I'm currently using a Solidoodle3 which included in the original packaging an undisclosed but excruciatingly painful 1 year learning curve. ;-)
Questions about the gMax:
1) A heated bed isn't a necessity?
2) Is "hairspray" required to get products to stick to the bed? I've been trying to print a particular 6" long object for months and still rarely get them to complete without warping and popping off the bed regardless of how much hairspray I use. (Yes, I'm using a pseudo-heating-chamber - 4 sides - need to add a top but I consider this unacceptable for a printer which claims to be able to print 8"x8" objects.) After enclosing the chamber, moving the printer to the floor, mounting the filament spool directly above the extruder and printing on glass instead of the aluminum bed I'm still having issues. Another part warped/popped while I was typing this message.)
3) How is the bed leveled / calibrated? I've wasted untold hours on this w/ the SD3.
4) Extruder quality? As soon as I purchased the SD3 I started seeing messages stating that a "better" extruder / hot end was a necessity. (Yes, many hours have been wasted cleaning, repairing and replacing the extruder which came w/ the SD3.)
3 huge advantages to using the Gmax which jump out @ me?
1) Bed size (obviously).
2) Noise - the Solidoodle can be heard several counties away.
3) SD card. I'd love to be able to move the printer to another room and walk away.
What other competitive advantages am I missing?
My greatest concern is buying the gMax and simply ending up w/ larger versions of the headaches I'm already battling on my Solidoodle. Thoughts / input?
Questions about the gMax:
1) A heated bed isn't a necessity?
2) Is "hairspray" required to get products to stick to the bed? I've been trying to print a particular 6" long object for months and still rarely get them to complete without warping and popping off the bed regardless of how much hairspray I use. (Yes, I'm using a pseudo-heating-chamber - 4 sides - need to add a top but I consider this unacceptable for a printer which claims to be able to print 8"x8" objects.) After enclosing the chamber, moving the printer to the floor, mounting the filament spool directly above the extruder and printing on glass instead of the aluminum bed I'm still having issues. Another part warped/popped while I was typing this message.)
3) How is the bed leveled / calibrated? I've wasted untold hours on this w/ the SD3.
4) Extruder quality? As soon as I purchased the SD3 I started seeing messages stating that a "better" extruder / hot end was a necessity. (Yes, many hours have been wasted cleaning, repairing and replacing the extruder which came w/ the SD3.)
3 huge advantages to using the Gmax which jump out @ me?
1) Bed size (obviously).
2) Noise - the Solidoodle can be heard several counties away.
3) SD card. I'd love to be able to move the printer to another room and walk away.
What other competitive advantages am I missing?
My greatest concern is buying the gMax and simply ending up w/ larger versions of the headaches I'm already battling on my Solidoodle. Thoughts / input?