My Priority for the Next Added Firmware Feature

There are any number of things we could wish for as additional functions available through the touch screen display on the Cube 3. But, having spent a lot of time seriously exploring LEVEL and GAP on the Cube 3, it is becoming clear that having one simple additional function stands out as a priority.Manual Print Plate Height Placement as a Single Control FunctionIt takes time to examine ROLL and GAP on the Cube 3.  With the Cube 2, the print jets were right out front and clearly visible.  The print jets are deep within the structure of...

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Taming Leveling with a Level Dial Tool

Compared with previous printers I've used, the Print Pad Leveling, using Auto Level is a fantastic improvement.But, there is always room for improvement in processes.  And, Auto Leveling is no exception.Improvement #1:  Apply a small Sharpie Dot on the magnetic padsIt's easier to see how far you have turned a wheel if it has a mark on it that you can track.  And, being highly skilled in the use of Sharpies, that is the first thing...

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It is Amazing to Me That I'm Able to Focus on Such Small Tolerances

For the past several days, I have been focused on experiments to minimize artifacts that are at  such small, sub-millimeter measurements that they require the use of a microscope to study!In spite of the admitted frustrations of very early owners, the Cube 3 is proving to be an exceptionally accurate 3D printer.  And, if history of the 1st Gen and 2nd Gen Cube 3D printers is a predictor of what is to come, the 3rd Gen Cube is only going to get better and better.From the first time I saw the Cube 3, I knew that it was a solid platform. ...

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My Printer - Getting Auto Gap to work... Finally!

I have been on a quest to get Auto Gap to work on my machine.  I had been able to obtain gaps in both left and right that were 'equal enough' to not clog and give me good prints.  But, I always had to adjust the gap after Auto Gap was run,WRONG ASSUMPTIONSI had assumed that the two adjustment screws adjusted the print jets themselves and affected how much each print jet protruded from the housing.  In fact I was going to use the fact that the bottom of the housing was flat to create a gauge to help me not only equalize the gaps between...

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Paying Attention to the Fine Print

NOTE:  This article was written based on assumptions that turned out NOT to be true.  So, I decided to openly edit the article by crossing out the old information and using RED to make the new findings. In spite of the initial challenges encountered by some early 3rd Gen Cube owners, including myself, I persist in my opinion that the Cube3 is an amazingly good 3D printer.  Supplied with the right materials, and properly set up, it...

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Consider Moment of Inspiration to Create Objects for Your New Cube3

At YouthQuest Foundation, we like to use the phrase "Turn On YOUR Brain..." to describe our goals in introducing 3D design & printing to the "at-risk" students we strive to motivate.Most new technology has worked to turn OFF our brains! When we stop to think about it, most new technologies in the last 100 years have helped turn OFF our childrens brains as they mindlessly sit in front of TVs, listen to their iPods or sit through meals playing...

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When That Cube3 Box is Opened for the First Time

If you are fortunate enough to find a Cube 3 under your tree this year, you are in for a lot of fun turning the ideas in your brain into concrete, real objects. Just having the Cube 3 will wake up your brain to even more great ideas and original solutions.With something SO cool, there is the temptation to dive right in and start printing.That could be a mistake.Unlike earlier 3D printers, the Cube 3 can lay down layers just 70 microns in depth.  That is incredible layer definition.  To lay down layers at that precision, everything about...

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A Cube3 Essential (Shameless overstatment of fact)

OK.  This is a shameless plug.  So, if you don't like shameless plugs, exit quickly!As mentioned earlier, I have designed, for my own use, a tool caddy to keep the essential tools I use with the Cube3 organized.  But, I believe that it is designed well enough to be very useful for all Cube3 owners and users.  The caddy is designed in three models characterized by the number of extra print tables it stores.  I use a 3 print...

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Thanksgiving is Not the Only Time to be Thankful

If you asked me to describe my current attitude in one word right this minute it would be "Thankful".I consider myself among the most blessed Cube owners in the world because I am privileged to know some of the people behind the Cube series of 3D printers.  For that I am thankful.And, I am also privileged to hear from many of you.  This is a most resourceful and creative community.  You know about Eric Albert and Chris Crowley.  And, you will soon hear about Ken Sipes when I publish an email that he wrote that set me off on...

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20+ Hour - Two Colors: Success

The first intrinsically useful 2 color object has successfully completed.Here is the printed Cube3 Tool Caddy that can hold 3 extra print tables.Print Cube3 Tool CaddyAnd, here is what it is intended to do.Cube3 Tool Caddy in Use It still needs a little work from a design perspective.  The tools that now fit are:Palette KnifePliersHex Key for table alignment 1.3mm Hex Driver for Print Jet AlignmentGlue (Stored upside down)Gap ToolPrinted...

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12 Hours in and Still Printing Beautifully

I'm 12 hours into a 20+ hour print job and, so far, it is printing very precisely and extremely cleanly.  The next 8 hours tells the tale.The object being printed is a 3 plate bay version of a design, if successful,  that I hope will be made available on the Cubify cite, as will a single plate bay version and a dual plate bay version. Cube3 Tool Caddy - 3 Plate Storage with Gap Tool GuideAs you can see, the are many tall structures...

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2 Color Test Results: New Filament Success

For the first time since I received the new Cube 3, I can report that I have been able to successfully print in PLA using the new filament.  I am VERY happy.Here is an image of the new design for testing Filament, Gap, Level and Temperature Control.And, here is the printed results.  Click on the image to examine it in full size.   The "R" shows some close wall anomalies; but, other than that, the test was a resounding success.As soon...

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Dual Jet: Filament, Gap, Level & Jet Consistency Test Object

The problem we have when we try to determine what is causing clogging in our printers is that there are so many factors that can contribute to the problem.  In designing a test object to print, all of these factors need to be considered.I have come up with a design that I think addresses all of these issues.  It looks like this.Filament, gap, level & Temperature Print Test ObjectFilamentIt turned out that the new filament delivery...

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New Filament - So Far, So Good!

This past Friday, I picked up 3 cartridges loaded with the new filament.  The colors are Yellow, Red and Blue.The factory receives spools of filament that they then must load into cartridges, seal them in packaging and load them into boxes.  They were at the cartridge building stage at the time I went by and they weren't even boxed as yet.  I only mention this because it would be unrealistic to expect some on your doorstep tomorrow.  They only released these to me for testing for a report on this blog.They know that you are...

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PLA_GAP.CUBE3 should be PLA_GAP.cube3

Thank Dave Touretzky of Carnegie Mellon for this find....If you were sent a test print file by support, called PLA_GA_.CUBE3 or ABS_GAP.CUBE3 and neither the Cubify Client nor the Cube 3 would recognize it as a valid file. all you have to do is rename the file to change the upper case "CUBE" to a lower case 'cube'.Go figure....I ran into it right away.  But, I don't have a PhD like Dr. Touretzky.  So, I just shrugged my shoulders and abandoned trying to print it.  LOL!This confirms the wisdom of one of the principles I have followed...

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Suggestion Before First Print

I can only go on who my particular Cube 3 behaves.  But, Auto Gap, on my machine, seems to leave the print gap too small.  So, right after running print gap, I check the height with the included gapping tool.  If it's too low, I use the manual gapping option to ensure that my gap is not the cause of a clog.So, whether you are starting with a new printer, or a newly released cartridge with the updated filament, it might be wise to check your gap before accepting that auto-gap was truly successful.Remember, my machine was one of the...

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3DFAN: Confirmed New Filament Begins Shipping in Week!

This news was posted as a comment today:3dFan has left a new comment on your post "Thanksgiving Treat: Cubify Clent 2.14 - Cleaner 2...": I just received an email from Cubify in response to my question about cartridge delays. They confirmed that cartridges back ordered will ship in one week!  This is great news!   Thank you 3DFan!Concerning the older filament compounds:I will try to obtain some of the new filament for testing as soon as possible.  It's interesting that the most reliable filament that I have had is the black...

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Cube 3: A Stategy for Easier Printed Part Removal

Jim Ward, in a comment on an earlier blog post pointed out that using a raft might make it easier to remove printed items.  And, he is right.  The crisscross construction of rafts allows for water to penetrate under the piece which dissolves the water soluble CubeStick, making it easier to lift the piece off the print plate.But, then we are faced with the challenge of removing the raft from the item.  And, I have had very little success cleaning the raft off an item completely.In line with Jim's basic premise, that allowing water...

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