If you 3D print, or you intend to start, the most amazing fun is *tweaking* your printer to resolve unwanted artifacts. I have spent entire weekends trying to get a blob off a model. I just spend 20 hours working on one of hundreds of settings.....and I'm not sure I achieved anything. Below is such a weekend, working retraction....and I got NOWHERE. I wanted a cute Chihuahua and I got the image on the title of this entry. On each of my 4 printers.....ha!
I did not know that 3D printing is ~30% joy and 70% utter frustration! The joy does overcome the frustration because you finally “got it”….but having an 80% print success rate (due to quality) is not enjoyable.
If you’re starting 3D printing, I HIGHLY recommend the “Teaching Tech” Calibration website.
https://teachingtechyt.github.io/calibration.html
It walks you step-by-step through the calibration process for bigger ticket items. Your chosen slicer will provide other variables to tweak. I use Simplify3D. I find it has enough agility to do the prints that I need sliced, but doesn’t have all the complications that arise from other slicers. I have noticed limitations…and I think I will eventually grow out of it. But that’s for later.
