1st Build First Build - Gen 3 Mark VI & Donut-Inspired Armor; Progress Thread!

[bearbot]

I made a post not too long ago to get opinions on scaling and decided I would start a thread to post updates, document obstacles, and keep myself accountable! I'm attempting to print a full build of MoeSizzleac's Halo Infinite Master Chief Inspired Set off of Thingiverse and just began printing a couple days ago. I've already run into some print issues, but I'm very new to 3D printing and expect lots of troubleshooting fun to come! My goal was to have the helmet done in under two weeks for an event, but after two failed prints I'm managing my expectations and embracing the fabrication process. Advice is always welcome and much appreciated!

Here are the first successful pieces. Cheers!

 

[bearbot]

Figured I'd post the couple of fails I've had so far! I'm still trying to troubleshoot and figure out what the issue may have been.

This was the first attempt at a helmet piece (1 of 8 segments). The top layer was visibly warping/lifting and I'm thinking it may be due to poor adhesion with the surrounding supports, but am still unsure. I was struggling to find photos online of a similar phenomenon along with the rippling pictured in the second photo of the same piece.

I didn't have enough time left in the day to attempt the helmet piece again, so I loaded up 8 thigh clips figuring they would be unproblematic and I could just get them checked off my list...and I was wrong. This one I'm fairly certain was a bed adhesion issue. The default settings provided by Orca for Standard PLA had the bed temp sitting at 45C which I'm assuming was too low. I'm also using Flashforge PLA Pro and when I checked whether Orca had different recommended settings for PLA Pro, they did! I haven't printed with the PLA Pro specific settings, so I'm hoping they help. They do include a slightly higher bed temp. We shall see!

 

[Gordon]

Looks like layer adhesion is one of the big issues and when it doesn't stick it throws the printer out of wack.

 

[Gordon]

What's the current print speed and other settings along with what printer you're using and I'll see what I know.

 

[bearbot]

What's the current print speed and other settings along with what printer you're using and I'll see what I know.

I was using the default settings for standard PLA in Orca which put the bed temp at around 55C. I read in a few places that 60C is more so the sweet spot for PLA printing and have been printing at 62C with brims since then with hardly any issues! Introduced the brims after I was having a bit of warping on thinner pieces and now we're golden. Thanks so much for reaching out to help!

 

[Gordon]

I was using the default settings for standard PLA in Orca which put the bed temp at around 55C. I read in a few places that 60C is more so the sweet spot for PLA printing and have been printing at 62C with brims since then with hardly any issues! Introduced the brims after I was having a bit of warping on thinner pieces and now we're golden. Thanks so much for reaching out to help!

Sounds good happy to help!

 

[Creativity4ever]

Oh a RvB Donut inspired build like my armor builds? Well good luck on your armor progress!

 

[bearbot]

Oh a RvB Donut inspired build like my armor builds? Well good luck on your armor progress!

Yes RvB! I'm so stoked to finally be starting on this. I'd love to see your RvB-inspired builds! Have you posted them here before?

 

[bearbot]

I've been printing the helmet for the past week or so and have only run into a couple issues. First issue was bed adhesion which I remedied with a higher bed temp (62C vs. the 55C I began printing with) and brims (which save me from the thinner pieces that like to warp). The other issue, which I haven't quite solved, is getting this interesting wavy pattern when using variable layer heights. It's hit or miss, but I try to avoid variable layer height unless I think I really need it. Most of the helmet has been printed at 0.2mm as I'd rather fill and sand 0.2mm layers than have to spend hours troubleshooting the issues I'm having with 0.08mm.

 

[bearbot]

Pleased with the progress so far! Wishing I had split the print a bit more strategically, but can't turn back now lol. Just two more larger pieces for the back and I'll be set as far as the helmet print. SUPER nervous to glue it together but it'll be dope if I can get it all aligned well. I'm surprised with how long some of these pieces can take to print and getting anxious for when I eventually get to printing the chest. I'm printing on a 220mm bed so it'll be interesting to see how much I'll have to split it up. My worry will definitely be going through so much printing and filament to find that my scaling was off. We'll cross that bridge when we get to it...lol!

 

[Creativity4ever]

Yes RvB! I'm so stoked to finally be starting on this. I'd love to see your RvB-inspired builds! Have you posted

Oh a RvB Donut inspired build like my armor builds? Well good luck on your armor progress!

Oh yes! But as of last year, I switched to the Cavallino helmet instead of Mark 7

 

[bearbot]

Oh yes! But as of last year, I switched to the Cavallino helmet instead of Mark 7

Awesome man, love to see it!

 

[bearbot]

I'm getting wayyyyyy ahead of myself and staring at paint swatches...Trying to choose between Candy Pink and Sweet Pea. I want to stick with Rustoleum because that's the filler primer I'll be using and I'd prefer to work within one brand of paints as much as possible. The one part of the paint process I am puzzled by is whether you lay down your accent colors, like areas with black or grey, then mask those before the primary color or vice versa? We will see...Tons of time before it's something I even need to consider.

World-altering choices to be made here...

 

[Creativity4ever]

Nice paint choices! I remember I used like 4 different pink colors before using Candy pink for my 2023/2024 Donut armor.

 

[bearbot]

Nice paint choices! I remember I used like 4 different pink colors before using Candy pink for my 2023/2024 Donut armor.

Just went through and stalked you a bit. Awesome job on the armor! I couldn't make armor from foam so I'm always so impressed. The final pink color you had is actually exactly what I'm going for. Was that the Candy Pink? We'd have a matching lightish red set LOL!

 

[bearbot]

My glue for the 3D prints came in--Weld-On 16--and I'm kinda nervous to work with it. Looked into it and it's apparently mega toxic. I'm working out of my apartment and am worried about safety. Has anyone worked with Weld-On 16 or have another adhesive that works really well to join PLA pieces? I researched for a while and couldn't find a very definitive answer.

 

[SpartanSweed]

How I do my prints is super glue them together, then go over the back of the seam with two part jb weld plastic bonder epoxy

 

[bearbot]

How I do my prints is super glue them together, then go over the back of the seam with two part jb weld plastic bonder epoxy

I think I'd much rather that than trap myself in a room with dichloromethane fumes for hours. Do you have a favorite brand of super glue for this application?

 

[SpartanSweed]

I recommend loctite gel and a few clamps to keep it together while it cures

DeltaAlphaZulu has s good video on the process

 

[bearbot]

I recommend loctite gel and a few clamps to keep it together while it cures

DeltaAlphaZulu has s good video on the process

This tutorial is so helpful, thank you! I was under the impression that people typically just Bondo major seams and imperfections and let filler primer take care of the layer lines. Is it typical to Bondo the entire piece?