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Nov 2016
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Jessup3D
Nov '16

I’m looking at buying my first 3D printer, and am reasonably sure I want to go with the FlashForge Creator Pro. The question is, what upgrades should I get right off the bat?

I hear some folks say you really need a glass print bed… is this right, and is there a preferred kind of glass I should be looking into?

Are there any special tools I should consider (a 3D Print Removal Tool, or cleaning bits for the extruder heads, etc.)?

I’m an experienced 3D modeler, but in 3D printing I’m totally new and really appreciate any input that would help me get off to a good start.

Thanks!

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    Nov '16

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cobnut
Nov '16

Hi again @Jessup3D, yeah, as @wirlybird said, definitely new spool holders, the ones that come with it only fit about 10% of the spools I’ve used and either need something to hold the spools on, or a lot of swearing trying to get them on/off.

The glass bed should be borosilicate and there are folks out there selling it specifically sized for the FF Pro. I’ve also got a PEI sheet on my glass bed and it works great for curing warp issues; the large one for the Lulzbot Taz is big enough to cut two sheets from (Amazon.co.uk 428 ) it ain’t cheap (the one on Amazon UK seems to have gone up quite a bit!), but it’ll pay for itself in terms of not having to ditch warped prints all the time…

If you don’t want to go the PEI route (and you really should - it’s great), then get some 3M Blue Tape. Amazon.co.uk 126 Wherever you get it from, make sure it’s the Scotch (3M) branded one, others may not work as well (as I’ve found out to my cost). I’d go with the 2 inch or 3 inch wide as the fewer strips you have, the fewer “joint lines” you may get on the base of the print. Make sure you apply it when the bed is quite warm so the glass has expanded some from cold or you’ll get gaps…

I’ve also fitted all metal hot ends to mine ( http://www.micro-swiss.com/product-page/29551477-6081-c30f-04fe-cece31e3ba6f 527 ) but I’d say that’s an upgrade that you can decide (or not) to do once you’ve had the printer a while. They’re needed if you want to try some of the more abrasive exotic filaments and (in my opinion) are a better long term solution as they don’t use PTFE tubes…

Maybe some Kapton tape - I use it to hold my bed in place (yes, weird, but it works). Maybe some thermal paste - I use it between my glass bed and the heated plate to improve heat transfer though I’ve no idea if it actually does anything :slight_smile:

I use a paint scraper for removing prints - it’s essentially a razor blade trapped in a plastic handle, any DIY store will sell one or two types.

A good sharp knife. Don’t scrimp on the spend here, it’s got to be safe (locked), sharp and precise. Can’t say what precisely you’ll use if for, but mine seems to be in my hands every day…

A good pair of flush cutters. Cutting filament, snipping things off, etc.

awiker15
Nov '16

I recently purchased a FFCP and I love it so far. It is my first 3D printer and I have put over 160 hrs on it already. I haven’t done any “upgrades” yet, but I am thinking about getting a glass print bed. However, the 3M pads that it comes with seem to have worked pretty well so far. Works great with PLA and I use hairspray when I do ABS - though I have had some problems with a little warping with that. Hence why I’m looking to get a glass bed.

I find the 3D print removal tool do come in very handy! I use it to take off most of my prints. If I can’t get the tool to start sliding under the print I use a razor blade at first. Just remember not to pry with the removal tool, it WILL bend!

Sorry not much help on some of your questions. But as a first printer I think the FFCP is fantastic! I’d suggest just getting your feet wet with PLA and learn how the printer works. I jumped into ABS and was really frustrated be cause I didn’t know how to control warping right away.

One other thing I would seriously consider is upgrading your slicing software. ReplicatorG is not very good and can be frustrating because there isn’t much you can do to customize your supports, infill, rafts, etc. About a week and a half ago I purchased Simplify3D which has definitely been worth it! FlashForge also has FlashPrint that you could try - I’ve heard mixed reviews, but apparently the new version is pretty good. No firsthand experience with it myself though.

I agree with what @wirlybird and @cobnut have said. They have given me some solid advice as well. However if you are just starting with 3D printing like I am, I think the FFCP is good enough with out any upgrades to do a lot of cool and good quality prints. Once you play with it a bit you can make a better decision on what upgrades you want/need. That was the way I looked at it at least - plus I don’t have ton of extra money for upgrades right now either haha.

Best of luck!

Regards,

Adam

Jessup3D
Nov '16

Thanks for the feedback guys! My printer is ordered (along with the glass print bed) and I hope to be doing some test prints this next weekend =^)

wirlybird
Nov '16

Also you can search thingiverse for either “Flashforge creator Pro” or for “QIDI” and see what pops up. You will find some interesting things.