What kind of tools and or accessories should I be looking at to complement my new 3d printer? Assuming that I have nothing at all that is. What you you think would be in my best interest to purchase?
Let's see...
- Roll of Kapton tape (for thermal insulation of components)
- Needle file set (for cleaning support material and defects)
- Glue stick (for bed adhesion)
- Blue painter's tape, depending on bed configuration (for bed adhesion)
- 4GB micro-SD card to store gcode files
1 Like
Thanks matey!
To be honest this was for my son's birthday. Anything else anyone can think of, perhaps a dremel and some other basic hand tools like screwdrivers and socket sets etc. The 3d printer itself is being purchased by his grandparents (because he's a spoilt little shit) but I've got the task to get the rest of the package to get him up and running. Thanks for your input so far @Pesho.
The file set is really important. So is a bottle of acetone if you're doing ABS. These allow you to clean up your prints to be professional looking.
I don't think the printrbot simple has a heated bed, but that would be nice also, to print in ABS.
For PLA, depending on the quality of the material, usually blue tape is enough to stick, if the quality of the material doesn't let it stick, hit it very briefly with some hairspray, the cheaper the hairspray, the better.
For ABS, what usually works is to dissolve some ABS in acetone, and then use that on the kapton taped bed. Use a contrasting colour so you can clean it up afterwards. It will simply merge with the first slice when the acetone evaporates, and thus will stick mercilessly to avoid warping.
A basic list of tools no matter the printer:
- Scrapper - I got mine at ACE. Its a small flexible metal putty knife. It has kind of a blunt edge though.
- Micro file set - Very important for getting screw holes to fit or fine tuning other aspects of the print. Also good for sharpening putty knife to get under prints.
- Xacto Knife - If you trust your son with one. Hand for working with finished prints.
- Quality set of heavy diagonal cutters. Handy for cutting filament.
- Applicator - an old ID card wrapped in tape makes a good applicator for getting bubbles and creases out of the printbed
- Vacuum Storage Bags - the kind you suck out the air with a vacuum. Filament will absorb water over time so its a good idea to store them in an air free space if they are not being actively used.
- 4GB micro SD card and adapter - The Printrbot has a micro SD slot but does not come with one. The prints a rarely very large files and you can only have one loaded at a time with the Printrbot it seems.
- Filament of course! PLA is easy to work with and is widely available in lots of colors. Microcenter has their Inland brand starting at 15 dollars and up to 20 dollars for fancy colors. Hatchbox brand available on Amazon is also supposed to be a quality option. 1kg spools do last quite a while.
If you are getting the non heated bed model the list of what you need to actually print is pretty small. The non heated bed limits the printer to the lower temp filaments, most common is PLA.
For PLA or other low temp filaments 3M Blue Painters tape should be enough. If needed, the 3D printing community has been using Garnier Fuctis Extreme Control hairspray or Aquanet Extreme Super Hold.