A Venture Into The Unknown - Elegoo Mars 3D Resin Printer

[Ian J.]

I too have been keeping an eye on this thread recently, having seen an article for the Mars Pro on tomshardware. However, the Saturn looks like it will be a better unit, with a bigger build area, so combined with the general lack of availability of the Mars and Mars Pro, I think I will be waiting for the Saturns to become generally available.

Edited June 7, 2020 by Ian J.
Grandma

[neilkirby]

Hi,

Just thought I would add my current project to this thread. An S&D Seninel. I originally intended just to get a friend with a Mars to print the complex shape of the bonnet for a scratch build. but when he should me the result I was blown away. I ended up drawing the whole locomotive in tinkercad, which I can get along with, despite failing to be able to use other CAD programs in the past. So on to the actual model.  First is an image from the CAD, followed by photos of the printed prototype:

 

 

 

The resin was rather brittle and some parts broke off. Also the model is made up of a number of sub-assemblies and skrinkage meant that some adjustments have been made to the CAD to help fit .

 

Regards,

Neil

Edited June 7, 2020 by neilkirby
typo

[monkeysarefun]

8 hours ago, neilkirby said:

The resin was rather brittle and some parts broke off.

 

Monocure have developed a resin that can be machined and polished after hardening, I got sent an email last week offering a 500ml test bottle for 33AUD (about 17 pounds) I didn't see the email for a day and when I went to get some it was out of stock. That, along with the Saturn disappointment has made this a sad week in my 3D printing world!

 

https://monocure3d.com.au/product-category/rapid-tuff-resin/

Edited June 7, 2020 by monkeysarefun

[monkeysarefun]

11 hours ago, Ian J. said:

I too have been keeping an eye on this thread recently, having seen an article for the Mars Pro on tomshardware. However, the Saturn looks like it will be a better unit, with a bigger build area, so combined with the general lack of availability of the Mars and Mars Pro, I think I will be waiting for the Saturns to become generally available.

 

I can't see Anycubic and so on sitting by and letting Elegoo have  the market for larger format printers to themselves so I'm standing by for a whole heap of new  printer announcements..

Edited June 7, 2020 by monkeysarefun

[TomE]

Anycubic have already hinted there will be a larger build plate version of their forthcoming Photon Mono 2K released later this year. 

 

Not sure how much of an advantage the 4k screen in the Saturn is over the 2k one coming in the Mono. Interested to hear others thoughts as I'm on the cusp of upgrading from the original Photon. 

 

Tom.  

 

 

[Joseph_Pestell]

Hi everyone,

 

Some great models in this thread and very informative about costs etc.

 

I would certainly like to get into this when life settles down a bit. I can see that it can save time by comparison with traditional modelling techniques. My main concern is learning a CAD package. My last attempt (about 25 years ago) was not a success. But I think I may have gone for too complex a piece of software. Hopefully a bit easier and more user friendly now.

[TomE]

56 minutes ago, Joseph_Pestell said:

Hi everyone,

 

Some great models in this thread and very informative about costs etc.

 

I would certainly like to get into this when life settles down a bit. I can see that it can save time by comparison with traditional modelling techniques. My main concern is learning a CAD package. My last attempt (about 25 years ago) was not a success. But I think I may have gone for too complex a piece of software. Hopefully a bit easier and more user friendly now.

 

Fusion 360 is simple enough to use (If I can do it....!!) I started by following the tutorials by Larrs Christensen on YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXRMzJWo0-Q

 

 

Tom. 

[monkeysarefun]

14 hours ago, Joseph_Pestell said:

Hi everyone,

 

Some great models in this thread and very informative about costs etc.

 

I would certainly like to get into this when life settles down a bit. I can see that it can save time by comparison with traditional modelling techniques. My main concern is learning a CAD package. My last attempt (about 25 years ago) was not a success. But I think I may have gone for too complex a piece of software. Hopefully a bit easier and more user friendly now.

 

For an easy introduction, give Tinkercad a try, its  an online service,  you just need a login, can even use your google or facebook one.  Seven year olds get to learn it in schools, its as easy as playing with lego yet is able to achieve impressive results - see Neilkirby's loco body  posted here a couple of posts back, or the Frosts  Mill layout in the boxfiles area of the forum.

 

Once you've got the basics and concepts sorted,  progressing is much less daunting. There are many free packages available now, or at least licensed for free to use for home. Its a bit of a horses for courses world so the choice of software can depend on what you want to model - although any of the following packages can do all you need,  it is a bit easier with the right tool.

 

For example, architectural modelling and 'bits and bobs' such as lineside details etc, I'd choose Sketchup, The latest free version is online only but I use the 2017 version which is still widely available and is a standalone programme, which gives you access to hundreds of extensions written by the community to make things easier. For instance there are architectural extensions that will build a window with all its parts and details (casements, sash, window frames and so on) once you provide the dimensions, number of panes, sliding direction  and so on.

 

If you were modelling rolling stock etc, probably Fusion 360, and for organic items like livestock and people, or even rock walls or similar I'd go a NURBS based tool like Blender.

 

Aside from this there are many other (also free) specialist tools such as photogrammetry packages ( produce a 3D model from an array of photos),  and 3D editing tools such as  meshmixer,  that allow you to tweak models   - split them, hollow them, join different ones together etc once made. 

 

Its certainly a new way to model, most of my modelling time now is spent inside in comfort on the lounge with my laptop,  rather than outside in the cluttered dusty shed with spiders!

 

Edited June 8, 2020 by monkeysarefun

[njee20]

I got a Saturn

 

I tried all the major different CAD packages, but also landed on Fusion360 as being the most user friendly, I also liked the Lars Christiansen tutorials, although I always find the difficulty is translating a step by step tutorial into a real world application of the same processes. Got there in the end though!

 

15 hours ago, TomE said:

Anycubic have already hinted there will be a larger build plate version of their forthcoming Photon Mono 2K released later this year. 

 

Not sure how much of an advantage the 4k screen in the Saturn is over the 2k one coming in the Mono. Interested to hear others thoughts as I'm on the cusp of upgrading from the original Photon. 

 

 

2k/4K doesn’t make a huge difference I don’t think. People were up in arms about the Saturn originally having a 2k screen despite the larger size, and thus a lower print quality, but it was totally indiscernible to the naked eye, a few microns. I think it’s a bit like megapixel counts on cameras, basically a weeing competition!

[dpgibbons]

On 07/06/2020 at 23:47, neilkirby said:

I ended up drawing the whole locomotive in tinkercad

 

Kudos for that - Tinkercad is designed with ease of use and much simpler models in mind, so it doesn't have basic 3D modelling features such as extrusion that greatly speed up the creation of complex shapes. If you are going to do a lot more of this it's probably time to move on to Fusion360, which is Tinkercad's bigger brother and has a similar look and feel. 

[Kris]

On 07/06/2020 at 23:29, monkeysarefun said:

 

Monocure have developed a resin that can be machined and polished after hardening, I got sent an email last week offering a 500ml test bottle for 33AUD (about 17 pounds) I didn't see the email for a day and when I went to get some it was out of stock. That, along with the Saturn disappointment has made this a sad week in my 3D printing world!

 

https://monocure3d.com.au/product-category/rapid-tuff-resin/

More Saturns going on sale on the 13th at 14:00hrs utc. Another 2000 units at $500 inc shipping

[55020]

8 hours ago, njee20 said:

I got a Saturn

 

Nice, one of the lucky few.  Do let us know how you get on with it.

[njee20]

Will do, and as above, another chance this weekend For those who didn’t!

[TomE]

Hmm, seriously considering trying to pick one up. 

 

Tom.  

[Ark Royal]

Lots Happening here so Thank You to everyone that has posted 

 

For those that have just gone out and brought a Elegoo Mars, Mars Pro or Indeed Saturn or have upgraded to a newer version of the Elegoo please feel free to post your creations here.

 

Mark

[Ark Royal]

More Eridge Footbridge

 

My last post saw me starting the task of building a new footbridge for Eridge P4 our club layout by printing the trestles and luggage chute. My attention has now turned to the footbridge itself.  Clearly from the previous post it was not going to be possible to use the old Fusion 360 CAD file to create seperate components. With the station road bridge now well on the way to completion and a new height datum i set about the new artwork. 

 

Shapeways printed 1st attempt footbridge.

 

I discovered whilst doing this artwork the reason for the 10mm difference in length on the original Shapeway complete footbridge print. I knew that the down line staircase was not at 90 degrees to the building but had measured the up line staircase to be close to 90 degrees. In fact it turns out that its not close at all its 92 1/2 degrees and that 2 1/2 degree angle difference given the length of the staircase equates to a 10 mm shortfall. At least i cleared up the why !

 

As the layout is for the exhibiton circuit  and the footbridge structure being fairly delicate it needs to be robust enoughto be removed from the layout and transported seperately. Having seen the flexibility of the 3D printed full footbridge my thoughts turned to a brass construction. TBH i didn't relish the thought of constucting 2 staircases from scratch but from an etch was a different matter.

 

The Gallery

 

As this is in essence the only thing connects the removable footbridge structure to the station road bridge and building i decided to create this out of nickel silver framework with 3D printed windows and falsework which will be clad both sides in plastikard wood cladding.

 It re-affirmed the notion of scratchbuilding the staircases to and acceptable tolerance would not be an option without jigs and etching.

 

 

Gallery Metal Framework 

 

The blue insulation blocks represent the platform height. I had to use some artistic licence with the roofing supports, in reality they are meant to be like those in the 1st picture with no rear support at the peak of the roof. Whilst a deviation from reality it would be  pointless sticking to it if the model roof sagged under the weight of the corrugated cladding.

 

Its worth pointing out here that i have now switched my resin from water washable resin to standard resin. No other reason but i purchased 2 bottles before "lock-down" and have nearly finished the water soluble ( small prints only). Ironically it was more expensive than the water washable resin.

 

3D printed Galley Windows

 

The base was added to create a larger surface area for adhesion to the build plate. The thickness at the bottom is 1.5 mm when this is removed. The window frames are to scale but tbh could do with a tad more thickness (  a scale inch 0.333 mm would surfice).

 

Gallery Side Windows Installed.

 

The criss-cross support structure will be clad with plastikard wood planking, as well as the area above the window

as per below

 

 

 

Gallery Front Windows with old staircases.

 

Staircases

 

The staircases shown above were printed by Shapeways in versatile plastic. Unfortunately they include the rear posts and are at the wrong angle to use. They were temporarily installed to check alignment with the Canopy support pillars.

It did however give food for thought as this part of the staircase being effectively a box structure is quite rigid. When these were printed, many moons ago, someone commented that on this forum "all very well and nice but how would you paint them".

I'd not given that much thought until that comment and in truth the comment is very justified.

 

With that in mind and the thought of the staircases being printed i uploaded them to shapeways, this time each staircase as a structure and a seperate staircase. The thought being the structure could be clad and then painted and the staircase married up once it had been painted. 

 

There's been much hype on the increases to have parts printed, they have their overheads, but this has driven me away from them as the total for 2 parts ( 1 staircase) came to £134.00. The total cost for both staircases would exceed what i paid for the entire footbridge to be printed as one file.

 

Unfortunately the size of the staircase excludes the Elegoo Mars as a platform to build it....... Or Does It ?

 

Station Bridge Rear Wall

 

I add this here as it bears relevance to the question posed. Sometime ago i printed (in this topic) the coping stones for the bridge rear wall. These were to be glued onto an existing piece of the structure (pre elegoo owner) and this was done with less than satisfactory results. So much so that i printed the entire wall including the coping stones in 3 pieces. Each with a tang and slot to "glue" them together using resin and curing.

 

The results of this are far more pleasing.

 

3D Render of Rear Wall.

 

Sorry no photo of parts

 

New Wall in temporary position

 

Back to the Footbridge

 

No room to put tabs or slots to joint the parts together as structure is sub 2mm but maybe an option to drill a 0.5mm hole into both parts and add a brass rod, using resin to bond.

 

Having re-designed the footbridge staircase already it was just a case of spliting the structure in 2 parts and then the staircase.

I have chosen the aft transition between the middle landing part of the staircase as the splitting point for the staircase and the forward end of the gallery middle landing as the splitting point of the straircase structure. 

 

In theory...... as the joints are at different locations the parts will interlock forming there own joining mechanisms :/

 

 

This is the 1st part of the LH Staircase from the footbridge gallery to the middle landing. Most of the print came out well but as you can see certain areas of the 1.10mm centre upright post and 2mm middle landing upright posts have not faired so well.

This was supported in Prusa Slice at 80% . 

 

In the past posts i've been warned about using supports but my feeling was with so much going on and riding on the sucessful printing of these parts it was better to have some clean - up work to do than feel that it was un-achievable.

So i have reprinted the part with my own multitude of sins  (Supports) and the results are much better.

 

 

 

Print Time: 7hr 09min 

Cost: £0.77

Electric Cost:  £0.49

Printed 2nd time.

 

Total Cost £2.52

 

A long way to go before i reach the Shapeways costings. Hopefully not too many re-prints !

 

More to follow.

 

Stay Safe

 

Mark

[Ark Royal]

"Lockdown Fun"

 

With plenty to do during the "lockdown" period i have been mindful of my own well-being and mental health, so have afforded myself some time to do some therapy modelling. Well that's what i like to kid myself.

 

As part of my therapy i have done a couple of CAD files for wagons. I already had a CAD file for a Diagram 1771 Tunny Wagon but i have more than enough of those. So i have started simple with a mineral wagon.

 

Diagram 1386 20T Mineral Wagon.

 

 

A bit of a rare beast and not available in ready to run, limited quantities built,  so an odd wagon in a rake scenario.

I decided to go for an etch for the chassis as P4 scale prefers some suspension.

 

Again auto supported in Prusa Slice at 80% and auto-orientated

 

 

Defintion of detail is fairly crisp but the upper 2 corners are slightly rounded. 

This was really a test print for the definition of body strapping.

The CAD file has been updated and the wagon bodyside now completed with the addition of the 504 bolt heads..

Re-sliced with additional supports and printer whirring in the background.

 

Print Time: 6hr 41min 

Cost: £0.43

Electric Cost:  £0.47

 

Total Cost £0.90

 

The second wagon

 

Diagram 1745 20T Hopper Wagon (S.E & C.R)

 

Another limited build hopper wagon with no ready to run model. Certainly not up to modern H&S laws as open the chute doors you had to run along with the train!

Well this is a challenge from a friend. Again an initial print. The artwork is by no means finished, with lots to think about for the construction side of things. 

 

 

Some real design challenges here. The Hopper strapping is a "U" shaped channel that protrudes from the solebars.

Not much to go on in the drawings so in order to get the door shapes correct (interpretation) all the joints needed to have motion attached to them to prove they would work in real life, ofcourse linked to their respective handwheels.

 

 

 

 

 

Still some work to do but promising results.

 

Weirdest thing happened on the print of the Hopper Wagon. Got to the end layer and then started printing a full screen for several layers before i noticed and halted it ? Have checked the slicing and the slice stops at the correct last layer.

 

Has anyone come across this before ? 

Fortunately i saved the model from sure disaster with minimal damage.

 

 

Stay Safe

 

Mark

Edited June 13, 2020 by Ark Royal
Question Posed

[monkeysarefun]

43 minutes ago, Ark Royal said:

Weirdest thing happened on the print of the Hopper Wagon. Got to the end layer and then started printing a full screen for several layers before i noticed and halted it ? Have checked the slicing and the slice stops at the correct last layer.

 

Has anyone come across this before ? 

 

Open the sliced file in chitubox. Use the slider to progress through the slices until you get to the layers where this startts to occur. If it also appear here in chitubox I'd say its an issue with your CAD file such as a reversed face, internal surface or open mesh.

If the sliced tile is fine then I'd assume wierd hardware glitch..

 

Standing by for another midnight attempt at a Saturn. Just noticed that my cart still has one in it from last week, glad I noticed it  since there's a limit of one and I'd have just pressed the add to cart button tonight, giving me 2 and costing me precious second's to fix...

[Ark Royal]

22 minutes ago, monkeysarefun said:

 

Open the sliced file in chitubox. Use the slider to progress through the slices until you get to the layers where this startts to occur. If it also appear here in chitubox I'd say its an issue with your CAD file such as a reversed face, internal surface or open mesh.

If the sliced tile is fine then I'd assume wierd hardware glitch..

 

Standing by for another midnight attempt at a Saturn. Just noticed that my cart still has one in it from last week, glad I noticed it  since there's a limit of one and I'd have just pressed the add to cart button tonight, giving me 2 and costing me precious second's to fix...

 

 

Hi monkeysarefun

 

File is okay so demons at work 

Good luck for tonight, have you syncronized your clock ?

 

Mark 

[Ian J.]

The sale is actually at 14:00 UTC (15:00 BST) so this afternoon for us in the U.K.

[monkeysarefun]

4 hours ago, Ark Royal said:

File is okay so demons at work 

 

The Photon has an application available for it called Validator, which is incredibly useful for running files through post-slicing because it'll pick up any issues like you mentioned rather than discovering them at printing time.

Remember that issues like membranes across windows, strange infills and so on won't show up in the .stl file not in the CAD programme, other programmes such as Meshmixer or the slicer package. They are generated when the file is sliced due to the package trying to interpret strange anomalies in the stl such as reversed planes, internal edges, holes in meshes  and so on,  Lacking the same kind of application for the Mars, the Chitubox slider is the next best thing.

 

[monkeysarefun]

Yay!

 

now I'm off to bed!

[TomE]

Well, unlucky. In stock, added to cart, checkout, payment details, out of stock! All in the space of 2 minutes. 

 

Tom. 

[Kevinti28]

The Elegoo Mars Pro is currently on Amazon UK at £259.99 (13th June).

 

I have ordered one, but couldn’t get any of the water washable Elegoo resin. The standard resin is almost £40 a bottle, can anyone recommend a slightly cheaper alternative, to try out my new printer?

I had wanted the water washable as the alcohol is also quite expensive at the moment.

 

Kevin

Edited June 13, 2020 by Kevinti28

[monkeysarefun]

11 hours ago, TomE said:

Well, unlucky. In stock, added to cart, checkout, payment details, out of stock! All in the space of 2 minutes. 

 

Tom. 

 

That's a bummer. I assumed at with 2000 available there'd be one for everyone.

That said though, I didn't take any chances this time. Pre logged into Paypal, shut all other browser windows and running programmes, moved laptop as close as I could to the wireless router, hit refresh on the sale page continuously once there were 2 minutes to go...