mark-hale

what would be good is for a menu option to heat up the head and initiate a purge, rather than have to do this on a print. do you think this is possible?

Having now done several prints with this I like the fact that it stays well to the edge of the Bed and remains high, it does mean I can easily remove it if I happen to miss the purge as most of the time the excess has fallen off the bed which rules out the risk of it being dragged onto the print which has happened on previous versions when I didn't quite get there in time. Plus the height does mean its less likely that I will burn my fingers which is always a plus Cheers

Hi Have just updated my UM2 to the latest firmware version 14.07. Noticed when I started a print, the print head moved to the front left and purged a whole load of pla out before starting. Its in the middle of a print now and all seems well so don't yet know if this was a one off thing. Is this a new feature? Edit - just started another print and again right at the start, before the print moves to the print location, it purges the filament,more so than on the previous firmware. Don't have a problem with this tbh, and thinking about it, I have had the odd occasion when the initial priming of the filament wasn't quite enough Just curious to know if this is intentional Cheers Mark

They offer a variety of 3D printing technologies with some very expensive printers, was given a tour around the centre a while ago looking at the 3D skulls printed for RTA etc. incredible. Fair point on the number, have left the main line on though.

Have just been asked to take part in the following survey on the use of emerging technologies from my local University. Cheers Mark We are Researchers contacting you as part of a collaborative Welsh Government funded Academic for Business (A4B) Project, based at Cardiff Metropolitan University (UWIC) and Cardiff University (CU). The MEET Lab project is looking to gather information on how micro SMEs and individual makers (creative practitioners/ entrepreneurs/ designers) are adopting emergent technologies - such as 3D printing- into their practice. As a micro SME or an individual who is using these technologies as part of your own business offering (or future business), you are invited to complete a short survey about your use of emerging technologies - you may be adopting new business processes, moving into new markets, or solely experimenting with a new business idea made possible with these new technologies. The survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. Participation is voluntary, however, anyone who is kind enough to complete the questionnaire will be entered into a prize draw for a sample 3D printed part - up to £400 - using an available process of your choice. Survey link here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/meetlab Please forward this to any micro SMEs/ individual makers you know who would like to take part in this survey, or find out more about the project. Furthermore, you will be invited to take part in our workshops on 3D printing and advanced technologies (@meetlabcardiff), along with the opportunity to become one of our pilot case study companies, providing access to expert advice and support. Yours Sincerely, peter DR PETER DORRINGTON RESEARCH FELLOW PDR PDR CARDIFF METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY WESTERN AVENUE CARDIFF CF5 2YB T +44 (0)29 2041 6725 F +44 (0)29 2041 6973 E INFO@PDRONLINE.CO.UK + WWW.PDRONLINE.CO.UK

I wasn't involved with the printing - I just introduced the team to Ultimaker they posted a few prints on their facebook site and twitter feed if I recall. I know they have put the printer to good use and everytime I visit its running. So certainly gets a great deal of use on a daily basis from the students.

Just been to the unveiling of the latest single seater racing car for the Formula Student team at Cardiff University. The Ultimaker has featured quite extensively in this years design, cutting down not only weight but also costs. http://www.cardiffracing.co.uk/

Cheers everyone, problem solved. Nice and easy. :-P

So far it doesn't appear to be an issue, but I have noticed that the bar, front left of the UM2 moves out while printing. It only sticks out about 1mm and is easy to push back which I do after the print is finished but wondered if I need to do anything more drastic to stop this. As yet it doesn't appear to move further each time so seems to reach a limit.

certainly looks interesting, I could be tempted to give it a go. Although I guess it is only for small runs or where you are going to be close at hand as think that would be an issue trying to put on a spool have just put in a pre order for a pack so will let you know. They are up to 76 orders, need 100 so could be while?

wow - many thanks everyone for the options, I think the Shell will do the trick, have just run a quick YouTube search and that looks like the one. Will also have a look at the others as certainly worth having multiple options. That's the one great thing I like about solid works, a number of ways to solve a problem. Mastory, your idea sounds interesting, would certainly appreciate knowing what that is all about if you have time. Cheers everyone.

Hi I am trying to think how in solid works, I would create an object to "wrap around" another. For example, if I were to draw a phone is there a quick way to make solid works construct the case? The object in question is not as simple as a phone but figured that was the easiest way of explaining what I was trying to do. I am working on an object for lost wax casting. Cheers Mark

Update on the printer bed. I took the bed apart and discovered that one of the retaining screws was a little loose, so it seems the action of me pressing the abort button and possibly moving the unit may have been the reason it appeared to solve the problem. Tightening up all the screws has solved the problem. Thanks as always for the great advice.

Well I figured it would happen at some point, just glad I was around when it did. Over the weekend I was running a rather long print 15 hours with 100% fill so a fair bit of material. My estimate was slightly under so in the last 30 minutes I realised I would run out of PLA. I managed to feed in a new section just as the other one was running out. The reason I am posting this was more from a Lessons learnt on my point but hopefully it will help others. trying to get the other section of PLA in without interrupting the extrusion of the original was not as easy as I thought, I realised after that I should have slowed down the print to allow me more time as there was a point where the material stopped flowing albeit very brief. Due to the new material not catching in time. I should have also been a little more careful with cutting the end of the new material to ensure that it met the old material flush and therefore made a better contact. So whilst I do have a part that has a very slight gap however the print did continue and apart from a small line gap and then the obvious change in material type all worked well. On the whole I am quite happy with the results, the print is nothing special, just a repair to a small sack trolley. The experience has got me thinking - I am using an UM2 and so at present whilst I do not have dual extrusion, I might be able to use this method to at least get some alternate coloured prints. I might try this at some point with the various short ends I now have in the workshop. Saves it going to waste.

Just signed up, what a great idea.

OK many thanks, will take a look. Did several small print runs last night and everything seemed to be fine but guess it would not hurt to check. Thanks

OK I did wonder if this was a factor. Would you suggest a minimum or does it really depend on the print? Sorry iRopertl - forgot to say I had seen it in the tune menu. Just curious as to if it could be done in cura. Will try increasing the brim as ideally I would like 100 fill as it needs to be quite a strong structure, might have to look at ABS or Nylon I guess. Cheers both

Hi Have just noticed in the Basic settings under speed ad temperature. Only speed is shown? Where in Cura can temp be changed as I have looked in the advanced and also the Expert config but unable to spot it. The reason I ask is that i am having problems with a print, where it keeps lifting early on, even with Brim, I notice that if I use the glue on my UM2 Bed and set the bed temp to Zero it does't lift. Well so far ..... its a 15hr print so a long way to go I have tried glue and left the bed heat to default 75deg but it lifts. The other settings I have are 100%fill. Also note that if I have say 25-50% fill it doesn't lift with the heated bed so guess the 100% could be a factor?

Hi thanks for the reply - nothing appears to be loose. The odd thing is that often a simple abort cures the problem.

Hi I have just noticed that in the past few days, when starting the print, the warmup takes ages. Over the weekend I selected print and then went off for about 10 minutes, when I returned the progress bar had not moved and the bed was cold. I aborted the print and then tried again, this time it took a mater of minutes to start progressing. This has happened three times now, one time the abort didn't see to do anything so I turned of the UM2. On restart all was normal. As far as I can tell there is no set pattern to this, in terms of what settings I use. Wonder if anyone else has experienced this? Mark

thanks gr5 and illuminarti

Great, that's nice and simple. Many thanks

Many thanks

Does anyone know if the filament length displayed in Cura once a print is loaded, relates to the actual or extruded length. Im currently working on some large sized prints and don't want to run out part way. Cheers

Yes totally agree, I have dipped my toe in occasionally but what would be useful is to know what the settings for fast, normal and HQ settings are in the expert mode, as notice as soon as I go into that the time increases quite a bit. Any ideas?