3D Printers

[JayP]

Before taking up this hobby, I had a Creality 3D printer I used on rare occasions. I purchased it used and had problems with it from the start. It was supposed to be user friendly but that definitely wasn't my experience.

Once I put together my first scape and realized I could print some helpful parts and tools, I decided to purchase a new Bambu Labs A1 Mini. It opened my eyes to how easy and fun 3D printing could be. In the time since, I've been printing more and more items, not just for aquarium use, but stuff for projects all around the house. I decided it was time for an upgrade to something with a larger build volume. I was planning to move up to the A1 initially but then began thinking, perhaps having an enclosed printer might be smarter, to future proof my needs and desires going forward. After a lot of back-n-forth debating between the Bambu P2S and X2D, I ended up with the P2S this weekend. I have an expanding list of new aquarium related items I want to print

So what printers do others here use and what are your thoughts?

 

[renesis]

I've been into 3D printing, cnc routers, laser cutters for the better part of 15 years now. Printers have come a long long way, and the Bambus are a dream compared to everything I've used in the past, even my resin printer collects dust now.

I use a Bambu H2D and X1C here, and the enclosure is great for harder to print materials, petg is a breeze and used heavily in our hobby, but even engineering materials like ASA become possible.

The AMS is amazing, and enables even more difficult prints when you use different materials for support interfaces, and also auto roll changeover when one roll runs out.



The P2S + AMS will serve you very well.

 

[JayP]

The AMS is amazing, and enables even more difficult prints when you use different materials for support interfaces, and also auto roll changeover when one roll runs out.

The more advanced AMS (with the drying feature) is what really pushed me to move up to the enclosed model. I may take advantage of printing in other materials down the road but it's not something I expect to do much.

By the way, looks like you're printing some barb adapters. I'm working on some custom barbs as well, for yugangs and Jebao pumps. Would be interested to see what you've done.

 

[renesis]

By the way, looks like you're printing some barb adapters. I'm working on some custom barbs as well, for yugangs and Jebao pumps. Would be interested to see what you've done.

Yes, mostly out of necessity, I don't like printing anything that needs to be watertight under pressure typically. I'm hoping these work. I got a bnib uv clarifier for really cheap and figured I could plumb it into my sump as a just in case feature I can turn on from the controller.

The problem is it's for a pond, and the fittings are monstrous, and I need only 3/4" which is the first fitting on the adapters, and it leaves no room for an elbow, or check valve or anything really.



So I made these out of petg so I can fit everything in. They pass the blow test, will see what happens when I run water through in a few weeks. I increased the flow rate to overextrude by about 2%, and printed with 6 walls, and 100% infill. Fingers crossed!

 

[JayP]

They look good. That makes me wonder though, how PETG holds up to concentrated UV. I know its rated for outdoor use. It's what I'm using for my barbs.

 

[RockyProndoa]

Bambu X2D with the AMS here. There are a TON of things to print for the aquarium hobby, some gimmicky, some not so much. I personally have had a ton of fun with all of it. I am still working on learning how to design my own stuff, so for now I am limited to designs others have created, but wow - it's really amazing what these little machines can do. Enjoy the new toy!

 

[Mr. Silly Goose]

I got my brother's X1C w/ 4x v1 AMS as a hand me down. I've got 2 connected with Sunlu heater attachments. I haven't scratched the surface of designing my own things, but plenty of things I've printed for around the house and my son. Lots of glider airplanes lately and magnatile organizers.