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3D printing problem solved: uneven first layer height inconsistent with nozzle location.

6/14/2020

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I wrestled with this for a few days. I did a number of maintenance items and a couple of upgrades and ended up with a new printing problem and a symptom I had not seen prior: High and low first layer spots that were not consistent with nozzle location. These high and low spots have caused a lot of print failures in the last few days.
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Makers will recognize that these hexagons were not all printed at once. And, this image shows how the 1st layer depth printing problem is not related to the hot end's location.
I found that if I moved the X carriage back and forth along the gantry, I could feel a very slight wobble. But, the hot end was not loose. I was not a wobble, but more like a waving. It seemed that one or more of the new wheels that I installed were out of round. But, which one(s)? And how could I determine this?

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How to print without a USB cable on an Ender 3 and OctoPrint.

11/28/2019

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Ender 3 no USB cable
Thanks to tip from Reddit user u/FDL1, I looked into removing the USB cable from my Ender 3 3D printer. This is what I found and how I did it.

It was easier than I thought. One needs to have already upgraded to OctoPrint and have installed an aftermarket printer board.

​This "how to" will cover the MKS gen L. We'll be modifying the Raspberry Config file on the Raspberry PI, and we'll need three wires, about 6" long with female DuPont connectors on either end.


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Fabric Cable Sleeves For The Ender 3 3D printer.

11/22/2019

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The 3D printing community has given away a tremendous amount of information and upgrades and just great stuff to further 3D printing. I'm happy to finally be able to participate for the hopeful betterment of us all.

I've never liked the stock cable sleeves, so I designed and made new ones from Taslan and #3YKK coil zippers. I used 36" (914mm) long zippers for this project, but one Ender only requires one 36" zipper and one 18" zipper. This is how to make them.


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Display the race medal instead of the ribbon

10/26/2019

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I wanted something that would show off the race medals more than the ribbons. I looked around on the net, but could not find anything. So, I made my own.
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UL Backpacking Vegan Biscuits And Gravy

9/7/2013

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homemade backpacking vegan biscuits and gravy
The most favorite meal in the backcountry at Tardigrade Outdoors is homemade biscuits and gravy. It may take a little time, but I'll savor every moment of preparing this delicious vegan meal in the backcountry while sipping on some estate-grown home roasted coffee.
But, this backcountry breakfast is actually easier than one may expect.

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Car headlamp cleaning kit review

7/31/2013

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I'm getting ready for a backpacking trip for next week, so I've been catching up on some car maintenance. A few of the things I needed to tend to were replacing the spark plugs, somehow cleaning the headlamp covers, and replacing the engine coolant.

Today's blog post is about my experience using the headlight cleaning kit, Mothers PowerBall 4Lights Headlight Restoration Kit.

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Universal De luxe Zig Zag Sewing Machine

7/3/2013

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In what I am sure to be my least interesting post ever, I just picked up a new sewing machine that I am actually pretty excited to get into service. It's a Universal De Luxe Zig Zag MZB.
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I'm mostly firing on a Consew 226, but I need a smaller workhorse to handle all the little bits and whatnot better than my other one, which is missing pieces and the Singer CE-200 which I only want to use for embroidery. I hope this will do it well.

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Building a bear-proof composter in Yosemite National Park

6/24/2013

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I lived in Yosemite National Park for over eight years. I climbed a lot, backpacked a lot, but I was also able to pursue many projects that I thought up.

One of these ideas was a bear-proof composter for myself and other residents. I didn't have much support from NPS or the concessionaire, the company that runs the lodging and dining in the park, so I had to be creative. I couldn't find mention of a composter like this having been made before, so I didn't have much of a reference. I looked over the web and talked to a bunch of people, but nothing really materialized until I went to the dump one day. A bunch of old bear proof trash can pieces were being thrown away. My solution began to solidify.

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The Greatest Backpacking Mug That Ever Lived

6/1/2013

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The simple, insulated, lightweight coffee mug pictured below is one of my favorite pieces of equipment. I've had the same type for about two decades. It's served me better than any other. It weighs about 4 1/2 oz and keeps my coffee warm without burning my lips just about anywhere. I'll generally store in an outside pocket of my pack, upside down to keep debris out. It's always ready for a break and some Iskate while we're traveling.

It's also very durable and inexpensive. Until the Nomad Ventures website is back up, I'd suggest buying it from Campmor.


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Grape trellises from old grape stakes and reclaimed wood

5/31/2013

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At Ardeth backpacking gear, we love grapes and we love grapevines. We love how they provide food, how they look, we love the shade and the little ecosystems they create. So, we've been planting a variety of grapevines around our home so we can have our own, veganic and organic grapes.

Our overall plan with our new home was to buy an inexpensive home with a large yard. We have to keep our bills low to start the business, and growing our own food helps us to do that and to become more sustainable. Grapevines can be a part of that.
We get a variety of foods from grapes. Not only do we get fresh, delicious, veganic grapes, but we also get raisins, grape syrup, grape jam, and this year we might even try our hand at making wine.
Here is a little gallery of photos that inspired us. This grapevine is in Tulare and we just thought it was too awesome. Click on any photo to open the gallery and navigate with the arrow keys.
We're started our first grapevines along our southwest wall to produce grapes and to help shade the house from the summer sun. In the winter, the grapevines are dormant, so we still get the winter sun to warm the house.

I built it with 2X4s and concrete reinforcing grid. It's been working out very well. Underneath it, we planted strawberries. Lawn care is obviously not a priority. Give me a break, I'm building sleeping bags.

Phase 1 grape trellis. Click on any photo to open the gallery and navigate with the arrow keys.
The second phase was to continue getting different kinds of grapevine starts and to establish vines along the sunny southeast corner of the house. Small trellises would link and, as the vines grew, we'd build an arbor over the area. This would be the third phase. Presumably, we would be able to wait a year or two until we need to build the arbor. No, I am not a carpenter.
Phase 2 trellises. Click on any photo to open the gallery and navigate with the arrow keys.
The key to saving money on this endeavor was all of the free grape stakes that I was able to get on Craigslist. After I brought them home, I took some time to figure out how I could best utilize them. What I really wanted was 1/2" stakes.
Ripping the 2"X2" ancient redwood grape stakes into 1/2" stakes was not so simple, but I built a jig that allow me to safely rip into 1/2strips. For the taller trellises, I ripped the 2X4s that I got for free last year and have been sitting in my resource sequestration depot. The resource sequestration depot has also been unflatteringly referred to as "the junk pile" by my doting wife.
I ripped the 2X4s into 1/2" X 1 1/2" strips in two stages. Then, I laid out a template on the workbench (an old door) and screwed and glued them together. I placed the surfaces that I wanted facing out down, as the screws were going to be on the upper surface, facing toward the house once the trellis was built.
I drove stakes into the ground and mounted my trellises to them.
They really didn't turn out looking as nice as I had hoped, but I change things around a bit in the winter when we prune the vines.
Building the trellises. Click on any photo to open the gallery and navigate with the arrow keys.
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