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how to print bent rods  

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Jo
 Jo
(@jo-2)
Active Member
how to print bent rods

Hey Prusa community,

as you can see from the picture below I would like to print a sculpture with bent rods. I am also thinking of making one of these rods hollow, so it can carry water. Eventuallty it´s gonna be some kind of fountain. To avoid support on the rods I decided to add a ground plate at an angle which is connected to the actual ground plate via support. Therefore the bottom ground plate (in red) will be removed along with the support.

As material I´ll probably use PETG, due to its water resistence.

I was wondering if the way I arranged it makes sense? Also, if you have any thought on parameters to be adjusted, please let me know.

Thanks in advance!

 

This topic was modified 3 years ago 2 times by Jo
Posted : 19/02/2021 3:46 pm
JoanTabb
(@joantabb)
Veteran Member Moderator
RE: how to print bent rods

Hi Jo, 

do you need the wedge of support?
what angle are the tops of the rods?

if they are  less than 45 degrees from vertical, you should be able to print the rods with the base on the build plate... 
how much water needs to flow?

what diameter are the rods? 

can you share the STL or Project file?    they will need to be zipped or the forum will reject the files!

regards Joan

 

I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility. Location Halifax UK

Posted : 19/02/2021 6:50 pm
Chocki
(@chocki)
Prominent Member
RE: how to print bent rods

also make the steepest overhang face forwards where the fan blows the strongest, if facing the back, you will get reduced cooling with possible sagging.

Normal people believe that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Engineers believe that if it ain’t broke, it doesn’t have enough features yet.

Posted : 21/02/2021 1:43 pm
Jo
 Jo
(@jo-2)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: how to print bent rods

Hey, thank you both for your replies. I thought that it´s recommended to use support on an angle steeper than 30 degrees. When I remove the bottom plate and the support and reorientate it the steepest angle is around 40 degrees. But if less than 45 degrees is ok without support I may try this. Maybe chances are even better when I reduce the printer speed on the last quarter...

The rods diameter is 10 mm. It is only supposed to be a little sprinkler so there´s not much water running through. I actually redesigned it a little bit and now there´s also a hollow middle rod, which will carry the water. My CAD files can be viewed on onshape with this link.

Posted : 21/02/2021 8:52 pm
JoanTabb
(@joantabb)
Veteran Member Moderator
RE: how to print bent rods

Recognise this?

Joan! 🙂

 

I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility. Location Halifax UK

Posted : 22/02/2021 2:38 am
Jo
 Jo
(@jo-2)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: how to print bent rods

@joantabb

Wow, that came out perfect. Did you just use standard parameters?

Posted : 22/02/2021 7:59 am
JoanTabb
(@joantabb)
Veteran Member Moderator
RE: how to print bent rods

@jo-7

Hi Jo, 
I used Generic PETG  with three perimeters and 0.2mm layer height settings, and  0.4 mm retraction instead of the default 0.8mm  Mk3S printer

regards Joan

I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility. Location Halifax UK

Posted : 22/02/2021 10:31 am
jsw and Jo liked
Jo
 Jo
(@jo-2)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: how to print bent rods

Awesome, thank you so much!:) I´ll try to do the same thing

Posted : 22/02/2021 10:41 am
Jo
 Jo
(@jo-2)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: how to print bent rods

Actually I have one more question: You wrote, that you reduced the retraction length to 0.4 mm? Intuitivly I would rather increase the length to avoid stringing as described here. Is there a reason why you reduced it?

Posted : 22/02/2021 2:34 pm
Neophyl
(@neophyl)
Illustrious Member
RE: how to print bent rods

If you have your filament properly calibrated to match its real world diameter then you get much less stringing to start with.  So can therefore reduce retraction values.  Its one of those things you pick up as you print more if its something you are bothered about.  Also for angel hair/cobweb strings a very quick pass with a jet flame lighter will make them disappear anyway.

Posted : 22/02/2021 2:51 pm
Jo liked
JoanTabb
(@joantabb)
Veteran Member Moderator
RE: how to print bent rods

@jo-7

sometimes it is best to reduce the temperature to reduce stringing...

retraction is different for Direct Drive Extruders such as the Mk3 Series... compared to Bowden Drive Printers such as the creality. have Bowden drive, which has MUCH More 'Slop' in the tubing! so a Bowden printer may need 6mm retraction... 

if you use long retractions in a Prusa,  then retraction is going to draw soft plastic up into the cold end of the printer, causing the cold end to heat up... (heat creep) this can promote heat creep issues, which you don't want...   

I find that reducing the retractions reduces the chance of Blockages!

regards Joan

 

I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility. Location Halifax UK

Posted : 23/02/2021 8:24 pm
Jo liked
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