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Project Notes

#756 NLB Flashforge Creator Pro 2

Using the amazing PLA 3D Printing services available in Singapore’s National Libraries - Flashforge Creator Pro 2, Flashforge Dreamer, and 3D Pens.

Build

Notes

Last year I accidentally discovered that Singapore’s library service - the National Library Board (NLB) - has been running “MakeIt” centres in their libraries where a range of tools are available to citizens to use (including 3D printers, laster cutters, digital cutters, and sewing machines). This is an amazing service. They don’t (yet) have 3D resin printers, but these tools make rapid prototyping readily available to all residents at no cost.

For most of these services, they do require users to first complete a free starter course. These help make sure you can keep yourself safe, and save the machines from damage.

I’ve completed the training for the 3D printing facilities, so I can now book and use the PLA printers available at currently 4 of the libraries (Jurong, Punggol, Tampines, Woodlands). There are 3 types of equipment available:

About the Flashforge Creator Pro 2 3D Printer

The library still uses the FlashPrint 5 software for slicing. They provide laptops with the software pre-installed. It can be downloaded for use elsewhere (Windows only, not available for latest macOS).

See the Creator Pro 2 User Guide.

Workflow

The starter training introduced the basic process:

  • using TinkerCAD to make a 3D model
  • export to STL
  • using FlashPrint 5 to import the STL and slice it. Settings:
    • nozzle size: 0.4mm
    • layer height: 0.1mm min, 0.3mm max
    • shell count: increase to 3 to strengthen the part (default: 2)
    • top solid layers: increase to 5 to solidify the part (default: 3)
    • bottom solid layers: increase to 4 to solidify the part (default: 3)
    • fill density: reduce to speed up the print (default: 15%)
    • raft: disable unless required
  • export to CNC G-code
  • use an SD card to load and print the g-code on the printer

The starter course has everyone design and print a simple nametag (the tag I made: nametag-wcl.stl).

nametag-wcl

3D Model Sources

Credits and References

About LEAP#756 NLB MakeIt3D Print

This page is a web-friendly rendering of my project notes shared in the LEAP GitHub repository.

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About LEAP

LEAP is my personal collection of electronics projects - usually involving an Arduino or other microprocessor in one way or another. Some are full-blown projects, while many are trivial breadboard experiments, intended to learn and explore something interesting.

Projects are often inspired by things found wild on the net, or ideas from the many great electronics podcasts and YouTube channels. Feel free to borrow liberally, and if you spot any issues do let me know or send a pull-request.

NOTE: For a while I included various scale modelling projects here too, but I've now split them off into a new repository: check out LittleModelArt if you are looking for these projects.

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