Useful things for 3D Printing

[Feed the Printer]

Hi guys!

I'm new to this forum but being an engineer I have been working with many different 3d printers during the last years. Together with some friends I have also started a web-shop with the purpose of striving 3d printing by supplying useful things (filament, tools, and accessories).

Now I would like to have input from you guys about clever tools and accessories that you think one should have for making the work with a 3d printer as convenient as possible?

This is a list of things that I like (and things that our site supply)

- Digital caliper
- Dial indicator
- Blue tape (for cold beds)
- Elmer's glue stick (for print bed adhesion)
- Kapton Tape (for heated beds)
- Cricut spatula
- X-acto knife
- Mini drills
- Mini files
- Sanding kit
- Zip bags (for storing of filament)
- PLA glue (loctite gel control)
- plier/filament nipper
- RIT dye for nylon coloring

Also some things I always print for using in the work are filament clips and filament spool holders.

Please feel free to contribute with great things that you use!

[caleb12134]

Go print the print lifter off of thingiverse. It is essential to get prints off the bed without breaking a nail. (XD) http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:34502

there are multiple variations to this! Leverage is key, and it allows you to get it off the bed without extreme amounts of force.

[orangefurball]

[caleb12134]

I'll pick one up! I am sure it is stronger than plastic. Thanks for the idea

[redwood]

Money. For throwing away since this is an expensive hobby

The op's list pretty covers it all for me except for a glass cutting tool for glass beds.

[thawkins]

[EddB]

[redwood]

[Feed the Printer]

Hi!

Great input guys, thank you for that!

Some more things might also be:
- Desiccants
- Acetone
- Limone (for dissolving HiPS filament when used as support material)

Please post more ideas if you got some!

[redwood]

Lube for the moving parts.

[KDog]

Blue Loctite for non-moving parts

[REPRAP SQUAD]

The best lube I've found for bearings etc is Super Lube with PTFE. Works great and isn't ridiculously expensive.

[plexus]

Ive gone the other way with fine quality dino sewing machine oil. i found PTFE infused oils to be too messy and I dont like the idea of PTFE gumming up inside the linear bearings. I tend to the KISS principal though. YMMV

[teicher]

[Munson]

I vacuum seal items like nylon 618 to prevent moisture absorption and use an extra long bag so it can be reused

[redwood]

[plexus]

[REPRAP SQUAD]

Desiccant is very useful and it's amazing how much of it you can find if you just ask fam & friends to keep an eye out. Kitty litter also works great. I use a combo of both in a Rubbermaid container. I live in the super rainy NW and have never had issues.

[redwood]

[evanalmighty]

Cat litter is an excellent moisture absorbent material. And it's cheap.

[RetireeJay]

[REPRAP SQUAD]

Here's a few pics of one of my filament bins. This one is for small quantities and exotics. My bulk bin is similar but, a little more hardcore. I also took pics of a few different kinds of packets that are useful.

[Skrotus]

6 pack to ease your frustrations

[EddB]

[passion4profession]

For the blueprint of your work, a computer, maybe?

[JohnWest]

That's really useful....3D printing is really a hot topic nowadays.

[KC_703]

Not sure if its been mentioned...

I use these metal spudger /spatula tools religiously to get prints off the bed.
https://www.ifixit.com/Store/Tools/Meta ... /IF145-012

And the full set for a few bucks more:
https://www.ifixit.com/Store/Tools/Meta ... /IF145-017

[ChefScott]

This can be quite valuable when you need a few M3 nuts and bolts (or some high strand count silicone wire)... The location of your local hobby shop, if they sell RC planes and cars they should have a wide assortment of all sizes. This comes in really handy when you only need a few and you need them A.S.A.P.

[RobertJordan]

Hmmm nice thread here. 3D printing is going to be a hot topic nowadays aennnn

[thawkins]

[RetireeJay]

[Mooselake]

I call these no info vague posts probes, as in they're probing (not the alien encounter kind, although the subsequent spam deluge feels like one) to see if anybody's paying attention. They're a bit tricky since it could just be somebody getting started up the learning curve. Usually you know it when you see it, though.

Wonder if the gun guy will be back, not sure where he fits.

Kirk

[thawkins]

[spaceorange12]

I assume that that is why his rep is -50?

[RetireeJay]

[Mooselake]

It must end of quota time for spammers; the probes just keep a coming. Machine guns ready to go

"And another one gone, and another one gone
Another one bites the dust"

Sorry . That was for Spaceorange's catch.

Kirk

[arkteknik]

Ribbon cables, Small DC Fans, Kapton, Hot end tips/nozzles, molex connectors and other pin headers etc, threaded and non-threaded rods are a few of the things that I've found it tricky to get my hands on, personally.
Recently I (think) have blown a MOSFET and realised how annoying it is to obtain electrical components.
Digikey seems to charge about £12 to ship two tiny 30p MOSFETS to me, even from the correct regional store front - so I haven't bothered yet.
Also, ship items in packaging that will fit through a letterbox without someone needing to be in - but that's a general annoyance

[Mooselake]

[thawkins]

Anderson power poles.

Absolutly the best way to connect up your 30A circuits, heatbeds etc.

[Mooselake]

Anderson Powerpoles are pretty handy, and have caught on big in the amateur radio community. If you care, there's an unofficial standard on which way to polarize them:


They're a bit tricky to crimp so the metal bits will plug into the casing, don't smash them too hard, and do a light crimp at 90 degrees to the first one to reshape the fitting. Don't forget the little roll pin to keep them from sliding apart, consider a dab of hot glue, and if you use them somewhere they might come apart you can buy or 3D print a clip to prevent it - or just give them a wrap of electrical or duct tape, although that kinda defeats the easily removable aspect.

Kirk

[Alastair010]

What we need is a 3D printer that can print wax. Then you shape sand around it and cast your metal model. A complete integrated model that would take care of all the ugly stuff would be pretty awesome to have around in your average tool workshop.

[thawkins]

[KD6HQ]

[thawkins]

[Mooselake]

[spaceorange12]

One thing to add.
You should grab as many M2, M3, and M4 bolts and nuts you can find. I cannot tell you how many times I have needed more screws than Printrbot gives you, and putting your project on hold to wait for shipping is a pain (my hardware store never has metric stuff in stock).

[christspringer271]

That's a great list!

I will showcase my work after I finish my 3D artworks here. Right now, I am looking for some people's design to have some good tips and ideas.

[bbrown64]

Flexible 2" putty knife
Multi-tip screw driver
17mm wrench (2) for Z-Probe
Set of metric Allen wrench
Rubbing alcohol
Lacquer Thinner to clean off hotend of burnt on filament. Also use for cleaning nozzles out.
Small flashlight or mounted light to see your prints better.
Storage container and some sort of dehumidifier for filament.

[frankv]

Screwdriver-handle-thing with a hex end the right size for an M3 socket cap. Much quicker and easier than an Allen key.

Sorry, don't know the right name for it. This was part of a "electronics toolkit" I got from Dick Smith Electronics... sidecutters, longnose pliers, tweezers, a bunch of hex tips and the driver, jewellers' screwdrivers, etc.

20160522_105315.jpg

[Josephwillian]

Thanks for sharing this information. I hope it would not be outdated. I am new to 3D printing, so don't have any knowledge about the upgraded versions of basic materials used in 3D printing.