Hardware Archives

PID Tune your 3D Printer with Marlin Firmware

by 3DAddict / May 28, 2018

PID Tune to your hotend will result in better quality prints so it’s worth the time to learn how to do it. It’s not that hard at all. If you haven’t installed the Marlin Firmware on your 3D Printers Mainboard or don’t know what Marlin is check out my article; Beginner Guide to Marlin 1.1 3D Printer Firmware before trying this tutorial. What is PID Tuning Well, in short PID Tuning ensures your HotEnd or Heated Bed stays at your desired temperature…

3D Printers Controller Boards

8 Bit 3D Printer Board Comparison

by 3DAddict / April 15, 2018

8 Bit 3D Printer Boards are becoming a thing of the past but there are some new and affordable options to choose from. These 8 bit 3D Printer controllers can still operate basic Cartesian machines with no problems. Here we will name a few but not all as some are discontinued, obsolete or are legacy models. Here is a brief overview comparison of 3D Printer Controller Boards we have used over the years. RAMPS 1.4 / 1.5 / 1.6 By time…

3D Printers HotEnds Software

3D Printer Extruder Calibration Steps per mm

by 3DAddict / March 18, 2018

Extruder Calibration could be one of the most important factors for your 3D Printer and the quality of your parts. This is often overlooked especially with pre-assembled printers. There are some key factors to concentrate on when finding your optimal steps/mm settings for your extruder. Once you have found the perfect number, the next step is to dial in your extrusion multiple. This article will cover these steps and guide you through the process. Extruder Calibration Steps per mm The…

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3D Printers Controller Boards

MKS SBASE V1.3 32bit 3D Printer MainBoard Controller

by 3DAddict / March 15, 2018

MKS SBASE is made by Makerbase a.k.a MKS (Makerbase), a Chinese manufacturer of 3D Printer controller boards also know as a mainboard that can run Marlin, Repetier and other firmware. MKS SBASE V1.3 Overview This is a 32-bit control board for your 3d printer with an ARM-Cortex M3 LPC1768 micro controller. It supports 12V-24V DC input. Buy this board on Amazon for only $60.99! Here is the pinout configuration from the MKS SBASE github page; MKS SBASE 1.3 OnBoard Stepper Drivers Its five motor outputs…

Hardware

32 Bit 3D Printer Board Comparison Chart

by 3DAddict / January 23, 2018

32 Bit 3D Printer Boards are becoming more and more common. With recent firmware releases and new developments x32 3d printer boards are the new trend in 3D Printer control. These boards have more powerful processing power and operate the machine with more capabilities. Here is a brief overview comparison of 32 Bit 3D Printer Boards we have been watching evolve. 32 Bit 3D Printer Boards Comparison Mainboard Image MSRP $USD Processor Type Stepper Drivers Heater Ports Fan Ports OnBoard Wifi…

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Controller Boards Hardware

MKS Gen V1.4 3D Printer MainBoard Controller

by 3DAddict / December 14, 2017

MKS Gen V1.4 is made by a Chinese manufacturer Makerbase. MKS (Makerbase) are manufacturers of 3D Printer controller board also know as mainboards that run Marlin, Repetier and other firmware. MKS Gen V1.4 Overview This is an 8-bit control board for your 3d printer with an Atmel Mega 2560 micro controller. Buy this board on Amazon for only $34.59! This board was designed from the RAMPS 1.4 Schematic so many of the pins are the same when configuring your Firmware of choice. MKS Gen Stepper…

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3D Printers Hardware

What 3D Printer parts break, wear or need replacement the most?

by 3DAddict / September 7, 2017

We ran a 24 hour poll on social media and we asked What breaks, wears or needs replacement the most on a 3D Printer (besides the nozzle)? We thought it would be interesting to see what are the most common part failures and how they can be improved upon. We tabulated the results based off of 94 participants and here are the results… 1st place – Heat Breaks / PTFE Tubes Out of the 94 participants the most common part…

3D Printers Hardware

Best 3D Printing Tools and Hardware Everyone Should Own

by 3DAddict / August 3, 2017

Here is a list of some 3d printing tools and hardware for 3D Printing enthusiast that can sometimes be too obvious or hard to find. One thing is for sure they will make your life a lot easier and you’ll be prepared for anything. 3D Print Removal Tool A.K.A. Spctula, Paint Scraper, Wall Scraper, Joint Knife, Putty Knife, Scraper or whatever you want to call it. This tool is very useful when using print surfaces like BuildTak, Glue Stick and other…

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Controller Boards

ANET Mainboard 3D Printer Controller and why it rocks

by 3DAddict / July 17, 2017

Anet 3D Printers are quickly becoming a popular choice for 3D Printers. These 3D printers come in various kits that require extensive assembly and feature an acrylic cut frame. These printers are great for beginners and hobbyist with a build volume of 220x220x240mm. The manufacturer is continually upgrading their models as I am now seeing ones with Autobed leveling and Mold Injected Parts. So, what so special about the ANET controller board? We’ll a couple years ago nothing. The board…

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HotEnds

The Extruder Which One to Choose for your 3D Printer

by 3DAddict / July 14, 2017

If your new to 3D Printing or have never upgraded your machines hotend it can be intimidating will all the information that can be found. In this article I’m going to break down the most common type of HotEnds and how they work with 3D Printers. The Proprietary Hotend This is the type of hotend I try to avoid at all costs! I am pro open source so when I see a manufacturer create a sub-par hotend that is 5x…

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