FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

We received notification this morning that we got a 3D Printer in the Lottery.

Just wondering who else got a 3D Printer and which one you will receive.

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

we are getting the replicator 2 :)

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

We got the Cube even though that was our third choice.

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Did the printers sell out? Did anyone get notified that they did not get one?

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

The printers did not sell out. There are still 245 Cube printers left according to the website.
-Nick

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

Does that mean the prices will be reduced?

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

I just checked, and we also received notification that our 3D Printer order has been successfully processed. For anyone looking or waiting for their confirmation/status, ours was sent at about 11:30am EST, this morning.

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

Same here, unfortunately. Now to find a way to bypass the overpriced filament cartridges. >_>

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

We got a Replicator 2!

Absolutely thrilled!

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

Possible, and up to AndyMark as noted in the lottery rules. If point values on the remaining printers are dropped below 600 points, any team that entered the lottery will receive a point refund for the difference. I would expect any point drop to occur before FIRST Choice opens again on Kickoff.

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

With many teams already using 150 credits, they would not be able to spend more than the 450 credits they get on kickoff. This likely means that any reductions would be to 450 (or fewer) credits to make sure teams still have the opportunity to receive a printer.

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

We are getting the M2 (our second choice).

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

Gus received our third choice, too. The Cube.
Congrats to the lucky teams that scored the M2s and Replicator2s!
This was an incredible opportunity that was secured on behalf on FIRST. Thanks to everyone who made this happen!

Any 3D printer that only cost a team $40 in shipping is a gift. It was definitely worth spending our FC points.

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

We got the cube... still a 1200 dollar machine. I'm happy that we were at least able to get one!

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We got the Replicator 2, and we were wondering how to get the corresponding software for it. If anyone could tell us, it would be much appreciated :)

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

yes, the printers MAY go down in credit price. here is the quote from the KOP team...

"If demand << inventory, everyone who selected the printer will be sent a printer (applying preferences as much as possible), and any remaining printers will remain in FIRST Choice. If inventory continues to remain, we may consider decreasing the number of credits required at Kickoff. In this case, teams who had already selected printers will be reimbursed the credit difference. "

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

Hey, just thought this would be a useful link for anyone who got an M2.

http://youtu.be/BxAxCGv9qYY

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

57 got the MakerGear M2, our first choice. Sounds like we won the preference lottery.

For those winning the cube, here's a possible workaround:
http://www.howmuchsnow.com/cube/
Though I've seen somewhere that it only works with a certain firmware version.

Our team won a Cube 3D printer. I was just wondering whats so bad about them compared to a Makerbot? Or is there anything.
Just based on these post I'm getting the idea cube printers are not as good or wanted. Why is that.

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

Two reasons:
1. Closed source. You have zero ability to modify or tweak the printer firmware or slicing software. This might not be a problem for most people, but it might make it impossible to print a tricky object.
2. Related to and enabled by 1, the printer requires you to use only filament provided by the manufacturer. At a severe markup over generic filament. With the M2, for instance, 57 can use its Inventables PDV to get additional ABS filament essentially for free.

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

Yes and no (but I bet this voids warranties):
http://www.makergeeks.com/cu3dprfiad.html

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

Are you talking about this one?
http://www.makerbot.com/makerware/

You may also like to try this one, probably be harder to use, but is likely to contain more possibilities (I can't say that for sure, I have used Repetier, but never tried Makerbot or Makerware):
http://www.repetier.com/download/

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

Here ya go! My team also got the cube. http://www.howmuchsnow.com/cube/

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

I heard that they patched that. It measure how much filament it goes through.

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

Although I am not advocating any kind of 'cheating', Cube may regret that they let FRC teams get ahold of their systems. Everything designed can be bypassed.

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

The "hack" was fixed with new firmware, but if the first choice ones are 2nd gen, you can download the original 2nd gen firmware here and just use that.

The conversation here might be helpful too.

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

As several others have posted here, the Makeware software if free to download at Makerbot. Our team has a Replicator 2 that we received last February. The software is easy to use but is not a design software. You will need to design in CAD and then import an STL file. The Makerware software can also handle some other types (OBJ and THING) but I would advise to stick to STL at first. MakerBot has some great support information on their webpage.

We have used our extensively (500+ hours print time).

The Replicator2 is very easy to use and setup. You can print directly from a computer or from an SD card.

Use the Blue Painters tape

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

I'll second all of this...except the 500+ hours, ours is relatively new...and add that we've had tremendous success exporting .stl files from Solidworks, tweaking the position slightly in Makerware, and printing. Over the break I downloaded the Cubify "Invent" program (free license key in Virtual KOP). This program is very "Solidworks-like" but much simpler and smaller, and will be very useful for designing parts to be printed.

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

Honestly, given the composition of the market for 3d-printers (lotsa nerds ;)), I think hacks to get around price-gouging on the filament are an eventuality, FRC or no.

Besides, I can't imagine that modifying your own 3d printer is in any way illegal, or that any claims by the company that it is would hold up for a second in court.

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

You'd think that, but Cube customers are more the plug-n-play, appliance-operator types. With a decent cash supply.

But yes, of course someone will hack it, figure out the system, and eventually be thwarted by yet another move by Cubify. Restarting the cycle...

Edit: Yep, been hacked already, but a costly solution. It appears that one can also 'reset' empty cartridges to seem full if you load older firmware - and then use generic filament.

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

While we're on the topic, does anyone have a hack to reload Dimension SST 768 cartridges? Those things are $260 apiece for 56 cubic inches of print.

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

This is way harder to hack. We have a stratasys printer that's smaller (and somehow more expensive to refill), and we're afraid to try it. If you're feeling brave, try here or here, which are for the sst.

If you're interested in this, let me know, and I can share where our team got to.

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

Inkjet printer companies have been trying this for years and the best they've ever been able to do (to my knowledge) is have usage of 3rd party ink void the warranty (and even that is somewhat of a grey area).

I'm not too concerned about that in the case of the Cube, if the manufacturer wants to over charge for its supplies by a factor of 5 times or more, people will make a workaround for it until they come to their senses and charge reasonable prices.

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

As for people who've owned the Makerbot Replicator2 in the past, quick question:

Is the addition of the blue painters tape very important? Necessary?

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

I would not print without it on our Replicator2.

It makes it so much easier to remove a part.

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

I would not print without it on our Replicator2.

It makes it so much easier to remove a part.

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

I have over 1700 hours print time on my Replicator 2 and I've never, ever used tape of any kind (except the first couple prints).
I use Aquanet hair spray to give the platform a little stickiness, and use a paint scraper to remove the part from the platform.

Highly recommend this method.

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

I agree: They generally have to prove your non-original stuff caused the problem. This isn't exactly apples to apples, but CAR warranties have to apply even if you use non-original parts, UNLESS the non-original part provably caused the fault. e.g., if the (aftermarket) oil filter fell apart and clogged the oil system, allowing the engine to melt, then it's not covered, but that has no bearing on the rest of the car's warranty.
The nice thing about Aquanet is that it is water-soluble, so in a 'situation' some water can work wonders.

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

I have never heard of this before. We will be incorporating this method for sure.

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Wow, that is quite a bit of printing. What are you printing? large or small prints?

Do you have any suggestions for best work practices? maintenance, etc?

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I've heard good things about a dilute mixture of water + Elmer's school glue (PVA glue) for getting PLA and ABS to stick. Something like a 10:1 ratio, then you let it dry to a film.

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

Small and large. The single largest print took 32 hours and was 5.5"x8"x5" (it was a Halo Warthog vehicle). On average I put 2-3 items on the build plate for total times of 4-6 hours. I usually time it so it starts when I go to sleep and is ready in the morning.

Regarding maintenance:
You should make it a habit to lube the Z-axis rod weekly. Very easy, I just move the plate to the highest position and rub lube along the entire rod.

Every 2 weeks or so (or after a jam), clean out the extruder drive gear. A little plastic dust builds up in there. I usually just use an old toothbrush.

Every few weeks I also lube up the non-driving belt pulleys.

I re-level the build plate whenever it's moved or after about 10 prints.

Also recommend getting a glass build plate, I got one custom sized for about $20+shipping at a local custom glass store. It makes the prints super smooth on the bottom and the plate is very straight and level (I had issues with the acrylic plate, as it was slightly warped enough for the parts to fall off mid-print).

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

I've used a thin coat of gluestick on my M2 with PLA when I have had issues with parts sticking. It works very well.

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There's something about applying aerosols, liquids, films, and mixtures to my build plate that I don't like..

We once put a bit of ABS in a jar of acetone and then applied the acetone/ABS mixture on our build plate and it just messed it up pretty badly.

I'll stick with blue painters tape tyvm.

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

Just curious -- what's the harm in your opinion? I tried the blue tape at first and it would rip almost every time I printed, requiring a new piece. At best, I got through a few prints before requiring new tape. And that stuff gets expensive, it can be a few dollars each.
If applying glue/spray to a build plate is harmful and the plate lasts, say, 50 prints, it's already cheaper just to get a new plate. My current plate (no tape) has about 1200 hours on it (the first 500 was using the acrylic plate)

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

Please keep in mind that different tapes and coatings work better for different filaments. Acetone/abs mix or kapton tape for ABS, Blue tape for PLA.

(Disclaimer, below are my experiences on my 8020 frame printer)
For those tearing the tape, I have found that the bed needs to be perfectly level, and the 'z' axis must be checked after warming up, so the extruder tip does not drag or 'air print'

With ABS, piece of glass on heated bed with Kapton tape, I let it warm up, adjusted so z=0 I can slip a scrap of copy paper between the tip and bed. Used like a feeler gauge, slight drag on paper when pulling it out. If it's been a while or a new setup, do it in the four corners. This leaves a nice 'squish' for the first layer, and typically sticks well.

Eric, with hair spray are you printing ABS or PLA? Glass on bed or not?

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

I am using PLA, and the platform is glass.

I used to rip the tape when trying to remove the part (using a sharp item), not when printing. Even if the part was removable without tools by hand, the tape would sometimes still stick to the part and rip. Part came out fine but the tape was no longer usable. Don't get me wrong -- I'm not trying to be "anti-tape" or saying its the wrong way, nor do I own stock in a hair spray company. I'm just sharing my experience so others don't waste money, or maybe I can learn different ways to improve my rate of success as well.

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

Thanks for the feedback here on the printers, procedures and suggestions.

Good information to have and refer back to.

We get our new printer in on Monday and then on top of that, they are giving teams 300 credits back since they did not sell of them.

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

I just don't like deforming our plate really.. I like keeping it in its pristine condition..

We have a ton of blue painters tape (rolls and rolls) so its not a big deal for us, even if we have to apply it each print.

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

Bit of a late post, and I'm not sure how well it would work with other printers but...

Our team purchased the Replicator 2X over the summer last year. We've been having issues getting our prints to stick as well, and it was getting pretty frustrating. One of our alumni suggested taking some of the ABS, and dissolving it in acetone until its saturated. Let some of the acetone evaporate, and then "paint" a thin layer of the solution onto the kapton tape on your build table. We haven't had a part pull up as far as i know. Just reapply after every 5-10 large prints. You'll have plenty of the acetone/ABS mixture left over.

I don't know if this transfers over to other printers/build plates as well. I know PLA doesn't really dissolve in Acetone very well either. I'm sure there is an alternative for PLA though.

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

With our Replicator 2 (PLA) we were having difficulty with a consistent "stick" and also with removing the raft completely from the printed part. I started using the Aqua Net hair spray, and it works perfectly for the stick...Then I started printing with no raft and the parts were sticking too well...I discovered something very interesting yesterday when I was in a hurry to get home and couldn't get the parts quickly off the platform. I took the parts, platform and all with me on my short walk home, and as soon as they got out into the cold air they dislodged themselves. Obviously different coefficients of thermal expansion so the drastic cool down broke the parts free without any work. Now I need a mini-fridge for summer printing.

Re: FIRST Choice 3D Printer Lottery
 

For PLA, acetone makes the material "rubbery" if I can describe it best. As this happens parts can merge/stick to eachother, but when the acetone evaporates it leaves a white, powdery layer.

However, I have been experimenting with acetone "glossing" -- vaporizing acetone around a part to make it shiny. The results are interesting! PLA will absorb the acetone vapor and it does blend the layers nicely, for a nice shiny finish.