3d printing help

my mate has given me a 3d printer, my idea was to redesign my dwc pots/baskets to make it easer to transfer them from the cuttings into veg room then to the flower room, all most like Russian dolls but with the baskets going up in size, the 3d printer is fairly old and basic, but just wondering if anyone has any experience in 3d printing, even to ask what program would u recommend for drawing up the model in the first place, I'm using a Mac and fairly illiterate when it comes to computers, but happy to have a go, any helps appreciated, thanks

All i can tell you PLA leaks

amneziaHaze said:

All i can tell you PLA leaks

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leaks in what way if u don’t mind me asking? I’ve done a bit of reading up and it sais that it sucks moisture out the air which affects the print quality, the friend that gave me the printer and reel of plastic to print with was keeping it in the same room as his grow and humidity was high

I Managed to get this off for my first ever print, I was hoping to move my cuttings from my areoponic propagator to the bigger pots without disturbing the root system to much and just allowing the plants to grow through the smaller baskets with possibly the chance to reuse them after (although finding out how cheap they are it’s not much bother) or having root growth restricted by the smaller gaps also hopefully it keeps organic matter out the system,

As in layers have microholes and water will allways spillout slowly.but yea all material will suck moisture and make the print buble somethimes its a failed print somethimes it just looks melted

What software do you use for drawing?

amneziaHaze said:

What software do you use for drawing?

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I used an app on my iPad called tinker cad, u can open it in the web browsers, but had to put the file through another app called cure or something to convert it to what the printer would read, in still a little lost and amazed with it and the fact I actually got it to all work, I’ve also managed to print all 8 plates for my pots with very little issues

does the plastic have plasticizers in it, if so, i wouldent use them for my plants in a million years

the plasticizers from recycled plastic leaches out from the plastic and into your grow

The spool I’m using is PLA I’ve had a little google of it and it sais it’s all corn starch and other stuff with little mention about plasticizers, I’m only using it to hold already made baskets, to fit other already made baskets , they won’t be in any liquids but if it’s a issue I could always seal them? I’m honestly new to all this so the more I can learn the better it will be

i use PLA for my aquarium nothing died yet its inside for almost a year

amneziaHaze said:

i use PLA for my aquarium nothing died yet its inside for almost a year

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Thats good to know, it’s taken nearly a week to get the 9 out of 16 printed and it would have sucked to have just chuck them in the bin.

Getting round to building my veg room but just to show I got my spacers printed, did some blanking plates to