Master of ninja flex on Makerbot Replicator 2 and 2x

[TangibleCR]

I have been printing with ninja flex for a while now.
I work at the 3D lab at my school and many students love to print in ninja flex. But they all have trouble with it. Even after giving the students my settings, they have problems with it sticking or extruding.

Many people say you need to have

• Heated bed at 40
• Slowing down extrusion speed
• Slowing down travel speed

What I Do

• No heated bed
• Blue tape
• All my settings are the same as default but the only thing I changed was the temperature to 220

THE SECRET

It is all about how you level your bed. I use a standard metro card to level my bed. It works great with PLA but the problem with ninja flex is that it needs to be much closer. After finding this out, I began to level the bed while it is printing. I usually judge by the first line it makes and I tighten it until it sticks well. The first layer should be thin and flat.

I have uploaded a picture of what mine looks like.

It stays on without a raft and when I have a really small base, I make the bed extra close. The first layer barely prints. I was afraid of that but I let it run and the second layer made up for it. This way the first layer is guaranteed to stick.

It works great with supports too. I just do not recommend it because ninja flex sticks to itself really well.

All my prints have been really successful so I decided to try and print the maker fair robot.

Maker Faire Robot Action Figure (Single file) by LeFabShop

If you have any cool things you want me to print in ninja flex, my hub is

https://www.3dhubs.com/new-york/hubs/eugene

With a 15% off using the code DYDJSWE2VN

I have attached pictures of my settings and my print.

[TangibleCR]

Here are some more pictures. This robot was printed at 1% infill and it was still really strong!

[GloomySparker]

These prints are really impressive! Great work!

[TangibleCR]

Thank you! I have much more, thinking about uploading them or not.

[GloomySparker]

why not?

[TangibleCR]

Theres a butt load of pictures on here already haha

[TangibleCR]

Here is marvin at 1% infill.

[TangibleCR]

Supports also work really well on text

[TangibleCR]

They are up!

[TangibleCR]

Here you can see how thin and translucent the first layer is. It is all about the first layer so it sticks.

[gabriela3d]

The print looks awesome, Eugene, nice work!

[TangibleCR]

Thank you!

[Facil3D]

Are you using all the original parts of the extruder and guide tube?

[TangibleCR]

Yea. I tried other extruder a I 3D printed but they were just not as strong.

[Electroronto]

Wait… so you have successfully printed with PLA on your replicator 2x??? where are your settings for PLA? my Replicator 2X can’t! as soon as I start a print it might start good, but midway it just stops printing, or skips a layer or two…

Some insight would be awesome, since I haven’t been able to print anything other than ABS with my Replicator 2X… I upgraded the nozzles to a 360 brass base material and plated with TwinClad XT coating… or so the ebay product said… and still no successful print on PLA nor Carbon Fibre… your help would be greatly appreciated

[TangibleCR]

Oh yea. I had that problem the first day I got my

rep 2x haha. For some reason the rep 2x needs oil to print PLA. PLA is a lot more dry so therefore I printed these oil chambers from thingiverse that you slide the PLA into.

Also you would need extra fans to cool the PLA print.

let me find you the links.

[TangibleCR]

Heres the dust filter.

Threaded Filament Dust Filter - Universal by ppyromann

Now from here I would take that sponge and dip it in olive oil. I Know it sounds crazy! I was so scared to do it too. But I gave it a shot and it worked. without it, PLA prints fine the first few prints and then it just starts clicking and jamming. I understand your problem.
The olive oil last a while. Just keep checking when you pull the filament through the filter, it should be slightly oily. You dont need to make it too oily.
For the extra fan,

Makerbot Replicator 2x Filament Fan Upgrade by BalticCopters

Order yourself some 40mm fans from amazon.

Amazon.com: Copapa 5Pcs Cooling Fan 4010 40x40x10mm 2-Wire for PC Case Cooler...

I dont remember the length of the screws, its been a while. But it should say on thingiverse.

Let me know how things work out! And feel free to ask me anymore questions

[Electroronto]

Hey Thanks for the amazingly fast response! I truly appreciate it!

I do have the extra cooling fan from thingiverse and I did print some oil filters but the filament kept cracking… so I removed that idea… have only been using Makerbot’s brand of filament so I don’t think it’s too bad quality (specially at that price! yikes!)

[Electroronto]

Oh I didn’t see your second quickest post!

Sweet! how did you hook the fans up? The one that I am using (on previous post) I hooked it up to an external supply… did you hook up yours to the mobo of the printer?

Thanks!

[TangibleCR]

What do you mean it keeps cracking.

Its not worth paying 50 dollars for filament haha.

I have changed to 20 dollar rolls on Amazon. From hatchbox, inland, Esun and much more haha.

do you have oil in your chamber?