Best Printing Practices on Makerbot Replicator 2 and 2X

hongkongpauly · 2015-02-11T16:40:57.000Z

Richard - for the glass…I looked into this before, do you place it on top of the existing bed? Also, how do you hold it in place and what thickness of glass do you use. I am a Kapton tape expert with no air bubbles but it very frustrating when I damage it removing parts! Cheers.

Sharon · 2015-02-11T16:47:36.000Z

I use a heated removable glass plate on my Rep 2 (http://www.bctechnologicalsolutions.com/). I now build with ABS on a Rep2 as needed. I have tried the glass, glass with kapton, but my favorite is to use BuildTak on the glass (http://www.buildtak.com/). Once applied I can run at least 100 prints (assuming I do not manage to gouge the material) before replacing it. Frankly I have to only replace it when that happens and usually it was me being a bit aggressive in removing a part. I do have to add a few degrees to the plate temp (5-10) but the prints usually release with my skinny spatula. I have also printed nylon on the surface by just adding some gluestick to the print area. No more blue tape ever!

1743500_942890685723579_2093883208119141520_n.jpg960×874 88.9 KB

Richard_20 · 2015-02-11T16:55:09.000Z

Yes, right on the existing plate. Metal spring clips, office depot or staples stuff. (The Black ones)

cdeschrun · 2015-02-11T17:06:43.000Z

I’ve been running Buildtak as a print surface. It lasts for about one month of heavy use (5 trays of prints a day). It really improves surface finish and you don’t need acetone. The other material that is in use is PEI film 1 mm thick then stuck to glass with 3m high heat adhesion tape square.

Meshcloud3D · 2015-02-11T17:18:09.000Z

Also for the Rep 2 gantry alignment problem: Someone who is trying to get the gantry to stay where it is supposed to be might find this helpful someday. If you are unable to get it to stay, try this:

After I kept fussing with set screws and it seemed like the pressure of the whole system was off. The left side was not following the right side properly and it would occasionally ‘slip’ causing major aliment issues in the print. This showed up after about 400 hours of printing.

I ended up cutting the belt on the left and installing it with a bit more tension. I used a pair of pliers to pull it tight. This fixed the issue while I ordered a new belt. While doing this I also re-lubricated the rods and together the tighter belt and smoother rods fixed the slipping issue. Whatever you do, DONT push down on the rods because they look a little bent. The whole gantry will pop out and be shooting / dropping parts in a circle around you!!

Richard_20 · 2015-02-11T17:24:52.000Z

I need to reassemble a Gantry on a second machine, any guides out there can you recommend?

MDModels · 2015-02-11T17:25:42.000Z

normal paint thinners work the best for me as a cleaning agent for the build plate - better than acetone

Meshcloud3D · 2015-02-11T17:41:05.000Z

This is a good video for the actual gantry assembly. It does not show the Y-idler pulley set up so I had to figure that out myself. If you need to get the Y-idler back on let me know and I can give you some tips

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeNgEfbdjsY&feature=youtu.be

abel_hdezsilva · 2015-02-11T17:56:56.000Z

I don´t have replicator 2 o 2x, I have a Replicator Z18 with the “Smart struder”.

I try print “Marvin” with many settings, varying speeds (extrude and travel), quality (layer high in .04 to .09 mm range), and with last firmware and Makerbot desktop versions, temperature, accord with Makerbot and some blogs recomendations. Quality of print change, but I do not obtain high quality print.

I use diferent finishing methods (acetone steems treatement, epoxic resin, etc.) that improve quality, but I expected that printer print a true high quality objects. ¡¡¡I very frusted ¡¡¡¡. May be it is imposible with Z18.

I continue with this challenge until I obtain real high quality.

Meshcloud3D · 2015-02-11T18:02:56.000Z

try lowering the temp to around 210 and lowering the fan speed (or unplugging it). I’ve seen some problems caused by the fan blowing the filament off its target and this makes it low quality. Lower layer heights need way less cooling. And when you think about it the smaller stand is much easier to blow off course. Finding a temp setting that cools while not distorting the shape can take some work. I use simplify 3D but in maker-ware you have to make a custom profile in text editor!!

cdeschrun · 2015-02-11T18:04:24.000Z

Have you tried printing out 3 at a time? That may help.

rubengrig · 2015-02-11T18:31:35.000Z

Just biy Simplify3D and you’d be amazed what your replicator can pull out

Sharon · 2015-02-11T18:55:53.000Z

If they had an eval or test drive I would love to try it out…

cdeschrun · 2015-02-11T19:01:37.000Z

Its looks like an expensive version of slic3r… Since there is no free trial I am very suspicious.

rubengrig · 2015-02-11T19:08:01.000Z

yes, but it’s worth it. I did prints with 50 micron layer heights on my Rep2 with it…

I run into a problem where i had to print basically a large 4cm in height cylinder with hundred small circular holes. No slicer would slice it in a day (!), send an email to them and they replied that S3D sliced it in seconds. I was sold immediately.

Really, read some reviews. Watch some youtube…

Meshcloud3D · 2015-02-11T19:14:52.000Z

Once you use it you will know what you are paying for. I could not be in business without Simplify 3D. It’s at least 10x better than slic3r in my opinion.

CaptainCanardly · 2015-02-11T19:34:18.000Z

As I was getting started with my 2X, I found ( @45 seconds of this video) the rods were not fully engaged into the bodies.during this process, I also ‘cracked loose’ all the structural screws on the main box itself.If the box is tilted and or out of alignments during initial assembly, nothing will line up properly. My square that I use is verified @ .0004" in 8", so that’s plenty accurate. I uset the square directly on the base plate, and checked all the verticals, and sequencially tightened ( like an engine block/ head tightening process, inspecting each vertical as went along. when that is complete, then move to the gantry duties. on my marvin pics I have my first bahamut print, @ .2 res to compare.

CaptainCanardly · 2015-02-11T19:36:02.000Z

oops- forgot the vid!

Richard_20 · 2015-02-11T20:55:21.000Z

Yeah, extra help would be appreciated, the entire gantry fell during shipping.

Rhluttrell@rocketmail.com

Sharon · 2015-02-11T21:40:28.000Z

Anybody have a source for an Aluminum Extruder Block upgrade for a Rep 2X (I need left and right)? The place on eBay where I got them for my Rep 2 seems to have gone offline. If you have a better suggestion for the 2X I would love to hear your experiences.

This is the one I had wanted (scroll down on the listing)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/111566069212

Thanks!