Why do 3D printer manufacturers not get the details right? e.g. rotation indicator on bed levelling wheels

Submitted ⁨⁨7⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago⁩ by ⁨EmilieEvans@lemmy.ml⁩ to ⁨3dprinting@lemmy.world⁩

https://lemmy.ml/pictrs/image/12dd865b-cd72-4a03-8cc5-8723d14c61f4.jpeg

Building a 3D printer is easy. Getting the details right to build a great 3D printer is hard, as this is where most companies fail. Why?

For example, on this printer, the bed is a three-point mount (two wheels for adjustment at the front of the printbed) and the printer’s bed levelling dialogue doesn’t show the height difference that needs to be adjusted (which most 3D printers do). It does show how much it needs to be turned, and the bed levelling wheels have 1/8th turn indicators, making it easy to get it perfect.

In short, instead of an arbitrary number like 0.3mm that has no meaning to the user, they tell the user to turn this knob 1/4 of a turn. An instruction the user can follow.

** Why is this so outstanding? It doesn’t cost much, but it improves the user experience. Are companies blind to these improvements because the engineers are experienced, or is there a lack of testing during development?**

By the way, years ago I did such a fix/modification myself on a Tronxy XY2 pro by adding indicators on the wheel for 0.2mm height difference so I could convert the number to rotation: printables.com/…/301670-replacement-bed-leveling-…

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Comments

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lightnsfw@reddthat.com ⁨7⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
My printer doesn’t tell me shit about how much it needs to be adjusted. The level routine is to move the head the 3 corners put a piece of paper under the nozzle and loosen the leveling screw until it is lightly touching. I made a mount to use a dial indicator but it really just made the process take longer.

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- Dukeofdummies@kbin.social ⁨7⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  I always had terrible luck with that. I've just resorted to printing large squares and adjusting until the square sticks the way I want.
  
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  - Damage@feddit.it ⁨7⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    I use a 10-year old e3d sticker, I set the nozzle so that the sticker’s back can easily slide underneath, but when it reaches the actual sticker it doesn’t fit. Works great.
    
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  - AlsaValderaan@lemmy.blahaj.zone ⁨7⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    I’ve made myself a gcode file that is just several tracks of skirt going around the bed several times. Works like a charm for leveling for me, and it’s fun to peel off after the nozzle.
    
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aniki@lemm.ee ⁨7⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Ever since I got a K1C it’s made me realize how much time I wasted learning how to build and setup an Ender 3. I’ll never fuck with anything lesser ever again and the price difference isn’t substantial enough to warrant recommending a budget printer, ever.

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Denalduh@lemmy.world ⁨7⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
My best tip for anyone using manual level knobs like these is to remove them full and replace the nut inside with a nylon lock nut. It will be a little bit harder to get back on but once it’s on, you’ll be able to turn it normally, albeit with a little more resistance. The lock nuts will allow you to go MUCH longer between leveling the bed. I maybe relevel the bed on my printer 2-3 times a year and it’s only a minor tweak to get it back to level.

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sylver_dragon@lemmy.world ⁨7⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

Building a 3D printer is easy. Getting the details right to build a great 3D printer is hard, as this is where most companies fail. Why?

Because 3d printers are becoming cheap commodities. Those little details cost money and most manufacturers aren’t willing to take the profit hit to do anything more than the bare minimum. It’s only ever going to get worse at the lower end of the cost spectrum and while higher end printers may get somewhat cheaper, most people won’t be able to afford that level of care. The majority of consumer level devices will continue to be just good enough to not get returned but always lacking in fit and finish.

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- EmilieEvans@lemmy.ml ⁨7⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  Sadly it is not limited to cheap printer. Check out Thomas Sandlander on the Dagoma: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zys1ZoyvLU8
  
  While this printer is an extreme example other “pro”/expesnive printer have similar issues.
  
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Honytawk@lemmy.zip ⁨7⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Snapmaker J1s tells you which way to turn when you do the calibration steps, then measures how far you need to turn.

Shows a little bar and you have to get it in between. Feels like a real life quicktime event, lol.

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- EmilieEvans@lemmy.ml ⁨7⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  Would you recommend buying the J1?
  
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FleetingTit@lemmy.world ⁨7⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Screws with a left hand thread would be much appreciated, they would make the bed levelling process more intuitive.

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- iamanurd@midwest.social ⁨7⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  I would absolutely hate this. Screws that function opposite of how you expect 99% of screws to work wouldn’t make it more intuitive for me.
  
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