My 3D printers
3D printers are awesome. They can help save time & money, empower creativity, and are just heaps of fun. I now have three 3D printers: an Ender 3 V2 (my first home build), and two Original Prusa i3 MK2s (which I traded for a box of mangoes – don’t ask questions). These printers helped kickstart my love for design, aiding me in building things I couldn’t have dreamed of, even with all my other tools combined.
Build/ Repair
Ender 3 V2
As this was my first 3D printer, I was looking for a cheap, open-source, mod-friendly printer. There were many options, although, the Ender seemed to do it all. With this printer being one of the most popular hobbyist printers, there is a large community supporting almost everything about it. It has a reasonably large print base (enough for all the prints I have done/will be doing) and the ability to print in PLA, ABS, TPU, and PETG. There are heaps of videos and guides online if you’d like to know more.
Prusa i3 MK2s
From a friend of a friend, I was given two Prusa’s as they were no longer in use and required some serious TLC. The frames were still intact, but many of the main components were faulty. Testing the components from both printers, I was able to assemble one functioning printer. Although, the temperature sensors on both were a bit dodgy and I manage by limiting the temperature through manual settings, but, sometimes it just shuts down, thinking it’s on fire. Not fun halfway through a print.
Mods
I thought it could be cool to share some of the mods I’ve made to the Ender. Although, I believe some of these come standard now, already installed with the build! I have also added a few accessories to the printer, which you can see in the prints section.
BL Touch
The BL Touch is a semiconductor hall sensor that is used on 3D printers to precisely measure the tilt of the bed surface. It has many smart functions, like self-test, alarm, alarm release, and Touch Switch mode. Installing is simple. Although, a bracket wasn’t included in the kit, so I ended up printing one! All that was left to do was to connect it to the motherboard, disconnect the z-stop, and update the firmware.
All Metal Feeder Assembly
As I was having issues with under-extrusion on my prints, I decided it would be a good idea to upgrade to an all-metal extruder. This was a direct swap for my original extruder. It provides more stability and durability compared to the previous, although I’ve found makes no difference to the actual print quality.
New Bed Springs
With this printer, one of the first major concerns I had, before getting myself the BL Touch, was having to manually level the print bed before every print. I originally bought some springs from Bunnings. Yet, ultimately, I ended up investing in springs specifically designed for the printer. These were slightly stiffer springs, meaning I wouldn’t have to check them as often and they provided an improved fitting.
Some of my prints!
Below are some of the prints I have made for projects, fun and even just practice. I have used various plastics, including, PLA, ABS and PETG. I often give these prints away for small presents/ secret Santa gifts, as they’re cheap, easy to make, and get a nice response. Working as a manufacturing intern, I made plenty of jigs and tools for the technicians to use or even just models of parts to help me get an understanding of size, feel etc. (sadly I can’t share). Although, I hope you enjoy my little home collection of stuff!
