New 3D Printer

[granz]

I know the nozzle, providing are the same size is 6mm/ 1/4". I need to get a cleaning kit myself.

Careful; that ¹/₄" nozzle size is ONLY the mounting screw base. The nozzle itself (the hole that the filament comes out) is only 0.4mm! If you try to run a ¹/₄" clog poke through it, you will damage, or destroy, the nozzle.

I should get my clog poke today, and will let you know how it works. It is a 0.4mm tool, and should not damage the nozzle.

[granz]

Well, in trying to figure this stuff out, I violated one of the prime rules of the Scientific Method (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_method): minimize the variables.

My test print of the Up house, last night, had me change two major variables: I cleaned out the extruder again; plus I connected to the printer through the WiFi. It turns out that the ForgePrint slicing program that I used to send the gcode file to the printer does not use the same settings as when I save the gcode file to my hard drive. So, I don't know whether the cleaning, or the WiFi connection, caused troubles.

In addition, trying to print without the WiFi connection, resulted in absolutely no filament being extruded! Now I need to try to figure out what caused that. Arggh! 

[granz]

Per norm with Amazon; the tools that I ordered yesterday, and were supposed to be received today, now show that they are supposed to be delivered tomorrow.

So, "same bat time, same bat channel, tomorrow." (https://www.quora.com/What-does-Same-bat-time-same-bat-channel-mean)

[JKnightandKARR]

I know the nozzle, providing are the same size is 6mm/ 1/4". I need to get a cleaning kit myself.

Careful; that ¹/₄" nozzle size is ONLY the mounting screw base. The nozzle itself (the hole that the filament comes out) is only 0.4mm! If you try to run a ¹/₄" clog poke through it, you will damage, or destroy, the nozzle.

I should get my clog poke today, and will let you know how it works. It is a 0.4mm tool, and should not damage the nozzle.

I'm talking wrench to remove nozzle. I have 2- 0.4mm drillbits, VERY small.

[granz]

I'm talking wrench to remove nozzle. I have 2- 0.4mm drillbits, VERY small.

Very small indeed. When I was checking out my last clog poke tools, I stabbed my finger (not even enough to draw blood, just enough to say "ouch",) with one of the smaller tools.

[granz]

Per norm with Amazon; the tools that I ordered yesterday, and were supposed to be received today, now show that they are supposed to be delivered tomorrow.

So, "same bat time, same bat channel, tomorrow." (https://www.quora.com/What-does-Same-bat-time-same-bat-channel-mean)

Well, it won't be the same bat time; it still has not arrived - although Amazon still says it should arrive today. Tomorrow we get up at oh dark thirty (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/oh_dark_thirty,) and spend half the day taking a friend of ours to see her great-great-grandnephew (she is 90 years old, and can no longer drive.) It is an hour drive to pick her up, then another hour to pick up her nephew and about fifteen minutes to a restaurant. Then I get to have a nice breakfast with Marilyn, followed by the return trip (this is a very close friend, all of our kids and grand-kids call her Aunt Shirley.) By the time we get home, we just want to sit and chill. I may feel like trying out the tools tomorrow, but maybe not.

[JKnightandKARR]

I'm talking wrench to remove nozzle. I have 2- 0.4mm drillbits, VERY small.

Very small indeed. When I was checking out my last clog poke tools, I stabbed my finger (not even enough to draw blood, just enough to say "ouch",) with one of the smaller tools.

did that too.

[granz]

Well, I finally got my tools. About 8:30 this evening, Marilyn, and I, were going out to sit on our porch swing, and I saw the package on the porch floor.

Too late to do anything tonight, and tomorrow being the Christian Sabbath, I try to keep it set apart for Church and family. So, I'll probably not test it out until Monday.

[JKnightandKARR]

Well, I finally got my tools. About 8:30 this evening, Marilyn, and I, were going out to sit on our porch swing, and I saw the package on the porch floor.

Too late to do anything tonight, and tomorrow being the Christian Sabbath, I try to keep it set apart for Church and family. So, I'll probably not test it out until Monday.

good luck!

[granz]

Well, I finally got my tools. About 8:30 this evening, Marilyn, and I, were going out to sit on our porch swing, and I saw the package on the porch floor.

Too late to do anything tonight, and tomorrow being the Christian Sabbath, I try to keep it set apart for Church and family. So, I'll probably not test it out until Monday.

good luck!

Thank you. After some time, excitement starts to wear off. I need to start getting some success, or its going to be rough keeping interest in this 3D printing.

[JKnightandKARR]

Well, I finally got my tools. About 8:30 this evening, Marilyn, and I, were going out to sit on our porch swing, and I saw the package on the porch floor.

Too late to do anything tonight, and tomorrow being the Christian Sabbath, I try to keep it set apart for Church and family. So, I'll probably not test it out until Monday.

good luck!

Thank you. After some time, excitement starts to wear off. I need to start getting some success, or its going to be rough keeping interest in this 3D printing.

Frustrating, but the rewards are great! Just gotta learn what issues with what fixes.

[granz]

Well, I finally got my tools. About 8:30 this evening, Marilyn, and I, were going out to sit on our porch swing, and I saw the package on the porch floor.

Too late to do anything tonight, and tomorrow being the Christian Sabbath, I try to keep it set apart for Church and family. So, I'll probably not test it out until Monday.

good luck!

Thank you. After some time, excitement starts to wear off. I need to start getting some success, or its going to be rough keeping interest in this 3D printing.

Frustrating, but the rewards are great! Just gotta learn what issues with what fixes.

That's what I keep telling myself. I got up this morning, feeling pretty good - I was able to do all my exercises (haven't done that regularly since before our trip to Illinois) and looking forward to taking my walk (not at all since the beginning of Aug.) So, I should be good for getting some work done on my printer.

[granz]

Sometimes, I just feel like crying:


I have spent so much time on this 3D printing stuff, just to end up with a huge pile of crap. It's so frustrating. Maybe I'm just not supposed to be able to print 3D stuff. 

The only thing left, that I can think of, is to replace the nozzle, or the entire extruder assembly. The nozzle runs about $30-$40, and I haven't been able to find the extruder assembly yet. The idea of paying ¹/₃ of the cost of the entire printer, just on the chance of having a good printer, is a bit rough on my mind. If I had some kind of assurance that it would work, then it would ease the pain. (Although, I did see one posting, where the person did replace the nozzle, or extruder - I forget which, and said that it was like a brand new printer. I may need to bite the bullet, and shell out the bucks.)

[JKnightandKARR]

Sometimes, I just feel like crying:


I have spent so much time on this 3D printing stuff, just to end up with a huge pile of crap. It's so frustrating. Maybe I'm just not supposed to be able to print 3D stuff. 

The only thing left, that I can think of, is to replace the nozzle, or the entire extruder assembly. The nozzle runs about $30-$40, and I haven't been able to find the extruder assembly yet. The idea of paying ¹/₃ of the cost of the entire printer, just on the chance of having a good printer, is a bit rough on my mind. If I had some kind of assurance that it would work, then it would ease the pain. (Although, I did see one posting, where the person did replace the nozzle, or extruder - I forget which, and said that it was like a brand new printer. I may need to bite the bullet, and shell out the bucks.)

What does the nozzle look like?? If it's like the Neptune 2, those are really cheap. 

Edit: looked.  Do you just replace the whole hotend assembly to change nozzles??

[granz]

What does the nozzle look like?? If it's like the Neptune 2, those are really cheap. 

Edit: looked.  Do you just replace the whole hotend assembly to change nozzles??

Yeah, it looks like you replace the entire hotend. If that's all that I need, I found one for $35, with two-day delivery (less than $2 more than one which will be delivered in later Sept. ) If I need the entire assembly, then that raises it up to $85 (with tax, that is over the price of my printer, plus shipping, no estimate on shipping cost, nor do they even try to give a delivery date.) I also found an extruder assembly on Amazon, but that is $130, plus tax, and delivery is also the second half of September.

I'm going to quit for now. Maybe after an evening with my girl-friend (best friend/buddy/partner/lover/wife ) and a good night's sleep, things won't looks so bad.