Early start today And ballasted the second board I use old spice / herb bottles to hold the ballast as it makes it easier (for me) to get the ballast where I need it - now the fears of running out of ballast didn't bear fruit, I was left with some to spare Again used insulation tape to act as a dam, then lifted after approx 30 min. Again used to contrain at the base board edge Paul
Now Ian, if you'd have checked the serial number you'd have known it was Oregano - possibly of Wimbledon Common fame. Just got to avoid the temptation to prod the ballast to see if it's dry - now I remember why I normally ballast at night, with work in the morning Paul
Starting to feel a bit like Gus from My Big Fat Greek Wedding - but I also used the cleaner as a wetting agent for the ballast, dropped the W5 on to the sleeper, it then just disappears into the ballast without disturbing any of the ballast. Paul
His nibs gave me a sneak peak at his bridges turrets via skype this morning. Very nice. Really helps to set things off. cheers toto
Spoiler alert above I cant print the full height in 1 piece, so have come up with this Both the tubes have a solid base of 3 mm, the collar (printed for both the bottom and top) is open. Imported into the slicing software - in my case Makerware Then exported to the printer via SDcard - better off doing it this way rather than a direct connection from the PC via usb, because if your PC goes to sleep, then comms is lost to the printer, and with a 9 hour print and running on windows that is highly likely. 1st test print Once the design is finalised then I will work on the brackets tp link the turrets to each other and to the lattice work. Paul
The Bridge Turrets look very nice Paul How long did they take to print Is it a set the printer in motion, before going to bed at night or work in the morning. Looks impressive anyway
Hi Chris The two tubes and one base took 8hr48min, I have resized the base to make them larger, and will probably fill them with plaster. You guessed it for scheduling - hopefully this batch will finish before going to bed, and be able to set the next one off. Unfortunately the next one won't have finished before I head off for work Then I'll have to re- start on the traversers, but thats another thread Paul
The pier you have made looks great. Can't wait to see all four (or is it 6) in place on the layout. Will you be wrapping them in embossed styrene ?? Cheers, Gary.
NUTS !!! checked the print at 8 hours (86%) and all was good. checked again at 94% as I was going to bed, and the piers looked no higher, closer inspection and the nozzle was clear of the pier, and there was no filament it had run out. First chance to look at was a few mins ago, new filament loaded and were off - again Paul
Looks like I've got more work to do - this time a blocked nozzle , before it ran out of filament it had been running perfectly - just lulling me into a sense of security just to kick me where it hurts. Ah well - here I go again. Paul
After trying with 2 different reels of filament, I'm back to the 2nd reel of Prima PLA ordered at the same time as the last reel, but have had to up the temp by 20C to 230C for the extruder. Pier Number 2 now printing, and hopefully will be finished before I go to bed and get number 3 started. Paul
Printer now working reliably, so all turrets now printed, and can now make a top plinth for the mid section and assembled in position - temp until all the painting is completed - just got the grey 1st coat. Top turret in place for the turrets and the first grey coat Paul