Update
It's been a few years. I moved, had more kids (3 now) and now I'm not working on OSE. Mostly due to lack of time and access to tools.My family got a 3d printer for Christmas this year and I want a place to document my learnings and experiments. So I'm back here trying to build a little independence. I got a PowerSpec 3D Pro Printer with about 13 hours of use. It has an updated power supply, firmware and extruder fan addition. With the firmware update, this functions exactly as a FlashForge Creator Pro-- apparently the PowerSpec is a rebranding of FlashForge done by MicroCenter.
Introducing Robert
Robert is a friend of my who has a lot of experience on this setup and says the following. Here are some notes he gave me.On: SD card usage for 3D printing
The preferred way to use the printer is to copy the .x3g files onto an SD card for use in the printer. That file has all the toolpaths, temperature, etc for the part you want to print. The people that write the firmware recommend that as the most reliable method where the printer can run completely stand alone.
Just make sure to use quality SD cards and when you write files to them that they are unmounted before removing. That will ensure any writes that may be caches get properly written out to the SD card. I've heard of people just popping them out and possibly ending up with a corrupt file on the SD card.
Since there isn't a way to tell what temp and extruders are used by just looking at the filenames I just started a convention that I add the extruder and material type at the beginning of my filename. Something like RA_ for Right Extruder using ABS or RP_ for Right using PLA. The printer doesn't card but if you are scrolling through files at least you'll know what to expect. I would use DP_ for dual extrusion PLA. You can tweak the extruder temp on the fly if you need to but the heated bed temp comes from that .x3g file and since I use around 40 for PLA or 100 for ABS it is good to note what material is expected in the filename. Files names should be around 30 or less characters.
On: Tools
This is a really handy tool to help remove prints off the bed.On: 3D printing groups and software
This is an excellent group on the FlashForge printers:https://groups.google.com/
The FlashForge FlashPrint can be found here:
http://www.ishare3d.com/3dapp/
With a thread discussing it here:
https://groups.google.com/
One of the free programs that shipped with these printers is ReplicatorG. The latest version is available from:
http://www.thingiverse.com/
The sailfish manual also has some great tips on 3D printing.
I only use it now for Firmware updates but it does work once you know how to work around it's quirks. One of those it manually editing the Gcode to set the bed temp for PLA, saving it, and then writing out the maching (.x3g) code. If you don't save the gcode after making an edit then it doesn't make a difference since the portion generating the .x3g uses the file from disk. If you forget to save then it ignores your changes... It is also a slow compared to the other tools.
The tool I use now to prepare the models to print is Simplify 3D. It runs $150 but has been worth every penny. It can be installed on up to two systems concurrently.
https://www.simplify3d.com/
They have a troubleshooting guide that is excellent:
https://www.simplify3d.com/
Some other 3D printing groups:
https://www.facebook.com/
https://www.facebook.com/
On: Creating 3D models
Here are a few sites where you can create 3D models. All free:https://www.tinkercad.com/
http://www.123dapp.com/ - apparently closing down early 2017
http://meshmixer.com/
https://www.blender.org/
On: Sample 3D parts
I can bring over some .x3g parts that i've already printed. We can start first just printing existing parts to ensure the bed is leveled and adjusted. Once that is done next step is to pull down some existing models from:http://www.thingiverse.com/ (my account)
or
https://www.myminifactory.com/
so you can get familiar with the prepping of the parts and printing them. After that the sky is the limit and you should be able to model up and print anything you want.
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