Congratulations, you've found my "hidden" documentation about my 3D printing endeavors. Here, I semi-publicly gather my experiences thus far.
Several years ago, precisely in March 2017, I began my journey with 3D printing. Back then, I ordered an affordable TEVO Tarantula I3 from China. It was a good kit; at least, most cables were already cut to size and equipped with connectors. With numerous modifications, it also provided good service. A few years later, I acquired a Creality CR-20 Pro. As of summer 2023, I am the proud owner of a Bambulab X1 Carbon with AMS.
- Bambulab X1C with AMS (current)
- Creality CR20 Pro (old)
- Tevo Tarantula i3 (old)
A small collection of the materials used so far and a bit about what one can create with them.
- Bambulab PLA Basic
Superb printing properties. Thanks to the NFC chip, no additional steps are required.
- Bambulab PLA Matte
The matte appearance adds a touch of elegance, avoiding the typical plastic look.
- ACTIVEME PLA+
Excellent and reliable printing properties. Generic PLA profile works great. However, the new spool is so full that it cannot rotate freely in the AMS. Therefore, using an adapter spool, such as this one, is highly advisable.
- eSun PLA+
Excellent and reliable printing properties. Generic PLA settings work well.
One needs to be cautious. eSun is transitioning from plastic to cardboard spools. For the AMS, one needs to print an adapter in advance. Additionally, a spool weight is necessary in the core; otherwise, they (especially towards the end) are too light for the AMS!
- eSun Magic Silk PLA
- Sunlu PLA+ Int. Wholesale
Excellent and reliable printing properties. Bambu Basic PLA settings work well.
- Sunlu META PLA Int. Wholesale
It prints like PLA+. Compared to regular PLA, it's slightly softer. Great for non-functional parts, but if there's any expected stress, it's better to avoid.
- JAYO PLA+
Excellent and reliable printing properties. Generic PLA settings work well. Cardboard spools! For the AMS, one needs to print an universal adapter in advance. Depending on, where you buy it, there are different spoole types!
- GEEETECH PLA
- transparent: Amazon
Out of the box, the material prints beautifully. With a few settings in mind, you can achieve excellent transparency results. For the price, you get a solid PLA.
- Extrudr PETG
An Austrian filament manufacturer. It prints quite well with the Generic PETG profile. However, a flow calibration should be done to reduce stringing. Recently, I took out a 3-year-old roll in white and it prints without any issues.
- IdeaFormer Double-sided PEO+PEI Print Bed: Amazon | AliExpress
One side has a golden rough PEI coating, and the other side has a smooth black PEO coating. Adhesion with PLA is excellent. The pattern of the smooth side reflects on the underside of the print, looking very neat.
- Plastic Scraper
With interchangeable plastic "razor blades" and the accompanying scraper, prints can be removed from the bed wonderfully without fearing damage to the model or bed.
- Vacuum Bags with Valve
Ideal for storing moisture-sensitive filament rolls. It's best to include a small pack of silica gel.
- Silica Gel
Whether in AMS or in vacuum bags, PLA and other moisture-sensitive materials should always be stored with silica gel. For most purposes, a pack of regenerable balls can be acquired. For AMS, 50g, and for filament, 10g.