Now we have coated varied elements of 3D printing right here at Readwrite over the previous few months, trying primarily at the right way to use totally different 3D printers for different projects to create the final word video games room. Now we have massive plans for what we’re going to do over the approaching months, however this time round we’re going to 3D sensible objects that can improve our gaming expertise on the Meta Quest 3.
The Quest 3 is a good piece of {hardware} however some corners have been minimize to maintain the value down. 3D printing and a bit of data will help repair that, and we are able to additionally save ourselves a good amount of cash on some cool gaming equipment for it as effectively.
Nonetheless, the Quest 3 might be fairly an lively machine and 3D prints aren’t at all times identified for his or her potential to face as much as a lot abuse. So for this characteristic, we’re going to take Creality’s new flagship K1C printer, an enclosed Core X-Y machine that’s able to printing carbon-fiber-infused filament for further power to make some stuff that ought to final the check of time.
Methods to print Carbon Fiber filament on the K1C
The beauty of the brand new Creality machine is that you would be able to print carbon-fiber, and many different tough-to-print filaments with it actually out of the field. The machine takes little or no work in your half – merely take away the packing supplies and the three screws that safe the mattress for transport, and you may hook up the filament of your selection and get cracking.
I’ve by no means printed with Carbon Fiber earlier than so I used to be a little bit cautious about simply letting rip with a roll so I did just a few check prints first utilizing regular PLA, then rainbow silk to see what would occur. I had learn just a few feedback on-line about folks having issues with mattress adhesion and having to make use of glue sticks however I’ve not, with any filament I’ve thrown at it had a single failed print, and I’ve printed some fairly complicated shapes.
The Creality K1C is ideal for printing filaments infused with different supplies reminiscent of CF due to its enclosure and its fast swap tri-metal nozzles constituted of a combo of copper, titanium, and hardened metal.
Your common copper nozzle doesn’t like printing with robust filaments so that you want the hardened metal tip to ensure that it to outlive. For those who do discover you should change it out, the fast swap mechanism, akin to Bambu’s fast swap on the Bambu Lab A1 makes that possess a lot much less painful than it was, it’s not fairly as easy however neither is it a chore.
And that, with an acceptable filament setting in your slicer of selection – I used Orcaslicer which now has a KlC profile, and filament profiles for all method of filaments together with the Creality PLA-CF I’m utilizing right here, did the job completely.
3D printing Quest 3 equipment in carbon fiber on the K1C
I may have printed all of these things in PLA, however I needed them to be way more sturdy so I didn’t find yourself printing them time and time once more. Additionally, since beginning printing with CF filament on the K1C I’ve come to like the graceful look of it. The prints come out fantastically and it might effectively grow to be my day-to-day go-to filament.
I’ve had some stringing regardless that the filament was contemporary out of the pack so made use of the brand new Creality House Pi filament dryer and dried it out for round 15 hours to get higher outcomes. The dryer is suitably futuristic trying and sits effectively beside the K1C, which is unquestionably one in all my favourite-looking printers up to now.
Now, on to the fashions we used.
Quest 3 cable clips
I needed to start out with one thing easy for my Quest, but in addition one thing the place power can be essential as it’s a small half. I changed my Quest 3 head strap with one from BoboVR that has an exterior battery. It’s nice however the wire flaps round from the exterior batter to the Quest 3’s charging port.
I discovered a set of clips particularly for this head strap on Thingiverse and set them printing. As a result of it’s such a small print, 51 minutes later the K1C had produced a factor (effectively two issues) of nerd magnificence. I’d been impressed with the K1C printing PLA however this was so clean and beautiful, with simply sufficient texture to it to really feel like I had purchased it myself, somewhat than make it spring out of nothing by my very own hand.
Becoming the clip was a unique matter nevertheless because it was simply too tight to suit on the BoboVR had strap and making an attempt to pressure the cable into it compelled the clip half to snap and fly off. I’m placing all of this right down to a foul mannequin and will probably be revisiting it and designing one myself subsequent time wth a little bit extra give. I’ve since printed clips for different issues in the identical filament with an issue.
Quest 3 gun inventory
Subsequent up I needed a sturdy gun inventory so taking part in video games reminiscent of Contractors Showdown and Into the Radius. I needed to print one which I may fully make from Carbon Fiber filament and stick along with glue. I wasn’t seeking to purchase any metal rods or plenty of M3 bolts, so this model on Makerworld from Pab1o90 seemed good for the job.
It is available in two elements on the identical plate however I bumped into an issue with the rear finish. The K1C’s ever so barely smaller construct quantity of 220 x 220 x 250mm than the A1’s 256 x 256 x 256 mm, or the opposite printer I’m utilizing for the time being the Qidi Q1 Professional’s 245 x 245 x 245 signifies that the mannequin was millimeters too lengthy to print. I attempted to compensate by cutting down the X axis by 3% which allowed me to suit on and print it suppose I used to be a genius, as a barely shorter inventory wouldn’t matter. Nonetheless, the hidden flaw in that plan was it additionally shrunk down the holder for the controller by 3% that’s mounted on it so once I got here to ram my Quest 3 controller in it, it cracked. It nonetheless works however it’s annoying.
Once more the look of each items is majestic and the K1C does a terrific job of creating a stunning clean print. It’s only a disgrace concerning the smaller construct quantity on this case.
Quest 3 Beat Saber handles
In case you have performed VR likelihood is you might have performed Beat Saber, the seminal rhythm/lightsaber recreation. I discovered, once more on Thingiverse some handles for the Quest 3 from Nelmo for Beat Saber (and you should use them for golf video games too) that reach the Quest 3’s controllers and make them really feel extra like you might be waving a saber round.
Coming as a two-part print with just a few connecting thingamabobs once more, these printed out actually properly an actually look the half in carbon fiber filament. I really like the look the K1C will get right here and the handles are a strong addition to my Quest equipment, and I didn’t have to purchase them on Amazon.
What else are you able to print on the K1C?
Now we have solely actually touched on carbon fiber filaments on this half however the machine is succesful of a complete lot extra. Due to its enclosure and nice nozzle, you may simply print TPU if you wish to print rubber-like grips on your controller, or perhaps a protecting cowl for the unit itself.
The machine runs Klipper (of kinds), it’s a Creality locked-down model, however to its large credit score Creality lets you simply root it and set up Fluidd or Mainsaill on it on the identical time and you may subsequently have entry to all of the Klipper tweaks you already know and love.
In case you are a newbie you don’t must trouble with that because the Creality Cloud stuff it comes with it greater than sufficient to familiarize your self with at first. Putting in the app in your telephone means you may verify the standing of your print from anyplace on the earth and the built-in AI digicam will try to halt the print for you if it detects any printing anomalies.
So, is the K1C the right printer for carbon fiber printing?
The K1C is a good shopper printer certainly. Creality has executed a terrific job bettering the unique K1. It’s additionally my favourite trying 3D printer, partly as a result of it’s so compact, however it’s so compact as a result of the construct plate is lacking that further few millimeters.
The web site says you might be printing withing three minutes or eradicating it from the field. That could be a stretch however the setup is loopy easy. Even when I believe again to printers I used to be taking part in with six months in the past we’re getting fairly near anyone having the ability to simply purchase a printer and get cracking now. The Creality K1C is a shopper product, not a hobbyist one.
For those who want a printer that isn’t only a common mattress slinger you’ll most likely have seemed on the Bambu premium line, that is undoubtedly Creality’s try to seize that market with this cheaper providing, and it’s possibility that’s for certain.
For those who get the bundle with the filament dryer as effectively you may just about try to print all however probably the most unique of filaments, however in fact, until you might be operating a print farm you may keep on with the principle ones. Carbon Fiber is nice for items that want a little bit greater than PLA, particularly if they’re going to face heavy put on or be wanted outside, and even should you simply need one thing that appears a bit much less prefer it was 3D printed.
There are just a few points that include the machine that you would be able to shortly 3D print your approach out of. The frequent filament spool holder on the again is annoying, however Creality offers a mannequin on the USB drive for a spool holder that attaches to the facet of the machine. This could possibly be included actually however there may be nonetheless one thing good about printing your individual options.
The lid is the opposite sticking level, actually. It’s not fairly tall sufficient to cease the Bowden tube from rubbing on it. As ever, makers elsewhere have solved the problem by offering fashions for a riser to raise it up for you, however once more, you should know this, and in case you are new to the passion…
I believe Creality is conscious that is one thing that wants fixing, they even present a stretch of protecting tape so that you can stick contained in the lid to cease it from rubbing and marking. Hardly elegant however I believe this can be a stopgap till the issue goes away, most likely within the subsequent mannequin to be launched.
General, no matter you might be printing, be it extra fashions on your video games room or gaming equipment on your setup – the Creality K1C is an easy answer that you’ll not battle with.
3D printing issues you’ll use in your gaming setup is at all times extra enjoyable than simply shopping for them and the Creality K1C lets you get began doing that with absolutely the minimal of fuss.
