To be fair I think one of the things putting me off was the fact it was the trial version - you can only cut from their unmodified tutorial file - so you can't see the full effect of your own playing. I understand that they need to limit the trial version but feel they have limited it a bit too much.
Alex.

 

Maybe, but perhaps some leniancy towards DIYr's and of course OAPs like me. That's where Fusion have the benefit; I've installed Fusion 360, managed to Post-Process for grbl, for a simple pocket, but I'm not sure that the output is ok. The UGS visualiser didn't like the output, seems to be a problem with helical interpolation, but I'll check it when I have time. I doubt that I will change to Fusion for CAM because VCarve is so good and easy at the CAM side, but we'll see? Geoff

 

Looks great Colin, did you scan the Family crest?

 

Very nice! Is every kitchen drawer and cupboard going to get it's own fancy label now?
Alex.

 

Especially OAP's like us @GeoffH !
Alex.

 

You've got an Artists eye, looks great to me, even on floorboards. Be better still with VCarving but what a great start!

 

L

Love to see some of that!

 

No problem @Colin Mccourt, but don't tell everyone - they'll all want one.
Alex.

 

Looks great Alex, if I had a Duet, I'd be there To be honest you have reminded me of the big white elephant in my workshop, I bought an Ultimaker 3D printer probably 5 years ago. My efforts were terrible, mostly many hours of printing followed by disaster etc. No doubt something I hadn't set up properly, but it's in my mind to either see if I can make something with that machine or do another OpenBuild one day. Did you build your own printer Alex?

 

Only from a kit @GeoffH, its from Geeetech and has some problems because the acrylic frame parts are not cut with square edges - so it can't be assembled perfectly square. I did manage to get the X and Y axes at right angles to each other and the Z perpendicular to them both, but the quality of the printing leaves something to be desired. Getting the plastic to adhere properly to the bed is more like witchcraft than science - hence the curved top to @Colin Mccourt 's dust cover - it was designed flat!
Alex.

 

Well you have achieved more that I ever did. I lost my composure with my machine on many occasions but now I'm older and more composed I may get back to it.

 

I think I paid £120 for my Geeetech kit @GeoffH, I would have expected Ultimaker to be a case of switch on and print with no hassle. So far I have only printed with PLA, but I have found enormous differences between batches (price or brand has been no guide to quality) - the batch I am using at the moment is rubbish - keeps breaking for no apparent reason - a bit nerve-wracking on a long print.
Alex.

 

Thankfully I've erased the price from my memory, and "er indoors" never found out, but it was factors more than what you have paid. I also bought 4 reels of different coloured PLA in my enthusiasm, I think from Ultimaker also, but so far just waiting for me. Yes I agree, I expected to be able to make things without too much knowledge, but other than the sample STL files that come with the machine, which are fairly simple, no success with my own models; just frustration.

 

I told my wife I was buying my printer for my model railway club - which was not, strictly speaking, untrue.
Alex

 

Let me know how you get on with it if you go with that cyclone gadget @Colin Mccourt. It looks very useful if it works as well as they claim.
Alex.

 

Alex,

I used my geeetech to build a much larger 3d printer using oak kitchen worktop and 42mm stainless tube.

I can only suggest you try PETG as a printing material...bed at 120 C for first layer, PETG hot end constant 220 C. Bed drop down to 60 C for all other layers. No problem sticking to bed and automatically clicks off at around 25 C. PETG is very stable.

Don

 

I use one of those with my Sphinx connected to a Henry.

Cyclone get 99% of the dust in the bucket.

My bucket has a spring valve in it to stop the bucket collapsing (and I cross braced it internally)