Hello,
I am first-time printing v7.
Using a Prusa Mk4 and PLA filament.
I imported the main body into the Prusa Slicer software and set the supports to automatic-everywhere.
My issue is removing the supports: this is a beast of a job.
Should I print with less supports?
It’s just a big difficulty doing this.
Maybe the software added too much supports?
For example: the cavities for the X and Y movements have supports wedged in there all the way.
I suspect removing this will be a PITA.
Any suggestions regarding the supports?
Thank you.
PS: I tried to add photos yet I can’t because my account doesn’t have enough internet points.
My pleasure. I hate to be the bearer of bad news…but, You tell me how ABS works. in my experience it will not perform as good as PLA. ABS is a stronger material but less flexible. I made one and the stepper motors had a hard time moving the stage. PETG may be the best of both worlds, both flexible and strong, but never tried.
I buy the cheapest I can find. There are several threads with links in this discord site and on the openflexure site. I made the mistake to buy the cheap semiplan objectives from Amazon instead of the recommended plan. It makes a lot of difference.
In my experience ABS is harder to print with in general, it’s more sensitive to correct printer settings (e.g. enough cooling for good overhangs and bridges but not so much that it impedes layer adhesion), it will absorb moisture more, and it will warp a lot more than PLA (enclosure is very helpful and some claim needed to print ABS, though I have printed ABS without one).
Unless you need the extra strength or temperature/UV resistance of ABS, PLA is just much nicer to work with (and produces less toxic fumes).
Aliexpress is usually a good source for the optics, but it seems the US AmScope website also has the correct objectives for a fairly reasonable price. Someone on this forum also mentioned Surplus Shed which seems to have a good selection of lenses if you are in the US.
The printer is open inside my garage… and temps hover at 85-90 Farenheit.
I was talking with a friend that does a lot of 3d printing, and he says that yeah: ABS needs good temperature control, and it might had absorbed more humidity.
So, for now, I’ll stay with the PLA that has printed beautifully.
Tonight I hope to print out the “base” of the microscope itself.
