of new folks asking the same old questions - What is wrong with my prints? The plastic isn't meeting at the edges/looks blobby and uneven - How do I fix it?
It seems that lately the most common answer given is "buy Simplify3D" - a $150 program that has no free trial. True, they do offer a 2 week "money back guarantee", but that is not the same thing as a free trial. And, in all honesty, it is not the be all, "end all of your 3d printing problems" program that some try to make it out to be. You still need to learn how to use it correctly if you do cave in and buy it. Otherwise you have just wasted your hard earned dollars. My theory is this - if you take the time to properly set up and calibrate your printer and your slicing software you can save that $150 and put it towards something else - more filament, start saving for another printer, spare parts or upgrades, etc. I use programs that are free and open source and my prints look just as good, if not better, than those printed using expensive software. Why? Because I have taken the time to learn how to properly calibrate my printer and set up those free programs. It isn't hard to do, but it does require that you make the effort. Over the next few posts I will go over the basics of good calibration techniques on "open source" printers and using completely free software - including:
Time to go melt some plastic!
Jim Tambs
1/22/2016 12:16:53 pm
New to 3D printing and just joined the facebook group and saw your mention of your blog. I am interested to hear what you have to say relative to calibration. I had a bad RAMPS and had to wait for replacement and should have it together today or this weekend then will start printing. Thanks!
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AuthorA "Jack of all trades, master of none", I have dabbled in a lot of different things, but none have held my interest like these darn 3d printers do. Archives
May 2016
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