My Flashforge Printer Journey.

[FWLR]

Thanks Rik. I have ordered one from Amazon, it's coming today...
I should have ordered some more nozzles I think also, just in case I mess up or the machine does...

[FWLR]

When you have got a file for printing, do you put it on a usb card and will wifi be ok also. Do you put all of the files into the machine and then let it get on with it, or is the more to do with them. I guess there maybe some slight tweaking maybe.

Sorry for the questions, but learning guys.....

[philipy]

When you have got a file for printing, do you put it on a usb card and will wifi be ok also. Do you put all of the files into the machine and then let it get on with it, or is the more to do with them. I guess there maybe some slight tweaking maybe.

I can't answer about how to get the files into the flashforge, but for what its worth my Qidi only takes files in on an SD card, not USB or WiFi. Then again it is several years old and tech has moved on a lot in that time. I'm sure your printer manual will be clear on that though.

One thing you can't do with any machine is put a lot of files in and let it get on with things! You have to remove one print file's output from the printer bed before it can print something else. It is feasible to print several things at the same time, in theory, although I find I generally get better prints doing them one at a time, but you need to arrange them either within the cad program or within the slicer and then output one combined machine code file to send to the printer.

[FWLR]

Thanks Phillip. Thats good to know.

[Trevor Thompson]

Yes that looks like the correct adapter.

Trevor

[FWLR]

I have now got the adapter and printed off the square box. It's not bad, in fact it's pretty good for a 3d print that had no adjustments to it. Ok the base is a tad to much, but hopefully at some point I can get it to be thinner.

80CFD1CA-5F66-4427-9872-ADA2DB9B4AF5.jpeg (2.2 MiB) Viewed 3769 times

I am trying now to get that benchy model to load. I have got Flashcloud loaded and it downloaded and spliced, well it said it had spliced. But trying to get it on to my flash drive, I am completely lost...

[SimonWood]

When you have got a file for printing, do you put it on a usb card and will wifi be ok also. Do you put all of the files into the machine and then let it get on with it, or is the more to do with them. I guess there maybe some slight tweaking maybe.

I do it all over wifi, I've not tried USB as I've had no need to. I send one file to print at a time, it won't print sequentially and you have to get the previous print of the build plate anyway. You could arrange a load of models next to each other in the slicer, to print simultaneously, I sometimes do that with something small I need a few of (e.g. wheels) but I don't cram the build plate full! I'd be worried that if something goes wrong it could lead to them all failing...

[Trevor Thompson]

Sorry not to respond earlier it took me while to spot your messages.

I will try to respond to your questions in detail in the morning.

Trevor

[Trevor Thompson]

Thanks Guys..

Now with the help of Anne, we have managed to get my printer out of the box. After unwrapping the plastic protective covering and getting the plug to switch it on so I can get the cardboard packing out of the machine, what did I find...

This,

8D9F3FCF-CEDD-489F-AA81-243BC0EF6088.jpeg

Where the hack can I get an adapter for it please....

I am surprised that both you and Simon have had this problem. The one I bought 12 months ago came with a UK plug. It is probably too late in that you have bought an adapter by now but I would have asked the supplier for a replacement cable.

Trevor

[Trevor Thompson]

On the topic of filament, you'd be best following the advice of those with the same printer.

I use Amazon Basics PLA on my cheapo printer but it doesn't work on my more expensive Eryone printer - it won't stick to the build plate. I could probably play around with the slicer settings for the Eryone to make Amazon filament work, but I find Eryone's own brand works perfectly on it and it's the same price as Amazon Basics, so I've decided to stick with it.

I've not yet tried ABS. I'm considering it as it will probably be better in the long run for garden based models. However, it would mean experimenting with the slicer settings and, from the sound of it, require a change of nozzle, so I'm staying with PLA until the present two reels run out.

I've not had problems with deterioration of PLA filament (yet!). I have a heater on a thermostat in the workshop to keep the cold and damp at bay and I use the reels so quickly they don't tend to sit around out of their wrapping for long.


Rik

I have used finite had any problems with PLA.

I have homed in on a supply of ABS from Poly-props.com. I first bought from them via eBay but have now discovered their own website, and of course the filament is cheaper when purchased directly. There is postage to add - but buying 2 reels at once covers the cost difference.

Having said all that I would suggest sticking with PLA until you have got the hang of printing.

Don't worry about the filament deteriorating. I doubt if it will be an issue unless you have a number of different colours, and some spools are left lying unused for a long time.

As a final point I would emphasise that you are going to have wastage. Don't be too precious about filament. It really is quite cheap.

[Trevor Thompson]

When you have got a file for printing, do you put it on a usb card and will wifi be ok also. Do you put all of the files into the machine and then let it get on with it, or is the more to do with them. I guess there maybe some slight tweaking maybe.

Sorry for the questions, but learning guys.....

Simon sends his print files to the printer via the wifi. I transfer files using a USB stick. Both work, and there is nothing wrong with using a USB stick.

Now lets assume you want to print one of the files which we have shared on the forum. Lets take the oil drum as an example. You download the file from the forum. The filename takes the form of "Name.stl". The ".stl" is the important bit to note. That is a file which needs to be sliced in your slicing software.

So you need to download the slicing software from the Flashforge website ' the leaflet which came with the printer gives details - but it is easy to find. The software is called "Flashprint".

Next post in a minute.

Trevor

[Trevor Thompson]

So that barrel:

Opening the flashprint software, you get this screen"

Screen Shot 2021-01-01 at 08.43.57.png (412.02 KiB) Viewed 4204 times

Click the top left button marked "load" and find the file you have downloaded "Barrel.stl". double click on it and this appears:

Screen Shot 2021-01-01 at 08.45.33.png (394.56 KiB) Viewed 4204 times

We can play with the positioning, the size and the orientation of the barrel - but it is fine for this purpose as it is. Now click supports (middle button at the top), and then autosupports:

Screen Shot 2021-01-01 at 08.45.57.png (397.95 KiB) Viewed 4204 times

You can see supports added to the outside to hold up the top rim, in green. Click back and then Print:

Screen Shot 2021-01-01 at 08.46.24.png (379.15 KiB) Viewed 4204 times

You get this message. click OK. you get this message:

Screen Shot 2021-01-01 at 08.46.40.png (376 KiB) Viewed 4204 times

It is easy to save it on the desktop where you can find it.

All this will have generated a file called "Barrel.gx". That is the file to put onto the USB stick and take to the printer. I will let you take the stick to the printer and press print on the printers screen. Insert the usb stick and click on the screen over the usb icon. then click on the file name icon. It should now print. Go get a cup of tea!

Carefully take the barrel off the print bed by gently sending it. Put it back in the machine, cleaned, and find something else to print.

Just a few pointers now. If you put the usb stick in and then turn the power on my machine cant recognise the USB stick. So turn the power on press print and then insert the usb stick - in case they all behave the same way.

Dont mess with the print settings - use the ones shown on the screenshots for now. When you have gained some experience you can experiment, try no supports, try no raft. Try adding a brim instead of a raft. Don't try changing the settings YET. I know you will waste some filament in the supports and the raft - but it looks more than it actually is. Ignore that waste. Experimenting by the way will make waste!

When you have this working try other files from thingiverse or the forum.

So deal with each object one at a time. I treat the usb stick as a transport device, and delete files that I have printed. I keep the ".gx" files on the computer filed away in case I want them again in the future.

Hope this helps

Trevor

Trevor

[FWLR]

Thank you Trevor and Simon.

Thanks Trevor for your explanation on how to get files to print. I did get to finally print another reel holder. It was pure luck and dead jammy on my side. I tried to load something from the Flashforge site, but my Mac wouldn't let me because it was a file that Safari doesn't support. But I did manage to load Flashprint and somehow I managed to print the holder.




It is a brilliant machine, but then again I haven't seen another one to compare, so it's just my thought on it. I have yet to find any problems of course with it being brand new and it is a VERY big learning curve for me. One day I will be able to produce my own files and also be able to share anything I do to other members who do 3D printing and of course to other members who would like something printing free of charge , but pay for postage, I am not that rich....

[FWLR]

Another video of the Reel Holder.

[FWLR]

The last one. It took 2hrs and 15 minutes to print and 10m of filament. The print didn't have any supports or anything else, well I couldn't see any. There was how ever some stringing come from the nozzle, I am thinking it was because after the little test print of the box, the printed when it heated up for the next job just extruded a tiny bit before it started. Maybe the other members can enlighten me on that. It didn't interfere with the print of the reel holder, so it mustn't be that much of a problem. The next problem will be in getting it to print another job for me.... It is a little bit noisy, but I guess it is because it's new, I don't know. There is some grease that came with it, is it for the guides for the printer bed and the extruder





I hope the rest of my journey can be has exciting as this one, I am guessing it won't.

[Trevor Thompson]

Oh I think you have lots of excitement to come!

The bolder you get the more it will deliver.

Have fun

Trevor

[SimonWood]

I get a bit of stringing sometimes, sometimes not, not sure what the pattern is but I tend not to worry about it because it's not excessive and it's easy to clean up.

[FWLR]

Thanks guys. I still can't download the Flashprint app from their site. Safari still keeps on saying there is no app to open it. Though when I downloaded the Happy 3D app, it opened with Flashprint, very weird. How did you guys get it to load for you...

[FWLR]

By the way, where can I find the barrel file please.

[SimonWood]

By the way, where can I find the barrel file please.

In the '3D print files' subforum - look for the thread "Oil Barrel in 16mm scale ".

I printed it without supports, by the way - it seemed to work ok! It seems to me that Flashprints 'Auto Supports' seems to err on the side of caution...