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Installation Notes – CR10 Mini – 2nd Z-Axis

There are two reasons I installed a second z-axis; one reason was to balance the weight of a direct drive extruder I planned to install. The other reason was to balance the weight of the x-axis in general. I noticed in December that the axis was lower on the right side of the machine by about 4 mm. Considering that my first 3D printer was about 13 inches wide with dual z-axes, I was always leery about having a printer with a wider width and one z-axis. I suppose this upgrade was inevitable.

Installation Notes – CR10 Mini – Direct Drive Extruder

CR10 Mini with upgrades desktop-am.computer

I installed a Micro Swiss Direct Drive Extruder a few days ago. Since I watched a video before buying the extruder, I knew the extruder motor would be stationed on the x-axis. I decided then that a second lead screw was needed and installed it the day before installing the extruder. There will be a post on that installation as well.

Sage Advice for Makers Wanting to Start a 3D Printing Business

Michael, of YouTube channel Teaching Tech, posted a video yesterday that is chock full of advice for Makers who desire income from Desktop Additive Manufacturing (AM). In the video, Michael interviews Maker Myles, the proprietor of a successful, unnamed, auto parts business. When asked about the secret to his success (10:37), Maker Myles utters words of wisdom, stipulating the impetus behind invention and innovation that Makers employ for their creations.

What’s Special About Ender 3?

Occasionally, when I am cruising through a Facebook 3D printing group to find answers to questions or wanting to help others looking for answers, I get the feeling that Creality Enders are all the rage. I see what seems to be endless announcements of new Ender 3 purchases. I own a different Creality printer and when I see the announcements I wonder if people know what they are in for. I have seen many complaints about the printer; especially a couple of years ago. It turns out that I am the one with the limited imagination. I failed to see the printer’s potential. Enders are open source, starter printers and if it had been around when I bought my first printer in 2016, I would never have sold it or given it away.

Cura’s Triangles Infill

Just in case you missed news about Cura’s triangles infill, the photos above and below are examples printed with Push Plastic’s Translucent Green. Both examples were printed with one perimeter, 30 % infill, and 0.2 layer height.

I have tried using Cura’s gyroid infill without perimeters, hoping to get results similar to Stefan of CNC Kitchen, as he did in his video. The prints crumbled. Perhaps I will try it again with one perimeter and translucent filament. Until then, I will enjoy the nuances of this mesmerizing triangles infill.

3D Printer Enclosure Fan Assembly

This is fan assembly iteration 2. The first iteration can be seen in a prior post. I have been working on this assembly for months, trying to find a 120 mm fan that works (literally), is powerful enough to blow air through a HEPA filter, and has a connection for a power outlet. Most 120 mm fans have connections for computer interiors and require adapters for direct connection to power outlets. After ordering a few fans, I was finally able to connect a high speed pressure fan directly to an outlet using a 12V DC power supply with 4 pin Molex.