My first 3D printer, Anycubic

Today, I would like to tell my humble story to assemble and use a 3D printer especially, all about Anycubic, It was hard time to print proper output because of my ignorance. I hope a person doesn't get in troubles like me when they start to use 3D printer. 

# Why 3D printer?

More and more people use 3D printer in their business as well as normal life. Because the cost of 3D printer is getting cheaper than before and technologies are getting easier and developing as free of cost. As a developer, I used to make IoT solution with hardware devices like security camera. But I can not have the answer how to cover the Arduino and RaspberryPI. Therefore I bought some cases to protect the micro controller like arduino or raspberrypi but it was not proper to pack all of this. Also it seems not a good shape to show and I thought if I make the fitted cover, it would be worthy . So I have started to use 3D printer and got the answer which is a good choice. I ordered the printer in xepetto.com which sells 3d printer and accessories related 3D Printer and tools as well.(http://xepetto.com/)

Here is the model that I bought, Anycubic which is kind of 'delta printer'. There is 3 axis to control and display from LCD how it goes. In addition to that. I paid it under $300 and got it in a week from China.

Metal frame and easier way to control are much more proficient than other model. It can be printed under 300mm height. Anycubic plus model can be printer bigger width than Anycubic. My one is Anycubic.

# Assembling

I got this parcel after a week since I have ordered. Because one of korean company take in charge of the stock and they sent me directly. The box is included everything like frame, equipment, sample pilament, sd card etc. I am not sure where I start. Guide book took me to assemble. But I couldn't expect how much time did I put into the assembling due to mistake of assembling. 

Tons of screws and over 40 pages of guide make me devastating. However I walked a little bit step by step. If I assembled in a wrong order, I would disassemble and assemble again.

Almost done to assemble even though 10 hours passed!!!. Power is on successfully. 

# Trial and Error

Batman key ring is first output using Anycubic. It was pretty good as a first try but little bit rough to see and use. Also I am not sure the bigger piece how it will be printed. Complexity types like flower and etc. I tried to print out, but all were failed. I could not believe what made it not to print properly. why, why, why??

I got to know the reason why it was not printed. Anycubic and all of printers have to be calibration. It is called as 'bed leveling'. There is two way, one is auto leveling, the other is manual leveling. In case of auto leveling, the production company doesn't recommend due to minor errors when we print big sized things. So, I decided to tune using 'pronterface' serial program which is provided by Xepetto. Once I run the program and check serial port and speed to connect. Several command will be useful to configure. G28 is to go to the home like at the top of the printer. G1Z100 is go to the 100 mm above the plate as Z axis. There is two steps how to tune before printing.

1) Configuration for Z axis

Z axis is the most important part. It's a first step to configure. Once check your 3D printer especially position of end stop switches and 8mm screw to configure minor change.

Type as g28 in the blank at the bottom of right to go to the end stop and then type as g1z100. From the position, decrease the number from 100 to 0. If nozzle is closed to the plate, you have to move as 0.1 mm using the controller in pronterface.

G28 : Go to the end stop

G1Z10 : Go to 10mm above the bottom(Z10,,Z5,,Z1,,Z0)

M104 S0 : turn off extruder

M140 S0 : turn off bed

M84 : disable motors

M107 : turn off fan

M119 : check status of each end stop

2) Bed leveling

The left up side of controller is useful to check the distance between the plate and nozzle how much far. It should be the same distance even the nozzle is moved to x and y axis. It's crucial to print a big size of thing. If you see the size when the nozzle is closed from the plate like 0.3 mm, you need to memorize. If you read -3.5 mm, MANUAL_Z_HOME_POS in the firmware has to be set as 303.5. Default value is 300. According to your assembling, the value would be different.

Let's see the picture, 20x20x10 square is printed with some of error, the other is flower which is not completed to print. Why it makes the error? I do not know the reason and configured and printed again. But it was the same. Even though I believe the tuning is over, it would not be printed, if it has height like 10mm or 20 mm. I doubt the problem is in Z axis motor. Through out expert's comment. I tried to check z axis bearing and tension of belt. The problems are there, bearing is too tight and it will not move correctly. 

3) Torsion spring

Also, power of the belt is loose, then I installed torsion spring to improve.

After installing torsion spring, Z,X and Y axis of belts became tight. As well as , one thing I found out while I searched. 'DELTA_SMOOTH_ROD_OFFSET' has to be set according to real measurement in firmware.

I have checked the distance from center of nozzle to pillar. 153mm is real value in my Anycubic and put it in the code to upload. After uploading the firmware and check the movement how it moves on the bottom. I took the STL file which is for a mobile holder like the below. Using 'cura' program, loaded stl file and select options to enable support in order to keep on the place. 

I have tried to print with a flower but it was separated because of sticking power with the bottom plate. The bottom of the piece is needed to be enlarged to hold at the end of the finish. Here is an example to add up support. 

It takes a little bit longer time than without support. It will be stable to print at the end of the printing.

It was printed with support. I choose the temperature as '180 degree'. At first time, output was a little bit rough but 180 degree is better.

Here is output, how to use with mobile.

# Challenge

So far, I feel uncomfortable to print because, I don't have holder to hang PLA. Therefore I need to prepare the holder. As well as, up-gradable parts are needed to improve quality of output. In addition, learn how to design with 'sketch up' program.