this post was submitted on 12 Aug 2023
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3DPrinting

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So far I am happy with it, though I wouldn’t make another kit at least not without a drill.

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[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I understand not enjoying the kit build process but I do want to encourage anyone considering buying a printer to get the kit. No matter what printer you get eventually you will have a problem and need to take it apart to figure out why, or to replace a part. And having that experience of building it will help so much with your confidence to fix it.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yup no disagreement here. Happy I did it, don't want to do it again

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

The best part now though... If something breaks and you need to do some disassembly to fix it, you have the confidence to do it. Same goes for making any mods

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I feel ya. Assembly is a pain, especially for anyone with more advanced skills. The only reason I want to do my own assemblies is because I can easily clean and grease all of my bearings with a known product I will always have access to in the future.

I wouldn't use power tools with this kind of assembly. Maybe a high end electric screwdriver that will not apply a final torque, even then, raising the temperature of fasteners from friction makes bad days with printed parts. Spinning a fastener, like a pocketed nut, is an easy mistake to make and it really sucks to deal with it after it happens.

The one tip I try to tell everyone I can is to get a set of hex drivers like the cheap Bondhaus drivers set you'll find in the USA for ~$25. Using L keys for assembling a printer is nonsense. Just using a simple screwdriver handle makes an enormous difference. It takes away the tediousness.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I have a drill with adjustable torque slider on it that I've been using for my own 3D Printed stuff. But something with a handle would've be nice.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I'm part way into my MK4's X axis. I also have an MK3s that I built from kit. I like know each and every part of my printer. That way I know what's where when I need to service it or fix my screw ups.