ANET A8 3D Printer
General guidelines for access members
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These are some guidelines on using the 3D printer for those that have opted in and have access privileges. Note that Lloyd, Henry, and I decided to share
the printer with everyone that wanted to opt-in. Once the options have been made available and discussed so that everyone is clear in these regards, I
will wait for plenty of time for everyone to make their decision. Probably a few weeks or until the next club meeting. When it looks like we have a final selection of participants, the opt-in will be closed to that group of people so that the proper monies per person can be calculated and we can move on with the project. Please make sure that you have chosen to opt-in. Going backwards, or attempting to opt-in someone afterward will create issues with calculating costs per person and a sense of fairness that we all hope to enjoy. That is the purpose of this discolsure. Please read carefully.
1] If you have opted in then you understand that you are investing money into the initial cost of the ANET A8 3D Printer. Further, you
also understand over the course of the year that upgrades will be gradually done. When one is coming up, like new bearings or something,
everyone will get an email and be notified about the cost. You will be expected to bring money to the next meeting to keep things going.
The idea is to slowly build a high quality printer. We have a really good foundation on the way. Once we have assembled it we can start working
on refining the mechanics.
If this in any way is something you do not want to be involved with over the next year, then please say so now before
we get into the development of this long term project. The 3D printer will allow us to construct any reasonable part, enclosure, gadget, tool, novelty, etc -
YOU NAME IT to further our hobby endeavors - and the investment into the project is for serious interest only. The primary purpose of this
tool is to support exploration and education into the HAM and electronics hobby that we all enjoy. But that is not to say we won't find
other purposes for it as things evolve.
2] Access members must be trained on how to use the printer. Matthew or Lloyd will oversee everyone that has opted in to make sure you
guys know how to operate the machine properly so we don't damage or abuse the mechanics of the unit. There are also some safety issues that will have to be
addressed.
3] Access members may NOT LEAVE a print job. Once you begin a print cycle you must wait until it completes. No running down to HEB
to get groceries. The printer is for all intents and purposes a CNC machine. It is in constant motion and something could possibly bind up or go outside operating
extents. It must be monitored. Keep this in mind that some print jobs could take several hours. So make sure that when you have opted
in for the printer you are aware of this caveat.
4] The printer uses a filament to 'build' layer after layer of the three dimensional object that you intend to fabricate. So in effect,
this is the 'ink' of the printer. For the sake of making things fair, All Access participants must provide their own filament. Now don't let that turn you off just yet.
Right now we are still waiting to get the thing in the mail, and then assembled, and then tested... and so on. I have already purchased testing filament
that I will pay for out of my pocket to get things running.
But once everyone gets acquainted with how the printer works, and how to load filament and run a print - then everyone will need to get their own filament. And
you are going to want to anyway. Because there are a ton of different colors and types like PLA, ABS plastic, Carbon Fiber, etc and so on. Depending on what you
are MAKING will dictate what type of filament you will use - we will have a presentation on choosing filament eventually. And FYI filament is not that expensive - except for carbon fiber which is about double in some cases. Here is an example of what filament looks like. It comes on spools.
5] Access members must leave the printer in ready state when done. Basically remove any filament you have and/or work from the printing bed and
make sure it's ready to go for the next person.
And that's about it. Once we have the printer upgraded to its full potential you will be able to fabricate things as complex or as simple as you like. Matthew has experience
drafting in 3D so if you need help designing a custom part, enclosure, bracket, etc - you will have someone to help.
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