3DPrinting

I clean nozzle before every print with paper towel and few drops of alcohol, just a quick wipe and its shiny again.

You dont need to put it back in a box, thats crap. But consider building enclosure to avoid wrapping. It also helps if you have clean bed, use brim, use mouse ears if needed, and use glue if you really really need. Make sure your A/C is not blowing directly on the bed or open window etc. But for pla you should be good without any glue, just find better temps and nozzle/bed distance. I print first layer at 60C then I drop it to 55C and I almost always use brim, its super easy to remove it.

To add on to the other response you got, what you're experiencing is called warping (corners lifting up). Slow down your first layer, I usually do mine around 20mm/s. And yeah, clean your build plate if you are getting curling and you might've touched the plate. Hand oils transfer easily. You can take off the removable metal sheet and wash it with soapy water. You can also spray or drip rubbing alcohol and wipe with a paper towel between prints. Use a brim and make sure your first layer height is perfect (too far can cause it to not stick well enough, and too close can cause a clog or messy layers). The first layer is the most important for a perfect print.

When you get a new filament, do be sure to check the temperature recommendation on the side of the spool. Sometimes different brands print at different temps. Different types, like PLA and PETG, print at different temps too.

If you got clippers with your printer, they can be used for a lot of things. You can cut stuff off of your prints. Typically what I use mine for is cutting the end of the filament into a point before I insert it into the printer so that it goes in more easily. If you pull used filament out, it will typically be melted and blobby on the end and harder to reinsert.

People will probably give me flak for this but I use the metal wire brush that came with my printer and brush it on the nozzle while it's hot. You can buy extras online. It does wear the nozzle down 'sooner' since it's abrasive, and it makes a bit of a mess, but it's way more effective than trying to wipe it off imo. Cleaning the nozzle isn't super necessary, but it will keep bits of charred filament from getting into your print and will help the nozzle last longer until you change it.

As for the question about putting your printer away, you don't have to do that. I would be more worried about the people sticking their fingers in or near the printer than about the printer itself, lol. 3D printers have really strong frames and motors. They are really easy to take apart and replace things as needed, unlike something like a computer which is a bit more delicate with more electronics. I typically pick mine up by the top bar if I need to carry it anywhere. Just make sure that the printer is somewhere where it won't hit anything if the bed is sliding out, and that as it's homing or moving, the head and the bed aren't going to catch on any wires. Do be careful with the motors if you're ever interacting with the printing while it's moving, they don't care if there's something in the way. :p

Like I said on your last post, I'm happy to help if you have any other questions 👍 I'm happy you've been enjoying your experience so much! 3D printing is the best hobby!

Congrats! I’ve had mine for a few months now and aside from a faint z-banding issue that I keep forgetting to tackle, it’s still working like a champ.

It tells me to clean the printer nozzle after every use. What does that mean?

I’ve never seen that, is it showing you that message on the touchscreen? Generally speaking, it’s a good idea to unload any remaining filament between prints, especially before it gets too brittle to remove.

Is the pliers that comes with it just for cutting the excess or am I missing something?

It’s primarily for cutting filament, like trimming that blobby piece off after unloading filament from the printer, but it’s also helpful when removing stubborn supports, brims, etc.

Can I keep it together and just put a cover over it if it won't get knocked or messed with? Someone recommended putting it back in the box when not in use.

You can purchase or build an enclosure for it if you like, which can be useful both for storage and printing, but if it’s not too dusty, you can leave it out in the open. Just wipe with a microfiber cloth before your next print. Garbage bags can also work as a dust cover in a pinch as well, but make sure your printer’s had a chance to cool down before covering.

I made a flat print of a plaque and it started to curl on the edges, should I have cleaned the board after the buddha or is that normal for flat prints?

Large, flat prints can be tough to master since there’s lots of variables involved. (Platform might not be hot enough/too hot/unevenly heated, bed may need better leveling, could be affected by room temp, etc.) Brims & rafts do help, but sometimes an enclosure is needed to retain the right ambient temperature. Regardless, it’s always a good idea to clean the print bed before each session and sometimes even between prints, like if it’s dusty or when you accidentally touch the bed.