First impressions on this printer are very well. A cartridge did jam the first print but I have fixed it. This printer prints damn well and has so much potential… And only $160. The only downside is the proprietary software and filament limiting the printer
Yeah that’s how proprietary printers get ya. Works great for the first couple months then you start to run into issues you can’t fix because of the closed firmware, software, and hardware. You can trick the printer and us your own filament but that’s about it. I thought about grabbing this for $160 but I’d rather put that into an i3 mk2
@Adam_Steinmark same here. MK2 definitely on the list right now. This would be fun for someone with the money who just wants to tinker but I can assure you when the problems arise you will be wanting to throw it against the wall.
My first printing experience was with a Cube 2 and it was a struggle. I got quite good at taking the extruder apart on it… Best of luck with this one. It’s kind of like an old British car with an er… personality.
Bit off topic but the robotics team I help mentor has a Mark Forged Mark One and it is one of the most frustrating machines I’ve ever worked with. Only prints in nylon with the option to reinforce with fiber but no heated bed. Slicing has to be done via their cloud slicer which only gives simple options and exports to a custom file format rendering the use of third party slicers impossible. It’s impossible to change print speed or nozzle temperature. Filament is also $170 for 800 cc. There is no access to the firmware. The printer does have a extruder calibration test but it’s useless. It extrudes a certain amount of filament then asks you to measure the weight of it and there’s nearly a 20% range between the minimum and maximum expected weight. If it’s out of that range, the support page instructs you to replace the nozzle.
Already having trouble doing a 2 color print… Damn thing doesn’t use .amf files
@Griffin_Paquette , “…throw it against the wall” hahahaha
There isn’t a hack for the Cube 3 to use generic filament and supplies of the cartridges are running low across the internet. The hack that does allow generic filament requires an older version of the firmware and it won’t allow backwards flashing to an earlier file.
The existing cartridges can suffer from problems with filament breaking inside the bowden tube, which is integrated with the cartridge and nozzle assembly. The “cure” for that is to save the bowden tube and nozzle from an empty cartridge and transplant it to the damaged one.
If the nozzle clogs, that’s another failure requiring a spare assembly.
Two color prints take four times longer, as each head/nozzle has to cool down and heat up in turn before the color change begins to print.
So many things wrong with this printer.
@Fred_U I had the filament jam and break at the same time. Just opened up the nozzle holder and cartridge, pulled it out and heated up the nozzle so that I could get that off as well. Works fine now
@Abc_Def When you say you opened up the nozzle holder, do you mean the curved plastic enclosure that holds the nozzle as it enters the heating chamber? It’s been a while since I’ve taken that end apart and it didn’t fare well, but that’s because I have a lousy memory.
How did you manage to free the nozzle from the holder in order to put it back together again? Mine isn’t broken, but I’m serving as a tech support for the public library’s Cube3, trying to prolong the life of their soon to be extinct printer.
Okay, that’s just strange. I examined the nozzle I have and the entire enclosure slides “forward” and disengages from the nozzle within. Far easier than expected. Now to heat the thing up to attempt a clog clearing.
@Fred_U send me a hangouts message and I will explain
@Abc_Def As an amateur Luddite, I don’t use the hang-outs, but managed to clear the nozzle using an SMT hot air gun from my soldering station. Also managed to soften the mounting plastic inside the top of the nozzle tube, which almost caused the nozzle to completely separate. Something for which I’ll watch the next time I have to perform this level of surgery.
I don’t think Luddite is the correct word in this usage.
The nozzle separated on mine. I then pushed the filament through and snipped off the clog
After the nozzle separated, you were able to push it back together without a problem? That’s an interesting development and gives me hope for some of the more damaged assemblies yet to be repaired.
I printed with it for about 5 minutes and had no problems so far
I would expect that the nozzle had cooled by the time you put it back together. Was it necessary to heat the nozzle in order to reassemble? If so, what are you using for heating the stuff?
I used a butane pencil torch. It had cooled but I heated it again. The nozzle can easily slide off still but i haven’t had I problem