Thalestris24

Yeah, same difference as Thorlabs really...

They probably would be ok but need to be specific diameters and focal lengths - as per the Thorlabs link. I suppose I'll have to pay their prices if I can't find an alternative source AliExpress might be a possible. Cheers Louise

Thanks for the suggestion but they are only cheap biconvex lenses. Ideally I need coated achromatic doublets and I expect to pay double figures for them - but Thorlabs are pricey: Autoguider Lens Collimator Lens Cheers Louise

Thanks for the tips! I thought there might be a challenge printing something relatively large and over such a long time - I figured it might take me more than one go! 😮 I'll certainly increase the bed temperature for the case. I'm using pla+ so not sure if that will have any consequence. I'm currently printing the small parts at 40mm/s. I imagined the case wouldn't need 'fine' printing. I'll find out when I get to it and try! Cheers Louise

I'm searching around for a supplier for some small achromatic doublets for the spectrometer I'm building. I have Thorlabs part numbers but they seem rather expensive for just some small lenses - a 0.5" (12.7mm) dia, fl = 30mm, and a 30mm dia, fl = 100mm both AR coated. I can't find anything on Ebay or even Google though I'm sure there must be someone, somewhere in the world? Thanks for any help/suggestions Louise

The parts are only for a spectrometer. They don't need a lot of strength as they're not bearing any loads or anything. As long as the main case comes out ok, I'll easily be able to reprint replacement small parts if necessary Thanks Louise

Thanks! Hope my BP lets me live long enough to get to grips with it!

I think I said before - I know nothing! But I'm slowly learning Louise

The reprint was done at 60% infill so should be stronger than the part that broke. Ok - I'm printing another part at the mo but the next one I'll try without a raft - I've basically just been using defaults I'm happy with printer. It's been easy to build and, apart from some frustration when I changed to the PLA+ (my fault for not levelling the bed), it's performed as expected. I'd certainly recommend the Ender3D for anyone who wants to also print small parts on a budget! I'm almost halfway through printing the parts for the Lowspec spectrometer. The main case will take a while - some 30 hours the slicer is saying, lol. Louise

The base raft was still attached - I didn't bother taking it off as the part was broken. Here is pic of same part reprinted. Seems fine to me. Louise

I think it looks stringy because it's just not dense enough. There aren't any gaps between layers and the printed part otherwise looks very nice and smooth. I'm slowly learning the 'other' dark art Louise

Yes, has the magnetic sheet. And, yes, I normally lift it and bend it. Just for some reason I decided to tap the part instead! I'm now going by the designers instructions for 50-80%. The designer also says 100um resolution or 200-250um - so that's layer height? Oh, I established that it appeared to be the knob/encoder it self. It works better if you kindof put some side pressure on it whilst turning. Anyway, they are sending the new one so hopefully that will fix it Cheers Louise

Here's a pic of the break. I didn't 'whack' it, I just tapped it! The 'column' part (looking down on the broken end) is about 37mm long by 13x6mm. It's printed in pla+, by the way. As I say, the build instructions say 50-80% infill but I hadn't realised... Louise

I've been managing ok with the dodgy rotary encoder. I complained to Creality about it straightaway, but they said 'can I send a video?'. Well, I got around to making a video and sending it yesterday - took two attempts to send as they said not that address (Amazon Market Place) but this one - AmazonEU@Creality3d.cn. Anyway, they agreed to send me a replacement screen so I've no complaints I printed out a part for the Lowspec yesterday. Took several hours. When it had all cooled down I tried to lift it off the mat. It wouldn't come off easily. Instead of just lifting the mat, for some reason I decided to tap it. Not a good idea as a column part of it snapped off! Tut! However, when I looked into it I realised that printing it at 30% infill just wasn't enough and I found on the Lowspec assembly instructions that I should be printing at between 50% and 80%, depending on the part. D'uh. Of course, that means it will take much longer to print some of the parts. It also says to print the main body at 200-250um - is that something I set in the Creality slicer? #LearningCurve Cheers Louise

Oops! My bad - it says 39.95 but then +40 for 2.2kg... That's rather pricey

Presumably one could wind from a big drum to a smaller one and keep the bulk stored away in a sealed container? Louise

Their semi-matte black looks nice - Euros 40/2.2kg not sure if there's a shipping charge? I suppose prices of goods from the Continent are likely to increase,... Louise

Glad I bought mine last week There are lots of things I could use it for that would be difficult to do otherwise. As well as printing out others' designs, I'm looking forward to letting out the designer in me and getting to grips with Autodesk Fusion 360 Louise

Probably would be a good thing to do - varnish works great for other things! Louise

I was thinking about durability but, yeah, you can just print out another set Louise

You can get hardened steel nozzles

My question was more of a rhetorical one directed @JamesF but it's still interesting to hear the replies! Has anyone tried any of the mixed material filaments like carbon fibre? There is a US list of filament types here Thanks Louise

I was just wondering about which filament material would be ok out in all weathers? Louise

You might need to consider what filament material you might use, James (Just a gut feeling - I know nothing!) Louise

Oh ok Paul Gerlach has suggested the gh25-18v (on Thingiverse) which is listed at £108.75 + VAT which does seem pricey for one component but not so much really. On the other hand I might be better off with a fewer lines/mm grating since I don't get great seeing here at the best of times and my aperture will be limited to 115mm. Also, the list prices for the lenses seem rather high for what they are - I'll have a look around for alternatives. As you say, half the fun is in building it, of course, though it would be nice to get some half-decent results out of it Cheers Louise