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Sep 2016

Hello,

I need help with fine tuning different filament types for my Makertbot.I have the following PLA Filaments:

Makerbot

Hatchbox

Inland

Plush Plastic

3D Solutech

I use the High Print Setting when Im using Makerbot filament and it comes out perfect 99% of the time. The issue is the cost of this filament…The other filaments are a fraction of the cost of the Makerbot filament. However, regardless of what settings and fine tweaking I use for the filaments that I listed there is ALWAYS an issue. They just don’t look good at all. Does anyone have any luck with the filaments that I listed, and if so can you please share your specs to get them to turn out just as good as the Makerbot filament? I would appreciate any and all help with this. Thank you in advance.

  • created

    Sep '16
  • last reply

    Sep '16
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What’s the issue? can you post some pics so I can help you out. I have used many different brands, from $60/kg to $5/kg. Print quality totally depends on your hardware and settings, and remember that you should not compare your printer with another one with the same model, you need to find the best settings for each filament for your 5th gen. Small change in temp and feed rate totally changes your print quality. Most of cheap filaments have too much additives and are not as glossy as Makerbot PLA. And some filaments are so dry that you need to lubricate your extruder with olive oil to reduce friction.

I’ve had great luck with Hatchbox filament. Are you using the Makerware software? I switched to Simplify3D for the added control. What kind of troubles are you having? If you are having trouble getting your prints to stick try lowering your z offset to -14 that what i have it as and I get no lift just the occasional warp if a draft hits my makerbot. Also lowering your temp helps with Hatchbox filament.

By default, the Makerbot software uses a filament diameter of 1.77- you may need to adjust that to 1.75 for other filaments. That assumes a bit about what problem you are having.