3D Systems Video - Gap Difference Correction

NOTE:  3D Systems removed the original video and replaced it with an updated version.   The video below is the updated version.

3D Systems engineers have produced a video for those of us that have the problem where one print jet is higher than the other.  All it takes is a simple mechanical adjustment requiring only a 1.3mm square end hex wrench in those machines exhibiting the issue.  (Mine did.)

We can fix it in the field!  Who knew?  :)

The only catch?

You may not have a 1.3mm hex key in your toolbox.

But, they are widely available on the internet and Grainger carries them as well.  Here is the Grainger page for the 1.3mm Hex Key..

When I buy such tools, I prefer the to purchase the driver type of hex wrench.  You might find a precision set at your local hobby store or one can be ordered online..

Here is the updated version.

I want to make a short observation about these videos from engineering.

I spent from 1969 to 1981 as a video producer for clients like the National Park Service, Postal Service and major national and international news networks.  I know and appreciate slickly produced videos.  But, when it come to getting serious about getting real, helpful information about the equipment on which I rely, THIS is the guy I want to see telling me how to fix things.  I don't need slick.  I need solid, factual step-by-step information delivered without hype by the guy that knows how it is done. 

You can't get better than this for giving Cube users straight-up help.  I really appreciate straightforward video help like this.  Keep them coming 3D Systems.

Two thumbs up! 

Hmmm... I GOTTA find out who this is!  Maybe we can nominate him for the 1st International Cube Users Hero Award or something.  :)

Cube 3: Rundown of Outstanding Issues to be Resolved

Prior to the 1.08 firmware update, there were some gap issues with early machines due to a difference in height between the right and left printjets.  Any negative effects of this seem to have been resolved by the new ability to calibrate affected machines. 

It was further corrected in subsequent machines by a new die for creating the printjet housing.  It is my understanding that ALL machines now being released should have perfectly level printjets.  I have no idea what serial number reflects the change; but, since the firmware and calibration seems to have successfully addressed the issue with earlier machines, I consider no longer an outstadning issue.

However, there is one issue that remains and that appears to be totally related to the cartridge.  The end result is clogging, which usually could always be traced back to a poor gap.  However, in this case, it seems the issue is that the extruder can work so rapidly and forcefully that the current filament can strip leaving the extruder to be unable to feed properly.

OK.  So, here's the good news ans the bad news. 

First, the bad news.

I'm getting enough reports that, along with personal experience, tells me it's a common problem right now.  However, it's not 100%.  I was able to use one cartridge right down to the end without a clog. 

Now, the good news

Those users with which I've spoken, seem to be of the same opinion that the issue is exclusively within the cartridge itself and has no cause in the basic machine design.  That really is good news for me, because correcting the problem can be addressed either with a new filament compound and/or a redesign of the extrusion system in the cartridge.  I know for a fact that 3D Systems has brought new filament producing capabilities into the 3D Systems family.  This should mean greater quality control over the filament production and finishing process.   If filament weakness is the culprit, we should be seeing some new filament in the pipeline to address that weakness.

When?  I have NO idea.  But, I'm betting that it will be soon.  And, as soon as I know, you will know.

The other good news is that the Cube community includes some brilliant, analytical minds.  I'm trying to team with as many of these individuals as possible to get their feedback on their own field results to see if we, as users, can add some eyes, ears and gadgets to provide feedback to 3D Systems as to which designs might cause the most trouble or which colors seem the most reliable.

Call, Write, Call...

The best way you can help yourself and the entire Cube 3 community is to let Cubify Support know about any issues you are having.  They WANT to hear from you. 

The bottom line is that I do not expect this to be an issue for very long.  I will post when I know for sure that it is completely behind us.

Find by 3dFan - Calibration Video

A community of users is invaluable.  This was illustrated by the fact that 3dFan, in a comment, pointed to a video produced by 3D Systems that demonstrates how to use a new Calibration Procedure made available in the 1,08b firmware update.

The link to the video is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXBm1TEOdnw

It is my understanding that not all Cube3 owners will need to calibrate their printers.  Recently produced printers do not have the issue of having a difference in printjet height.  So, it would be wise to contact support if you are having gap issues to see if the calibration procedure described in the video applies to your situation.

It tuned out that mine did benefit by following the directions in the video. 

But, the thing I am waiting for that should be the biggest boost for Cube3 owners is the release of upgraded filament from the Village Plastics factory that 3D Systems purchased last year that is supposed to be optimized for use in Cube3 cartridges.

3D Systems - Village Plastics

But, it also may be that we could see new types of materials in the future.  In this press release 3D Systems talks about adding nylon to the CubePro capabilities. 

They also have a filament called HIPS, which easily dissolves in an orange peel extract cleaner.

Could it migrate to the Cube3?  Who knows.  But, it's an intriquing thought.

Expanded Filament Facility

3D Systems continues to expand their capabilities to support the consumer user by bringing quality control of expendables in-house. 

As soon as I know that the new filament is in the pipeline, I will do my best to test it immediately.

A Perfect Example of Dangerous SPAM Comments

No sooner had I written my article about my deleting comments that I deemed to contain SPAM, than an apparent spammer added a comment to that very article that is a perfect example of why it is dangerous to trust links in comments unless I endorse that link in my reply to the comment.

Here is the comment.  Notice how carefully they must have read the original content?  LOL!

Velocity Labels has left a new comment on your post "SPAM and Comment Policy Explanation":

Thanks also for sharing your knowledge by making this blog. It's really a great help for me. I hope you make more blogs like this.

Adhesive visitor pass labels (Link Disabled)

Velocity Labels appears to be a legitimate company.  I was able to reach them by phone.  But, the link that I've disabled was flagged by Webroot as containing probable malicious code.

The person posting this has a Google ID and claims to work there.  But, hackers are clever and even that may be a hoax to add a level of trust.

In any event, this is exactly why I delete 99% of comments having any kind of link.  If I miss one, do yourself a favor and so NOT click on the link!

I have contacted the company to alert them that they may have been hacked.  More often than not, a company will not know it.  I worked for a highly secure government contractor with amazing levels of security and a little over a tear ago they were informed by the FBI that our computers had been compromised by a foreign government.  How?  A single individual had clicked on a link in an email that had supposedly been sent by a friend.  But, of course it was not the friend.  It was a spoof.

Fortunately, no serious secrets were compromised; but, it definitely was a wake up call.

UPDATE

I had a great conversation with the owner of Velocity Labels and they will be contacting me when they have made sure that all the pages on their site have been purged of any malicious code.  While it's a shame that we learned about them through the work of a person trying to take advantage of their good reputation, I am happy to have become acquainted with them.  I look forward to being able to safely point you in their direction once everything has been checked out and given a clean bill of health.  I'm thinking about trying out their services by purchasing some custom labels for the YouthQuest Foundation.  I have the Dymo Lablemaker Twin Turbo and love it.

SPAM and Comment Policy Explanation

I have been blogging long enough to spot a comment pretending to praise the writing; but, is actually nothing more than a ploy designed to cover the real goal of dropping a SPAM link having nothing to do with 3D printing.  I have deleted hundreds of them, if not thousands.  I've lost count.

Spammers, I moderate theses forums as closely and as timely as I can and delete those comments that contain links.  While there may be a few exceptions where I check a link and it seems helpful enough to the readers of this blog that I leave it; but, they have been few and far between.

Obviously, 3D printing is hot right now.  And, spammers like to follow hot topics hoping to skim off some readers.  But, I do my best to protect my readers from most links because that is the best way to minimize the potential for malicious links.

The reason for writing this is because as the popularity of 3D printing and this blog grows, so too has the number of spammers being drawn here.  I don't actually believe they read any of the articles, so I'm probably wasting my time telling them that they will be wasting their time by trying to use this blog for their own selfish purposes.  But, I thought it was worth a shot.  :)

I wonder how many spammers will add their bogus words of priase to THIS post!  :)

Cosmetic Issue - Bits & Pieces of Filament on the Print Table

I noticed that when I printed two objects of different colors, little bits and pieces of filament would end up on the print table.  This puzzled me because I knew that the Cube 3 had two wipers that should have taken care of that problem.  So, I decided to investigate and send the Cubify engineers my observations.

As some of you know, I often use the tools I learned as a science teacher in my analytical efforts.  But, I also have a video production background that also comes in handy from time-to-time.  And, that is what I turned to in this case.

I first shot a sequence of video that captured what was happening.  My camera is not capable of true 200 frames per second high speed capture,   But, it is capable of shooting at high shutter speeds resulting in sharp images of moving objects.  So, I used video editor to slow the action down as much as it could.  This resulted in this video sequence.

As you can see, the action happens very quickly in real time.  So, even slowing it down a little bit was helpful in determining the sequence of events.  Even so, it still wasn't completely clear how those bits and pieces where forming.  So, using Camtasia to capture my screen as I operated the shuttle in my video editing application I was able to analyze the video, and document what was taking place, on a frame-by-frame basis in this next video.

The Cubify Team is aware of the issue and working on correcting it.

I expect it will be addressed in a future firmware update.

Observation Conclusion:

• The issue is cosmetic only.

• It involves the resting placement of the print jet and possibly the extruder control (Prevent dripping)

• It affects both left and right print jets

• Most commonly seen in SOME two color prints (same layer color changes)

• It should be able to be addresses entirely in firmware

• Should hardware changes be required, it will only be to user replaceable parts such as wipers or wiper try assembly

I consider this a very minor issue that will not be permanent to the Cube3 user experience as it appears to be something that can and will be addressed through firmware updates.  While it's ugly, it is definitely NOT a "show-stopper" in terms of making a purchase decision.  While it does affect the first layer of all pieces, it's not a big issue unless the design of the object requires same layer color changes. 

This is the kind of thing I expect to see in an entirely new product.  And, is typical of the issues discovered so far with the 3rd Generation Cube 3D printer in that they do not demonstrate any flaws, serious or otherwise, in the hardware design of the basic printer itself. 

Firmware Updates for Cube3's NOT on WiFi.

I never connected my 1st or 2nd generation Cubes via WiFi.  And, while I now have my personal 3rd Generation Cube connected via WiFi, I do NOT expect to be able to connect via WiFi in our Youth Challenge classrooms

At the time of this writing, those operating their Cube3 printers without being connected via WiFi, must contact Cubify Support to have the firmware files and documentation sent to you via email. 

My most recent update was over WiFi.  But, my first firmware update was applied using a USB drive.  The printer is capable of being updated either way.

I suspect that they are interested in determining how many people do want or cannot use the WiFi option.  Perhaps, keeping track of requests for updates makes this easier.

I am told that Cubify Support usually replies within 12 hours during weekday hours anywhere in the world.  In rare cases this could extend to 24 hours.  I have no idea what the response time is on the weekends; but, I do know some support personnel check in from home even when they are technically off.

If you experience delays greater than 24 hours from weekday queries, please let me know, because it could indicate problems in the system with which they are not aware.