The Saga of my CubeX: Compiling examples of successful prints - Anyones CubeX working reliably?

[norsac]

For several months I have troubleshoot the following problems with my CubeX Duo:

1. Poor QC on shipped CubeX
   
2. Uneven print platform
   
3. Uneven print heads
4. Unreliable Z-Gap
   
5. Only prints in .25 and not .10
   
6. Freaking out head dumping into platform damaging plate
   
7. Bad USB Thumb drive
8. Failed Cartridge Chip Read
   
9. Damaged & tangled spool failing to feed filament
   

I have almost "fixed" most of the above issues but the continued consistent reliability (Example:  24 hours later the print of the same STL is poor vs the previous w/ NO changes). The final straw has been the unavailability of proprietary print cartridges and filament and non existing followup on customer support was close to the last straw.

Most of you have reported similar problems so I am wanting to start compiling a list of anyone who has had reliable print successes.  I have repeatedly fixed, tweaked, calibrated in the hopes of having a reliable CubeX system following multiple customer support and forum interaction.  On average 1 in 5 prints is really good.   I had started to doubt that any "hobby" printer could produce reliable results but I spent the weekend using my friends MakerBot Replicator 2X and he had repeatable nice looking 3D prints.  

Time is money and I have now wasted far more of my own engineering hours fixing, and calibrating the 3D Systems CubeX.  I am about to return the system for a full refund after multiple repeated failures and the lack of filament and follow up on technical support.

Before I do so, I would like to compile a list of users prints, photos and STL files that people have SUCCESSFULLY printed reliably.  

I ask that people post the STL file and a photo, software version and brief comment of a nice print that they have made with the CubeX system.  I know some STL's print better than others so I want to test the once that others have had success with.  That way I can decide if the entire line of CubeX printers is bad or that there is just a bad batch for the original "cutting edge" orders like mine.

I know forums are where people vent so I don't want to judge the overwhelming forum complaints of the CubeX system just yet.  If you don't have any repeatable good prints then feel free to vent as well.

Thanks

Carson

[Peter Gregory]

I've found the more I use the Cubex, the better I get at working with it.

I've changed my designs to leverage the strengths of the machine and limit the weaknesses.

I've had lots of successful prints, and lots of bad prints.

In the process, I've learned what to look for to catch the bad prints early.

My first completed successful 3-D printed project is an USB powered analog Camera Shutter / Curtain Tester based on phototransistors and a PIC16F631 MPU

It measures the analog shutter curtain travel time in 1/10ms increments and displays several metrics for camera repair

The design features a snap-together case with integrated push button.

No support is needed for this design.

A circuit board nests inside and is mounted with 2 screws.

The top of the board has 3 phototransistors that poke into the detector assembly.

The back of the circuit board holds a 5 digit LED display.

It consists of 4 press together parts. I print each part separately.

The rest of the body is held together with friction and slides open / closed.

Pictured here is a raw print assembled immediately after printing.

[Peter Gregory]

Almost for got - printed using version 1.05 of the Cubex software

[CubeX 3D Printman]

I think several issues are due to poor assembly and QA at the manufacturing site overseas.

I had to tweak on mine initially too, since it was not propery set up.

The advertising for CubeX, Makerbot etc. and their capabilities are quite misleading. It is definitely not plug and play. I think any of the 3D printers are not quite ready for any general user. You have to be a tinkerer and take time to learn and understand the print technology and system function and setup to print successfully.

But the CubeX printer itself can produce nice prints, repeatable and quite accurate.  If some prints have issues, lack of support structure etc.., or if it prints fine, it is very repeatable.  The CubeX slicer software options are quite limited and need a lot more adjustment features to improve print capabilities. I keep bugging cubify about it.

I had my CubeX now for 3 month and have done 190 prints. I track every print, settings, part weight etc… Only had less than a dozen misprints, and some tests, but I have learned very quickly what to avoid and workarounds. Overall I must say, even not always perfect, I am really enjoying my new hobby.

Yes, there can be much to complain about with any of the 3D printers on the market, but these group posts should in general be focused on helping each other to get the most out of our CubeXs. There are several very active members in this group (thank you) who constantly provide constructive input which has helped many other users.

I don't want the posts in this usergroup turn into continues complaining etc...

The cartridge issues and shortages are really bad and Cubify is not communicating well to their customers.  Yes, I have run out of PLA filament too, luckily shortly after received one PLA warranty replacement, but waiting for several more.

I am sure there will be soon aftermarket workarounds regarding the cartridges, and also hopefully Cubify gets the cartridges to work properly and prices them more reasonable soon.

Anyway, thanks for all the constructive inputs in the user group.

Thank you,

Rick

[CubeX 3D Printman]

Nice Assembly, Peter.

Thanks for sharing.

I agree, once understanding the limitations, and learning how to use the printer (design models) best, a lot of great stuff can be done.

Sharing our trials and errors and sucesses is helping everybody.

Thanks,

Rick