Adding Ballast During Printing?
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I'm printing a Phil A Ment pencil holder right now. It's going to be almost 7" high. I set the Fill at 10%. Mid-way through the 24 hour print, I read a comment in Matter Hackers that I should have set the fill high so Phil will not be top heavy. So, it got me thinking. Could one stop a print, add BBs, sand or other ballast to the print, then resume?
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Well, I tried it and it worked! When the nozzle reached the top of Phil's boots, I paused and added lead shot (fishing section of you favorite store). Then resumed printing. I worried about bed adhesion due to acceleration inertia and the added mass, so I dialed down the speeds and accelerations. Also, as Phil got taller, I used the speed adjustment to take all speeds to 70%. No problems, but it does increase the time. The lead shot rattles, so next time I'll try sand.
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@danmacspots said in Adding Ballast During Printing?:
I'm printing a Phil A Ment pencil holder right now. It's going to be almost 7" high. I set the Fill at 10%. Mid-way through the 24 hour print, I read a comment in Matter Hackers that I should have set the fill high so Phil will not be top heavy. So, it got me thinking. Could one stop a print, add BBs, sand or other ballast to the print, then resume?
Yes, you can definitely stop your print partway through, add ballast like BBs or sand, and then resume printing. Just make sure to pause the print at a layer where you can easily add the ballast without interfering with the integrity of the design. After adding the ballast, you can resume printing, but keep in mind that the added weight may affect the balance, so ensure it’s distributed evenly. This technique can help make the pencil holder more stable without compromising its appearance!
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Great insights in this post! The idea of adding ballast during printing is fascinating—it's amazing how small adjustments can significantly improve print stability. On a different note, I recently found myself needing to do a sassa status check, and it reminded me of how important it is to ensure everything is in order, much like ensuring our prints have the right support. Thanks for sharing these tips!