GoPrint3D

SimpleSi I can see that you are receiving a lot of good advise on the forum which is great. Have you tried slowing down the speed of the first layer? as for the raft issue are you attempting to print the Cube still or another piece. Whilst the machine is a plug and play often here are a number of factor that stop it working effectively as you are discovering. The MakerBot 2 which uses PLA is set at a temp of 20 and we are getting good results out of this using the blue tape and (no hairspray).We have had to slow the speed of the first few layers down on some prints, tends to be ones with circular bases as the Extruder does drag the filament around if it is going too fast. We have also changed the FeedBack Rate. Is the machine extruding ok if you print different models, it may be that you have a faulty Head, we have experienced this. in the past where it sing loaded extruder was leaving blobs and string effect on the pint.

Whilst the Up! Plus 2 is a very good printer the Makerbot range is also excellent. The resolution is slightly better than the Up! Plus 2 on the Z Axis The MAkerBot range does cover PLA and ABS with the MakerBot 2X taking ABS. The UP! Plus is 2 optimised for ABS printing hence the heated print bed, it can be used with PLA but its mainly built for PLA. If you are comparing the output from the UP! Plus 2 and the MakerBot range it is very difficult to split the quality. The MakerBot Mini is comparative in price to the UP! Plus 2 infact it is slightly cheaper but the UP! Mini does come in at a lower cost.

I was referring to the community shape generator. Some Primary schools do not se the software as it is a community element and I do not believe it is regulated although the package is owned by Autodesk, others are quite happy using it and have generic log in addresses for pupils . It is a really good entry level piece of CAD software.

Tinker CAD is a very good package although it does have a community Shape generator element. The nature of TinkerCAD is drag and drop shapes along with grouping and it is very easy to use. Some primary schools are using the 3D Printers s part of an Enterprise module. Designing and making key rings and other gifts. Looking at the cost of materials per gram (from the pint software preview page), working out a sell price and profit.

Hope you have some success tonight, with the settings and print. If you don't have any joy and want us to look at some setting with you please let us know.

Hi Simon if you are using the MakerBot Mini then the parameters can be changed. You have to create a profile then you can alter things such as the speed the machine lays down the raft and the initial layers of the print, this will hep it stick to the print bed better. The software is set on medium settings to give a pre defined print quality but as the Makerbot brand has stemmed from an open source back ground you can change nearly all of the settings in the Profile section of the software. As for the print speed, yes you are correct you aren't going to get 15 modes per 1 hour lesson, but if you view the Printer as a similar tool to be use alongside a CNC machine, milling machine or laser cutter but for rapid prototyping and design, production and evaluation then 3D Printing does offer excellent speeds and output. If using in a primary school the main benefit is engaging the pupils in the CAD aspect as often his is the first experience they have of this, designing Mincraft style Zombies or buildings is ideal.