Looking to buy the Vertex

Hi guys,

New to this forum, and looking to buy the new k8400 printer (considering others too).

Have been reading up on the printer, and cant find any definitive answers to ABS printing capability. Printer is advertised that can print in ABS too due to the BuildTak on the unheated bed, but I’ve read mixed reviews on this.

Can anyone provide more insight, maybe some pics of successful ABS prints, and if its the case,the approx failed print to good print ratio?
Also, has anyone tried NinjaFlex, or similar materials with this printer yet?

Some background: I am an motorsport engineer, and want to be able to prototype some of my designs, and ABS is my material of choice(higher melting temp, less brittle than PLA).

Thanks in advance for any help!

For larger prints in ABS a heated bed is an absolute must. No way around it. You can print using a huge brim, but the stress in the layers will be less if printed on a heated bed.

small parts could be okay on the buildtak.

A heated bed is fair easy to add, the board is prepared for it, but the power supply isn’t strong enough, so you either need to replace the stock power supply or add a 2nd supply and use a solid state relay that hooks up to your mainboard, that switches this external PSU.

I don’t know what parts you are looking to print, but there is also a rubber-like filament (ninjaflex is one of them) but it would be better to use a printer with an extruder directly on top of the hotend rather than a bowden-setup as used on the K8400.

The K8400 is a VERY nice printer, but the missing heated bed is somewhat of a letdown. The upside of the bowden setup is that it enables the printer for a fast acceleration/speed, since the weight of the moving parts (inertia) is lower.

I’m only printing with ABS.

Small parts can be printed with the Buildtak but the larger ones are warping almost every time (ABS doesn’t like cold). Another problem is that the ABS prints are sticking like hell and removing them will soon ruin your Buildtak. That’s why I’ve installed a heated bed (very easy to do). And now my prints are almost perfect (especially big ones). Sometimes some layers are not perfectly sticking together. A small draft is enough to cause that so the next step is to close the printer to keep a more stable heat in the printer (adding a door and a top)

Thank you for your input. Its good to know it wouldn’t be hard to add a heated bed(read about mk3 alubed working well).
I know this forum might have a biased view, but what do people think about the vertex vs flashforge creator? Similar price point and capabilities(minus heated bed for vertex).
Thanks

[quote=“raby”]I’m only printing with ABS.

Small parts can be printed with the Buildtak but the larger ones are warping almost every time (ABS doesn’t like cold). Another problem is that the ABS prints are sticking like hell and removing them will soon ruin your Buildtak. That’s why I’ve installed a heated bed (very easy to do). And now my prints are almost perfect (especially big ones). Sometimes some layers are not perfectly sticking together. A small draft is enough to cause that so the next step is to close the printer to keep a more stable heat in the printer (adding a door and a top)[/quote]

Hey raby, could you please share some details and pics of your heated bed solution?
I’m having hard time with ABS without heated bed…

Thanks!!

You can have a look at the Wiki where it’s explained.

[quote=“omblad0n”]…but what do people think about the vertex vs flashforge creator?
Thanks[/quote]The benefit of having a kit is that you know how to fix problems and almost every piece can be ordered as a replacement if something breaks or fails. I wouldn’t get too hung up about needing to print ABS. I used to think like that, but I can’t think of any real need I have to print ABS now, as there are plenty of alternatives out there. Polymax is stronger than ABS but will print perfectly on the Vertex. As time goes on, I think the whole market will move towards improving PLA derivatives. They’re greener, they smell nice, there’s no health risks, there’s less nozzle clogging, easier prints, less shrinkage, there’s a bigger choice of colours and so on. Some of the things I’ve printed in PLA are incredibly robust, it really depends on the design, infill and so on. I’d try it before committing to a ABS capable printer. I did that with my previous printer and it was frankly a nightmare, always getting clogged nozzles and that’s what made me switch to PLA in the first place. Never looked back since!

TY!

[quote=“biscuitlad”][quote=“omblad0n”]…but what do people think about the vertex vs flashforge creator?
Thanks[/quote]The benefit of having a kit is that you know how to fix problems and almost every piece can be ordered as a replacement if something breaks or fails. I wouldn’t get too hung up about needing to print ABS. I used to think like that, but I can’t think of any real need I have to print ABS now, as there are plenty of alternatives out there. Polymax is stronger than ABS but will print perfectly on the Vertex. As time goes on, I think the whole market will move towards improving PLA derivatives. They’re greener, they smell nice, there’s no health risks, there’s less nozzle clogging, easier prints, less shrinkage, there’s a bigger choice of colours and so on. Some of the things I’ve printed in PLA are incredibly robust, it really depends on the design, infill and so on. I’d try it before committing to a ABS capable printer. I did that with my previous printer and it was frankly a nightmare, always getting clogged nozzles and that’s what made me switch to PLA in the first place. Never looked back since![/quote]

Perfect answer, thank you for it. I have already ordered the Vertex this week, and received it yesterday. Haven’t had a chance to start building yet tho.
That was one of the main factors for me, finding a printer with good support behind it, as the Vertex with a dedicated forum + good customer support.
Where are you buying your Polymax from?

Thanks

I got mine directly from Polymakr (as a tester).