Essential (and obscure) 3D printing tools and spares
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 มิ.ย. 2024
- What tools and spares do you need to run your 3D printer? Here is my selection.
The links below are affiliate Amazon links. You do not have to use them if you don't want to. I have linked to either products I own, budget products or Amazon's choice.
Timestamps with Amazon product links:
0:00 Introduction
0:50 General tools for assembly and disassembly
Bondhus ‘L’ allen keys: amzn.to/3bCRTDX
Bondhus ‘T’ allen keys: amzn.to/2GA2VhL
Budget screwdriver set: amzn.to/2FbiN9U
Adjustable wrench: amzn.to/2FbFD1x
¼” socket set: amzn.to/3m2myPO
Ignition wrench holder: www.thingiverse.com/thing:283...
Allen key holder: www.thingiverse.com/thing:378...
6:12 Tuning and maintenance
Feeler gauges (if you hate a free piece of paper): amzn.to/2R70XHY
Digital calipers: amzn.to/3Bu6yjN
Dial gauge: amzn.to/3fbw02B
Synthetic grease: amzn.to/3aqLT0a
Sound level meter: amzn.to/329MjG2
Budget Multimeter: amzn.to/3m0x765
Multimeter with temperature reading: amzn.to/2EZggQx
8:21 Spares and consumables
Capricorn PTFE tubing: amzn.to/32dzISt
Capricorn PTFE tube cutter: amzn.to/2F8KNv9
Creality and other style thermistor (common): amzn.to/3m8Jm0D
E3D thermistor: amzn.to/2F8LPr1
24V hot end heater cartridge: amzn.to/336f1XH
Creality style silicone socks: amzn.to/2R8Fez2
E3D silicone socks: amzn.to/3jV8S7j
Assorted size MK8 brass nozzles (suit Creality and E3D: amzn.to/3ieDjFe
Metric screw measuring device: www.thingiverse.com/thing:415...
Assorted budget M3-M5 fasteners: amzn.to/35mQzns
12:17 Wiring
Wire strippers: amzn.to/2FcueOL
Budget soldering iron: amzn.to/3m2hpYc
Reputable soldering iron: amzn.to/2ZizSGa
Goot soldering tip cleaner: amzn.to/2R4rlCb
Dupont connector wiring kit: amzn.to/2F9vNNt
Crimping tool: amzn.to/2RipnhP
Heat shrink pack: amzn.to/35mUBfA
Braided sleeve: amzn.to/2Zh5QSW
Spiral wrap: amzn.to/2F93aQD
Cable ties: amzn.to/3lUxoay
14:46 Post processing
Amx3D tools review: • AMX3d tools review - M...
Amx3D tool kit: amzn.to/335uxmJ
Sanding sponges: amzn.to/3ibeeuK
Deburring tool: amzn.to/326ze09
17:24 Design and modelling
Meshmixer free software: www.meshmixer.com/
18:22 Obscure tools
20:50 Conclusion
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THIS is the sort of content that we need just as much as others.
I kinda thought this was all common sense stuff and mostly the kind of tools every guy has laying around with or without a 3d printer. Myself personally I dont want to see too much content like this, but I do agree that a video here and there like this is great as everyone has a different skill level.
@@jon9947 I didn't have a toothbrush in my toolkit initially
Yeah, because having a quality allen key set should definatelly be on the top of everyone's list of essentials for 3d printing..
Hey, Micheal. Pretty much all covered there, but I will add that I have a infrared thermometer gun just to keep check on motor temps etc and to confirm thermistors are accurate. Cheers.
I've had a wiha ball head allen key screwdriver since 2008 and it's outlasted every single one supplied with printers. Sometimes a little more $ really is worth it on ... daily drivers lol
I bought an extra set, and cut of the elbow. Then printed handles. Once I buy a mini screwdriver, I will print an adapter. I really like straight he's wrenches.
Ouch
What the hell do you need to do to break an allen key below size 2 O.o
@@horrorhotel1999 it's not so much "breaking" it as it is the ends rounding off
I have some Snap-On T-Handle hex drivers and they're awesome, very pricey but I had them from a past job. Might make a thingiverse holder for it when my Ender 3 v2 comes in.
I would also recommend a pair or two of tweezers in your tool kit. They help pull wisps of filament off your print when you are starting, or pull some of the oozing filament out of the nozzle when you're starting or doing a filament layer change. They are also necessary for soldering, and I use mine instead of a pick to pop out wires from JST connectors.
A good set of wire brushes? Nylon, brass, and SS ... great for cleaning nozzles or finishing parts.
yeah probably the single best tool for the price I have gotten.
Probably not as useful nowadays and especially not when for specific workflows.
Some nozzle come with non stick coatings and if there's a (solvent dipping) smoothing process there's usually no string left after smoothing is done.
Digital kitchen scales are handy to use to weigh how much filament you have left on the spool. Weigh an empty spool and subtract. Good to know after slicing if you have to swap out filament or not (especially for overnight prints)
Just make sure they actually use the same spool. I've seen many different spool designs.
You forgot to include a "magic smoke" re-filler. You know, when you overvolt the stepper motors that the magic smoke gets released, and only way to fix them is to refill them ;P
Where can I order industrial sizes of that? Does it work on computers? _asking for a friend_
@@ChrisHeerschap yea I’m looking for a couple of pallets of this stuff
@@donutninja13 TIL that IBM made a magic smoke refill kit. I am now very sad that I did not employee purchase a bunch while I worked there. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_smoke
Or your brand new silent mainboard....
It's stocked on the shelf next to the turn signal fluid down at the hardware store near me.
This is exactly what happened to me. I bought an Ender 3 to give me something to do during lockdown. Now I have three shelves crammed with filaments and I'm tripping over all the new tools, cables, and boxes of spares and upgrades!
Me too! I couldn't go anywhere for my vacation time in June so I bought an Ender 5 with the money. "Suffering" through the same hazards as you, upgrades, tools, filaments, boxes! Just now starting to figure out how to organize it all.
You forgot the kettle and your favourite mug. Tea, coffee or booze is optional.
Great video. Keep up the good work.
I have a small fridge in my shop!
@ 20:43 I've always found credit cards good for removing skirts, too, and the fancier the card (ie gold, platinum, black titanium) and the higher the credit limit, the more easily it removes the skirts.
I have friends who met their current GF's that way.
:P
Haha that's was funny
acupuncture needles. and possibly a plastic blade scraping tool (uses plastic instead of metal)
I have a collection of plastic putty knives/scrapers; Great for removing prints from glass print beds/painter's tape. get one started on the edge and tap it under the print lightly with a small hammer or rubber handle of a screwdriver. They're also great when applying painter's tape to a print bed. Painter's tape is also great for securing loose ends of filament spools; marking off areas to be drilled/cut, etc. it can also be wrapped over sharper scrapers and tools to prevent damaging surfaces. Even if you don't use it as a print surface anymore, having a roll of blue painter's tape is a must. Same goes for kapton tape; good for securing wires on hotends/heatbeds and shielding components on mainboards.
> acupuncture needles
And for the ignorant people reading this: it is not about releasing any mental of physical stress buildup during your 3d printing hobby (although it would probably work for that too) - but rather to clean any clogs from your nozzles.
I really appreciate the parts list, because finding decent quality tools has been a crapshoot without reviews. Thanks!
A guitar string is great for cleaning out the nozzle
Thanks, epic tip!
# of guitar stores > acupuncture stores LoL
The one tool I use, at least almost every second print, is a bamboo skewer. It is great removing any filament 'dags' that may attach themselves to the print nozzle, especially on first layers when you can't easliy reach in.
Great video!
Extra tips: fuses (for mainboard and socket) and nozzles 😉
On the topic of sanding and finishing.
I've found that emery boards (also called nail files) come in 80/100/180/240 grit. They are great for sanding small parts and sanding tight spaces. Plus they are cheap costing around $9 for 50. I keep a 100/180 near the printer for removing those minor imperfections that occasionally show up in a print.
Hihi He said "nuts"
Naaaa. Cheers mate for all the valuable videos and the good pieces of advice!
Thousands of people around the world appreciate this a lot!
It takes a lot of balls to laugh at the "nuts" comment.
Another great video!
Some other tools I'd recommend...
Forceps/Hemostats - works as small needle-nose pliers, tiny vice-grips, tweezers. Strait and curved are great. very useful for holding wires/parts when soldering, either for placement or because the parts get too hot to hold. Easily one of my most used tools. Edit: Just thought of another... Drop something down a deep hole or slot? Consider Alligator Forceps.
Phillips screw holder/starter - Indispensable when you need to start a stainless-steel (non-magnetic) or any screw in a place your fingers can't reach.
A telescopic magnetic pick-up/retrieving tool. The flexible ones can be useful too, but sometimes they flex too much allowing the magnet to swing and grab things you don't want it too.
Acid brushes - A thousand and one uses. Trim the bristles short with scissors and you have a long handle mini scrub-brush. Use to paint on acetone to solvent weld PLA.
I like the brushes used for gun cleaning. Like an upgraded toothbrush stiffer bristles on one end of the handle and a single row of short stiff bristles on the other.
I also like nut-driver over socket/ratchet most of the time.
Thanks for the great content. Going to get a deburing tool. Don't have one yet.
I use sharpened obsolete credit card as a scrapper. I print on glass (ultrabase) and don't want to damage it.
I like this guy because he isn’t a generic, stereotypical nerd that most channels are...
Just seems like a normal dude
Those Bondhus allen keys are really good, I got a set that’s already decades old and they’re all still fine after all that use.
I've had a pair of good quality, curved nose arterial forceps in my tool case for decades. Incredibly useful for working in awkward tight spaces.
the Metric screw measuring device print is awesome!
and obviously also the video XD
error 404 on thingiverse
found this one: www.thingiverse.com/thing:4560219
Great list! I also enjoyed the subtle humor, thank you!
Wire -- with Teflon insulation! Particularly for the heavier wire, such as runs to bed heaters or internally between the psu and the controller board -- insulation on "normal" wire deforms or melts at fairly low temperatures, where Teflon insulation keeps going. A little more expensive, but a lot more safe!
I've found that a nice sharp chisel really helps clean up a rough surface . It lets you remove blobs without gouging. I also find a small set of files helps with different faces or curves.
For sound level meter you can use your mobile phone with a dedicated app, it not that accurate, but it can be good for comparative measurements.
A deburring tool is one of the first tools I got for my printer and it is so satisfying removing a long ribbon of material and leaving it smooth and shiny.
well if this list is not PERFECT... i dunno what perfect would be !! amazing !!
Most removable screwdriver bits (@2:45) are 6.5mm, which is the same size as the small stock Creality nozzles (@3:38). So if you don't have anything else handy, a bit driver will do a fine job of nozzle removal and installation.
unfortunatly bit drivers go imperial and are 1/4"=6,35mm.. with the tolerances and slop may be 6.4mm.. maybe the lesser quality drivers have closer to 6.5mm
Thanks for that thats handy to know.
Excellent video, Michael! Wish I had seen this years ago when I first started 3D Printing. Regardless, well assembled video full of golden nuggets. You rock!
Your videos are awesome, I have a new ( still in the box, gotta wait until Christmas day) Creality 6 SE and I have been watching all of your vids so that I stand a better chance at getting this new hobby figured out. Thank you so much and keep up the good work
Cheap sanding sticks or fingernail files are great! They bend a bit and you can cut them up to really get into specific spots!
The greatest tool to have on hand at all times is: Patience
Some things need to be carefully looked at and planned, rushing can lead to all sorts of disasters, have patience, make a plan and check you have all you need before beginning work.
love the Bunnings drawers.
YES. I've been loosing so many of my tools and my god trying to compile a list like this is hard. Much appreciated.
spare limit switches might be a good addition to the list of obscure stuff
A set of step bits is handy. They aren't as good for thicker parts, but they also don't snag plastic like twist bits.
My favorite deburring tool... well, if it's a round hole.
One thing I found handy is an inexpensive fishing tackle box. It has a lot of compartments to keep things organized and is very easy to move around if needed. I also have magnetic tool bars bolted to my printer enclosures. That way I can keep a set of allen keys and side cutters at hand with each printer. Oh, I also use glue stick for bed adhesion, so I have plenty of those laying around. Buy them when school starts and you can really get a good deal.
A couple of tools that I have added to my "kit" are some small brass and steel brushes and a set of small metric taps, theas make cleaning up holes for screws easy and you thread the hole at the same tine!
When I was using a glass bed, I found that vision miner’s nanopolymer adhesive was a wonder product. I kept a small spritzer with some of that diluted with isopropyl alcohol and would spray the bed as needed, then spread it with a 4” paint brush
You make awesome videos and software! More people should be watching this.
Thank you so much for this.
I will be getting spares for my Ender 3 pro and this list will save me time and worry about the right ones to get.
For a metal rod that's around the size of filament, a bicycle spoke can be gotten in a 1.8mm diameter which is almost exactly the 1.75mm diameter of filament. I grind a point roughly the angle of the inside of the nozzle and that can clear almost everything out of the nozzle. You can usually get a spare/scrap spoke from any bike shop.
Great video as always.
I would also recomend heat sensor fire alarms.
I have heat sensor fire alarms in each of my printer cabinets and above those not in cabinets. These are wirelessly linked to the house fire alarm so if things get too hot out in the studio (garage) we instantly know about it in the house which is essential, especially with the printers running through the night.
A touch more expensive than standard stand alone smoke alarms, but worth the little extra for peice of mind.
No different to setting up any other stand alone battery smoke alarm and available from numerous places online, you typicallyhave a kit with 1 optical alarm (smoke alarm) and 1 heat alarm.
Thank you for a nice, informative video. Always learn something when watching your videos.
Waxed nylon string is neat, I use it for all cable management jobs and a spool will last years plus it eliminates the chances of the cable ties snagging on things or scratching you on a poorly cut tail.
That stuff IS neat, haven't had a roll in a while, need a new one. The synthetic sinew stuff... weird, but so good.
I loled with the comment of the card lifting skirts
Shaviv and similar deburring tools are wonderful. Every mechanic should have one, machinists already do, and they terrific for plastic.
Awesome video Michael! Very useful and informative! Keep up the great videos mate!
The credit card tip was new and handy!
I'm planning on buying a printer in the near future, and your videos have been *immensely* helpful.
Hook pick, 90° pick, as well as an awl/reamer. Punch is also handy . I've used clamps and mini portable vise too.
Great list, great comments!
Great video. I use everything you mention and new people will need it all. As far as a dial indicator i prefer a non digital and since creality uses a metal hotend cover i just glued magnets to the back of the indicator. When i level i just stick it to the metal cover and i get a level bed within a thousands of a inch pretty fast.
I'd like to apologize for my trolling on another video. I am deeply sorry. I have mental illness and was having a really bad day. That is still no excuse. I find your videos amongst the best I've watched trying to learn about 3d printing.
A few good quality machinist squares come in handy to square up your printer. Because we all know sometimes things don't come out of the factory the way they're supposed to be. For the ultimate in high quality modifications, I recommend a Sherline lathe and mill for the desktop.
Thanks for the video, you covered it all. I invested in a pair of cut resistant gloves after I more than once slipped with the knife, just wanted to mention it. Best of luck to you. Cheers!
Thank you so much, the CR10 max was doing my head in to level but the blocks is a perfect simeple idea.
Thank you
I was able to get many of the tools I needed by purchasing two different 3D printer maintenance kits from Amazon.
If you use a nut on the adjustment screws as a jam nut it will keep the adjustment knob from backing out and seriously extending the bed level longevity
A level and speed square often come in handy.
Another cool thing - fire extinguisher ball!
Saw Winston Moy had one mounted in his CNC enclosure.
Thank you for sharing. It is very helpful.
Digital scale for measuring filament left on roll. Weigh a empty roll then subtract that from the roll your checking. I have one that is 1g to 5000g. Works well. Can even be used to check over extrusion or if your slicer is estimating filament correctly.
This is really useful to know, thanks :) And thanks for the parts store list, very convenient :)
Dude.....awesome breakdown! TU
For after print clean up I've found a nail care set to be ideal. Just a 'buff' block can have multiple levels of grit and sometimes sides that can even shine the smoothed plastic. A full set can include great tools for removing small imperfections or print artifects, things like cuticle removers, needle nosed scissors, and even basic nail clippers of various sizes can save a lot of hassle trying to find the right set of snips to fit into tiny spaces.
Some sets include smooth edged tools that can help remove prints and pry off things like brims or rafts. Also tweezers can be remarkably sturdy and cheap to replace when they do get bent, making support removal much easier for some projects.
I've taken to using cut resistant gloves during my post processing. It makes my life a million times better, though it can be a tad awkward.
SCIGRIP Weld-on 16 Fast Set Acrylic Solvent Cement. I went through more than a few types of glue for PLA and this works the best.
3:09 hah, got em!
Good to go back to basics!
Great video!, very helpful thanks!
Great advice and reference Michael. I'm happy to say I have everything in your video and more. However, my organisation of it all is still a work in progress. Note to self ** Must try harder **
Heh, I thought I was the only one that used wooden blocks for levelling printers. One of my printers is a Core-XY which has seperate stepper motors driving the dual z-axis lead screws. Sometimes pulling a print off the heated bed causes one of the lead screws to shift, wooden blocks to the rescue. It's become less of a problem since I put a magnetic sheet on the bed.
3d pen is basically a must-have. both for sketchy repairs and part joining.
Time to geek out!
Done!
Band-aids!!!!!!!!!
I can't count how many times I sliced into myself with that spatula/scraper or just the supports themselves!
A desktop (mini) vice. A tap and die set. Sure a screw will make do, but not as clean. Did he mention scissors? I have three sizes. And don't forget the hemostats. I have two sizes. I want to get a 3D pen for attaching and/or repairing prints.
Thumbwheel ratchet is a must for changing nozzles.
Using the J-shaped wire to push stuck or broken-off filament through the hotend is a great tip if you can find a stiff enough wire of the right diameter. I have found that my smallest screwdriver-handled ball-end hex drivers work perfectly. Far easier than disassembling the hotend or attempting to clear a clog with an acupuncture needle.
Great video, bookmarking for countless threads of “I am waiting for my 3D printer to arrive, what tools or spare parts should I get?
Re: screwdrivers and torque - that hole in the handle ... is there not only for hanging it. Stick another screwdriver or anything with metal rod through it and use as a lever.
I use a flat trim removal tool with some tape on the end to wipe the nozzle clean whilst the hot end is heating up. Build up on the side of the nozzle can cause stringing and other issues on the most important layer 1. Best to keep your nozzle clean. Also any bits of filament sticking out will affect your Z distance when levelling.
I love the metal rod idea. Sometimes before I upgraded to direct drive, my bmg would get stuck during filament change on a filament blob. Id have to disassemble the extruder to get rid of it. Now in direct drive I fear it as it would mean a lot of disassembly, but a metal rod would be perfect for that
if you don't buy printers constantly and want to have cutters all around, a great alternative is toenail clippers. they're useful for most of the same things as side cutters.
I think that the biggest tool in your armoury is patience!.
Shhh.. not a doctor
@@-robo-patience
/ˈpeɪʃ(ə)ns/
Learn to pronounce
noun
1.
the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious.
"you can find bargains if you have the patience to sift through the rubbish". lol
@@davidhoughton9730 It was a quote and a joke. Why be so pedantic?
Great instructive video. For heat shrink, I use a small hobby heat gun shaped like a cylinder instead of a naked flame. Much safer.
17:57 This tip was extremely helpful, ty.
i ordered the lube, thank you!
I recommend to have a ceramic screwdriver for working on the mainboard, as it won´t cause shorts, an dalso a printed small sponge enclosure to keep it stopping the dust right before the extruder. Helps to avoid clogs!
Cheers and thanks for the video!
PD: Deez Nutz (sorry... I´m seemingly 5 y old... :P )
You missed the brass wire brush for cleaning schmuck off the nozzle. Just buy a pack of the ones that are roughly tooth brush size, pretty cheap at most hardware stores.
Not soo good for copper or bronze nozzles because they can really damage the end of the nozzle quite quickly introducing artafacts in your prints.
@@elvinhaak I used to buy nozzles quite often. I switched to a hardened steel nozzle about a year and a half ago, haven't purchased a nozzle since. I don't even know the amount of money and time I wasted on brass nozzles, I am certain that it was at least 5x the amount I paid for a single hardened steel nozzle. Lets not forget the time and filament wasted discovering that the old brass nozzle was worn out. Perhaps this would be different if I only printed standard PLA or PETG
@@ianide2480 Yes, it can be really worth it in some cases. I regulary swap nozzles if there are some problems and also because I change size of the nozzle between i.e. .2, .4 and .8 mm. I have hardenend nozzles but also bronze and bronze are 'one way' after some prints many times with a swap. A bag of 20 costs about 3 -5 $. And mostly I print PETG and some PLA. But sometimes with fillers and it is easy to swap the nozzle when switching size and materials. Cleaning the brazz ones with a brass wire brush kills them real fast.
I tend to cut into my parts too much with the deburring tool when working with PLA. I have a bearing scraper with a triangular shape blade that does great on leftover supports, holes, and edges. It is hard to remove parts with a raft unless I wait for the bed to cool down for 15 minutes. I put a flathead against the raft and hit it once with a thwack-printed hammer and it pops off with ease.
I want to recommend so strongly the Wera Hex Plus keys. I stopped stripping small hex screws with these.
They have a special shape that improves contact area. SO worth the money!!
P.S. 'Parallel jaw' pliers are great for grabbing nuts. Just google 'em.
Forget cheap pliers and especially adjustable wrenches. Get one set of Knipex Pliers Wrench and be done. The 125mm or 150mm size is perfect for use on 3D printers - smooth parallel jaws that get more secure as you squeeze them to turn or hold the piece in question. Replaces many of the tools shown which makes their slightly higher price totally worth it.
Great list thank you
Tweezers, angled ones, different types. A nice to have a torque ratchet -- especially for e3d hotends which when you get into hardened nozzles require a specific torque or you'll either break something or it will leak.
Hi, I just wanted to say that I really enjoy your3d videos. Also, those are "Flush cutting pliers"
For tightening Nozzles I use a torque wrench. And if you got a driver kit - make sure it got pozi-driv bits - for example the screws on the original E3D fan are pozi-driv. Magnifier comes in handy too.
One of those ultra cheap windshield scrapers work too if you don’t have a spare card
Ceramic slotted driver might save a board if something slips (while tuning pots)
I used square nuts when assembling my anet a8. They fit the nut slots better and don't fall out as easily as hex nuts.