Welcome to the SeeMeCNC Community

Just wanted to say Hi to everyone from the newest noob here. Ive been doing product designs for the last few months learning solid woks. Getting ready to cross the digital line and bring my creations into the physical world. Been researching for the last two months, and it looks like the Rostock Max is going to be my first 3d printer. Anyone have any words of advice for the setup or add ons I should get when I purchase the kit? Thanks.

-Clark

Welcome to the forums Clark,

I too am fairly new to the 3D printing world, I went with the Rostock MAX mainly because it had the largest print size. I can't offer any comparativeness. But if you do go with the RostockMAX GeneB assembly guide is pretty good (make sure you get the current one last I seen was dated 18th June v1.0.7), actually having the hindsight, pre-read his assembly manual and make sure you have the tools and technical know how before committing or at least be prepared that you might need to learn along the way.

Putting the kit together is relatively easy, it was and to some extent the calibration that I'm still suffering through (I purchased ~2 weeks ago).

As to add-on/options again I can only speak about the RostockMAX, although the following two relate to all 3D Printers, if you are printing PLA make sure you get a fan and for either PLA/ABS a glass bed is recommended... although I'm seeing people use an aluminium plate with success and make sure you get a hotbed for ABS.

Why a glass/aluminium bed? I believe the reason is because it gives you a flatter bed therefore easier to calibrate.
Why a hotbed? From what I understand this is mainly for ABS and helps/stops the ABS from coming lose during a print.

Cheers

I concur with what September has said.

Get the borosilicate glass for the bed. It makes the print surface level and smooth.
I also agree that you need a fan, and I would suggest something bigger than the 25mm one that they recommend. I have two of them, but may switch to a single 40mm fan or some other setup.

Putting it together wasn't terribly difficult. This was my first significant build, and I managed to get it done in a week, working on it a few hours each night. The worst part (for me) was soldering the connections on the board. After the first solder, I realized that it was in fact extremely easy! So, don't sweat it.

When you start printing, make sure to print out an extended arm for your spool holder. Some of the spools are wider than others, and they don't fit on the standard arm.

Good luck and welcome!

The 25mm fan is only for the PEEK section. A 40mm fan won't even fit.

g.

geneb wrote:The 25mm fan is only for the PEEK section. A 40mm fan won't even fit.

g.

I guess I should have clarified... Sorry.

geneb wrote:The 25mm fan is only for the PEEK section. A 40mm fan won't even fit.

g.

What is that you say about my 120mm fan not fitting?.....Challenge accepted....

Dude, if you can fit a 120mm fan in the 1" space that the 25mm fan is installed in, go for it.

g.

geneb wrote:Dude, if you can fit a 120mm fan in the 1" space that the 25mm fan is installed in, go for it.

g.

LOL Does the fan have to work?

Only partially, if you can make a 120mm cool the barrel only, and not super-cool the heated end, props!

I was just thinking an ear-horn looking shroud for shits and giggles.