M3D PRO Now on Kickstarter!!!

When 3D Systems ceased production of the Cube series of printers, I began to explore alternatives.

That's when I became acquainted with M3D and the low-cost Micro 3D printer.   At YouthQuest Foundation, we have been experimenting with two of the Micro printers in our 3D ThinkLink lab and I have purchased one for my granddaughters.  It is destined to have an important role in our work with at-risk young people.  In fact, the YouthQuest Foundation's Board of Directors just approved a fund-raising campaign to purchase M3D Micro 3D printers as the anchor of a new peer mentoring program for our cadets.  So, we plan to purchase many more.

More importantly, as I studied the company behind the Micro, it was apparent that they were much more than simply a 3D printer manufacturing company.  At its heart it is an innovation company.  In fact, I was so impressed that I began the IdeaRoom3D blog to feature the M3D line of products.

Several weeks ago, I received an email from M3D that invited me to take part in a video they were creating.  Naturally, I jumped at the chance to meet the team at M3D and I am ALWAYS ready to talk about the wonderful benefits of 3D printing.

Today, I received an email that announced the opening of M3D's KickStarter campaign for the new sensor-rich M3D Pro!  Following the link, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the video in which I participated is on the Kickstarter page.  (I'm the old guy in the red shirt.)  :)

But, that is NOT why I am urging you to visit M3D's Kickstarter page.

Normally these days, I would avoid a KickStarter campaign for a new 3D printer like the plague.  So many in the recent past have ended badly.  But, this one is different.  Having been experimenting with the M3D Micro for a while now, I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am about this new development.  I have gotten to know this company and I've used their products which gives me the utmost confidence to pledge my support.

Remember that I said that M3D is more than simply a 3D printer manufacturer and at its heart M3D is an innovation company?  That is MORE than evident when one examines the M3D Pro.

I could waste your time by trying to write about all the many features I find appealing about this new, unique 3D printer.  But, the M3D KickStarter page does a much better job than I could in presenting all the wonderful new innovations it represents.

I missed out on their first KickStarter campaign for the Micro; but, we're not missing out on this one!  Count us in for a pledge!!!

Here is the Link to the M3D Kickstarter Page.

A New Series Exploring Colorizing 3D Prints

I apologize for doing this to you; but, I'm immediately going to refer you to my new blog ("IdeaRoom3D") that will focus on using M3D 3D printers and materials with an emphasis on classroom applications and creating crafts.  If you have been following this blog, it might be useful to you to also follow the new blog.

I am starting a new series  that will explore using Craftwell's eBrush airbrush system that primarily uses alcohol markers instead of traditional ink.  The goal is to use colorization to add value to the things we print.

While certainly not perfect, both the process (entirely enjoyable) and the results (better than expected) have convinced me that this system is perfect for 3D printing owners.  It's relatively easy to use, affordable and applies color quite well to both flexible and hard 3D printing materials.  I will also be testing it with the Z450 powder printer.  We have found that consumer 3D scanners use relatively low resolution color images so it is worth exploring coloring people scans with an airbrush system.

At any rate.take a look at my first try.  The article, with an image, can be found at this LINK.

3d Systems Introduces WOOD Filament for the CubePro

This one caught me by surprise!

3D Systems as introduced wood filament along with an upgraded nozzle that allows the CubePro to use it.

CubePro Wood Filament

You can learn more about it HERE..

Not only have they concentrated on bringing this filament to CubePro users, they have exerted a great deal of effort in presenting finishing techniques that are sure to be useful for a wide variety of applications.

Finished 3D Printed Wood Objects

The techniques are outlined in a .PDF available on the Wood Filament product page.

New Nozzle

In  order to use the new wood filament, you will need to purchase and install a new "Advanced Nozzle" which costs $99.

Advanced Nozzle

The instructions for installing the new nozzle are also available on the Wood Filament product page.

I wish I could tell you how well it works; but, this new filament came as a complete surprise to me.  I can say that it is innovative enough for us to be very interested in using it in YouthQuest's 3D ThinkLink Lab.  The Nylon was a game changer and from everything I have learned about the wood filament, it is destined to be a game-changer as well!

For our cadets to be able to design wooden parts that could actually be incorporated into designs of actual wood fixtures is an important step forward in giving them practical and marketable skills.

Thank you CubePro team!!!  

Visiting MakeShaper and Witnessing Resilience Firsthand

Last week, I was teaching in the Virginia Beach area and decided, since I was already more than halfway there, that I would make a visit to MakeShaper's headquarters in Sanford, NC.   I like to get to know the people behind the products that we use and talk about in this blog.  I expected a find evidence of a commitment to quality.  But, nothing could prepared me for the lengths to which MakeShaper is making to ensure THE highest quality is delivered to their filament customers.

 A Tour to Remember

While I can't discuss all the steps that I saw being taken to produce the highest quality product, I can say that they even go so far as to build their own proprietary machinery if that is what it takes to better their peers.\

MakeShaper is a division of Static Control Components, which began in a garage about 30 years ago.  They sure have come a long way since then.  The facility, which creates 2D printer cartridges as well as the 3D filament that are of interest to us is absolutely massive!  Touring the facility is not only enlightening, it's exhausting for an old guy.  But, it was well worth it.

Resilience and Perseverance on a Grand Scale

And, speaking of old guys, one of the most impressive aspects of the tour came in the form of a piece of art and a photograph memorializing a day that could have been the end of Static Control Components (SCC).  In April of 2011 multiple tornadoes touched down in Sanford and decimated SCC's facilities.  The founder of SCC was 75 at the time and the damage was so severe that many though he simply might walk away.  But, he did not. They were contacting customers and shipping product in days.   Please read this story and view the images of the devastation.

Here is a link to a news video that is well worth visiting if you want to understand the company's character.

MakeShaper for 1st and 2nd Gen Cube & CubePro - More to come

The Makeshaper division is relatively young when compared to the age of parent organization.  So, their product line is still growing.  We saw 3D printers of virtually every make and model being used to develop and test new products.  The current filament choices available for the 1st and 2nd Cube and CubePro are limited to Red, Green, Blue, Black & White in PLA and ABS.  But, I expect that more choices will be forthcoming after extensive testing. 

More than Just Filament

Joining me on this visit was Jeff Epps of the Richmond County school system just miles from MakeShaper's headquarters.  A good deal of the time of the visit was devoted to talking about how 3D design and printing can literally change lives of at-risk students.   Both of us came away impressed by what we heard from MakeShaper's management. 

They 'get it'.

So, I don't expect that this meeting will be the last time we meet together to talk about our common goals in the communities in which we serve.

Bottom Line for 1st and 2nd Gen Cube & CubePro Owners.

The reason why I made the trip was to see if I could find evidence as to the steps MakeShaper was taking to ensure that we could trust their products in our printers.  I came away feeling that they are striving to be the manufacturer of THE most reliable filament available.

The comprehensive testing is there.  In fact, the level of testing is so much higher than the industry norm that I cannot even write about it in detail. 

The construction is there.  Every cartridge contains a bag of moisture protection INSIDE the cartridge for continuous protection.  The moisture protection bags are much heavier for additional storage protection.

The price is there.  Currently a 2nd Gen Cartridge is just $25 with free shipping for orders over $50.

So, I would urge you to consider trying MakeShaper.  And, let me know what you think.  After all, the real testing is in YOUR hands.  Only you can attest that the MakeShaper alternative is right for Cube owners.  But, I trust you will find my assessment to match your own.

MakeShaper Store

Let me know....

Great News for 2nd Gen Cube and CubePro Owners

I was recently sent a cartridge that fits the 2nd Gen Cube.  It came from a company called MakeShaper in North Carolina. 

I agreed to test a cartridge and those test have been completed.

Here is the result:

Test Print Using the MakeShaper Filament Cartridge

The first thing i noticed was that the moisture protection bag in which it is contained was much heftier than I am used to seeing.   I have had absolutely no problems with the cartridge.  Where it differs from the OEM version is that (1) it is held together with screws (T-10 Star) making it very easy to open and (2) it contains a pack of moisture protection tucked inside the cartridge.  Nice!

The cartridges for the 2nd Gen Cube are just $25.  And, those for the CubePro are just $65.  I have not tested the CubePro version.  But, at that price is sure looks like it's worth exploring.

The available colors in either PLA or ABS are:

• Red
• Blue
• Green
• Black 
• White

Here is a link to the 2nd Gen Cartridge order page...

By the way, I failed to mention that they offer free shipping on orders over $50.

Cartridges can also be ordered by phone... 919-776-6925.

Going Forward With Educational 3D Printing - M3D & JellyBox

While this forum will continue to be primarily devoted to the Cube series of 3D printers, the reality is that we must continue to move forward by considering other options for the continued education of both students and adults.  I consider a home 3D printer to be among the most effective educational tools a parent could purchase for their child.  Likewise, I consider a 3D printer to be an essential part of a school's mission to grow our children's brains.

So, I have found it imperative to do my best to explore various options to find the optimal price/performance in a 3D printer that satisfies the needs of both parents and educators.

My criteria for evaluation is based on having watched consumer 3D printing develop since its RepRap infancy, having had 6 3D printers covering four different models in my home over the last four years and having now worked directly with more that 30 3D printers spanning 6 educational sites for the last 3 years.

So, the 3D printers that have risen to the top for more in-depth evaluation might surprise many people.  It might also be surprising that the two top candidates are at extreme polar opposites when it comes to the reasons why they are of interest to me.  At one end of the spectrum is the tiny M3D Micro and at the other end of the spectrum is the JellyBox, a kit printer that is virtually completely unknown at the moment.

While I won't go into depth on either printer in this post, I would like to introduce my two top contenders.

M3D Micro

When we think of equipment for education, we usually think of tough, robust and indestructible.  The M3D Micro is admittedly quite the opposite.  It is small, lightly built and can be easily tossed by a four year old.   So, why does it intrigue me as possibly an excellent educational tool for both home and the classroom?

Price is one factor.  It can be purchased for as little as $349.  But, that, alone, was not enough to make it stand apart.  The da Vinci Jr is also $349 and probably has a more rugged design.  It is the extremely compact footprint of the M3D Micro that appeals to me... as well as it's low noise factor.

It's hard to teach in a room with the noise of multiple 3D printers drowning out conversation.  By all accounts, the M3D is quiet.  Plus, the small size of the M3D Micro allows teachers to securely stack and store the printers away.  And, for some schools, including those with which I'm involved, that is a critical consideration.

The option of being able to store and use reels of filament internally, under the print table, really makes for a quick transition from secure storage to classroom printing.  While there are differences of opinion as to whether the internal filament loading is as effective as the external filament method, the very fact that it is even possible is a serious plus for this small printer.

And, as for the fact that the reels only hold 250 feet, I also consider that a plus.  They are only $14-$18 dollars.  But, the small reels mean that less filament is exposed to the air and damaging moisture.  I cannot tell you how many half-used reels of filament had to be discarded due to moisture in the atmosphere when I had the RapMan 3.2.  And, in an educational setting where printing is infrequent, the problem is amplified.

I have not used an M3D Micro as yet.  I hope to make a visit to their factory that, like myself, is in Maryland sometime in the very near future so that I can further explore the printer and explore its potential in much greater detail.  But, so far, I like what I see from a price/performance point of view.

JellyBox

If you have never heard about the JellyBox, don't worry.  Only a handfull of people have.  In fact, this kit printer manufactured in Bluegrass, Virgina by iMade3D is still in it's pre-production and testing phase.

A little history is in order....

Shortly after I declared that 3D printer kits were dead, I was approached by a long-time friend and businessman who was interested in 3D printing.  It turned out that he was a disgusted by the lack of quality of several kits he had attempted to build and use and wanted to probe my reaction to his idea of wanting to create his own 3D printer kit.  Frankly, I told him, based on my own frustrations with the "build experience" that I wasn't interested because building took a lot of the responsibility for the ultimate quality out of the kit manufacturer's hands.  From this discussion came the idea that iMade3D would not sell kits.  They would sell a mentored build experience where attendees would have factory experts help them build a 3D Printer in a single day.  At the end of the day, the attendees would be able to take home a completed and working 3D printer.

To make a long story short, he embarked on that journey with the goal of creating a 3D printer kit that could not only be put together in a single day; but, be made with the highest quality parts.  Their first effort was a traditional aluminum frame kit and it came close to meeting that goal.  The build was first tested by a dozen people in the YouthQuest 3D ThinkLink Lab where we videotaped the entire process for post-evaluation.

Out of that experience, a remarkable thing happened.  A completely new and revolutionary idea was born.  They designed a printer frame of laser cut acrylic held together with zip ties!!!   Here is Filip Goc, of the father-son design team, introducing the JellyBox.

(Note the mountains of Virginia in the background.  Bluegrass is tucked away in the Appalachian Mountains near West Virginia, a beautiful place to manufacture 3D printers.)

I have been involved in 4 test build sessions and have watched the process be refined to the point where we are committed to having our cadets build 4 of them in our next Immersion Class in August.

Here is the second video which Filip mentioned which explain some of the features...

It may be held together with zip ties; but, I can tell you from first hand experience that it prints better than our $5,000+ printers!  But, the real reason for my putting this printer at the top of my educational printer list is that it is designed to be put together at the beginning of the school year by the students, who print with it for the entire class session and then simply clip the zip ties to take it apart so that next year's students can also benefit by the build and use experience.  Thus, it is probably the first 3D printer kit specifically designed for multiple build experiences.  It's a remarkable idea built with uncompromising quality.

And, this glowing assessment is coming from someone that had previously only associated kit printers with frustration and poor quality!

Unlike the M3D, which I have yet to fully embrace, pending more experience, I can whole-heartedly assure you that I am going to devote a lot of energy toward promoting the JellyBox.  In fact, have become a part of their team as an advisor.  It's actually fun to build and a joy to use.


But, it is not a kit nor business plan based on a mass-market strategy.  Supplies will only be available as the demands of quality dictate.

Conclusion

So there you have it.  On one end of the spectrum is a small consumer printer with a very appealing  price/performance ratio that meets some of the unique requirements of the classroom.  And, on the other an absolutely solid 3D printer that not only prints better than any other 3D FDM printer with which I have experience; but, can be built and rebuilt year after year, giving students a comprehensive 3D printing experience.


 

Dealing with Filament Aging

This post is relevant to all 3D printers using PLA, Nylon or ABS.  But, it may be increasingly relevant to Cube printer owners.  And, that is the subject of treating and storing filament in a way that provides the least difficulties during printing.

At the YouthQuest Foundation we have scores of Cube printers with an average inventory of 3 cartridges for each printer.  The printers are not used on a daily basis.  So, learning why and how filament degrades over time has been extremely important for us.

The problem came to the fore when 3D Systems first donated a number of 2nd Gen printers,   The printers had been in inventory for a number of years.  Even though the supplied filament was in sealed bags with packets of drying agent, all of the filament was brittle and easily clogged the printers.  Fortunately, 3D Systems replaced all the filament.  But, even this, too, showed some tendency to brittleness.  With this in mind, we began to explore exactly why we were seeing what we were seeing.  More importantly, we needed to find a solution that would minimize damage while the filament was being stored.

We THINK we have come up with the solution.  It involves combining a dehydrating system to proactively remove existing moisture from filament and a sealed storage system with a robust dehydration system.

DEHYDRATION SYSTEM

Since the problem of moisture affecting filament is common to ALL 3D printers, there are a number of new dehydration systems being developed specifically designed for filament.  But, the most interesting ones have yet to be released.  So, we looked for alternatives.  And, they came in the form of food dehydrators.  Here is the one that we recommend... the NESCO FD77DT Digital Food Dehydrator:

Nesco FD77DT Food Dehydrator

It is important to purchase a digital dehydrator that allows you to set a precise time and temperature as different types of filament require different times and temperatures.  This model can be found for under $80.   One of the main reasons we like this brand and model is the way air is distributed ACROSS each layer.  We open the Cube2 cartridges and only put the cardboard cartridges in the dehydrator.  For Cube 3 cartridges, we open the cover and put the uncovered base and reel in the dehydrator.  For our initial tests, we set it at 45C degrees and run it for 4 hours.  This could be refined as we gain more experience.

STORAGE POLICY

From now on, we will  no longer leave filament in the printers between print sessions... even if it only means leaving it in the printer overnight!  The only exception to this are the CubePro printers which we now treat as closed filament storage systems with their own dehydrator.

STORAGE SYSTEM

Some time ago, we had decided to store filament in large plastic boxes with sealed tops and single use moisture remover.  But, it turns out that using a simple 5 gallon bucket with a special sealed screw-on top is an even better solution.  We go right from the food dehydrator into a bucket.

5 Gallon Bucket

We pair the bucket with a special sealed screw-on top.  The Gamma Seal top is the key to the ability to ensure a moisture barrier.  Because we wanted to color code our storage, we have purchased both buckets and tops from both Home Depot (Red/White bucket and Black top) and Lowes (Blue bucket and white top).

Gamma Seal Top

The last part of the storage system is a cost effective way to ensure the lowest moisture levels in the bucket.  We could use packets, as we previous used with the plastic boxes.  But, we found what we believe to be a MUCH better solution, the Lagute Adenium L-A01 Renewable Wireless Mini Dehumidifier. 

Lagute Mini-Dehumidifier

The beauty of this system is two-fold.  First, it is a perfect size.  And, secondly, there is a window that allows you to determine when the beads in the dehumidifier need to be recharged.  To recharge the system you simply plug it in over night!  We use the same dehumidifier inside the CubePro.

So far, it looks like the dehumidifier takes the relative humidity under 22% in a single day.  It may ultimately go lower if I could only resist opening the bucket to check it!  :)

MODIFYING THE DRYING RACKS

In order to fit a cartridge into the food dryer, the standard racks with have to be alternated with racks that have been cut to remove the grill.  But, extra FD-77DT racks are relatively inexpensive and can be purchased locally at Bed Bath & Beyond.  I believe it cost about $14 for a set of two extra racks.

I would not buy the actual  NESCO DEHYDRATOR  model that can be found on the shelves in Bed, Bath & Beyond Stores.  It will work; but, it has no off-on switch or timer.  Buy online to get the digital model.  Sears seemed to have the lowest price.  But, shipping is not as fast as Amazon.

I fully expect that using these tools we may be able to save filament we otherwise might have had to discard.  But, at the very least it is going to protect our future filament investments.