After reading a ton of posts, I have only one question before order next week.
First time 3d print person, is it really that easy to print with Zortrax?
Thanks in advance,
:):):)
j
[/quote]
I am new to 3D printing too and it really is that easy. The only things you have to make sure you do are clean and level your build platform (same as any printer) and select a few basic parameters. I have had a few failed prints but most were model issues (design) and the rest wet curling raft (need to clean and level build platform). Zortrax is working on auto build platform calibration but from what I hear ABS warping with large prints is something you have to constanly take into consideration. You have to consider part orientation in the laser as well as design. For the most part I load filament, stl and hit print.
There is a small learning curve (a few test prints) for leveling the bed and getting prints to stick. Once you have that sorted, the Zortrax is pretty much “Press Print and forget about it” - it always works. The only other thing I would mention is that it can take an awful lot of force to remove filament from the extruder - on mine anyway I sometimes have to lift the whole machine off the table by pulling the filament. And if it breaks off inside it can be difficult to remove. I have only this happen once and I was able to clear it pretty easily, but the amount of pull force required could be unnerving for a beginner. Maybe they have improved this part of the design in newer machines, I don’t know.
[quote name=Julia Truchsess] The only other thing I would mention is that it can take an awful lot of force to remove filament from the extruder - on mine anyway I sometimes have to lift the whole machine off the table by pulling the filament.
[/quote]
This was news for me, only small amount off force is needed for me to remove filament. Nothing like lifting the whole printer up.
[quote name=Julia Truchsess]There is a small learning curve (a few test prints) for leveling the bed and getting prints to stick. Once you have that sorted, the Zortrax is pretty much “Press Print and forget about it” - it always works. The only other thing I would mention is that it can take an awful lot of force to remove filament from the extruder - on mine anyway I sometimes have to lift the whole machine off the table by pulling the filament. And if it breaks off inside it can be difficult to remove. I have only this happen once and I was able to clear it pretty easily, but the amount of pull force required could be unnerving for a beginner. Maybe they have improved this part of the design in newer machines, I don’t know.
[/quote]
Julia in Afinia/UP I stopped counting how many times ABS clogs, and the only solution is disassemble etruder into pieces, even uPrint have same problems We always use original one - only $35 for 700g + shippment, but now I have found a solution in the Z-ABS
[quote name=Trhuster][quote=Julia Truchsess] The only other thing I would mention is that it can take an awful lot of force to remove filament from the extruder - on mine anyway I sometimes have to lift the whole machine off the table by pulling the filament.
[/quote]
This was news for me, only small amount off force is needed for me to remove filament. Nothing like lifting the whole printer up.
[/quote]
Glad to hear it’s not all machines, Rikard. I know Jamie has the same problem.
I’ve owned two Ups for a couple of years now. While I did have many clogs from experimental filaments, dust on the filament, leaving the hot end cooking too long, etc., I only once ever had a clog due to the “bulb” at the end of the filament breaking off when removing filament, and that was my fault for pulling on it before it was fully retracted.
Disassembly of the Up extruder/hot end is so fast and easy I could do it blindfolded now, and everything is accessible. The section of the Zortrax where filament has gotten stuck for me and several other users during removal is not able to be disassembled at all - if you can’t push it out or drill it out from above or below then you’ve got a problem. I was able to push mine out; other users had to drill.
I understand that it’s desirable for the feed tube filament path to not be excessively oversized so that the feeder can push it to the hot end with good precision. But I think the designers may have overlooked the fact that the “bulb” coming back up from the hot end during filament unload has a much larger diameter than the filament and can easily get stuck and/or break off.
[quote name=Trhuster][quote=Julia Truchsess] The only other thing I would mention is that it can take an awful lot of force to remove filament from the extruder - on mine anyway I sometimes have to lift the whole machine off the table by pulling the filament.
[/quote]
This was news for me, only small amount off force is needed for me to remove filament. Nothing like lifting the whole printer up.
[/quote]
I wonder if the Zortrax retracted the filament a little slower, would it reduce the size of the “ball” at the end which gets stuck? Hmm
[quote name=Julia Truchsess][quote=Trhuster][quote=Julia Truchsess] The only other thing I would mention is that it can take an awful lot of force to remove filament from the extruder - on mine anyway I sometimes have to lift the whole machine off the table by pulling the filament.
[/quote]
This was news for me, only small amount off force is needed for me to remove filament. Nothing like lifting the whole printer up.
[/quote]
Glad to hear it’s not all machines, Rikard. I know Jamie has the same problem.
[/quote]
We always use original one - only $35 for 700g + shippment, but now I have found a solution in the Z-ABS 
