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2016/01/12

<issue_start>username_0: I have been wanting to learn about 3D printing a long time so I really want this site to succeed but I have no previous experience with the subject. I was wondering how can I help the site at this early stage. I thought about asking about how to get started with 3D printing but SE explicitly discourages "easy" questions in the private beta. What can newbies like me do for the site at this stage besides voting questions and answers?<issue_comment>username_1: I would suggest doing a bit of basic research on 3D printing (including reading questions and answers). From these you will learn more about it and hopefull you will have new questions about 3D printing that can be asked. If you are looking at getting a 3D printer, you could ask about different features listed and why they make prints better. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_2: That's the goal of the site, learn, research and ask. While you learn, you can always perform other tasks such as: * improve quality posts by proposing edits, * be active in meta (propose new ideas or write your opinion which are always welcomed), * review [moderation queues](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/review), * housekeeping - help to keep things organised (e.g. tags), * propose descriptions for wiki tags, * vote on questions, down-vote bad or propose changes on low-quality posts, * and so on. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_3: Vote! ===== Private Betas love, love, *love* votes. Without votes, it's difficult to attain privileges, get rewards, and help push us out to public beta. Ask Questions! ============== I know you said this: > > I thought about asking about how to get started with 3D printing but SE explicitly discourages "easy" questions in the private beta. > > > But here's the catch. "Easy" isn't defined. If you have an "easy" question, but it is specific, high-quality, and to the point, and you can show some effort in it, then, please, go ahead and ask it! Participate! ============ You have a voice in our meta discussions as well. You also have the authority to suggest edits, to posts, tag wikis, and tag excerpts. They also get you +2 rep for each that is approved, which can help bring you more afloat. You can also give your opinion in scope, by casting close and reopen votes as well :) Upvotes: 4

2016/01/12

<issue_start>username_0: There are many different printing technologies. While it might be clear to the asker that he's talking about his home 3D printing machine, that's not necessarily the case for those that try to answer the question. I think it would help to specify the scope of questions with tags, to allow future visitors to identify what type of 3D printer it is about. Answers to a lot of questions related to general properties of the printing process like printing speed, resolution, additional manual work, support structures, etc. depend heavily on the technology that's being used. This also prevents "Well, it depends..." type of answers that cover a lot of possibly unrelated things.<issue_comment>username_1: No, there will be many questions which are more general in nature, and have little to do with the actual process used to produce the part. We should encourage tag use for process when appropriate, but I don't think making it mandatory will work in the long term. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_2: For questions where the technology matters, absolutely. If you look at Stack Overflow, for example, all questions must be tagged with the language the OP is asking about. I doubt there will be many questions that are asking about all technologies at once - and if they are, that's likely to be marked as too broad anyway. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_3: *Mandatory* is a probably poor choice of words. Not every question is going to be about the use of specific equipment. As with *any* Q&A site, a user should always include enough background and support information in the body of the question so it can be answered *definitively.* If the specific material or equipment is relevant, be sure to include that information in the post. But if that information is missing, readers can use the 'comments' section to ask the author to go back and clarify the original post. Comments are meant to ask for clarification or to include other information that can somehow improve the original post (questions and answers). Keep at it; editing and constantly improving a post is what this is all about. These posts should serve as a model to the industry and serve as a source authority. But **please do not use comment to answer questions**. Comments are not well-equipped to properly vet any content. Thanks. Upvotes: 2

2016/01/12

<issue_start>username_0: Stack exchange isn't a good platform for product recommendations in general, but a few sites allow it with a tight focus and control. Some that have allowed it in the past have decided to discontinue it for a variety of reasons. I expect at the start we are going to get a lot of "What specific machine should I use" or "is there a 3D model of item X I can print". 1. Should we allow product or part recommendations? 2. If we do, what can we do to make sure they are limited, rather than open ended questions where dozens or hundreds of answers would be different but correct?<issue_comment>username_1: I agree with Jeff's blog post: <https://blog.stackoverflow.com/2010/11/qa-is-hard-lets-go-shopping/> > > don't ask us what you should buy -- ask us *what you need to learn* to tell what you should buy. > > > Upvotes: 3 <issue_comment>username_2: 3D printers are, I do believe, on-topic for [Hardware Recommendations](http://hardwarerecs.stackexchange.com) (I moderate that site, so one might hope I'd know that). In terms of recommendations in general, I recommend not even trying to get them into your scope yet. As a site that's just been set up, and was not set up specifically for recommendation questions, getting the balance of them right without 100% focus on the subject is difficult. Get a good, balanced, secure scope in place *first*, then try to include recommendation questions if you still want them. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_3: I think that hardware recommendations are ok, but in a **limited** and **specific** scope: Bad: > > Can you recommend a cheap printer with a heated bed that's at least 8"\*8"\*8". > > > Which is better? Printer X or printer Y? > > > Good: > > What hotend can I use to print at 300+C? > > > What are the advantages of borosilicate glass over picture frame glass? > > > Upvotes: 1

2016/01/12

<issue_start>username_0: From [The 7 Essential Meta Questions of Every Beta](http://blog.stackoverflow.com/2010/07/the-7-essential-meta-questions-of-every-beta/): --- What should our documentation contain? -------------------------------------- Much of the sites documentation will be the same as on every other Stack Exchange site: “be nice,” “how to create an account,” “how to ask questions” — it’s all pretty static. Even the sections about “what kind of questions should I (not) ask here?” comes primarily from [the Definition phase of Area 51](http://area51.stackexchange.com/faq#questions). But the questions you want to discuss in meta are those issues specific to your site that need to be mentioned in the Help Center. Take the [Super User "About" page](https://superuser.com/faq) as an example: > > Super User is for computer enthusiasts and power users. > > > Ask about... > > > * Specific issues with computer software, hardware or networking > * Real problems or questions that you’ve encountered > > > Don't ask about... > > > * Anything not directly related to computer software or computer hardware > * Questions that are primarily opinion-based > * Questions with too many possible answers or require an extremely long answer > * Videogames, consoles, or other electronic devices, unless they connect to your computer > * Websites or web services like Google, Facebook, Twitter, and WordPress > * Shopping, buying or product recommendations > * Issues specific to corporate IT support and networks > > > These are then elaborated on in SU's [What topics can I ask about here?](https://superuser.com/help/on-topic) page. It took almost a year to figure out the list of “we want these sort of questions” and “we don’t want these sort of questions” on Super User. Area 51 gave you a head start but you should also be working out other FAQ-related issues **specific to your topic and your community**.<issue_comment>username_1: Don't worry about this. ======================= Before you worry about what you're Tour Page, Help Center... and stop is going to contain, you *first need to figure out what your site is about*. Make sure that you explain every close vote, discuss every controversial question, and so on. If you don't know the details of your scope, documentation should be the last of your worries. Upvotes: -1 <issue_comment>username_2: Do worry about it (at least a little bit). ========================================== We need to have at least a rough idea of what is on and off topic to know what the site will be about. Without a least some discussion on this how will mods know when a question needs to be closed? Thats not to say that nothing will change or that we can't refine our thoughts on this but getting a rough draft wouldn't be the worst thing. Taking the Super User example, we could consider at least a few things, something like this, for example, On topic for 3D Printing ------------------------ * Specific issues with a 3D printer (e.g. My 3D printer keeps failing prints) * Real problems or questions you have (e.g. How do I level my 3D printer) Off Topic --------- * Anything not related to 3D printing * Opinion based questions (e.g. Which is the better 3D printer?) * Shopping, buying and product recommendations * Questions with too many possible answers or require an extremely long answer Things that we need to decide on -------------------------------- * Legal questions (e.g. Can I 3D print a gun) * Software questions (e.g. questions about Blender for making 3D models specifically to print, on topic or defer to the Blender Stack Exchange site) This is just a sample of some things I can think of, off the top of my head. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_3: Based on the [Help Center > Asking | What topics can I ask about here?](https://robotics.stackexchange.com/help/on-topic) over on [Robotics](https://robotics.meta.stackexchange.com/a/22/37) --- **$SiteShortName** is for 3d printer professionals, hobbyists, researchers and students. We ask and answer questions about 3d printers, control systems, control theory, algorithms, actuators and sensors. We feel the best *3d printer* questions have links to pertinent datasheets or code, but if your question generally covers … * a specific 3d printer design or implementation problem * the theory and simulation of 3d printers * a sensor, actuator or controller for a 3d printer * algorithms or techniques for 3d printing … then you’re in the right place to ask your question! Some kinds of questions aren't allowed here: * **Shopping recommendations**: Questions which ask "which product or library should I use" or "Where can I buy X", are considered [shopping recommendations](http://blog.stackoverflow.com/2010/11/qa-is-hard-lets-go-shopping/). * **Electronics theory**: Questions which are more general electrical engineering questions and have no real relation to 3d printers are better off at [Electrical Engineering](http://electronics.stackexchange.com). * **Programming**: Generic programming questions with no relation to 3d printers should be asked on [Stack Overflow](http://stackoverflow.com). * **CAD/CAM**: Questions about computer aided design and manufacture should be be asked on [Engineering](http://engineering.stackexchange.com), unless they are related to 3d printing, in which they are fine here. * **Life Questions**: Questions about choosing how to spend your time (what book to read, which class to take, what 3d printer project to construct, what career to pursue, etc.) may be about difficult decisions, and they are often important, but they are too specific to your own situation and are unlikely to help future visitors to the site. They would be better off asked in [3d Printing Chat](http://chat.stackexchange.com/rooms/34216). Generally speaking, if your question is directly related to *3d printers* then even if your question might *also* be appropriate on another site, we are likely to be happy to see it here. Please [look around](/search) to see if your question has been asked before. It’s also OK to [ask and answer your own question](/helpcenter/self-answer). If your question is not specifically on-topic for $SiteName, it may be on topic for [another Stack Exchange site](http://stackexchange.com/sites). If no site currently exists that will accept your question, you may [commit to](http://area51.stackexchange.com/faq) or [propose](https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/76974/how-can-i-propose-a-new-site) a new site at [Area51](http://area51.stackexchange.com/), the place where new Stack Exchange communities are democratically created. For more help, see ["What types of questions should I avoid asking?"](/help/dont-ask) --- This is Community wiki, so please help improve this suggestion. Also, try to maintain the pure html formatting, so that the text between the horizontal bars can be pasted straight into the [What topics can I ask about here?](https://robotics.stackexchange.com/help/on-topic) page. Upvotes: 1

2016/01/12

<issue_start>username_0: Given our successful private beta, soon after we go public it will be time for us to get our first crop of moderators, as explained in the [“Moderator Pro Tempore” blog post](http://blog.stackoverflow.com/2010/07/moderator-pro-tempore/): > > About a week into the public beta, we will seek out members who are deeply engaged in the community’s development; members who: > > > * Have a reasonably high reputation score to indicate active, consistent participation. > * Show an interest in their meta’s community-building activities. > * Lead by example, showing patience and respect for their fellow community members in everything they write. > * Exhibit those intangible traits discussed in [*A Theory of Moderation*](http://blog.stackoverflow.com/2009/05/a-theory-of-moderation/). > > > Bonus points for: > > > * Members with participation in both meta and the parent site (i.e. interest in both community building and expertise in the field). > * Area 51 participation, social network referrals, or blogging about the site. > * Members who have already shown an interest or ability to promote their community. > > > Candidates will be contacted and three of them will be selected to act as provisional Moderators until the community holds formal elections after the Beta period. Besides the normal abilities of a Moderator, they will: > > > * Have access to a special chat room where we will collectively work through the challenges of moderation and community self-policing. > * Organize the process of selecting the site's attributes (domain names, design issues, the FAQ, etc.). > * Rally community support and drive the mission of getting publicity for the site. > > > Essentially, **they will have the ear of the Stack Exchange team for anything we can do to help their sites succeed!** > > > Although the moderators pro tempore will ultimately be selected by Stack Exchange, the purpose of this post is to seek out and propose candidates: * Each nomination should be posted as an answer and it should include (at minimum) a link to the user's main and meta profile so we can check out their activity. * Self nominations are encouraged, step up if you feel you can help. * If you are nominated by someone else you should edit the answer and let us know if you accept or decline (explanation optional). If a nominee declines we will not delete the answer, as to not have someone else nominate them again. * If you are nominating someone else, please mark the post as Community Wiki before saving. Meta doesn't allow suggested edits, so your nominee may be blocked from accepting the nomination. * The nominations are not binding to Stack Exchange or the nominees. If you are being considered by Stack Exchange, you will get an official confirmation email at one point. * Before nominating someone or accept / decline a nomination, you should read [*A Theory of Moderation*](http://blog.stackoverflow.com/2009/05/a-theory-of-moderation/) thoroughly to find out what's generally expected from moderators. If you would like to learn more about the role, please drop into [chat room](http://chat.stackexchange.com/rooms/34216/3d-printing) where you can ask about the role from other moderators (they appear with a blue name in the chat room). Another chatroom called [The Assembly](http://chat.stackexchange.com/rooms/2691/the-assembly) was created specifically for users and moderators to discuss moderation activities, moderators from all over the network are there to answer your questions. Once again, **please don't hesitate to step up and self-nominate!**. Thanks to [F'x](https://chemistry.meta.stackexchange.com/users/30/fx) for the original version of this post [over on chemistry](https://chemistry.meta.stackexchange.com/q/113/17315).<issue_comment>username_1: I would like to nominate myself for a moderator, I think I'd be up for the job. <http://stackexchange.com/users/6668626/chase-cromwell> I'm probably not the best candidate and I'm not super active in meta or Stack Exchange, but I'm becoming more active. Upvotes: -1 <issue_comment>username_2: I would like to nominate myself, [username_2](https://stackexchange.com/users/526476/matt-clark). [](http://stackexchange.com/users/526476/matt-clark) While I might not have the wildest credentials or reputation, I have been around the StackExchange network for a while (11/2012) and generally know my way around the sites. Mostly active on StackOverflow, I answer when I can, and try and do my part to clean up the review queue: ~5000 review tasks; I plan on giving this site as much attention as I can. I started [this 3D Printing proposal](https://area51.stackexchange.com/proposals/82438/3d-printing) just under a year ago on Area 51, and am either way, glad to see the day we made it to beta. Upvotes: 4 <issue_comment>username_3: I'll go ahead and nominate myself as well, <NAME>. [](http://stackexchange.com/users/5815241/username_3) So far, my highest reputation is held in this 3D Printing community. I've relied on the Stack Exchange network since about 2011, didn't become a member of Stack Overflow until last year. In my time on this community, I've maintained a reputation position within the top 10%, tried keeping up with the few reviews we've had thus far, and tried updating the tag definitions. I've had my eyes in 3D printing since about 2008 when I first heard of the MakerBot Cupkake CNC and delved into the 3D printing realm in 2011 when I bought my first printer (Replicator Dual). I've learned a great deal through trial and error and am excited to help others who may be just starting in 3D printing. As this site continues to attract more members, I've enjoyed seeing new posts and trying to help direct proper questions/answers based on the general consensus I've seen here on Meta. Although I'm not extremely involved in Meta, I do try to keep up on what's being said. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_4: Since we still need more candidates, I would like to offer myself in a reserve position. If we don't have enough potential moderators by the time the community team need to make a decision, I would be happy to offer my time. [profile for username_4 on Stack Exchange, a network of free, community-driven Q&A sites http://stackexchange.com/users/flair/18514.png](http://stackexchange.com/users/18514/mark-booth) Although my contribution to 3d Printing so far has mostly been here on meta, I would be happy to help out as a human exception handler for our community. Plus, when I finally get around to putting my Mendel together, I'm sure I'll have a lot of questions to ask. \*8') As an active [Moderator Pro Tempore](http://blog.stackoverflow.com/2010/07/moderator-pro-tempore/) over on [Robotics](https://robotics.stackexchange.com/), I have a solid grasp of [A Theory of Moderation](http://blog.stackoverflow.com/2009/05/a-theory-of-moderation/) and 3 years of experience, so know what the job entails. My average flag handling time over the last month has been around 12 hours, I have built up [useful](https://robotics.meta.stackexchange.com/q/176/37) [tools](https://robotics.meta.stackexchange.com/q/1302/37) to [help](https://robotics.meta.stackexchange.com/a/131/37) swiftly deal with problems and I try to [involve](https://robotics.meta.stackexchange.com/q/1300/37) the [community](https://robotics.meta.stackexchange.com/q/149/37) any [time](https://robotics.meta.stackexchange.com/q/106/37) I'm not sure about how we want to [handle](https://robotics.meta.stackexchange.com/q/92/37) things. I supported the original [Personal Manufacturing](http://area51.stackexchange.com/proposals/22246) site and felt passionate enough about it to create [Digital Fabrication](http://area51.stackexchange.com/proposals/41850) and take it all the way to private beta. I have also [supported](https://robotics.meta.stackexchange.com/a/1273/37) people asking [3d printing questions over on Robotics](https://robotics.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/3d-printing) while getting [this proposal](http://area51.stackexchange.com/proposals/82438) up and running. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_5: I would like to nominate myself, [username_5](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/users/115/tormod-haugene?tab=profile). [profile for username_5 on Stack Exchange, a network of free, community-driven Q&A sites http://stackexchange.com/users/flair/1574864.png](http://stackexchange.com/users/1574864) I have been an active user of several Stack Exchange sites since 2012, but have finally now found a site that I really can contribute to. As a robotics engineer by education, I early got interested in the art of 3D printing, and decided to join the community for myself in 2014 when I graduated from university. Over the past two years I have experimented with my trustworthy Kossel Mini printer to the point where I now need to set new challenges to still have something to do. Taking part in the Stack Exchange 3D Printer community has provided me further challenges and learning potential, which I truly appreciate. I already spend a lot of time on this site, and try to help new users uphold the quality standard found on SE sites, answer questions and finish the review queues whenever possible. Overall, I am very proud of how this site has turned out so far, and would very much like to help it progress further. To me, taking on further tasks of moderation seems like a natural step, and I hope you will allow me the opportunity to contribute as a moderator in the future. Upvotes: 3 <issue_comment>username_3: I would also like to nominate [<NAME>](http://stackexchange.com/users/7675951/ryan-carlyle) for moderation. [](http://stackexchange.com/users/7675951/ryan-carlyle) Ryan has proven to be a valuable resource in the community by providing many well written answers and maintained a respectful record in all responses. For these reasons, I believe Ryan would be a great candidate for moderation. Upvotes: 2

2016/01/12

<issue_start>username_0: Are there plans or ideas floating around for a logo contest, or is that a Public-Beta stage thing?<issue_comment>username_1: Getting a logo is part of getting a design, which is something that happens when a site *graduates* out of public beta. In short, not for a long time yet. While the site is in beta it will keep this theme that it currently has. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_2: Sites get a customized design when they near graduation and [that is a long way off](https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/257614/graduation-site-closure-and-a-clearer-outlook-on-the-health-of-se-sites). The task at hand is to gather up a collection of high quality questions so this site can get out of Private Beta. Focus on *that* now. When the site is nearing graduation, the designers will contact you for feedback on a potential design. Typically the design is created by the designers first and it is posted for feedback and suggestions. The process of when and how this happens *has* been in flux more recently, but typically a logo contest is not really part of that process. But who knows… I've been floating various suggestions about how to get the community looped back in that process. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_3: no matter if we are close to graduation or not, i'd like to submit this one as my proposition [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/CPKTm.png) it is: * easy to recognize * simple * contains stylised '3' and 'D' characters * refers to 'layers' * aligned to SE logo * can be color/gray/BW and still well recognized * can be simplified (pixelate) to create favico (min size 8x8 pixels ;) first presented in this topic <https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/a/247/1211> Upvotes: 2

2016/01/12

<issue_start>username_0: Is it realistic or thought neccesary to develop a plugin/feature for this site, to automatically add a small info-box about a thingiverse link? An example of this is Apple's 3D touch technology. In theory, the plugin could recogize thingiverse links in questions and answers, replace the link with an image and the author/name of the project. I'm also volunteering myself to help with this if there's interest. (Experience with Thingiverse API)<issue_comment>username_1: Typically, it's a better idea to wait before you try to get this kind of thing integrated. Enthusiasm is great in a private beta, but for the early stages, direct that enthusiasm towards the Q&A. That's what'll get this site on its feet and into a successful public beta. When the site's more stable and running nicely, then if there's a need (or want) for a plugin like this then the discussion about it can be had. (On a tangent - if such a plugin is going to happen, it may well be down to SE's developers to get it done, which might make getting assistance from the people on this site difficult.) Upvotes: 3 [selected_answer]<issue_comment>username_2: ### Technological issues Stack Exchange works hard for its communities, but there is a limit. If thingiverse changes its API (which it can, and does, do at any time without notice) then anything we build on it has to be modified, and users will be very whiny until it's fixed. If we choose to integrate model viewing or any sort of API integration with an outside service, we will have to make sure the service provides some sort of legacy guarantee minimal API that won't change, and then we will only be able to use that. ### Political issues I would be very uncomfortable endorsing a closed source, commercial service on this site. There are many communities within the world of 3D printing that are very unhappy with makerbot, thingiverse, and their parent company, and encouraging users to use this service may result in pushing away some very valuable experts within the reprap world. ### Looking to the future If we integrate any sort of model library or model viewer, I strongly suggest we choose an open source project the community can heartily endorse. We may link to outside models, but the core API should be servable by stack exchange without license or much maintenance so 1) we don't have to deal with API changes messing us up, 2) we don't rely on outside services that may change their terms of use or API, 3) we don't have to form complicated contract bound relationships with 3rd parties just to get the guarantees we'd need to convince Stack Exchange to invest in a new feature, and 4) we don't become too politically involved such that we disenfranchise users who may have very strong feelings about this subject. ### Wait and see This is the early beta. Let's find out what people link to in questions before dedicating resources to improving the links/plug-ins/oneboxes. It may be that thingiverse objects are linked to frequently, and that it would add value to the site to improve that experience, but it's also just as likely that thingiverse turns out to be infrequently linked and the effort spent now would essentially have been wasted. Let's wait until we have tens of thousands of questions so we can properly evaluate what the community actually uses and needs. Upvotes: 1

2016/01/12

<issue_start>username_0: It is very easy to ask questions that only tangentially involve 3D printing, such as: * How do I drill a hole in a 3D printed part? * How do I paint 3D printed parts? * How do I sand, smooth, etc...? * How do I take a picture with a 3D printed camera? My last example is clearly not on topic, and the other examples aren't > > difficult, specific questions — the kind of questions pros and experts ask each other, not the kind of questions novices ask pros. > > > However, the point is that it's very easy to involve 3D printing in a question that isn't about 3D printing. Drilling a hole in a 3D printed part is, for the most part, just like drilling one in wood. Such questions may be more suited for a general DIY/makers-type site. On the other hand, there do exist 3D printing specific issues (for instance, low infill or delamination can be a problem when drilling in a (FDM) 3D printed part). At what point does a question involving 3D printing become on-topic for our site? Should questions identify a specific issue ("I've tried drilling a hole, now my part has delaminated, what now?")?. Queries for general advice and best practice don't seem to fit the bill of being difficult and specific.<issue_comment>username_1: The dividing line of "tangentially off topic" is typically when the *actual* subject of the question being asked is only ***coincidentally*** adjacent to 3D printing. Here is a *clear* example illustrating the "tangential issue:" > > I printed a crane mechanism in 3D. How much voltage must I apply to the motor to lift 150 grams? > > > I see this type of thing all the time. Users will go to the mat arguing that they are printing in 3D, so their question is on topic. It is not. The actual *expertise* needed to answer this question is in electronics. With a question like this, the premise that the user *happens* to be printing in 3D is entirely coincidental to the actual issue. The examples you cited above are a bit more iffy. I might argue some of them could (potentially) be on topic… if the issue of the material being printed in 3D is somehow germane to the problem. I actually don't know enough about the subject to say, so I'm only considering the possibility that it *is* relevant to this subject space. Let's not be too quick to start barring questions that aren't explicitly about the physical process of 3D printing literally. There are a lot of *industry issues* that could be interesting to include here. It's probably better to ***wait for actual examples before trying to create a general rule around this issue.*** As a general rule for building this site, it is often better to wait for a preponderance of problems that occur *in actual practice* before we start seeking to create a lot of rules around hypothetical situations. Words to live by. Upvotes: 4 <issue_comment>username_2: The problem with the questions you raised are (except for the camera one) that they are all about dealing with the materials that are used with 3D-printing and not about the mechanics of printing. But when I started 3D-printing, that's certainly where a large part of my questions lay. It's because the materials are DIFFERENT than ones we're used to dealing with, and if it weren't for 3D-printing, I wouldn't have been working with them then. It's BECAUSE I was 3D-printing that the questions arose. There are certainly similarities between the materials used for 3D-printing and other materials we might run into, but there are also vast differences. For example, ABS is the same plastic that we know from Legos. But how does working with the plastic that's been 3D-printed differ from working with a Lego? I would consider any question about that area to be valid. You mention drilling plastic, but then got the answer wrong. It is NOT like drilling wood; the way you drill plastic should be different from how you deal with wood, such as the speeds used and the use of hand drills. There are even special plastic bits that you can buy that make it easier to drill plastic. Good questions might be: for PLA, ABS and other 3dpg plastics, when is it appropriate to use such bits and when can you get away with using high speed drill bits like you would use for wood? Are higher drill speeds better than lower speeds for some 3D-printed plastics and not others, or vice versa? In summary, I feel that questions about a technique or material that is being used in the 3D-printing process, or dealing with the materials afterward, should be valid because 3D-printing changes how the techniques are done or the materials are dealt with. Upvotes: 1

2016/01/13

<issue_start>username_0: This has inspired some discussion and I may be just splitting hairs, but I've always been confused by this strategy. The specific example I'm referring to is here: <https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/a/29/60> In many cases on SE, I see people post "Answers" that basically say "Don't do what you're doing. Instead you can get to your goal by doing this." While it is often helpful, this form of answer is the bane of my existence as a user of SE sites. There are often cases when I am googling a difficult problem because I cannot do "alternative a" as suggested by the answerer. Then, I get to an SE question that asked about exactly the situation I am having. An answer of "Don't do that, do this instead" is upvoted, accepted, and the only answer. Thus, I am unable to solve my problem using SE. In other words, the Answer didn't apply to the question, and so SE led me down the wrong path. Am I doing something wrong here? Is this an expected/accepted pattern? Or is this something I should go the route of downvoting? Or like the poster of the above answer suggests, flagging?<issue_comment>username_1: If it tries to answer the question, it's still an answer... But it doesn't mean it's always a good one. Generally, in these cases, you would be able to flag such an answer as Very Low Quality, especially if they would fit better in the comment space. The reason why you can't here however, is because the answer has a positive score. So what can we do? You can't really stop people from writing answers. If you want them to improve, leave a comment, and ask them to elaborate. Otherwise, downvote and move on. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_2: Sometimes, "don't try to do what you're trying to do" is the only valid answer, see e.g. [XY problem](https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/66377/what-is-the-xy-problem). Upvotes: 3 <issue_comment>username_3: The ultimate goal of any answer should be to **solve the problem that the asker is facing**. Sometimes that involves not going to what they directly wrote, because sometimes that's not the most effective way to go about it. For much the same as there are people who can't use alternatives, there are people who didn't *think* about the alternative options in the first place. It's very easy when some askers run into a problem, to tunnel-vision that "I must solve it this way" and then someone provides a very enlightening view by working outside the box the asker had situated inside. That said, this is also part of the very nature as to why these sites permit more than one answer to a question. It is to allow different routes to solve the same problem. Some will be the direct route that is asked, others will take shortcuts as they see fit. It remains though that naturally, sometimes an alternative, be it a particular one or just in general, is not permissible. When this is the case, that kind of a restriction is *part of the problem*. As such if the asker can't work with a given alternative, and if the only answers they're getting is that alternative, it's to them to modify their question to exclude that alternative as an option. Or if it is a known quantity to begin with, a pre-emptitive exclusion present in the question when asked is very appropriate. On the other side, if a reader happens upon a question and cannot utilize the alternatives that exist there, then they are welcome to recreate the question in a fashion which excludes the alternatives since their situation cannot cater to it. Sans such an explicit exclusion, if the asker can work with the alternative, or if they still receive other answers that do not employ that alternative, there's no foul going on as a result. It's fine to dislike something being provided as an alternative, but it's by no means something we're going to discourage on a level to the point of flagging. Downvotes, those are yours to give as you see fit to things that you believe are not helpful - I could say something like "It's probably more appropriate to downvote if a particular alternative is actively unhelpful to you, as opposed to a post which you stumble across in random browsing which just *happens* to be an alternative", but at the same vein, you could still deem it unhelpful and the vote is yours to cast. Just be open to the fact that if the alternative *does* work for other people, it's going to remain acceptable on the site. Upvotes: 2

2016/01/13

<issue_start>username_0: **A big shout out to all of us for a successful graduation into private beta. Let's make it a success now, and make sure we graduate into a full-fledged site. So, this is one post which every user of a private beta site should read and act accordingly.** This is a reproduction of a moderator's (Richard) [post on meta.hermeneutics.SE](https://hermeneutics.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/49); I believe it is very much applicable to this community as well. Richard wrote a post encouraging voting. I think this is a big issue because rep is the basis of our "economy", encourages (good) user activity, sorts out our content and makes the site look active. In particular **Question Votes** make the site look more active. > > I cannot state this strongly enough. Voting is *absolutely critical* to the formation of a healthy SE site. And this is never more true than in Private and early Public beta. > > > ### Vote on Questions > > > Voting allows the community to determine what topics are allowed and what are not. Voting shows what constitutes a well-formed question and what is unacceptable for this community. > > > If you need help formulating better questions, the blog post [Asking Better Questions](http://blog.stackoverflow.com/2010/10/asking-better-questions/) might help you out. (Admittedly, it's geared towards the Stackoverflow crowd, but the philosophies there will help). Also, [How to Ask](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/how-to-ask) directly from StackOverflow is an excellent resource. > > > Finally, I want to reiterate that **Voting on questions is free!** It doesn't cost you any reputation to to vote a question down. (Compared to answers:) > > > ### Vote on Answers > > > Voting on answers allows a dramatic increase in reputation. Like questions, it shows that you believe and support the answer provided. Also, vote answers up that you think are well worded and support the answer given. > > > *You don't have to agree with an answer to vote it up!* > > > To show that this is true, they've even created a [badge for voting up competing answers (called "Sportsmanship")](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/help/badges/63/sportsmanship). > > > If you think an answer is *useful*, vote it up. If you think an answer is *not useful*, vote it down. Either way, **vote**! > > > If you need help on writing answers, the meta post [How do I write a good answer to a question?](https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/7656/how-do-i-write-a-good-answer-to-a-question) will help you out. > > > ### Final thoughts > > > If people do not vote, there won't be enough reputation on this site for it to be promoted. Reputation is very important to a StackExchange site as it creates the groups of people capable of maintaining the site. > > > To show how critical it is, <NAME> posted a blog article regarding this topic: [Vote Early, Vote Often](http://blog.stackoverflow.com/2010/10/vote-early-vote-often/) > > > ### Encourage others to vote! > > > Quoting RobertCartaino from chat: > > > > > > > Vote, vote, vote. Encourage others to vote, vote, vote. On good content, leave signposts ("If you like this, please vote it up. It's important for the community!")-- in both meta and the main site. Maybe a few meta posts informing the users of the important of that type of participation. You are empowered a lot more than you know. > > > > > > > > > Don't upvote bad content (edit/suggest how to fix it instead) but make sure you remember to vote, especially for questions; if you learned something from an answer on a question, the question's probably worth an upvote too so others can find the good information.              []<issue_comment>username_1: **Yes!** Absolutely. We need to reward good answers, and raise rep levels so suers can get moderation privileges when they rise to the normal public beta levels. However, I think we should also downvote poor questions and answers. I haven't yet done so, partly because I've focused on rewarding the good posts. But downvoting is important, too. What happened to me yesterday: 1. I posted an answer (my first) to a question. 2. It was downvoted. 3. A user who may/may not have been the downvoter pointed out something I was wrong about. 4. There was a discussion in comments. 5. I deleted my answer. 6. I edited it. 7. There was continued dialogue with the user and another. I improved my answer even further. 8. Downvote was removed. I'm grateful to the downvoter, and to the comments. We need to establish what posts are good and bad in the site, and my original answer was not good. It was wrong in several points - and since the question was about [safety](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/safety "show questions tagged 'safety'"), it was even more important for it to be correct. The feedback helped me to fix my answer, but if I had not done so, the downvote would have ensured that better answers went to the top. We should definitely upvote. But downvoting is good, too. Downvoters don't have to comment - that's never the case - but comments certainly help. They helped me. Upvotes: 3 <issue_comment>username_2: For graduation, ***voting is the key*** to get a growing community that wants to come back to post questions and answers! According to SE.3D Printing user stats at [Area 51](https://area51.stackexchange.com/proposals/82438/3d-printing) we need more questions and a solid group of users to assist in moderating the site. The amount of questions are hard to control, but could be increased by the avid users by posting questions and answer those themselves (e.g. about problems you encountered while gaining experience in 3D printing, this is perfectly legal and documents the gained experience to be shared with others). Another aspect is the solid group of users. According to the stats page: > > We recommend: > > > * 150 users with 200+ rep (currently 130 users with 200+ rep) > * 10 users with 2,000+ rep (currently 10 users with 2,000+ rep) > * 5 users with 3,000+ rep (currently 7 users with 3,000+ rep) > > > Quote taken at July 31, 2018 This implies we are short on 200+ rep users (20 people). This can be influenced by voting! There are so many questions unaccepted and a few do not have an answer, so there is a lot of reputation points to be awarded. Please vote, not only answers, but also on questions. Please do also downvote to keep the quality high, but leave a comment why you downvote, when this answer/question is then modified to address your concerns please revisit to review your vote again. Upvotes: 3 <issue_comment>username_3: There are other considerations, as have already been noted on [What does it take to get out of Beta stage?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/264/what-does-it-take-to-get-out-of-beta-stage) On fully graduated sites, we need: * ***users with > 10k*** who can access the moderation tools and; * ***users > 3k*** who can vote fully (close votes for example). --- For a full list of reputation against privileges on a *fully graduated site*, take a look at the [Raspberry Pi privileges page](https://raspberrypi.stackexchange.com/help/privileges): > > [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/HkSHk.png "Graduated privileges") > > > As can be seen, the reputation differs greatly from the reputation required *when the site is in beta*, see [our privileges](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/help/privileges). > > [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/aNWMB.png "Beta Privileges") > > > --- See [this answer](https://robotics.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/1354/graduation-of-this-community#answer-1355) to the question [“Graduation” of this Community](https://robotics.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/1354/graduation-of-this-community) for SE.Robotics.Meta, in particular this *very poignant* paragraph: > > Also, consider this, we don't have a single 10k user right now. If we were to graduate today, the only people who would have access to moderator tools would be ♦ moderators. The problems are even worse further down the reputation scale, we only have 6 users with 3k or more reputation, who aren't already ♦ moderators, so only these 6 people would be able to cast ordinary close votes. > > > Our case is very similar. We have (click [here](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/users?tab=Reputation&filter=all)): * One user who is *near* 10k, and that is, without wishing to name and shame (;-D) [Tom](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/users/26/tom-van-der-zanden) * 6 users over 3k Upvotes: 2

2016/01/13

<issue_start>username_0: This site may attract questions such as * Is it legal to sell 3D printed objects from a model repository? * Are 3D printed guns legal in my jurisdiction? * If my custom-built printer sets my house on fire, does the insurance cover it? Are such questions allowed on this site, or should they be redirected to a site dealing more commonly with laws?<issue_comment>username_1: Yes, such questions should be on-topic. There can be partial overlap in sites' scopes, and unique legal issues involving 3D printing can be addressed here. Users of this site are more likely to have specific expertise than users on a site that deals with laws more generally. Upvotes: 3 <issue_comment>username_1: No, such questions should not be allowed. This site deals only with the practical issues of 3D printing. Questions about legal issues should be redirected to sites dealing specifically with those, since users of this site do not have the expertise to address legal issues. A 3D printing expert does not make a legal expert. Upvotes: 1 <issue_comment>username_2: I would go with **NO,** as that should be dealt by law experts from the [Law SE](https://law.stackexchange.com/), instead of 3D printing engineers and enthusiasts in this site. Dealing with such questions in this site, would lead to the following problems, like wrong and unreliable advice. So, such questions should be migrated to the Law site, IMO. Upvotes: 3 <issue_comment>username_3: **Yes - in some cases.** First, overlap between sites is fine. *It doesn't matter if a question is on topic somewhere else*; that's no reason to eliminate it from a different site's scope. There were some issues when HSM sprang up, because Mathematics, Physics, and other sites allowed history-related questions. I participated in several meta discussions on these sites. While Physics eventually decided to not allow history questions, Mathematics and other sites continued to allow them. So we should not make our decision based on Law. I do agree that, so far, the [legal](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/legal "show questions tagged 'legal'") questions have not been great. But in the future, they could be. I wrote in [a comment](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/103/is-it-legal-to-make-a-weapon-with-a-3d-printer#comment123_1030) > > I agree with @TomvanderZanden; a good case could be made for keeping this here. Laws and regulations can be a huge influence on an industry; the allowance or ban of certain products of said industry would seem to be relevant here. Remember, questions can be on-topic on multiple sites. > > > Regulatory measures can be extraordinarily important in a industry. If we had a site about making socks, should questions about whether or not is is legal to make socks with material X in the United States be off topic? I would argue no; this could be an important part of sock-making. We have the same situation here. Some [legal](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/legal "show questions tagged 'legal'") questions can be important; I would argue that questions regarding which materials and devices are legal should be ones we aim for. The legality of Filament A could be really important to a project. That's not to say that all [legal](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/legal "show questions tagged 'legal'") questions are fine. As has been said, some of the ones we've had so far haven't been great, and I would advocate sending them to Law. But I strongly disagree that just because of the examples we've seen we should not allow [legal](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/legal "show questions tagged 'legal'") questions. There are good ones out there; we haven't seen their full extent yet. Upvotes: 4 <issue_comment>username_4: I would say that **they are on topic** because it seems more reasonable to look for questions about the legality of 3D printing on a 3D printing site than a law site. Upvotes: 3

2016/01/13

<issue_start>username_0: What would be a good tag to use for doing business/making profit with a 3D printer?<issue_comment>username_1: I'd suggest two different tags: * [monetization]: For selling, or profiting from printing, or from printing machines * [financing] (or [costs]): For calculating the cost of materials and machines, including operational expenses. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_2: I would propose something as [business] or [commercial-use] as opposed to [personal-use] to differentiate between these posibilites. Upvotes: -1

2016/01/13

<issue_start>username_0: I believe this question is asked on every private Beta... what should be the name of our chatroom?<issue_comment>username_1: **The Hotbed.** Colloquially, "hotbed" generally refers to a center of activity. Here, it will have a double meaning (referencing the hot bed of a 3D printer. Upvotes: 4 [selected_answer]<issue_comment>username_2: Filibusters! ============ I've heard that from somewhere. It's a play on the word "filament" Oh, Just as a heads up, I can think of the weirdest names... Upvotes: -1 <issue_comment>username_3: ### The Things Not to confused with Thingiverse. Upvotes: 0 <issue_comment>username_3: ### 4D! Since printers are printing in 3D for now, it's better to think in advance:) Upvotes: 0 <issue_comment>username_3: ### The Box Since everything happens in the box. Upvotes: 1 <issue_comment>username_4: sliced text ----------- Slicing a 3d model is a necessary step for almost all 3D printing techniques, so that it can be printed layer by layer that eventually make up the 3D object. In chat, people write text line by line which will eventually make up an entire conversation. Upvotes: 2

2016/01/15

<issue_start>username_0: We currently have quite a few tags about filament: * [filament](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/filament "show questions tagged 'filament'") * [plastic-filament](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/plastic-filament "show questions tagged 'plastic-filament'") * [thermoplastic-filament](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/thermoplastic-filament "show questions tagged 'thermoplastic-filament'") * etc. I feel like we need to clean these up and make clear what we'll use each tag for. Thoughts?<issue_comment>username_1: I see a form of hierarchy that could be used. Depending on the question a higher level tag could be used or a more specific one for specific problems (or both tags even). * Filament + Plastic Filament - ABS - PLA + Water Soluble - PVA + Flexible - NinjaFlex and similar - TPU + Conductive + Metalic * Resin * Powder * Full Color Feel free to edit to add more types Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_2: All filament used in 3D printing is thermoplastic filament, so plastic-filament and thermoplastic-filament are redundant. Upvotes: 3 <issue_comment>username_3: I bump this and propose the radical method: We only need ONE [filament](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/filament "show questions tagged 'filament'") tag and then any tags for specific material (e.g.[pla](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/pla "show questions tagged 'pla'") [abs](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/abs "show questions tagged 'abs'") [petg](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/petg "show questions tagged 'petg'") [pva](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/pva "show questions tagged 'pva'") [tpu](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/tpu "show questions tagged 'tpu'") [pc](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/pc "show questions tagged 'pc'")) groups that have specific properties (e.g. [flexible-filament](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/flexible-filament "show questions tagged 'flexible-filament'") [conductive-filament](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/conductive-filament "show questions tagged 'conductive-filament'")) * The difference between [thermoplastic-filament](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/thermoplastic-filament "show questions tagged 'thermoplastic-filament'") and [plastic-filament](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/plastic-filament "show questions tagged 'plastic-filament'") in use is nonexistant and both are pretty much identical to filament in the current use - it is rather random which one gets used, in many cases more than one is used. * There is no filament that can be used in 3D printing that is not a thermoplastic, as the method to re-shape the filament via heat demands a thermoplastic. * While there are clearly more plastics than thermoplastics, non thermoplastic plastics are not useable for 3D printing unless you would design a whole printer to use for example an UV-curing resin delivered to the workpiece via a needle - which makes this a non-FDM printer. Upvotes: 2

2016/01/20

<issue_start>username_0: The questions so far are pretty strongly geared towards hobbyist/consumer FFF machines. That's not necessarily bad, since that's where most legit questions will come from. (Not much reason to ask questions about a plug-and-play industrial machine.) But it's a pretty important scope distinction. So far, askers are not really providing enough technology/make/model info to tell what kind of equipment they're running. An experienced expert can tell by context what the intention is, but that's not really scalable. Sub-questions: 1. Will other AM technologies like SLA/DLP be included? If so, a pretty rigorous clarification and tagging effort will be required to separate out these other technologies. 2. Are industrial machines in scope?<issue_comment>username_1: On the question/answer trajectory we're currently following, the group would be best titled "Consumer/Hobbyist FFF 3D Printing" and not just a generic "3D Printing" group. I think some pretty aggressive moderation / self-policing will be required to make people add the necessary tags to clarify this. Edit: to be clear, I'm not saying we should only include hobbyist FDM printers, I'm saying we need to require clear labeling if we intend to serve more than one type of users. Upvotes: 0 <issue_comment>username_2: I think all additive manufacturing techniques should be in scope. Given their popularity with consumers, most questions will naturally be regarding FDM printers. I don't see why that should rule out other techniques though: SLA machines are becoming increasingly accessible, and I think there's a $5000 SLS machine on the horizon. I don't see any reason to rule out industrial machines either. With the current user base those questions might go unanswered but there's no reason this site couldn't attract industry experts when it goes public. I do agree that questions should specify the make/model of 3D printer the question relates to if it's not obvious from the context. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_3: In technology, today's big iron is tomorrows desktop toys. I don't see any purpose in creating an explicit moratorium against bigger industrial applications in this space. "The questions so far…" are only a limited sampling from a *closed* private beta running about two weeks. I don't know how comprehensive this site will become, but let's be careful about starting in on a rule set anticipating problems that may never occur in actual practice. See: **[Erring towards keeping these questions and let their longer track record decide if they belong](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/a/68/1).** Upvotes: 2

2016/01/24

<issue_start>username_0: We have only had activity on 3 questions in the past 2 days. It is recommended that we get 10 new questions per day. This is far below these goals. What can we do to get more questions?<issue_comment>username_1: I wouldn't worry too much about it. We're still currently in the private beta stage, and we'll be in this spot for another 9 days. After nearly two weeks of private beta, it's perfectly natural for activity to slow down. So what should you do? ---------------------- Don't lose out. Make sure that you keep your commitment to this strong. Keep active on meta, working through the queues and discussing site issues. Quantity is not everything. Whatever you do, never sacrifice quality in these critical stages. Don't ask questions simply for the sake of asking: if you do, you're bailing out on the site. Continue answering questions with quality. If you start seeding the site with lower-quality questions, you'll destroy the site. I've seen this happen. You've got a reputation so far, make sure to keep it, or even improve it. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_2: Sending out additional private-beta invites could help, too (without, of course, going overboard). Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_3: I agree with Erik. This is something we need to improve on if we want the site to be viable and [Graduate from Beta](https://stackoverflow.blog/2010/10/21/when-will-my-site-graduate/). Our Beta stats on [Area51](http://area51.stackexchange.com/proposals/82438?phase=beta) need improvement. We are doing great on answering questions (94%) - GREAT JOB!!! We have the quality answers and users, now we need quantity to meet our Beta Goals. **6,000 members is REALLY LOW.** Forbes that ["More than 278,000 desktop 3D printers (under $5,000) were sold worldwide..."](https://www.forbes.com/sites/tjmccue/2016/04/25/wohlers-report-2016-3d-printer-industry-surpassed-5-1-billion/#1886464619a0) in 2016. I am SURE that the majority of the owners are looking for answers. In the past year since beta started, the 3D printing market has exploded (nearly 300K users); but, we have only added 50% do our user base (2K users). WHY? **1.5 questions a day is (IMHO) DISMAL**. I am a member of a Facebook Group for just the Tronxy X1/X3. It has 1,500 members (1/4 of what we have) and gets at least 10 questions/day. **So, what can we do?** Here is the [same question](https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/252762/what-can-be-done-to-promote-beta-sites) on Stack Exchange Meta and here are some SO Blog Posts on [Community Promotion Ads](https://stackoverflow.blog/2011/05/31/community-promotion-ads/) and [A Recipe to Promote your Site](https://stackoverflow.blog/2010/08/23/a-recipe-to-promote-your-site/) **So, Who is With Me?** **Who wants this site THE SOURCE for 3D Printing questions and answers?** Upvotes: 0

2016/01/24

<issue_start>username_0: When 3D Printing moves into public beta, you're going to want to get the word out. And fast! One of the best ways to advertise ourselves across the entire Stack Exchange network is through community ads. ### So what are these "Community Ads?" Graduated sites allow the community to advertise relevant products or services within the site, using a system where the community chooses what to advertise. You can find these posts on per-site metas. Hint: these posts have the [community-ads](/questions/tagged/community-ads "show questions tagged 'community-ads'") tag! ### Cool! What should the ad be like? There's a few requirements for these ads. Most notably, * They must be 300px wide by 250px tall, or double for "retina" displays * There's a limit on file size of 150 kB. * The image must be hosted on i.stack.imgur (the Stack Exchange image hosting service). * Ads must be GIF or PNG (no animated GIFs). ### What else should I know? To facilitate easy posting to other sites, make sure that the embedded image is of the following format: ``` [![Tagline to show on mouseover][1]][2] [1]: http://image-url [2]: http://clickthrough-url ``` You can also include a message as a part of your answer with your own thoughts: why you chose some of the elements, and what sites the ads could potentially be posted to. Don't forget to critique each other as well! **Happy Designing!**<issue_comment>username_1: I'll try my hand at it and try to get the ball rolling. [](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/) Upvotes: 3 <issue_comment>username_2: How about something like: [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/UUGWg.jpg) The post-it design is optional, naturally. Upvotes: 3 <issue_comment>username_3: I admire Tormod idea. Here is my version of his picture. [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/hNsZV.png) [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/bRg5J.png) Upvotes: 3 <issue_comment>username_1: As mentioned, here's one related to the [**Occupy Thingiverse**](http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:30808) movement. It's simple, but it has a bit of history within the 3D printing community. [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/9vUg7.png) Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_3: here is another trial of logo (kinda evolution to make it more technic and even more simple) [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/8fI5T.png) and favico [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/ePnPJ.png) Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_4: [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/4uUlD.jpg) Using this guy to post on the facebook groups. As an admin of 3d printing hobbyists I usually see posts get 2-3k views. So We might get as high as 5k+ views. But it seems to be fairly random with Facebooks meddling with what content to show first. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_3: here is another proposition it's as "native" as possible i think :) [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/zbU4j.png) it's jut a draft so all those curves will be tuned but i wanted to show the idea Upvotes: 2

2016/01/27

<issue_start>username_0: Questions like: > > *x* 3d printer is good? > > > or > > if it is my first printer, which model would you recommend > > > or > > What printer model to buy? > > > are on-topic? I think if you ask > > **I can not do *x* with my 3d printer, what printer to do *x*?** > > > Can be on-topic<issue_comment>username_1: I don't think any of these types of questions should be on-topic. They're all heavily opinion-based. I think even the last one ("What 3D printer can do X?") isn't a good question, because possibly very many printers might be able to do it, and then the answers quickly devolve into subjective recommendations. It would be better to ask something among the lines of "I want to do X with printer Y, is it possible?" - but even that might turn into a subjective discussion quickly. Upvotes: 0 <issue_comment>username_2: In general product recommendation on SE sites is off-topic since they're opinion based and can easily end up with a long discussion. However there is special site dedicated for that: [Hardware Recommendations SE](https://hardwarerecs.stackexchange.com/) (tag: [3d-printer](https://hardwarerecs.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/3d-printer)), so it's actually on-topic there. And similar for software, check for [Software Recommendations](https://softwarerecs.stackexchange.com/). To read more about product recommendations on SE sites, please check: * FAQ: [How do I ask a question that may require recommending a product?](https://meta.stackexchange.com/q/162123/191655) * [Is answering with a product recommendation considered spam, or something to flag?](https://meta.stackexchange.com/q/259189/191655) * [Why are “shopping list” questions bad?](https://meta.stackexchange.com/q/158809/191655) * [Is “useful” Spam allowed?](https://meta.stackexchange.com/q/108745/191655) Upvotes: 1 <issue_comment>username_3: These are shopping questions, plain and simple. They are such obvious [broken windows](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broken_windows_theory) that it is important that they are closed as quickly as possible. On *Robotics* I have the following [canned response](https://robotics.meta.stackexchange.com/a/177/37) for shopping questions, and I would highly recommend adapting it for 3dprinting: `Welcome to *robotics* XXX, but I'm afraid that *[shopping questions](http://blog.stackoverflow.com/2010/11/qa-is-hard-lets-go-shopping/)* really aren't a good fit for a stack exchange site. We prefer *[practical, answerable questions based on actual problems that you face](https://robotics.stackexchange.com/help/dont-ask)*. Take a look at [ask] and [about] for more information on how stack exchange works, and the [*Robotics* question checklist](https://robotics.meta.stackexchange.com/q/1302/37) for details of how to write a good question.` This renders as: > > Welcome to *robotics* XXX, but I'm afraid that *[shopping questions](http://blog.stackoverflow.com/2010/11/qa-is-hard-lets-go-shopping/)* really aren't a good fit for a stack exchange site. We prefer *[practical, answerable questions based on actual problems that you face](https://robotics.stackexchange.com/help/dont-ask)*. Take a look at [How to Ask](https://robotics.stackexchange.com/questions/how-to-ask), [tour](https://robotics.stackexchange.com/about) and the [*Robotics* question checklist](https://robotics.meta.stackexchange.com/q/1302/37) for more information on how stack exchange works. > > > I then close the question as "Primarily Opinion Based". These questions are almost never edited to adhere to community guidelines, but at least I have done my best to welcome people to the community and minimise the risk that they will leave and never come back. Upvotes: 1

2016/01/28

<issue_start>username_0: As you may or may not know, this is the third iteration of a proposal site that covers 3D Printing. The first 2 made it to the beta phase, but did not graduate from the beta successfully: * [Digital Fabrication](http://area51.stackexchange.com/proposals/41850/digital-fabrication) * [Personal Manufacturing](http://area51.stackexchange.com/proposals/22246/personal-manufacturing) Would it be acceptable to extract `good`/`relevant` questions out of these beta site question dumps and post them in the 3D Printing site?<issue_comment>username_1: If someone has a question from one of those older sites, they should go ahead and ask it. But a wholesale importing of content from elsewhere is not really a desirable way to build this site. There is a lot of ownership and careful curation that goes with vetting the content of this site. Questions imported from elsewhere would always have that air of odd, forgotten legacy content back-dated and *anonymous* with no owners or real-time vetting at all. If someone posts another answer or asks for some followup to one of these questions, no one will receive the notification. Essentially, we would be loading this site up with a lot of questions asked and answered a long time ago without imparting any of the benefits of reputation, ownership, or experience into the community that is supposed to take care of it. That's why we don't do it. Upvotes: 4 [selected_answer]<issue_comment>username_2: Although I was sad to see the [Digital Fabrication](http://area51.stackexchange.com/proposals/41850/digital-fabrication) beta close, I think there would be little to be gained by trying to import it's questions. The scope was different, and it was a very different group of comitters - only 1.8% of [Digital Fabrication](http://area51.stackexchange.com/proposals/41850/digital-fabrication) committers also committed to *3D Printing* for instance. Upvotes: 1

2016/01/29

<issue_start>username_0: I feel like questions along the lines of, "my printer is crashing for no obvious reason, what should I do?" may be too broad and open-ended for this format. It's better handled by a forum where people can have running discussions to rule out a series of tests. What do you guys think?<issue_comment>username_1: For common problems that get asked a lot, I wouldn't just close these as *too broad.* A better solution is to create a **canonical post** like this: [**How do I troubleshoot when I have no clue where to start?**](https://superuser.com/a/260078/697) These attract a *lot* of users. The goal is to create a step-by-step trouble-shooting guide to explain what lights, nozzles, and sneedles to look when you're kwigger isn't going *zong.* And don't just answer with a hyperlink to some other discussion group somewhere. Do everything you can to really overkill it. Write a detailed, step-by-step, ultra-clear guide, so when zillions of people with this problem go searching, you stand a good chance of the best possible answer on the web. This is one of those opportunities to attract some great new users who will add value for years to come. Upvotes: 3 <issue_comment>username_2: In addition to [username_1♦](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/a/84/63)'s suggestion, I think that there is value in this class of question. Over on *Robotics* we find that troubleshooting questions can often lead to interesting and often more generalised answers, and can lead to further, more specific questions. These types of questions also tend to be the kind which are difficult to answer through a google search, as not knowing what to search for is a big part of the problem. Sadly this kind of question is often a new users first question, poorly written and difficult to answer in it's original form, so we tend to close these as *Unclear what you are asking* and clarify that with the [following comment](https://robotics.meta.stackexchange.com/a/177/37): `Welcome to *robotics* XXX, but I'm afraid that it is not clear what you are asking. We prefer *[practical, answerable questions based on actual problems that you face](http://robotics.stackexchange.com/help/dont-ask)*, so it is a good idea to include details of what what you would like to achieve, what you have tried, what you expected to see and what you actually saw. Take a look at [ask] and [about] for more information on how stack exchange works. If you edit your question to make it more clear, flag it for moderator attention and we can reopen it for you.` The point of leaving this unrendered is so that you can easily copy the raw text to paste into a comment. Note that Comments render slightly differently to answers, for instance `[chat]` renders as [3D Printing Chat](http://chat.stackexchange.com/) in a comment but as [chat] in a question or answer. Upvotes: 2

2016/02/03

<issue_start>username_0: [Methods for smoothing 3D objects](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/413/methods-for-smoothing-3d-objects) So... maybe one day it becomes community wiki. I think that we need this type of questions, so we can provide more detailed answers to methods and practices.<issue_comment>username_1: *"is still too broad?"* is answered by your own question, *"we can provide more detailed answers"*. The problem essentially is that this Q&A format isn't suited to very long treatises on this type of subject. It's far better to ask a specific question such as *"How do I smooth this ABS print to eliminate all signs that it was 3D printed?"* and receive several good answers, than to have a one-stop-wiki question that attempts (and usually does very poorly) at holding all the answers to all the possible smoothing questions. So I'd recommend we leave this question closed and let people start more specific questions as they run into actual problems. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_2: In my opinion the edits to this question made it even more broad to the point that the answers no longer reflect the current question and the current question isn't even useful or answerable. The original question, while not very well worded, at least had a specific focus: "How do you smooth 3D prints without sanding or chemicals?" Both answers were detailed and specific to that particular question. I don't think that was too broad of a question. In it's current form this question is basically unanswerable without writing about a dozen different techniques. Upvotes: 2

2016/03/17

<issue_start>username_0: I've been seeing feedback from people in other 3DP communities that they think this stack exchange site is driving away new users by holding newbie questions to an excessively high standard for quality. On one hand, we all know SE works best with clear and logical questions that lead to clear and logical answers. But the majority of people seeking help with 3d printers don't seem to have enough of a technical foundation to know how to ask good questions. There's a large potential userbase (perhaps MOST potential users) that will need handholding for their first few questions. How do you guys want to handle this?<issue_comment>username_1: I think you highlighted one of the more important points, in that "*SE works best with clear and logical questions that lead to clear and logical answers*". From what I've noticed (and I just went back through my own voting history), there have been a number of "primarily opinion based" and "too broad" questions. I believe it's important to maintain quality questions/answers especially in this early stage of release. Please regard [this other meta post](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/6/what-should-our-documentation-contain?rq=1) asking what the guidelines are for proper 3D Printing community questions. I, for one, feel that I learned the most SE etiquette by reading a large number of questions on SO as opposed to the SE documentation. It seems that a few of the questions we've gotten lately have been from completely new users to the Stack Exchange network. I don't like scaring people away from the site, so it is best to try and coach these new users. I retract the following suggestion as I agree with [username_3's answer](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/111/closing-locking-too-many-questions/112#114) given his explanation. ~~I would suggest an informal guideline for closing questions:~~ * First, notify the OP to the condition of their question. Perhaps even suggest a means to fix the errant condition(s). * If, after at least 24 hours of the comment, the OP has not either responded reasonably (within SE etiquette) nor updated the question, then begin the process of closing. I'll leave this open to the community for amendments below: Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_2: I have to agree with the both of you; the best kind of question are those that are clear and logical, and thus can be answered as such. On a site such as SO, these are the kind of questions that ends up "staying", getting a high view counts and the great answers. There are, however, also a large amount of *new* questions on SO that never meet those standards, but rather face the same kind of problems that we see here. I believe the issue for most new users - here and on SO - is that *in order to ask a good question, you more or less already need to know the answer*, or at least the format of the answer. And with 3D printing being such a novel technology for most users, they simply do not have the required experience to ask the "correct" question at their first attempt. Perhaps our job should lean more towards *helping users to find out what they really should be asking about*, rather than simply voting down or closing the question right away because it does not uphold our desired standard. As for how to accomplish that, I think the points mentioned by @username_1 could be a good starting point. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_3: The important thing is to make sure that people understand that a closure is **not permanent**, which is why questions are given the "[on hold]" suffix rather than "[closed]". On Robotics, one of my [Copy-pastable comment text for common problems with questions?](https://robotics.meta.stackexchange.com/a/177/37) is: > > ### Questions by new users for closed for other reasons > > > `Welcome to *robotics* XXX, but I'm afraid that questions like this really aren't a good fit for a stack exchange site. We prefer *[practical, answerable questions based on actual problems that you face](http://robotics.stackexchange.com/help/dont-ask)*. Take a look at [ask] and [about] for more information on how stack exchange works. Also, the [*Robotics* question checklist](https://robotics.meta.stackexchange.com/q/1302/37) has good advice on how to write a good question. If you edit your question to fit our community guidelines we can reopen it for you.` > > > Closure is intended to **temporarily** stop people answering questions which can't be easily answered in their present form, **while the question is being improved**. As such, I disagree with [username_1's suggestion](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/a/112/63) that we should artificially delay closing a question (at this stage in the sites life there aren't enough people closing questions as it is) and suggest that we always close a poor question as soon as possible, but give people the information they need to fix the problem. Instead, I offer the following suggestion: * If you want to vote to close a question without writing a comment to say why, with suggestions as to how to fix the problem, think about how this looks to a new user and how they might feel about the *rejection*. If people assume there is nothing they can do about their question being closed, and this drives them away, then we should do all we can to correct that misunderstanding, encourage them to learn how Stack Exchange works and ask better questions. Finally, don't forget the importance of [broken windows theory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broken_windows_theory). The quicker poor questions are closed, the higher the good:bad question ratio is, the more likely new users will see examples of good questions, and the less likely that they will base their own question on a poor example of a question. This is why good questions are the most important thing on a new site. They draw in experts to answer them and they set a good example for how new questions should be framed. So, close early, close often, and comment with the information needed to get the question re-opened. Upvotes: 2

2016/03/26

<issue_start>username_0: I just noticed that there is a large amount of tag wiki excerpts edits in the review queue, all of which are of the form: > > X is for questions about X > > > A tag wiki excerpt should define what a term means *to our community* specifically and give *usage advice*. In particular, Stack Exchange offers the following default reason for rejecting an excerpt: > > Tag excerpts amounting to, "[tag] is for questions about [tag]" are pointless and usually rejected. Excerpts should describe why and when a tag would be used. > > > See the [help center](https://cs.stackexchange.com/help/tag-excerpts) for more details on what a tag excerpt should be. While obviously well-intended, I believe such tag wiki excerpts should not be suggested (and/or approved). This post is to serve as a gentle reminder of that.<issue_comment>username_1: For reference, I would like to propose a copy-paste solution for tags. **Usage Guidance** `For questions regarding {insert list of applicable topics} of {Tag Name}.` **Details** ``` {Tag name, unabbreviated}: {Definition} Examples: - What is {blah blah blah}? - Where can I find {blah blah blah}? - Why does {blah blah blah}? - How do I {blah blah blah}? ``` Upvotes: 0 <issue_comment>username_2: Tag excerpts should at least try and give a concise definition as to the subject, and provided any usage guidance *if necessary.* Therefore, you need to make sure to address a set of key points: * Is the tag name ambiguous? Will an amateur be able to understand the subject without having to research it? For example, what on earth is [abs](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/abs "show questions tagged 'abs'")? * Can the word have multiple meanings? If yes, you need to be specific as to which meaning you want. For example, [health](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/health "show questions tagged 'health'") vs [safety](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/safety "show questions tagged 'safety'") * Are their cases when the tag should not be used? * Likewise, are their cases when the tag should be used? * Is the existing excerpt empty? Something is usually better than nothing. In general, excerpts should provide at least some guidance, even if it may appear to be ridiculously basic. Therefore, interpretation of the rejection reason is critical: > > Tag excerpts amounting to, "[tag] is for questions about [tag]" are pointless and usually rejected. Excerpts should describe why and when a tag would be used. > > > That's like saying, *[abs]: For questions about [abs] filaments.* That should probably be rejected. This is better: *[abs]: For questions about [abs] filaments - filaments that are used with blah blah printers, and are not toxic for use.* Or even better: *[abs]: For questions about [abs] filaments - filaments that are used with blah blah printers, and are not toxic for use. Not to be confused with [pla] filaments. Do not use this tag if your question does not concern this filament specifically.* Obviously, I have no idea if abs is even a thing. Anyways, I hope this helps :) Upvotes: 1

2016/03/29

<issue_start>username_0: I see there was already a meta question regarding this but it was back during the private beta. The site is now in the public beta and still not very healthy with only 2.1 questions per day and a very low 219 visits per day compared to the recommended 1,500... I'm not sure what happens once the beta ends but only 14 days remain and from what I've seen the numbers have not improved much at all since I've been a member here. I've thought about going to other areas and "advertising" the site but most places where one could attract members (reprap.org, various subreddits, groups on Facebook) are areas I feel we may be in competition with and it would not put the site in good standing if we were to do so. I don't really know what the value here is over other forums other than the site being owned by a neutral party. The forums at reprap.org would probably be the closest thing to this site seeing as how they have no real ties to any one printer/design/company and moderation is quite lax as in you can post nearly anything 3D printing related and not encounter any trouble. The problem I believe is the site is trying to compete with other forums, one of which has been "the" forum pretty much since printing began and the main domain holds the majority of the information about home 3D printing. I guess being new here I don't really understand the value in the site over the others or if there really is any other than being just another bank of information. Currently, there hasn't been a new question in 2 days...<issue_comment>username_1: For reference, I would like to propose a copy-paste solution for tags. **Usage Guidance** `For questions regarding {insert list of applicable topics} of {Tag Name}.` **Details** ``` {Tag name, unabbreviated}: {Definition} Examples: - What is {blah blah blah}? - Where can I find {blah blah blah}? - Why does {blah blah blah}? - How do I {blah blah blah}? ``` Upvotes: 0 <issue_comment>username_2: Tag excerpts should at least try and give a concise definition as to the subject, and provided any usage guidance *if necessary.* Therefore, you need to make sure to address a set of key points: * Is the tag name ambiguous? Will an amateur be able to understand the subject without having to research it? For example, what on earth is [abs](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/abs "show questions tagged 'abs'")? * Can the word have multiple meanings? If yes, you need to be specific as to which meaning you want. For example, [health](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/health "show questions tagged 'health'") vs [safety](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/safety "show questions tagged 'safety'") * Are their cases when the tag should not be used? * Likewise, are their cases when the tag should be used? * Is the existing excerpt empty? Something is usually better than nothing. In general, excerpts should provide at least some guidance, even if it may appear to be ridiculously basic. Therefore, interpretation of the rejection reason is critical: > > Tag excerpts amounting to, "[tag] is for questions about [tag]" are pointless and usually rejected. Excerpts should describe why and when a tag would be used. > > > That's like saying, *[abs]: For questions about [abs] filaments.* That should probably be rejected. This is better: *[abs]: For questions about [abs] filaments - filaments that are used with blah blah printers, and are not toxic for use.* Or even better: *[abs]: For questions about [abs] filaments - filaments that are used with blah blah printers, and are not toxic for use. Not to be confused with [pla] filaments. Do not use this tag if your question does not concern this filament specifically.* Obviously, I have no idea if abs is even a thing. Anyways, I hope this helps :) Upvotes: 1

2016/04/12

<issue_start>username_0: [A recent question](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/973/which-properties-of-real-organs-do-3d-printed-organs-have) regarding bio-printing has been put on hold and I'd like to discuss the validity of the question here in the 3D Printing community. I personally feel that the question fits within the scope of the community as it specifically requests details on the process of 3D printing. **Valid Questions:** > > Also can someone explain how human cells can be printed? > > > Would this involve some kind of cell-plastic filament? > > > **Borderline Question:** > > How would the cells survive, etc. Where would you get these cells from and how would you be able to go from using a 3D printer to layer these cells together to then forming an organ out of that? > > > I don't see how this can be much different than: > > Also can someone explain how *{stainless steel}* can be printed? > > > Would this involve some kind of *{granular steel}*? > > > For the borderline question: > > How would the *{stainless steel bond}*, etc. [How] would you get these {granules of stainless steel} from and how would you be able to go from using a 3D printer to layer these *{granules}* together to then forming *{a solid part}*? > > ><issue_comment>username_1: It seems like a great subject to incorporate, since bioprinting is 1) pretty neat and 2) an important application for 3D printing in general... but I sort of suspect none of our active users have the necessary expertise at the moment. It's a highly specialized field. We don't want the question to sit for an extended period with (at best) 1-2 mediocre answers, do we? That seems to be what happens to this sort of question at the site's current activity level. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_2: I think 3D bio printing - just like any kind of 3d printing - certainly should fall within the scope of this site. One could argue that such questions are hard to answer, and most likely outside the knowledge of most users, but I still think *good* bio questions should be encouraged. As for the linked question specifically, I think it is way too broad, asking not one, but perhaps five completely fine questions at the same time. Individually, I believe those questions would be answerable to the right person. Upvotes: 2

2016/05/03

<issue_start>username_0: The amount of posts being voted to closed is getting ridiculous. The last two posts have been printing related, one looking for information and the other a design question for 3D printing yet both have been voted to be closed. Yes, I have read the other Meta post about how closing is not permanent ([Closing/locking too many questions?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/111/closing-locking-too-many-questions)) but this site does not have much to offer right now and I can tell you if I was new here I wouldn't stick around and edit the post time after time to get an answer when I'm sure most people here can answer the question. The site is now running at 1.2 questions per day and I don't see that going up at all if the criteria isn't changed for how people are voting. If that's how everyone wants the site run then that's fine but I'm sure you'll be alone here.<issue_comment>username_1: I absolutely agree. I believe we all want this site to maintain high quality, but right now almost no questions fall within our desired scope and form. I think we either need to: * Change the acceptable scope of questions to be asked * Change how we welcome new users Right now most new users do not ask questions "the SE way", which quickly leads to down-votes and closing votes. For new users this is a direct slap in the face. What we rather should do is to *encourage* new users to improve their question, and if they do, give them the highly desired up-votes to make them come back for more. I think the reputation system on SE sites is a great motivator for writing good questions and answers. And if we want this site to grow, we need to let our fellow users grow with it. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_2: We've discussed this issue before [here in Meta](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/111/closing-locking-too-many-questions), but I think that part of the issue (and I'm guilty of it) is that regular users expect a certain amount of effort or back story from questions. To me, it seems that most [closed](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/search?q=closed%3Ayes) grey-area questions seem to be related to materials. So, questions that may be considered *too broad* as a general materials question may be a viable question for a newbie to the 3D printing world. A new comer may not be familiar with various material types (ie. PLA[filament], ABS[filament], Stainless Steel[powder], Bronze[powder], etc.). Focusing on material questions may be a good start to the concern. While it may be technically *too broad* asking materials questions, in reality, most questions (in FDM/FFF realm) are going to be either about PLA or ABS (maybe Nylon) unless there is a specified purpose for the object. So, if a user specifies (or hints) the preferred printing method (FDM/FFF, SLA, etc.) then I think we should let people use their better judgment in answering the question. Would it be appropriate to consider re-opening closed questions with the before mentioned criteria? Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_3: One thing that I have noticed, especially after having been away for nearly a year, is how the mood of the site has changed, ever so slightly. It is just that recently there seem to be a bit more of the "Did you google first, before asking here" type comments (accompanied by a vote to close), in particular to newbie questions, or at least questions from those new to SE, but maybe not so new at 3D printing. I don't remember these types of comments so much prior to a year or so ago. While I agree that people need to do research, or at least demonstrate that they have done a bit, if people are coming here and asking an honest question (which is not a lazy homework related - and let's face it, there are not many, if any, 3D printer related homework questions) and that question is from someone genuinely interested in 3D printer with a tangible problem, then try to answer it, or at least provide a helpful comment. Seeing as we are not-quite-desperate-for-users but have an issue with user retention, then we should really not be throwing google in their face - no matter how frustrating a question may seem, or how obvious the answer appears to an old hand. Do we really want them running off to Reddit, or Quora, or Ask (Jeeves) or (god forbid) Yahoo answers, or some other place? Or is it better that we get them to stay here? Believe me when I say that I know how irritating it can get, I have been there myself. I ended up not spending much time on SE.Arduino, for that same reason - in the end most of the questions started to seem nonsensical, repetitive and idiotic... because I had seen the same topics asked over and over again. I realised that I had to take a deep breath and step back a little - just because I knew the answer and had helped too many people before with the same issue, it didn't mean that someone new would not come along tomorrow and ask the same thing. Yes, they should have checked google first, and yes, they should have seen the duplicate question had already been asked. However, maybe they didn't have the luxury of time to spend hours googling, or maybe they had not used the right search terms, or maybe English isn't their mother tongue, or whatever. However, it didn't mean that they needed to be made to feel daft. After all, if someone asks a question here, it probably isn't because they want to wind us up and make us angry - why would they do that? And it can't be judged as lazy, because, let's face it, it takes longer to formulate and ask a question on SE than it does to search for something on Google. A couple of friends of mine, independently of eachother, sent me this image which, while it made me laugh, also (rather sadly) sums up the "Why are you asking me that?" mentality that StackExchange is perceived as having by the wider techy internet community - this is *not* a good reputation to have..! [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/La323.png "Working at SE") So, all I am trying to say is, when you see a question asked by someone with a rep of 1, be nice and try to encourage them to stay, rather than scaring them off as soon as they set foot through the door. Don't forget it is probably their first question here and are quite nervous as to how they will be perceived (as one generally is when approaching a new group of people and having to ask something). Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_4: I've been active on SO since it was in beta, and have participated in numerous SE sites when they were in beta. It's my impression that there is much more enthusiasm for close votes here than in other sites which launched out of beta. I know that seems to discourage me from participating more, and may discourage others likewise. Whereas for programming and electronics my first goto is always stack, I'm finding that other sites are having better answers and a "nicer" approach to my n00bism in 3d printing. Just IMHO and FWIW! Upvotes: 1

2016/05/03

<issue_start>username_0: There has been a lot of questions and confusion about what is acceptable here on 3D Printing SE. Let's go ahead and discuss what types of questions should be acceptable on the site. We're going to do this based on votes. I'll leave it up to debate in the comments below, but we'll emulate Area51 question requirements. Here are the guidelines: * **10 positive votes**, passes. * **One answer per topic**. The focus is voting on topics, and votes pertain to the validity of the topic. * Similar topics that can be merged should explicitly mention the deprecated topic. * Appropriately passed topics should have closed questions re-opened (as appropriate).<issue_comment>username_1: I absolutely agree. I believe we all want this site to maintain high quality, but right now almost no questions fall within our desired scope and form. I think we either need to: * Change the acceptable scope of questions to be asked * Change how we welcome new users Right now most new users do not ask questions "the SE way", which quickly leads to down-votes and closing votes. For new users this is a direct slap in the face. What we rather should do is to *encourage* new users to improve their question, and if they do, give them the highly desired up-votes to make them come back for more. I think the reputation system on SE sites is a great motivator for writing good questions and answers. And if we want this site to grow, we need to let our fellow users grow with it. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_2: We've discussed this issue before [here in Meta](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/111/closing-locking-too-many-questions), but I think that part of the issue (and I'm guilty of it) is that regular users expect a certain amount of effort or back story from questions. To me, it seems that most [closed](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/search?q=closed%3Ayes) grey-area questions seem to be related to materials. So, questions that may be considered *too broad* as a general materials question may be a viable question for a newbie to the 3D printing world. A new comer may not be familiar with various material types (ie. PLA[filament], ABS[filament], Stainless Steel[powder], Bronze[powder], etc.). Focusing on material questions may be a good start to the concern. While it may be technically *too broad* asking materials questions, in reality, most questions (in FDM/FFF realm) are going to be either about PLA or ABS (maybe Nylon) unless there is a specified purpose for the object. So, if a user specifies (or hints) the preferred printing method (FDM/FFF, SLA, etc.) then I think we should let people use their better judgment in answering the question. Would it be appropriate to consider re-opening closed questions with the before mentioned criteria? Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_3: One thing that I have noticed, especially after having been away for nearly a year, is how the mood of the site has changed, ever so slightly. It is just that recently there seem to be a bit more of the "Did you google first, before asking here" type comments (accompanied by a vote to close), in particular to newbie questions, or at least questions from those new to SE, but maybe not so new at 3D printing. I don't remember these types of comments so much prior to a year or so ago. While I agree that people need to do research, or at least demonstrate that they have done a bit, if people are coming here and asking an honest question (which is not a lazy homework related - and let's face it, there are not many, if any, 3D printer related homework questions) and that question is from someone genuinely interested in 3D printer with a tangible problem, then try to answer it, or at least provide a helpful comment. Seeing as we are not-quite-desperate-for-users but have an issue with user retention, then we should really not be throwing google in their face - no matter how frustrating a question may seem, or how obvious the answer appears to an old hand. Do we really want them running off to Reddit, or Quora, or Ask (Jeeves) or (god forbid) Yahoo answers, or some other place? Or is it better that we get them to stay here? Believe me when I say that I know how irritating it can get, I have been there myself. I ended up not spending much time on SE.Arduino, for that same reason - in the end most of the questions started to seem nonsensical, repetitive and idiotic... because I had seen the same topics asked over and over again. I realised that I had to take a deep breath and step back a little - just because I knew the answer and had helped too many people before with the same issue, it didn't mean that someone new would not come along tomorrow and ask the same thing. Yes, they should have checked google first, and yes, they should have seen the duplicate question had already been asked. However, maybe they didn't have the luxury of time to spend hours googling, or maybe they had not used the right search terms, or maybe English isn't their mother tongue, or whatever. However, it didn't mean that they needed to be made to feel daft. After all, if someone asks a question here, it probably isn't because they want to wind us up and make us angry - why would they do that? And it can't be judged as lazy, because, let's face it, it takes longer to formulate and ask a question on SE than it does to search for something on Google. A couple of friends of mine, independently of eachother, sent me this image which, while it made me laugh, also (rather sadly) sums up the "Why are you asking me that?" mentality that StackExchange is perceived as having by the wider techy internet community - this is *not* a good reputation to have..! [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/La323.png "Working at SE") So, all I am trying to say is, when you see a question asked by someone with a rep of 1, be nice and try to encourage them to stay, rather than scaring them off as soon as they set foot through the door. Don't forget it is probably their first question here and are quite nervous as to how they will be perceived (as one generally is when approaching a new group of people and having to ask something). Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_4: I've been active on SO since it was in beta, and have participated in numerous SE sites when they were in beta. It's my impression that there is much more enthusiasm for close votes here than in other sites which launched out of beta. I know that seems to discourage me from participating more, and may discourage others likewise. Whereas for programming and electronics my first goto is always stack, I'm finding that other sites are having better answers and a "nicer" approach to my n00bism in 3d printing. Just IMHO and FWIW! Upvotes: 1

2016/05/03

<issue_start>username_0: Context: I have absolutely no knowledge of 3D printing other than you need a computer, a printer, some software, and a design. That is literally the extent of my knowledge on 3D printing. However, I have an idea of something I'd like to have 3D printed. While the idea has a fairly reasonably defined shape in mind, it doesn't exist in any digital or paper format and has some specifics that still need to be filled out (such as accurate dimensions and a few design details). I need to bridge the chasm of knowledge between my current design and limited knowledge to a fleshed-out design file with chosen materials and other specifics. A good chunk of my problem is that I don't even know *what* I should know. While I realize that this site is still fairly new and things are being nailed down, how do I ask the proper question(s) to fill in my knowledge gaps that will be on-topic for the site? Is there even a path forward for these kinds of questions on the site?<issue_comment>username_1: ~~There is a [new question on Meta](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/138/what-is-our-scope) that should help define what is okay on this site.~~ However, your question is important to address here. Ultimately, you shouldn't be afraid to go ahead and ask the question. If the question does not meet the conditions of the present site, the general public will be sure to let you know and (hopefully) help direct you in at least asking a more direct question. If you post a question that is closed, it would acceptable to post a question here on Meta that specifically asks how to make your question fit within the scope of the site. I would suggest providing as much information as you have and feel free to ask the more general questions about 3D printing. Most people in the community will ask specific questions to try and help you. Some may even be able to fill in the blanks of what you're asking and provide you with very helpful answers. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_2: I think your situation fits for many new users on this site, and saying that "easy" or "semi-defined" questions are discouraged would probably turn you - and many others - away from the site. Rather, I believe it is the community's job to help you find a proper scope for your question. As long as you follow it up, edit and improve your questions according to feedback (as we all should), I'm pretty sure even the "easiest" question will turn out good. In other words: ask anyway and stay open to (or even better, request) feedback to help define your question better. Upvotes: 1

2016/05/06

<issue_start>username_0: We have [a recent question](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/1117/alternative-3d-molding-techniques-at-home) that brings up the question of "*Should we support general hobbyist questions?*" Currently, there doesn't appear to be a viable site within the SE network. The question at hand seems to be a mix between 3D Printing and DIY. If we allow this question, it could allow people to ask questions like the following: * CNC Mills * Routers * Lasers * etc.<issue_comment>username_1: ~~There is a [new question on Meta](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/138/what-is-our-scope) that should help define what is okay on this site.~~ However, your question is important to address here. Ultimately, you shouldn't be afraid to go ahead and ask the question. If the question does not meet the conditions of the present site, the general public will be sure to let you know and (hopefully) help direct you in at least asking a more direct question. If you post a question that is closed, it would acceptable to post a question here on Meta that specifically asks how to make your question fit within the scope of the site. I would suggest providing as much information as you have and feel free to ask the more general questions about 3D printing. Most people in the community will ask specific questions to try and help you. Some may even be able to fill in the blanks of what you're asking and provide you with very helpful answers. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_2: I think your situation fits for many new users on this site, and saying that "easy" or "semi-defined" questions are discouraged would probably turn you - and many others - away from the site. Rather, I believe it is the community's job to help you find a proper scope for your question. As long as you follow it up, edit and improve your questions according to feedback (as we all should), I'm pretty sure even the "easiest" question will turn out good. In other words: ask anyway and stay open to (or even better, request) feedback to help define your question better. Upvotes: 1

2016/05/10

<issue_start>username_0: Are there any official naming conventions for tag names on Stack Exchange? And if not, how should tags be named? From what I understand, one typically adds a *dash* (-) where you normally would leave a *space*, but how about tags that derive from words that are *[CamelCased](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/150/tag-for-mattercontrol-app)*, or somehow *[Prefixed](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/postproduction)*? Examples (which also shows some inconsistencies): ``` Topic | Existing tag | Alternative tag? ---------------------------------------------------------- MatterControl | matter-control | mattercontrol MakerBot | makerbot | maker-bot Post-production | postproduction | post-production Post-processing | post-processing | postprocessing Multi-material | multi-material | multimaterial ``` Which of the above tag alternatives should we go for?<issue_comment>username_1: I would say we could use synonyms to stay with clear tag namespace.In this case we apply following pattern (especially for proper name (product name)): ``` Topic | Existing tag | Synonym? ---------------+-----------------+-------------- MatterControl | mattercontrol | matter-control ``` I think dash could be used to separate kinda branch for example: ``` app-cura, app-mattercontrol, app-meshmixer << these could be also synonyms 3d-printer, 3d-models, 3d-design ``` of course we already have tags like ``` feature-request, switching-power-supply ``` but they are descriptive and would be unreadable written as one word, one may say these describe actions Upvotes: 1 <issue_comment>username_2: Looking at other SE sites, the most common approach seems to make everything lowercase (including names and trademarks) and using hyphens whenever there would be a space or hyphen in normal usage. As such: * MatterControl becomes mattercontrol * Makerbot becomes makerbot * Post-production becomes post-production * Post-processing becomes post-processing * Multi-material becomes multi-material Upvotes: 3 <issue_comment>username_3: Based on the answers already posted, I am changing [postproduction](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/postproduction "show questions tagged 'postproduction'") to [post-production](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/post-production "show questions tagged 'post-production'"), I have only just seen this and it immediately looked odd. Also, what is the difference between [post-production](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/post-production "show questions tagged 'post-production'") and [post-processing](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/post-processing "show questions tagged 'post-processing'"), or are they synonyms? [post-production](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/post-production "show questions tagged 'post-production'") has no description whatsoever. See [What is the difference between post-production and post-processing?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/270/what-is-the-difference-between-post-production-and-post-processing) Upvotes: 2

2016/05/13

<issue_start>username_0: I'd like to discuss the case ['How to enlarge a Sketchup Model'](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/1144/how-to-enlarge-a-sketchup-model) question and my answer of course. I do agree with <NAME> when he said: '*The folks here will work hard to curate this collection of knowledge(...)*' It's true that SE forums are so valuable also because there are hard working moderators and editors - no doubt. I also agree with this (but with some objections): '*(...) when someone finally finds this site through search, the last thing we want to do is send them elsewhere to find that information*' Being strict, according to this part, linking is not allowed... which is not true isn't it?. I didn't link poor websites or other forums or any information from "somewhere" / "elsewhere". I did link "the sources", pages which are the real sources of the knowledg in the case of asked question. And because these sources are quite big and stable, it's high prpbablility that there were available for long time (till the question and answer will have any meaning) and they will be the most accurate and up to date as possible. So the question is, should I rewrite such sources just because answer based on links is not allowed or maybe it's better to be not such strict. Please consider and express what you think about such situations. ps: I admit my answer could be comment insted of answer and if there will be such will of mods I'll rewrite it as comment as I wanted to help this user (and I think he upvoted which means he gathered the knowledge he asked for).<issue_comment>username_1: I would say we could use synonyms to stay with clear tag namespace.In this case we apply following pattern (especially for proper name (product name)): ``` Topic | Existing tag | Synonym? ---------------+-----------------+-------------- MatterControl | mattercontrol | matter-control ``` I think dash could be used to separate kinda branch for example: ``` app-cura, app-mattercontrol, app-meshmixer << these could be also synonyms 3d-printer, 3d-models, 3d-design ``` of course we already have tags like ``` feature-request, switching-power-supply ``` but they are descriptive and would be unreadable written as one word, one may say these describe actions Upvotes: 1 <issue_comment>username_2: Looking at other SE sites, the most common approach seems to make everything lowercase (including names and trademarks) and using hyphens whenever there would be a space or hyphen in normal usage. As such: * MatterControl becomes mattercontrol * Makerbot becomes makerbot * Post-production becomes post-production * Post-processing becomes post-processing * Multi-material becomes multi-material Upvotes: 3 <issue_comment>username_3: Based on the answers already posted, I am changing [postproduction](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/postproduction "show questions tagged 'postproduction'") to [post-production](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/post-production "show questions tagged 'post-production'"), I have only just seen this and it immediately looked odd. Also, what is the difference between [post-production](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/post-production "show questions tagged 'post-production'") and [post-processing](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/post-processing "show questions tagged 'post-processing'"), or are they synonyms? [post-production](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/post-production "show questions tagged 'post-production'") has no description whatsoever. See [What is the difference between post-production and post-processing?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/270/what-is-the-difference-between-post-production-and-post-processing) Upvotes: 2

2016/06/02

<issue_start>username_0: It's pretty manageable right now due to the low question rate, but I think maybe ~3% of all questions this site will get, forever, will be "what's the best printer" or "what printer should I buy" type questions. They're mostly coming from people who don't know enough about 3DP to articulate their requirements, so they're difficult to help and very unfocused. Is there a better way to handle this than locking them as they come up?<issue_comment>username_1: I think the site tries to prevent this as best as possible, short of having a bot prevent the post. * There is the [Don't Ask](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/help/dont-ask) page and the [On-Topic](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/help/on-topic) (which we have control over its content). * The suggested/related questions that appear when asking a question. Ideally users at least regard its existence before posting the question. * There appears to be a pop-up that does try to warn the user that their question is "subjective". I tested it really quick, see the image below[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/uRJdC.png) * All else fails, that's what moderators are for. Moderators should utilize the tools available to them. So even if these types of questions pile up, there are means of quickly identifying. A simple feature, available to everyone, is advanced searches. I try to use searches like [this](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/search?q=title%3A%223d%20printer%22%20is%3Aquestion) to quickly identify large groups of questions that may need attention. + It might be nice to have more options over whether keywords can be contained or not, "asker" reputation, "answerer" reputation, etc. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_2: A good option would be to have several reference questions, such as "What to look for when comparing printers?" or "How to select a 3D printer?" to which we could redirect these users. Upvotes: 3 <issue_comment>username_3: You've got a few options: 1. == Often, what we do is you have a canonical "catch-all" question. Since the shopping questions seem to have been deemed off-topic, this is probably your best bet. What you need to do is to guide users to select a printer themselves, but by asking them a set of criteria. Therefore, you would need an answer that addresses the following questions (but in no way limited to the following): * What filament do I choose? * What's my budget? * What size do I need? ... etc. With such a post, you guide users to what they want, and then in the end, you can recommend a few printers. Also, this question has to be locked using what's known as a wiki-lock. This way, the community can edit the question to update it, and it prevents spam and other nonsensical answers. 2. == You close them as off-topic. Since this seems to be a persistent problem, it would be helpful to add a custom close reason (hey mods! That's for you!). Something along the lines of this would be good: > > Questions asking for the recommendation of a printer or other 3D printing-related resource are off-topic because they tend to attract opinion-based questions, low-quality answers, and spam. For more information, see [Why are recommendations off-topic and where can I ask?](link to a meta post) > > > You get the community to get support for the close reason, and a moderator implements it to allow questions to be closed. Bingo! However, you're going to need a meta post explaining why they are off-topic as well as other information. That's good etiquette: you don't leave users stranded and you continue to guide them to where they can ask a question. 3. == You do 1. first. Then, you allow such "shopping" questions to be on-topic, as long as they follow the specific criteria and answer all the questions that you have outlined in the meta post. Otherwise, you close it. Numerous sites do this. On Open Source, we allow questions that ask for the recommendation of an open source license. We have a meta post on what you need to include, as well as a dedicated close reason in case something is not of quality. It works very well. The only downside, is that it can take a bit of time and work to get right. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_4: I face this question very very frequently. On 3d printing and 3d printing hobbyists facebook group we can see this daily. The ideas of giving people a catch all set of questions is nice.. That is exactly what I did 6 months ago. I put it in the group rules and did everything I could to get people to read it. To date 0 people, even after directly being told to, have used my list of questions. In my opinion we need to educate the user, nicely. Also we need to remove the question with flagging. Hopefully without offending the person and thus scaring them away from the community.. Maybe just flag as duplicate, etc. Unfortunately this will one of those situations where we cannot perfectly solve. Upvotes: 1

2016/07/05

<issue_start>username_0: [This question](https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/244366/how-do-i-tell-if-my-thermistors-are-10k-or-100k) was migrated to electronics.SE. To me the migration makes no sense: * The question deals with a problem that is relevant to the users of this site * This site can provide a more specialized answer than electronics.SE can provide: you don't just need to know whether it's a 10k or 100k thermistor, but also figure out the correct thermistor table in your firmware. electronics.SE does not have knowledge of 3D printer firmware, which is the issue underlying this question. Obviously there's some overlap between Arduino/Electronics/3D printing, but what determines whether a question should be migrated?<issue_comment>username_1: The question was migrated because the specific question of "*How do I tell if my Thermistors are 10k or 100k?*" is going to be best answered by users of Electrical Engineering SE. This also provides the SE network with more appropriate traffic based on the question at hand. However, if the question of "*How can I change the thermistors settings in Marlin firmware?*" were to arise, then the question would be best suited here on 3D Printing. It might help both SE sites by providing links to each other's relevant questions for future users to reference. If the question was something like "*How can I wire a hotend?*", this would be more appropriate here on 3D Printing SE as users in Electrical Engineering SE may not know as much about the topic compared to users in 3D Printing. This may be a poor example, but the idea is that there is strict correlation between *hotends* and 3D printing, whereas identifying thermistors is not a specific topic to just 3D printing. **Update** After reading a few posts on SE meta, [this one](https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/10249/what-is-migration-and-how-does-it-work) leads me to agree with you that this particular question may not have needed to be migrated. However, it exposes an important question of how we want to proceed with questions like this in the future? How far down the rabbit hole do we want to allow this site to go in this topic? I'd recommend others pitch in recommendations in answers here on what would be the appropriate topic in this case that can be applied to our [On-Topic](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/help/on-topic) page so that it may be amended. Upvotes: 3 [selected_answer]<issue_comment>username_2: I don't think the question should be migrated. For EE.SE, the question is just stupidly obvious. Even a fairly inexperienced lab tech. would know how to go about answering that question. It really isn't an electronic engineering question at all. Here, the answer (assuming the question is actually the question that the user needed to ask) would be 'buy the cheapest meter you can find', or 'buy both, you might not make much use of a cheap meter anyway'. Context makes a big difference. Upvotes: 1

2016/07/07

<issue_start>username_0: I originally posted this on Meta StackExchange to judge whether my thoughts fit within SE and have been redirected back to our Meta. We've received a few questions along the lines of purchasing references since we've opened in Beta. While I personally don't think direct questions about "*What is the best 3D printer to buy?*" are appropriate questions, I'm curious about a potential middle ground. Should we consider including tags such as [printer-review](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/printer-review "show questions tagged 'printer-review'"), [buyer-review](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/buyer-review "show questions tagged 'buyer-review'"), or [printer-reference](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/printer-reference "show questions tagged 'printer-reference'")? The idea being that certain questions would inherit one of these tags (or something similar) to help facilitate traffic to specific questions. These questions would pose ideally be (in the OP's eyes) useful in making a purchase decision. Case in point: [This question](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/801/cons-to-uv-printing), outlining some of the potential relative cons to UV printing compared to FDM/FFF printing, could prove useful to someone looking into purchasing a new UV printer. This idea can be combined with those proposed [here](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/159/is-there-any-way-to-prevent-endless-best-first-printer-posts), such as @TomvanderZanden's suggestion to create a series of controlled "best" questions. **Amendment** I might also suggest that if we, as a community, decide to use such a system have moderators lock these questions to avoid any sort of spam (unnecessary answers). These questions should also be set to ***community wiki*** to ensure that any bias is dealt with as a community.<issue_comment>username_1: I've seen a few questions in the past week or so of people asking questions that would fit under the printer-review or buyer review tags you've suggested. However I don't think they are quite within the scope of the main site. Specific questions regarding the benefits of one style of printer over another would be well suited to the site simply because they're less opinion based than than what a 'review' tag would tend to suggest. The question you've posted as a reference, I would say is well suited to the SE since it's asking specific and quantifiable questions with potentially correct or incorrect answers. I think any question posed that could fit under a tag of "printer-review" would tend to be more opinion based regardless of how the question is phrased. I'm probably the worst out there for posting answers that are a mix of fact and opinion already, no need to encourage me to be more opinionated! Upvotes: 0 <issue_comment>username_2: I like the idea of incorporating product reviews into the 3dprinting StackExchange ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **Why?** 1. It fits the Q&A model of Stack Exchange 2. Product pre-purchase questions are probably the number 1 question every new user wants to ask and needs to know ([as Ryan noted](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/159/is-there-any-way-to-prevent-endless-best-first-printer-posts)). We should attempt to find a way to help provide that answer. 3. It provides a bridge to further questions. Once they purchase a printer, they will have questions. 4. Since it is the number 1 question for new users, what a great way to draw them to the site. When they search, they should find this site has the answer. 5. It gives us a way to point people on forums here. I often see links to reviews on forums. Why can't those point here? Once they are here, hopefully we will stay and contribute. 6. It would provide a great source of new content. The number of new products and new users are growing at an exponential rate. 7. If we do it right, it will help users and help move us forward on our Beta Goals. **Challenges** 1. We need to make sure the reviews are well done and are StackExchange style answers. What I mean by that is that where they will likely have some opinion-based content, the primary content should be based primarily on objective qualities. Maybe some sort of a "Style Guide", limitations on who can post, and peer review would help mitigate that. I am not that familiar with how to manage that on a StackExchange. 2. Maybe this is a repeat of #1 - UNIFORMITY. 3. Making sure the reviews doesn't become product advertisement / self promotions. Upvotes: 1

2016/08/11

<issue_start>username_0: Following this [issue](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/2617/decent-cnc-control-software-for-osx) I would like to propose to allow general CNC related questions here as well. 3D Printers are CNC machines, they only add instead of subtract. 3D printers use G-Code, just like CNC milling machines. 3D Printing alone makes for a very narrow community if it excludes subtractive manufacturing questions. For example, there is no python.stackexchange.com or javascript.stackexchange.com, all of that goes into one network: stackoverflow.com. That's just the same level of division. Navel-gazing has never done anyone good :)<issue_comment>username_1: As has been discussed previously [here](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/147/hobbyist-machine-questions-on-topic), the relevance of CNC questions on this site depend on the questions closeness to 3D printing. So, for instance, if the software you are asking about is the same as a 3D printer would use, I would agree that it can be asked here. However, if the software is dedicated to CNC machines and unusable for 3D printers, it does not belong here at the time being. If the software you are looking for indeed works for both 3D printers and CNC machines, then perhaps you could specify this in your question to make it more relevant to this site? Upvotes: 1 <issue_comment>username_2: There are tens of SE sites that deal with programming in some way, shape or form. SO is obviously the most general one of these, but there are many more specialized ones (CodeReview,TeX,Programmers,Drupal/Wordpress/Joomla/Server Fault/Ubuntu/...). If this site had been "Makers StackExchange" or "Digital Fabrication" then your question might have been appropriate (this site being a more general one), but "3D printing" should be seen as a more specialized one (but if you think there is a need for a specific Makers SE or a CNC SE, then you could consider going to Area51). This site is called "3D printing" and CNC milling is definitely not 3D printing. I think it does very much make sense to limit 3D printing to "additive fabrication". This is not a particularly narrow scope, since there are many types of 3D printer, and not all of them use G-code. Powder printers (binder jetting) and DLP printers are driven with raster images, for instance. If the scope were extended to cover your question (which is about 2D milling, not even 3D milling, while we're at it) then I wonder if that meant that questions like "How many flutes do I need on my 8mm ball-nose left-hand bit when cutting unobtainium with my feedrate at the speed of sound?" would also be in scope. When I hear "3D printing SE" I would definitely not expect *that*. I would add that your question might have been closed on a hypothetical "CNC SE" as well for a variety of reasons: * Opinion based/list question * Very little own effort * Too broad (need to be more specific) Upvotes: 2

2016/11/15

<issue_start>username_0: I noticed that the most popular tag (82 questions tagged) is [3d-printer](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/3d-printer), and that we also have a [3d-printing](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/3d-printing) tag (23 questions). These seem extremely redundant to me, given that they *should* apply to any question that is on-topic and thus serve no practical purpose. These tags are simply too broad. The usage guidance for 3d-printer is quite board ("Questions about a specific brand, model, or type of 3D printer.") and 3d-printing does not even have one. I would suggest to get rid of these tags. For comparison, [Stack Exchange](https://stackoverflow.com/tags) does not have a programming tag either. However, they do have various tags that end in "-programming", such as "functional-programming", "linear-programming", etc... Our equivalents would be fdm(-printing), sla(-printing),...<issue_comment>username_1: This tag has been removed from the system and made intrinsic. [Please cleanup the questions that now have no tags...](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/untagged) Upvotes: 3 [selected_answer]<issue_comment>username_2: The fact that there is a synonym appears to be the reason that both tags are still hanging around, in the [list of synonyms](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/tags/synonyms): > > [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/RpBnK.png "Synonyms") > > > and on the tag page > > [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/oxuXK.png "3d-printer tag") > > > I have deleted the synonym and hopefully that will clear things up once and for all. Upvotes: 1

2016/12/05

<issue_start>username_0: In past few months, there are a devastatingly few number of users that cast up votes, and many of users aren't coming back to site, and existing users don't have so much reputation, because no one is voting up great questions / answers. So... let me start like this.. [THIS IS REALLY DEVASTATING](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/users?tab=Voters&filter=all) We all need to vote up users and try to answer their questions, so we can get more users answering / asking questions. Main reason I'm writing this post is because this is great site, but we need new regular users that are going to vote and ask questions. I think it all came down to 20-30 active users, and rest of users aren't so active. I'm relatively new to site. I've decided to use it because it helped me a lot, and I'm doing my best to answer the questions. My main concern is also that my answers also don't get any vote up. So... I'll let it all out. I think that main concern that we need to focus on is motivation. WE NEED TO MOTIVATE OTHERS TO VOTE. And we all can do that if we vote other users up. That's from my perspective. Even one vote up motivates you to go further. I think that I explained what I mean. :) It's all in VOTE UP!<issue_comment>username_1: I completely agree! I just posted [my own reminder](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/197/3d-printing-se-beta-status), focusing more on efforts to get us out of Beta. I'm sorry you can feel discouraged sometimes, I think a lot of users around the Stack Exchange network can feel that way at times. I think people sometimes forget that an up-vote to an answer isn't necessarily that it was helpful to you, specifically. But, rather that **the answer is a good *quality* answer** and **will be *useful* to others** as well! Upvotes: 4 <issue_comment>username_2: Strangely enough, I was thinking (prior to reading this post) that this particular SE site was quite good w.r.t. the voting, when compared to some other sites. Most of my questions/answers have received votes, whereas on other (nameless) sites, I have posted a number of questions/answers and not received [m]any votes at all. However, this must be my (inaccurate) perception, as the stats shows that the voting is not at the desired levels. While it is important to votes and vote often, it is worth remembering that we shouldn't just vote willy-nilly. I have noticed that some beta sites, especially in the early days, tend to get rather frenzied (or, if you will, overly enthusiastic) voting, which one does not necessarily see in the more established sites, where the voting has settled down and only the (oft mentioned) *awesome* answers are voted for. This overly enthusiastic voting can *sometimes* end up giving random votes to questions that are not particularly researched, or answers that are not fully accurate, which maybe do not deserve any votes at all. I am not sure why this (comparatively) frenzied voting occurs, or why it dies down, nor am I sure what (which?) level of voting is appropriate - although it is obvious that poorly researched questions and inaccurate answers should not be voted up. Regardless, I would agree that voting *does* act as an incentive to contribute to the site, as well as the idea that voting for a good question, or accurate answer, even if that question/answer does not apply directly to you, because it will help other users. Indeed the latter is the entire premise of Stack Exchange. Upvotes: 3 <issue_comment>username_3: Hmm yeah we might have a minor problem. I know most of my rep is disportionately from question acceptance and unusually low for +1s. I wonder if it has to do with any active member being able to be on the top 50 list their first month, thus people maybe hoarding their upvotes trying to be number one? Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_4: So, I'm the first who got [**Electorate**](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/help/badges/44/electorate) badge. Go guys and fetch that badge. You can only get that badge by voting. This is a very young SE site, and there's need for users that vote, because voting is encouraging others to post and to discuss. Cheers once again and remember to vote up! Upvotes: 3

2016/12/05

<issue_start>username_0: I'd like to talk about site building a little bit. We have now been in public Beta for almost a year now and I feel that we've learned a lot about what audience we have here on Stack Exchange. However, we've got a little ways to go before we can make it out of Beta. The Stats ========= * *Questions per day* is **2.1**/10; 21% of the way there * Our *answer rate* is still good with **96%** * We need to work on our votes + We have **56**/150 users with *200+ reputation* + We have **4**/10 users with *2,000+ reputation* + We have **3**/5 users with *3,000+ reputation* * Our *answers per question* ratio is **2.0**/2.5. which is good, but could be better * We currently hold an average of **753** *visits per day* out of a recommended 1,500 per day. All of these stats are live and always available on [our Area51 site](http://area51.stackexchange.com/proposals/82438/3d-printing). Let's increase our Visits! -------------------------- Ultimately, the kink in the chain is that we do not have enough visitors. The more visitors we accrue, the easier it may become to reach some of these smaller goals such as ***questions per day*** and ***user reputation***. Remember that the home page for 3D Printing has sharing links to social media sites. There are a growing number of 3D printing sites such as Thingiverse, 3D Hubs, MakeXYZ, Shapeways, etc. All of these sites have avid users and I'm sure many of them have questions on a regular basis and are more than happy to share their knowledge with other Makers/Professionals. Let's increase our Votes! ------------------------- The more people we have visiting the site, the more **opportunity** we have have gaining more reputation. As <NAME> states in a recent [Meta post](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/196/remember-to-vote), asking/answering questions becomes a chore if people don't feel that they're efforts are appreciated or good enough. Often times there is legitimate research going into answering certain questions, so there can be real work going into providing people with quality answers. The same goes for asking questions. If you've been in the same predicament or appreciate a well written question, give the question an up-vote. Meta Activity ------------- I think it is also important for everyone to occasionally review the latest here on Meta. It's a great tool for people to express how they feel the site could be better!<issue_comment>username_1: Well we need to attract more members! Personally I know a lot of people that can help us attract more. Myself I run a facebook group with 6k members called 3d printing hobbyists. That said I am also friends with the admins of the other and larger groups. If I had some good promo material I could probably get folks like 3d printing nerd to mention the SO group in his highly visible channel. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_2: **Are we at the limit on how big we can grow if we are only talking about "3D printers"** 1. The 3D printing market is growing; but, it is still a pretty small niche compared to broader subjects like Programming, Engineering, Cooking, etc. 2. 3D printers are really pretty simple compared to the other topics I mentioned above. There aren't going to be as many questions. 3. There is a wide diversity of printers and most commercial (non RepRap) printers are supported by the individual manufacturer's forums. That said, 753 visits/day (which is less than the number of people in the launch) and 2.1 questions/day are both pretty pathetic. I think pretty much every 3D Printing forum, Facebook group, and YouTube channel WAY exceeds those numbers. **Only being able to ask and answer questions may also be a BIG limitation to our growth** 3D Printing is part of the general Maker Culture and Makers want to not just ask; but, they want to show off and talk about what they make. That is a lot of what I see on the other venues and that may be why we aren't getting as much traction here. **We need to find a way to channel the nubies and students here** I know nubies can be annoying; but, they ask more questions. Lots of questions on StackOverflow come from students and nubies. --- **So, what can we do?** 1. Broaden our scope from just "3D Printing". The original Beta description is "tools and applications of 3D printing" which is a bit wider. Maybe we should try to get more CAD, scanning, and maybe even CNC questions. 2. I wonder if Stack Exchange would be interested in getting a booth at our local Maker Faires. They seem to be willing to partner money with effort and a booth is pretty cheap if we can muster the manpower. 3. Could we do a [community-ad](https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/237281/community-ads-faq). It looks like they may be [taking requests](https://meta.serverfault.com/questions/9028/community-promotion-ads-2017/9040) now. 4. Maybe we could partner with someone to do a "Print-a-thon" or printing contest. They could post the results and push the questions to us. 5. Find a way to connect to schools that have printing and/or CAD classes or after-school activities. 6. Connect into other student activities that use 3D printing whether it be art or things like Robotics Competitions. Upvotes: 2

2017/01/28

<issue_start>username_0: I'll start off on a good note and congratulate everyone in the community for continually supporting each other. We have maintained a great answer rate here on 3D Printing SE with a answer rate of 96%. I believe this rate has been maintained since day one and it's hard to keep up, especially with fluctuations in user activity. However, I would like to at least address an issue I've seen trending. Most of the issue comes from old posts and new, unfamiliar users to the SE network. Anyways, there is an abnormally high number of unaccepted answers. Specifically, on 01/28/2017 9am Pacific US, there are **658 questions** ***with answers***, ***258*** of which have **no answer accepted**. This is an ***answer acceptance rate of about 40%***. Updated to 11/16/2018 10am CET, there are **1682 questions** ***with answers*** (of a total of 1788 questions), ***706*** of which have **no answer accepted**. This is an ***answer acceptance rate of about 42%***, although improved, it is still very low! --- Now, I've done this in the past with little payout, but perhaps if we have more eyes on it moving forward. I have gone through the list of questions [here](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/search?q=hasaccepted%3Ano+answers%3A1) and commented on the question to ask the OP if any of the answers helped solve their situation. Something like this (see also meta posting [Do we have Standardised Comments?](/questions/303/do-we-have-standardised-comments)): > > Hello @[UserName], I noticed your question has been up for a while now. Have any of the answers below been able to solve your question? If so, would you mind accepting the appropriate answer. If not, what is missing so that we may help you further? Also, if you have figured it out on your own, you can always answer and accept your own solution. Thank you. > > > This should hopefully ping the user. Also, going through these questions may bring up questions that may need moderator attention/intervention. Hopefully we can tackle this issue and get some other users more reputation in the process.<issue_comment>username_1: Hands up, guilty as charged. In my defence sometimes using the answer as given raises even more questions. In mitigation, from the knowledge gained (from helpful folk or simply own stupidity), I now contribute to others starting out. Will try harder. P.S. Is there anywhere in the forum with a cure for life interrupting printing? Wife, dog, children, grandchildren all eat into my learning time....sigh. Upvotes: 0 <issue_comment>username_2: I have the feeling that a lot of the questions with non-accepted answers are users that came in for one or two questions and then left for good without ever accepting an answer. They might even have forgotten about this place. For the note: we have (according to [Area 51](https://area51.stackexchange.com/proposals/lookup/3dprinting.stackexchange.com)) 11,291 users that have joined (probably including spammers). Of these only 168 have gained 200 or more Rep, which is a quota of 1.488%. So only about 1.5% of the userbase has shown more than a glancing activity. 200 points equivalent to 40 votes on questions or 20 on answers, so it is a point showing at least some dedication to the stack. Upvotes: 1

2017/03/19

<issue_start>username_0: I know that here at SE I cant ask recommendation of products and so. I have a printer that I wanna buy and I want to know if it's good. Where should I post this question in order to get some smart people to take a look?<issue_comment>username_1: Great question! 3DPrinting SE attracts a lot of new Stack Exchange network users, which unfortunately can come with questions that don't always meet the Q&A style for the network that this site tries to uphold. Questions like this are probably best asked in the [Chat](http://chat.stackexchange.com/rooms/34216/the-hotbed-3d-printing) room. Currently, it's not very active, but hopefully if we have a few people interested in these more "off-topic" questions the activity will pick up. Pings are going to be a very useful tool if we're going to try and utilize the chat window more. Pinging some of the highly active users may help get quality answers to those off-topic questions. Upvotes: 1 <issue_comment>username_2: Some of your question could be acceptable. What you want to avoid is "questions which are too broad, unclear, incomplete or primarily opinion-based". That still leaves lots of other acceptable questions to ask like what printers have a specific feature or whether a specific printer has a specific feature. Note the word "specific". There is also a [Hardware Recommendations](https://hardwarerecs.stackexchange.com/) SE Beta that may work for you. Upvotes: 0

2017/05/10

<issue_start>username_0: This question may require migration to Meta.SE, as it could be a site-wide "bug", but I thought that I would test the waters here, to see if there is an obvious explanation. I noticed that a question of mine had been modified, on April 16, by "<NAME>" in the [unanswered questions list](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/unanswered), when sorted by votes1: > > [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/nY7mi.png) > > > However, when checking the [revision history](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/posts/3015/revisions), the April 16 edit, by *<NAME>*, is not shown. The last modification was the "https everywhere" edit, three days prior: > > [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/p5B9M.png) > > > I've not noticed the behaviour before. What is going on? Is it a bug, or something really obvious that I can't see? Was it a rejected edit? If the latter, then should it really be shown in the Unanswered question list? Shouldn't the modifications listed in the Unanswered questions list, actually only be accepted modifications/edits? --- 1 The unanswered list, and the sorting, are irrelevant to the actual issue.<issue_comment>username_1: The Stack Exchange network is undergoing a transition to HTTPS for its sites, including 3D Printing SE. This edit (from Community, it looks like), was probably scripted from SE Staff in attempt to fix content on Questions and Answers. Ultimately, I don't think this is worth migrating the SE Meta. Upvotes: 0 <issue_comment>username_1: Regarding the "invisible modification", there is technically a modification made multiple times by the user **<NAME>** (now destroyed). This user was posting nonsense to your question by copying text from your question and posting it as an answer. The reason you probably did not see this in the revision history is: 1) it wasn't a direct edit to your question 2) I believe only moderators can see deleted posts. [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/2VAiLs.png) [click here for full view](https://i.stack.imgur.com/2VAiL.png) of deleted posts I'm pretty sure that anytime someone posts an answer or edits your question, the post raises the modified flag. In this case, when the user was posting answers it would properly flag the post. But, the flag remained even after the answers were deleted (there were 3 answers). Upvotes: 3 [selected_answer]

2017/05/29

<issue_start>username_0: I have just edited a new post, [Help understanding bridge settings](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/4153/help-understanding-bridge-settings), so that the video would be "inlined" and playable in the post itself1. However, the video does not show up, and only the raw link (`https://youtu.be/HaeCBru3mOI`) is displayed: > > [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/f7jmC.png) > > > This is the markup: > > [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/ukkfG.png) > > > I have used the *same* markup method, for inlining the video clip as this post, [Is ATC communication subject to FCC profanity regulations?](https://aviation.stackexchange.com/questions/34121/is-atc-communication-subject-to-fcc-profanity-regulations), on SE.Aviation: > > [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/kgTCg.png) > > > and there the video clip is inlined: > > [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/LrHrI.png) > > > --- ### TL;DR Is video inlining disabled on SE.3D Printing, or is it because we are still beta? If it can be enabled , then should/could it be enabled? I personally think it would be useful to enable it, and save a few mouse clicks (and RSI) having to open the video in another tab/window etc. What do other people think? --- 1 See [Allow embedded HTML5 YouTube video](https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/121209/allow-embedded-html5-youtube-video?rq=1)<issue_comment>username_1: Per answer to [What are the limitations in Beta](https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/296832/what-are-the-limitations-in-beta) "Inline videos is a feature that is off by default on all sites and only turned on if the community thinks it's necessary to improve the quality of a good portion of their question base." Upvotes: 3 [selected_answer]<issue_comment>username_2: Yes, I think on this site it would be useful - but we need to be fairly aggressive about closing questions that don't have a fully readable 'text' question. The video must only be for clarification, not as a replacement for writing a question. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_3: A note of caution, [this post](https://stackoverflow.com/c/moderators/questions/257#answer-261) on the Stack Moderators site, Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2's post, [How do you request embedded video for your site?](https://stackoverflow.com/c/moderators/questions/257) - As mods can only follow these links I've included the content below: > > I don't know how exactly to request it, but I do want to point at one > pretty big downside. > > > **The player is pretty darn big.** Plus, my experience is that it has a tendency to eat CPU cycles for breakfast. > > > I looked at the numbers [about a year ago over on Space Exploration > Meta](https://space.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/883/are-there-ways-to-make-posts-with-images-better-for-low-connect-speed-users-doe/885#comment3547_885). > What I found was: > > > > > > > Loading <https://space.stackexchange.com/q/21891/415> without using the browser cache downloads 7642 KB for me just now. Of that, > > `www.youtube.com` is responsible for 3182 KB and `i.stack.imgur.com` > > another 2729 KB. Excluding just the embedded images and the > > video-related downloads leaves about 1.7 MB to be downloaded. That's > > still a sizable chunk of data for what basically amounts to a few > > pages of text, but not quite as extreme as 7.6 MB. > > > > > > > > > So one video embed adds about 3 MB download for everyone viewing the > post, regardless of whether or not they are in any way interested in > the video. (I think the video itself is downloaded on demand, so if > someone actually watches the video, that adds even more data, but at > that point at least they have some interest in it.) In situations > where connections are metered by the megabyte, this can add up > quickly, and is something that should be kept in mind before turning > on this feature. Not everyone is on a fast, > no-extra-charge-per-megabyte connection. > > > (Yes, I'm big on keeping text as mostly text. I'm old-fashioned in > that regard.) > > > Also [this post](https://stackoverflow.com/c/moderators/questions/257#answer-260): > > > > > > Are there any downsides to having embedded video (performance or otherwise)? > > > > > > > > > Yep, [performance could be an issue](https://meta.stackexchange.com/a/279637/295232). Also, malicious users could post links to videos with ... questionable ... content (though this could be alleviated by requiring some reputation to post embedded videos, just as some sites do with pictures). > > > Upvotes: 0

2017/06/06

<issue_start>username_0: We have, now, assertained that *inlined videos* (for want of a better description) are currently turned off (disabled) for SE 3D Printing, but can be turned on at any time, and there is no need to wait for the site to exit Beta, see [Is the "inlining videos" capability turned off on this site?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/226/is-the-inlining-videos-capability-turned-off-on-this-site) The question now is, should we enable it? I have seen a few (2?) cases where the OP has linked to a video in order to succinctly describe their issue. As Ecnerwal points out in [their answer](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/4153/help-understanding-bridge-settings#answer-4157) to [Help understanding bridge settings](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/4153/help-understanding-bridge-settings), watching videos, and in particular having to click on a link to watch them, can be somewhat onerous. Having the video inlined, *might* make it less so. BTW, I don't know what [backend or UX] disadvantages there would be to switching it on, although there are these [cautionary tales](http://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/226/is-the-inlining-videos-capability-turned-off-on-this-site#answer-400).<issue_comment>username_1: Per answer to [What are the limitations in Beta](https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/296832/what-are-the-limitations-in-beta) "Inline videos is a feature that is off by default on all sites and only turned on if the community thinks it's necessary to improve the quality of a good portion of their question base." Upvotes: 3 [selected_answer]<issue_comment>username_2: Yes, I think on this site it would be useful - but we need to be fairly aggressive about closing questions that don't have a fully readable 'text' question. The video must only be for clarification, not as a replacement for writing a question. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_3: A note of caution, [this post](https://stackoverflow.com/c/moderators/questions/257#answer-261) on the Stack Moderators site, Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2's post, [How do you request embedded video for your site?](https://stackoverflow.com/c/moderators/questions/257) - As mods can only follow these links I've included the content below: > > I don't know how exactly to request it, but I do want to point at one > pretty big downside. > > > **The player is pretty darn big.** Plus, my experience is that it has a tendency to eat CPU cycles for breakfast. > > > I looked at the numbers [about a year ago over on Space Exploration > Meta](https://space.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/883/are-there-ways-to-make-posts-with-images-better-for-low-connect-speed-users-doe/885#comment3547_885). > What I found was: > > > > > > > Loading <https://space.stackexchange.com/q/21891/415> without using the browser cache downloads 7642 KB for me just now. Of that, > > `www.youtube.com` is responsible for 3182 KB and `i.stack.imgur.com` > > another 2729 KB. Excluding just the embedded images and the > > video-related downloads leaves about 1.7 MB to be downloaded. That's > > still a sizable chunk of data for what basically amounts to a few > > pages of text, but not quite as extreme as 7.6 MB. > > > > > > > > > So one video embed adds about 3 MB download for everyone viewing the > post, regardless of whether or not they are in any way interested in > the video. (I think the video itself is downloaded on demand, so if > someone actually watches the video, that adds even more data, but at > that point at least they have some interest in it.) In situations > where connections are metered by the megabyte, this can add up > quickly, and is something that should be kept in mind before turning > on this feature. Not everyone is on a fast, > no-extra-charge-per-megabyte connection. > > > (Yes, I'm big on keeping text as mostly text. I'm old-fashioned in > that regard.) > > > Also [this post](https://stackoverflow.com/c/moderators/questions/257#answer-260): > > > > > > Are there any downsides to having embedded video (performance or otherwise)? > > > > > > > > > Yep, [performance could be an issue](https://meta.stackexchange.com/a/279637/295232). Also, malicious users could post links to videos with ... questionable ... content (though this could be alleviated by requiring some reputation to post embedded videos, just as some sites do with pictures). > > > Upvotes: 0

2017/06/22

<issue_start>username_0: Do we want to add a BLOG to this site? Blogs are another way of communicating things that don't fit the Q&A model. Here is a good description of [what a Blog is and how you can start one](https://stackoverflow.blog/2011/06/23/blog-overflow/). This post on the SuperUser Blog asking for [help with their Blog](http://blog.superuser.com/2012/02/09/are-you-interested-in-writing-for-our-blog/) is helpful too.<issue_comment>username_1: +1 - As it seems a good idea. Not sure what would go in it though - do you have any concrete examples of blog ideas? I already have a (messy) [blog](https://gr33nonline.wordpress.com/), and I am not sure if I could also write a blog on here too. I wonder what the score is regarding duplicating personal blogs on to SE blogs? --- ### Content An SE 3D print blog could be a good idea for ***Build Logs***, for example, maybe. Or maybe a page that links to other people's superlative build logs, [<NAME>'s blogs](https://miscsolutions.wordpress.com/) come to mind. Is the blog (unlike the SE Q&A site) allowed to contain ***links to cheap items/suppliers***? Apparently, reviews are allowed, from [Blog Overflow](https://stackoverflow.blog/2011/06/23/blog-overflow/): > > **Review a product**. Reviews don’t fit the Q&A nature of the sites, but these rules don’t apply on the blog! Between a review written by a random person on the internet and a review written by a user on the site who consistently gets a lot of upvotes, which review would you trust more? > > > This closed question would have fitted into a blog nicely: [What Is 3D Printing?](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/4279/what-is-3d-printing) --- ### Concerns So, yes, I think it would be worth starting one up and seeing how it goes... although I would be a little concerned about the regularity of posts: > > **Plan a schedule**. Given the results of steps #2 and #3, think about a rough idea of a schedule for the blog. Will there be one post a week, posted Mondays? Will there be posts on Tuesdays and posts on Fridays? You don’t need to be pushing out posts daily, but you should post at least once a week. > > > *and* > > **Pick a posting schedule and stick to it**. It is easier to simply keep up from the get go than catch up if you fall behind. Have a couple draft posts stashed away for a rainy day, ready to go that can be published if there is a lull. > > > Also, who would coordinate it? Are you putting yourself forward? > > **Have someone holding the reins**. This person doesn’t need to be the one writing all the posts, just someone that helps coordinate who is writing what and when it is getting posted. > > > --- However, it *is* a bit of a misfortune that Blog Overflow has a rather unfortunately acronym (as well as sounding like *Bog* Overflow). Upvotes: 1 <issue_comment>username_2: The description of blogs you've cited is 6 years old. Unfortunately, [blogs have since been discontinued](https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/291741/we-will-no-longer-be-hosting-blog-overflow). It is no longer possible to start a new blog. Upvotes: 2

2017/08/25

<issue_start>username_0: Should we add a tag for 'laser' for those of us who are attaching laser cutters/burners to 3D printers to turn them into 3D CNC. Or is this drifting too far off topic from "3d printing"?<issue_comment>username_1: A good question. I'm currently using insights I obtained from mucking about with a 3D printer with Arduino Mega 2560 and RAMPS 1.4 to dive into retrofitting an elderly CNC router (but, as a router, still, not as a printer) with a new control system (presently thinking and have on order Arduino Uno R3 and Arduino CNC shield R3, we'll see how implementation goes on those) and was wondering if I could ask questions here that would overlap, or not, as I don't think there's a CNC/subtractive community similar to this 3DP/additive one in the ecosystem yet. I actually started out thinking I could just use the same controller setup (there's plenty of stepper driver slots available, and going "dual-purpose" cut and print is potentially interesting) but it seems the official GRBL fork is not 2560 compatible, though there is a fork to try and make it so - it seemed more of a sure bet to stick with the "official" fork and the common hardware. Likewise I've seen a bit of chatter about making Marlin switch-hit CNC/3DP, but I get the impression it's not all there yet, and I'm more interested in immediately usable based on current/past efforts than trying to develop new functionality my dang self. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_2: The tag [laser](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/laser "show questions tagged 'laser'") has been created. Would you like to provide usage guidance and edit the tag summary and body? So far I have found one question which is laser related, [Laser Engraver with Smoothie, RAMPS 1.4 or AWC708C?](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/6214/laser-engraver-with-smoothie-ramps-1-4-or-awc708c). Seeing as you posted this question, did you have any other questions in mind that required that tag? If so, would you mind tagging them as such? Upvotes: 1

2017/09/25

<issue_start>username_0: [This post](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/a/4642/233) has been up for 4-5 days now. I flagged it originally when it was first posted and that flag aged away, I have now flagged it again and it's still here. We have one [user](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/users/1263/szymon-b%C4%99czkowski) that shares part of the posters name but I am unsure if they are connected in any way or if that name references the linked user. Do we need more moderators to handle this? What is the process for having these removed?<issue_comment>username_1: The post has now been deleted and the user destroyed due to spam, so thank you for bringing this up. It either must have come up after I cleaned out the inbox or I must have overlooked it. Yes, we do need another moderator. I would have loved to be at a point by now that we could have had elections as part of a fully public SE site, but we've still got a few hurdles to overcome as a community. I'll double check what the options are for bringing on new moderators at this stage and post back to Meta. Upvotes: 1 <issue_comment>username_2: Seeing as I'm 20 days late to this question, you probably understand that I'm not very active at the moment myself. (At least, I'm inactive for longer periods of time.) With Ryan gone for almost a year now, that often leaves @username_1 as the only moderator on this site. In other words, we could do with another moderator or a change of moderators (Ryan and perhaps me also). On the plus side, we are getting more and more users, which makes the community handle a lot of cases by itself. Upvotes: 0

2018/02/12

<issue_start>username_0: There are currently about 50 questions containing the words “[leveling](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/search?q=%22leveling%22%20is%3Aq)” or “[levelling](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/search?q=%22levelling%22%20is%3Aq)”. I think it would be helpful to unify them with a tag, but I can't find an appropriate one. Further, several of these questions are tagged with `[heated-bed]` without being about heating, which is somewhat misleading. Bed leveling is an area in which one may accrue distinct expertise, and as such I would like to suggest a `[bed-leveling]` tag to help experts find and answer questions. The spelling with a single “l” is the more common spelling used on the site and also that used in Marlin's documentation. The tag's ambit could encompass: 1. Mechanical bed-leveling such as manual adjustment of screws and springs 2. Software bed-leveling like the [G29 G-Code command](http://marlinfw.org/docs/gcode/G029-mbl.html) 3. General Z-axis measurement with a mechanical or inductive probe The tag could also be applied post-facto to questions about printing problems like poor-adhesion, should the solution be found to involve bed calibration.<issue_comment>username_1: There is no tag created for leveling (or levelling, or bed-leveling for that matter). So, I would recommend taking some of your top search results for leveling, of your results, if any have available tags (not all 5 tags have been used) then add/created the [bed-leveling] tag. Overall, this is a good catch on potentially improving the tagging here on 3DPrinting SE. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_2: As confirmed by [this comment](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/255/request-to-add-a-bed-leveling-tag#comment363_256) under the other answer, there is now a [bed-leveling](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/bed-leveling "show questions tagged 'bed-leveling'") tag, so this meta question should now be marked as: 1. having an accepted answer, to remove it from the unanswered questions list, and; 2. status complete (which has just been done) Upvotes: 1

2018/04/20

<issue_start>username_0: I recently asked a question ([Is there any public and reasonably accurate 3D scan from a Cray-2 computer?](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/5699/is-there-any-public-and-reasonably-accurate-3d-scan-from-a-cray-2-computer)) about where to find (if there is any, because I tried and there seems not to be) a 3D model of a specific object I could use as a starting point for printable model and printable parts and it was flagged as off-topic and closed. Has this type of question proved to be troublesome in the past?<issue_comment>username_1: mostly this is an off-topic question, as per [question rules - click](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/help/dont-ask) That means your question is not about solving a technical problem. Upvotes: 0 <issue_comment>username_2: This topic is actually up for debate *possibly*. I don't personally know if this sort of question has been actually *troublesome*. I remember your question well and whilst it didn't fit into the scope *as it is currently defined*, it seemed (IMHO) a reasonable question nevertheless. It was unfortunate that you did not get a suitable answer before your question was closed. I have include this question in the new meta post about what should and shouldn't be on-topic, [Game plan - What is on-topic?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/276/game-plan-what-is-on-topic). Upvotes: 2

2018/05/25

<issue_start>username_0: I can't find an answer to this question on the "mother" meta website; hope this is not related to my choice of words in the search box. The statistics of the [3D Printing](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/) on [Area51](http://area51.stackexchange.com/proposals/82438/3d-printing) show that only few items (questions and visits per day) are not up to par and need work. Do those need to reach a level of let's say "okay" before the site can loose the Beta stage? I'm interested to know what would be the requirements to get out of the Beta stage. --- Update September 5, 2019: It appears that the *"visits per day"* is *"excellent"* with close to three thousand visits. The "questions per day" still lack behind with a 3.0 value (*"needs work"*) while more than 5 is considered "healthy". All further stats seem to be *"okay"* or *"excellent"*.<issue_comment>username_1: This post, [3D Printing SE Beta Status](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/197/3d-printing-se-beta-status), by username_2 highlights the *three main* sticking points (IMHO clearer than the Area 51 page): * Questions per day * Users vs Reputation * Visits per day Once those reach the required levels then that should be it. So, there is quite a way to go... The stats can be seen here, [3D Printing Area51 site](http://area51.stackexchange.com/proposals/82438/3d-printing): ### Stats progress Note: Only *changes* are shown (no date information) * *Questions per day* **2.1** -> 1.9 1.6 2.1 2.7 2.1 1.7 2 2.4 3.0 2.5 3.9 2.8 3.3 3 2.7 2 1.9 2.1 2.2 2.4 * *Answer rate* **96 %** -> 93 % 95 % 96 % 97 % 98 % 96 % 95 % 94 % 88 % 87 % * *Users* + *200+ reputation* **56/150** -> 103/150 113/150 139/150 144/150 151/150 161/150 164/150 179/150 194/150 282/150\* 351/150 358/150 359/150 + *2,000+ reputation* **4/10** -> 8/10 9/10 10/10 11/10 12/10 14/10 17/10 19/10 22/10\* 27/10 + *3,000+ reputation* **3/5** -> 4/5 6/5 7/5 8/5 9/5 11/5 12/5\* 14/5 * *Answers per question* ratio is **2.0** -> 1.9 * *Visits per day* **753** -> 4 2324 2648 2675 2774 2844 3041 3707 2934 3290 8756 7146 6773 6718 6682 6627 6582 6247 6207 6081 5929 5541 5469 \* This change in the number of users with *X* reputation is, in part, due to the move from +5 to +10 reputation for upvoted questions on [13 Nov 2019](https://stackoverflow.blog/2019/11/13/were-rewarding-the-question-askers/) (see also [Upvotes on questions will now be worth the same as upvotes on answers](https://meta.stackoverflow.com/q/391250/4424636)). --- ### Alternative Stats presentation Latest statistic shown in bold -> chronological history shown thereafter * *Questions per day* **2.4** -> 2.1 1.9 1.6 2.1 2.7 2.1 1.7 2 2.4 3.0 2.5 3.9 2.8 3.3 3 2.7 2 1.9 2.1 2.2 * *Answer rate* **87 %** -> 96 % 93 % 95 % 96 % 97 % 98 % 96 % 95 % 94 % 88 % * *Users* + *200+ reputation* **359/150** -> 56/150 103/150 113/150 139/150 144/150 151/150 161/150 164/150 179/150 194/150 282/150\* 351/150 358/150 + *2,000+ reputation* **27/10** -> 4/10 8/10 9/10 10/10 11/10 12/10 14/10 17/10 19/10 22/10\* + *3,000+ reputation* **14/5** -> 3/5 4/5 6/5 7/5 8/5 9/5 11/5 12/5\* * *Answers per question* ratio is **1.9** -> 2.0 * *Visits per day* **5469** -> 753 4 2324 2648 2675 2774 2844 3041 3707 2934 3290 8756 7146 6773 6718 6682 6627 6582 6247 6207 6081 5929 5541 --- ### Additional points of note The stats above aren't really the be all to end all... there are a few other considerations that I came across here, [in this answer](https://robotics.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/1354/graduation-of-this-community/1355#1355), to [“Graduation” of this Community](https://robotics.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/1354/graduation-of-this-community): 1. A number of 10k+ users ( *n* > 3 ) are required to access mod tools 2. A number of 3k+ users ( *n* > 10 ) are required to be able to fully vote ### The final hurdle The main sticking point, according to this meta post on Ethereum, [Congratulations! Ethereum is graduating!](https://ethereum.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/474/congratulations-ethereum-is-graduating), is 10 questions per day, which we are a long way from, and seems to be the last remaining issue. A link ([Graduation, site closure, and a clearer outlook on the health of SE sites](https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/257614/graduation-site-closure-and-a-clearer-outlook-on-the-health-of-se-sites)) from the Ethereum meta post to Meta.SE states: > > When a site starts to consistently receive 10 questions/day, we’ll consider it for graduation. > > > ### No graduation, but losing the Beta label... Apart from graduation, SE management has recognised that small sites (with an active community) struggle to reach the 10 questions/day consistently. For sites that have been waiting to get out of Beta by graduation for 7-8 years, SE has decided to drop the Beta label. Please see [Congratulations to our 29 oldest beta sites - They're now no longer beta!](https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/331708/congratulations-to-our-29-oldest-beta-sites-theyre-now-no-longer-beta?cb=1). --- ### CSV Format * Format: `heading,data,date,data,date,...,data,date` * Date format: `YYYYMMDD` ``` *Questions per day*,2.1,20170317,1.9,20180525,1.6,20180705,2.1,20180707,2.7,20180815,2.1,20180903,1.7,20181015,2,20181106,2.4,20190327,3.0,20190905,2.5,20191119,3.9,20210121,2.8,20210411,3.3,20210423,3.3,20210424,3,20210425,3,20210426,2.7,20210427,2,20210506,2,20210508,1.9,20210511,2.1,20210514,2.2,20210525,2.4,20210526 *Answer rate*,96,20170317,93,20180525,95,20180705,96,20180707,96,20180815,97,20180903,98,20181015,98,20181106,96,20190327,95,20190905,94,20191119,88,20210121,88,20210411,88,20210423,88,20210424,88,20210425,88,20210426,88,20210427,88,20210506,88,20210508,87,20210511,87,20210514,87,20210525,87,20210526 *200+ reputation*,56,20170317,103,20180525,113,20180705,139,20180707,144,20180815,151,20180903,161,20181015,164,20181106,179,20190327,194,20190905,282,20191119,351,20210121,358,20210411,358,20210423,358,20210424,358,20210425,358,20210426,358,20210427,358,20210506,358,20210508,358,20210511,358,20210514,359,20210525,359,20210526 *2,000+ reputation*,4,20170317,8,20180525,9,20180705,10,20180707,11,20180815,12,20180903,14,20181015,14,20181106,17,20190327,19,20190905,22,20191119,27,20210121,27,20210411,27,20210423,27,20210424,27,20210425,27,20210426,27,20210427,27,20210506,27,20210508,27,20210511,27,20210514,27,20210525,27,20210526 *3,000+ reputation*,3,20170317,4,20180525,6,20180705,7,20180707,7,20180815,7,20180903,7,20181015,8,20181106,9,20190327,11,20190905,12,20191119,14,20210121,14,20210411,14,20210423,14,20210424,14,20210425,14,20210426,14,20210427,14,20210506,14,20210508,14,20210511,14,20210514,14,20210525,14,20210526 *Answers per question*,2.0,20170317,1.9,20180525,1.9,20180705,1.9,20180707,1.9,20180815,1.9,20180903,1.9,20181015,1.9,20181106,1.9,20190327,1.9,20190905,1.9,20191119,1.9,20210121,1.9,20210411,1.9,20210423,1.9,20210424,1.9,20210425,1.9,20210426,1.9,20210427,1.9,20210506,1.9,20210508,1.9,20210511,1.9,20210514,1.9,20210525,1.9,20210526 *Visits per day*,753,20170317,4,20180525,2324,20180705,2648,20180707,2675,20180815,2774,20180903,2844,20181015,3041,20181106,3707,20190327,2934,20190905,3290,20191119,8756,20210121,7146,20210411,6773,20210423,6718,20210424,6682,20210425,6627,20210426,6582,20210427,6247,20210506,6207,20210508,6081,20210511,5929,20210514,5541,20210525,5469,20210526 ``` Auto-generate markdown lists and CSV: [GitLab: SE3DP\_PlotterScraper](https://gitlab.com/testkins/se3dp_plotterscraper)/[Area51Scraper.py](https://gitlab.com/testkins/se3dp_plotterscraper/-/blob/master/Area51Scraper.py) --- ### Graphical representation [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/MYOoT.png "Graph of stats") Graph script: [GitLab: SE3DP\_PlotterScraper](https://gitlab.com/testkins/se3dp_plotterscraper)/[StackExchange3DP\_6.py](https://gitlab.com/testkins/se3dp_plotterscraper/-/blob/master/StackExchange3DP_6.py) Upvotes: 4 [selected_answer]<issue_comment>username_2: I was running out of space in the comments, so I'm just moving this to a full blown answer. According to the *magic Moderator portal*, we should be around 2,350 in visits per day. Also, my post was a little over a year and half ago. To elaborate on my original post that @username_1 attributed and reiterate the points: Accept Answers ============== I have mentioned the [accepted answers issue](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/174/accepting-unanswered-questions) before as well in a separate post, but there are currently [571 unaccepted-answer questions WITH at least 1 answer available](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/search?q=hasaccepted%3Ano%20answers%3A1) out of 1,467 as of 06/06/2018 11:12pm UTC-7 (Pacific). That's almost **40%** of our content ripe for reputation. That equates to **8,565 reputation** points just by purely accepting one of the available answers. I've periodically used the link above to retroactively remind users that they can approve of an answer. There's nothing wrong with reminding users in the comments, so long as it is asked appropriately. If you don't know how to word it, feel free to steal my wording from the post above. Vote ==== I'm not the best at remembering to vote, but I typically vote both on the answer(s) that helped me AND the question(s). I think questions easily get overlooked in the voting process, but it does help our newer visitors. Upvotes: 3 <issue_comment>username_3: Your "vote" is one of the key things. As <NAME> pointed out to Mechanics.SE before we graduated and were asking the same question asked here, he stated: > > [*... voting is the engine that drives the reputation economy*](https://mechanics.meta.stackexchange.com/q/1447/4152). > > > I think Mech had a little different scenario than does 3D Printing, but it still holds true. If you want people to show up and do things, you (and everyone else) needs to vote. Up, down, sideways ... doesn't matter. They all help drive people to *do things* in every Stack. Looking at the above link, you can see one of the things which is important to graduation is having the right user base. You have to have people who have the ability to do things which only those who have met the point level can do. As it stands the highest ranked person by point total is [<NAME>](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/users/26/tom-van-der-zanden). He hasn't (as of this writing) broached 10k points. There are two users who have more than 5k points, and another five who are over 2500. How do you improve this scenario? You guessed it, by voting. I realize with sub two questions per day (QPD), there's not a lot to vote on. That can be overcome as well. Those of you who have had issues or have met challenges have knowledge. Write down those challenges you've faced in a question. Then, either write an answer for them, or let someone else figure them out. Either way, you are creating opportunity for the site to expand. That opportunity will be giving someone a chance to vote and/or answer the question. Plus, you are doing what SE wants done in the first place: *bringing and recording knowledge*. It's a win-win. There's a ton of other things which can be done to get 3D Printing graduated. I'm sure we'll get there sooner or later. I hope I can help in some small way. I'm not the bastion of all knowledge to get a site graduated, that's for sure, but having gone through it with Mechanics gives me some insight. Here's to the future and what it will bring. Upvotes: 3 <issue_comment>username_4: One thing that I noticed about the stats for this site when I first came across it was how high the number of registered users and visits is, compared with the number of active users and questions. For some time, I felt the site had either picked up some bad stats, or was in the final stages of fading away. I think things are a little more normal now though. It seems that we still have a bit of a problem with becoming sticky for lots of users. We're at 151 200 rep users (out of 10k), and [IoT](https://area51.stackexchange.com/proposals/94224/internet-of-things) is at 149 out of 7k, so it seems maybe we're not too far apart. The big difference seems to be the number of views. 1.2k per day on IoT, and 2.8k here (maybe expected since views depend on visibility of the site spreading over time). Are people really coming here and finding answers to their questions? Are they coming here and asking a single question? Are we on the wrong end of cheap printers with poor support, holding back the really interesting questions? Upvotes: 2

2018/06/06

<issue_start>username_0: What is the difference between [post-production](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/post-production "show questions tagged 'post-production'") and [post-processing](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/post-processing "show questions tagged 'post-processing'"), or are they synonyms? Should they be merged?1 [post-production](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/post-production "show questions tagged 'post-production'") has no description whatsoever. After looking at [What are tag synonyms and merged tags? How do they work?](https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/70710/what-are-tag-synonyms-and-merged-tags-how-do-they-work), We can make [post-processing](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/post-processing "show questions tagged 'post-processing'") the master and [post-production](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/post-production "show questions tagged 'post-production'") the slave **synonym**. This would seem to be a logical relationship given the number of questions tagged respectively. This relationship can be easily removed, if deemed to be incorrect. If, after some time, everyone is happy with this arrangement, then the two will be **merged**. Does that sound like a plan and does anyone have any objections..? --- 1 This question was moved from my answer to [Naming convention for tags with CamelCase or Pre-Fix](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/151/naming-convention-for-tags-with-camelcase-or-pre-fix#answer-269)<issue_comment>username_1: Post Processing vs. Post Production: **[These terms are absolute synonyms. At the same time they can be interchangeable.](http://fixthephoto.com/blog/retouch-tips/editing-retouching-post-processing-post-production-difference.html)** --- In digital video, photography, television and film, post-production refers to the tasks that must be completed or executed after the filming or shooting ends. This includes tasks such as the editing of raw footage to cut scenes, insert transition effects, working with voice and sound actors, and dubbing, to name a few of the many pre-production tasks. Post-production is the third and final step in film creation. It follows the pre-production and production phases. Source: [Post-Production](https://www.webopedia.com/TERM/P/post_production.html) Upvotes: -1 <issue_comment>username_2: These are **NOT** the same in a manufacturing, which 3D printing is primarily considered a part of. Post-Processing typically refers to additional steps that must/can be done to produce the nominally desired part. These steps can include deburr, grind, and other additive/subtractive processing on the physical part. Post-Production typically refers to any steps that typically do not "produce" or alter the dimensions of the product. These steps can include final visual and dimensional inspection, packaging, and sometimes even shipment. I would not recommend creating a synonym, but merely updating the definition of both terms. Upvotes: 3 [selected_answer]

2018/06/13

<issue_start>username_0: *Please note; Due to its very nature, this post is very subjective and is **not** intended to be a definitive list of categories. It is merely an attempt to offer one perspective of what has been suggested, and to ask "How should we move forward?"* --- Sometimes it is a bit hard to see the wood for the trees... Following on from tjb1's meta post, [Post Closing Issues](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/134/post-closing-issues), it seems like we should widen the scope and be less strict about what is, and what is not, on-topic. What do people think? What additions, if any, should be made? Are there things that definitely should be on the list, that aren't currently? So, with respect to our [On-topic page](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/help/on-topic), which needs updating, in order to get an idea of what people have been asking ("why has my question been closed?"/"why is X not allowed"), I've gone through the Meta questions and come up with a list of questions that mentioned the words "[ask](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/search?q=ask)" and "[topic](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/search?q=topic)". I then pulled out the questions relating to specifically what types of questions can/can't be asked. A number of them seem to be able to be labeled as duplicates (inasmuch as they asked more or less the same thing), and so I have attempted to group them according to their suggestion request. The full list is at the bottom of this post. Even though I went through both lists twice - also, I didn't read *every* question and answer listed below fully - *there may be some suggestions that I have missed*. Please feel free to either suggest a change, or edit this post directly and add any that have gone astray (in that respect, maybe this question should be a wiki?). Whilst we maybe don't want to change the aim of the site too much (as doing so may put off some regular users), maybe the scope needs to broaden slightly, as to have a wider appeal and be more *inclusive*. BTW, a useful post to read is [What should our documentation contain?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/6/what-should-our-documentation-contain) Any thoughts, questions, additional suggestions that have not already been posted, agreements, or disagreements? ### Update The list below was integrated into the on-topics page, on the 8th June 2019. See [On-topic has been updated - finally!](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/413/on-topic-has-been-updated-finally) for *further* discussion. --- ### TL;DR - Suggested topics In the list below, * Italics are used for notes * Strikethrough is used for definitive no-go topics Whilst there may be *some* overlap, duplication and/or mis-categorisation, the list of suggested on-topics seems to be, essentially: * Recommendations (Hardware and Software) + *Note: Usually banned from SE - with the exception of [Hardware Recommendations](https://hardwarerecs.stackexchange.com/)* + General Shopping - *opinion based* + First printer - *opinion based*, *see ["Best first printer" wiki/blog/closed-question](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/278/best-first-printer-closed-wiki)* + Best printer - Overall - *opinion based* - For specific task - *opinion based but allowable, although **speed** as a task is in a **very grey area**... this question [Fastest FDM printer?](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/10204/fastest-fdm-printer) was closed for being opinion-based* + Best software - Overall - *opinion based* - For a specific task - *opinion based but allowable* * Software issues + Firmware + Tools + Coding/Compiling firmware (see **Misc - Coding**) + 3D modelling (*same as **CAD**?*) * Websites (*could come under **Software** and/or **Tools***) + Recommended sites - for knowledge - for models - for online tools + Issues with web based tools * CAD + Needs to show relevancy to 3D printing! (See Meta questions) + *Overlap with SE.Blender?* * Printer DIY + Repair and maintenance (*both commercial and DIY repair of both commercial and DIY printers*) + Construction + Mechatronics * Components (*could come under **Printer DIY***) + *[Thermistors](https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/244366/how-do-i-tell-if-my-thermistors-are-10k-or-100k) is a good example, see note 1 below* + Help and Recommendations * Electronics + Printer related electronics + Common electronic gotchas * Print Services * Scanning + Also 3D Reconstruction ([example](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/172/is-a-question-about-software-to-create-models-on-topic)) + Software ([example](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/8057/resources-on-getting-horus-ciclop-scanners-to-work)) * Bio-printing * 3D Models + Feasibility + Availability * Sharing recommended settings * Legal issues + Copyright (i.e. [Lego](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/164/can-i-print-my-own-lego-bricks)) + Guns/Weapons + Insurance (i.e. fire damage) * Manufacturers + Best manufacturer - *opinion based* * Materials + Filament + ABS + PLA + PETG + etc. * Makerspaces * Medical + Materials for medical use + Medical quality printing + Medical applications for 3D printed objects * Health + Closely related, and may overlap with safety * Safety + Fumes + Print material suitability for foodstuffs * Non-3D Printing related + CNC ([example](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/10709/spindle-dc-motor-and-drill-bit-specifications-for-circuit-etching-cnc-machine)), ([example](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/10610/using-both-gcode-and-gbr-files-in-a-hybrid-3d-printer-circuit-etching-machin)) + Laser ([example](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/6214/laser-engraver-with-smoothie-ramps-1-4-or-awc708c)) + Routers + Vacuum Forming + Parts assembly ([example](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/3711/are-there-many-assembly-type-3d-printers)) * Misc + Not strictly 3D related, see **Non-3D Printing related** above + Anything 3D related - Connecting 3D printed parts - *For example, [connecting 3D printed parts](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/54/what-is-the-best-way-to-connect-3d-printed-parts) is currently off-topic*2 - Coding - *For example [How to build my own Cura GUI?](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/3109/how-to-build-own-cura-gui) - Coding Ultimaker Cura question, migrated to SO*3 + Other - FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication) - FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) - SLA (Stereo Lithography) - DLP (Digital Light Processing) - SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) - DLMS (Direct Laser Metal Smelting) --- **Notes** Admittedly, there will be overlap with some other SE sites and whilst we need to avoid the *too-broad-black-hole*, we should also welcome all things that are 3D Printer related, so as to keep all relevant knowledge in a central location. 1 WRT **Components**, and taking the [thermistors meta question](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/177/why-was-the-question-about-thermistors-migrated) as an example, my first thought is that questions like this should remain, as they are pertinent to 3D Printing, otherwise we *could* theoretically end up compartmentalising printers and migrating off a lot of stuff to SE. Electronics, SE.Engineering, SE.Hardware Recommendations, etc. 2 The same applies to the **Misc/Anything 3D related**, in particular the [*Connecting 3D parts* question](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/54/what-is-the-best-way-to-connect-3d-printed-parts). Yes, as some of the comments state, you could remove the 3D printer part and then it is basically an engineering question. However, when taken as a whole, this question *is* pertinent to 3D printing of large models, in parts. 3 Also under **Misc/Anything 3D related**, Coding Ultimaker Cura *is* a SO type question, but it is *also* 3D printer specific --- ### Additional suggestions in the future Instead of posting a new question, it *might* be a good idea to post an additional answer, containing the suggestion, to this question - in order to keep everything grouped together. This will save on the pain of having to go through all of the Meta questions as I have just done. However, that might mean that the suggestion request would not have such prominence that it would do if the suggestion was posted independently as its own question... So (at the risk of duplication), if a new question/suggestion is posted, then it could be a good idea to also copy that new post and add it as an answer below. --- Meta Suggestions ================ These are the meta questions that I used to create the categories above: [ask](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/search?q=ask) - 89 questions *in total* --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ### General scope questions * [What should our documentation contain?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/6/what-should-our-documentation-contain) * [What is our scope?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/138/what-is-our-scope) * [What is your opinion on SE Meta post regarding questions that cross Community lines?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/239/what-is-your-opinion-on-se-meta-post-regarding-questions-that-cross-community-li) * [How do we get more traffic to the site?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/74/how-do-we-get-more-traffic-to-the-site) * [What should our documentation contain?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/6/what-should-our-documentation-contain) ### Recommendations * [Ask about recommendation](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/219/ask-about-recommendation) * [Is a novice question on a specific printer allowed?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/103/is-a-novice-question-on-a-specific-printer-allowed) * [How do we handle recommendations?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/5/how-do-we-handle-recommendations) * [Discussions type: X 3d printer is good? are acceptable](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/77/discussions-type-x-3d-printer-is-good-are-acceptable) * [Is there any way to prevent endless "best first printer" posts?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/159/is-there-any-way-to-prevent-endless-best-first-printer-posts) * [Ask about recommendation](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/219/ask-about-recommendation) * [Another approach to solving "purchase" questions](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/179/another-approach-to-solving-purchase-questions) ### Software * [Is a question about software to create models on-topic?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/172/is-a-question-about-software-to-create-models-on-topic) ### Software Suggestion * [Software Suggestion Question](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/252/software-suggestion-question) * [Questions about software and websites?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/101/questions-about-software-and-websites) * [Are software recommendation questions allowed here?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/185/are-software-recommendation-questions-allowed-here) - *not in the **ask** list, but relevant here* ### CAD * [The fine line between 3d and CAD](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/204/the-fine-line-between-3d-and-cad) + Followup: [CAD Questions - Review](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/501/cad-questions-review) ### Misc * [Are questions that tangentially involve 3D printing on topic?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/21/are-questions-that-tangentially-involve-3d-printing-on-topic) * [Hobbyist Machine questions On-Topic?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/147/hobbyist-machine-questions-on-topic) * [Generalized questions allowed?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/217/generalized-questions-allowed) * [FFF/FDM vs... everything else?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/69/fff-fdm-vs-everything-else) * [FDM printer that can also mill and engrave -- what's in scope?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/67/fdm-printer-that-can-also-mill-and-engrave-whats-in-scope) ### CNC * [Wondering why CNC questions in general are not welcome here](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/182/wondering-why-cnc-questions-in-general-are-not-welcome-here) ### Printer not working: * [How to handle "Why is in't my printer working?!" questions](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/210/how-to-handle-why-is-int-my-printer-working-questions) * [What about mystery-problem troubleshooting requests?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/83/what-about-mystery-problem-troubleshooting-requests) * [Repairing 3D printer](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/129/repairing-3d-printer) ### Discovering 3D Printing * null ### Print services * [Are questions from people who lack knowledge of 3D printing looking to discover how to have something printed on-topic?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/141/are-questions-from-people-who-lack-knowledge-of-3d-printing-looking-to-discover) * [Are Questions about Online 3-D printing services allowed?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/165/are-questions-about-online-3-d-printing-services-allowed) ### Model Feasibility * [Is 3D Printing SE appropriate for getting feedback on feasibility of a model?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/212/is-3d-printing-se-appropriate-for-getting-feedback-on-feasibility-of-a-model) ### Model Availability * [Are questions about availability of 3D models on-topic?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/260/are-questions-about-availability-of-3d-models-on-topic) ### Scanning * [Does this reworded question meet the SE requirements?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/180/does-this-reworded-question-meet-the-se-requirements) ### Bio Printing * [Bio-Printing Questions Okay?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/123/bio-printing-questions-okay) * [What is our scope?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/138/what-is-our-scope) - *not in the **ask** list, but relevant here* [on-topic](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/search?q=topic) - 56 questions *in total* ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ### Sharing Settings through out the community * [Are questions about sharing settings On Topic?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/145/are-questions-about-sharing-settings-on-topic) ### Printer construction - DIY * [Are questions discussing printer construction, internals, and firmware on-topic here?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/8/are-questions-discussing-printer-construction-internals-and-firmware-on-topic) ### Legal issues * [Are questions involving legal issues and 3D printing on-topic?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/32/are-questions-involving-legal-issues-and-3d-printing-on-topic) * [Closing questions about knock-off printers](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/412/closing-questions-about-knock-off-printers) ### Filament/Materials * [Why are you voting to close this question?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/80/why-are-you-voting-to-close-this-question) * [Could this Printing Material Recommendation Question be or shaped to be valid on 3D SE?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/281/could-this-printing-material-recommendation-question-be-or-shaped-to-be-valid-on) - *not in the **on-topic** list, but relevant here* ### Laser * [Adding a 'laser' tag?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/246/adding-a-laser-tag) * [Is laser etching, specifically a question linked below, considered to be on topic?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/404/is-laser-etching-specifically-a-question-linked-below-considered-to-be-on-topi) ### Thermistors * [Why was the question about thermistors migrated?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/177/why-was-the-question-about-thermistors-migrated) ### Makerspaces * [Questions about Makerspaces and 3-D Printers?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/164/questions-about-makerspaces-and-3-d-printers) ### Mechatronics * [What is our scope?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/138/what-is-our-scope) - *not in the **on-topic** list, but relevant here* Actual questions (not meta) =========================== [Closed](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/search?q=closed%3Ayes) - 73 questions *in total* ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * [how to build own cura gui?](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/3109/how-to-build-own-cura-gui) - *Coding Ultimaker Cura question, migrated to SO: [How to build own Cura GUI?](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/40909403/how-to-build-own-cura-gui)* * [What is the best way to connect 3D printed parts?](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/54/what-is-the-best-way-to-connect-3d-printed-parts) - *General Mechanical issue* * [Interesting project for a child](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/6338/interesting-project-for-a-child) - *Opinion based, but it was a HNQ* ### Scanning * [Is there any public and reasonably accurate 3D scan from a Cray-2 computer?](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/5699/is-there-any-public-and-reasonably-accurate-3d-scan-from-a-cray-2-computer) ### Laser * [laser is engraving the negative space](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/10010/laser-is-engraving-the-negative-space) ### Legal * [3D printer part clones from china - legality](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/10200/3d-printer-part-clones-from-china-legality) ### Recommendations * [Fastest FDM printer?](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/10204/fastest-fdm-printer) Deleted ------- * [Understand and developing firmware - IDE help](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/326/understand-and-developing-firmware-ide-help) - *Setting up a development environment* * [What's the least amount of money I can spend to get a decent printer?](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/5836/whats-the-least-amount-of-money-i-can-spend-to-get-a-decent-printer) - *Shopping* * [Designing a Safe and Crush-proof Pokemon playing card box using a 3D Super-Elipsoid](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/5742/designing-a-safe-and-crush-proof-pokemon-playing-card-box-using-a-3d-super-elips) - *Migrated to Engineering: [Designing a Safe and Crush-proof Pokemon playing card box using a 3D Super-Elipsoid](https://engineering.stackexchange.com/questions/21885/designing-a-safe-and-crush-proof-pokemon-playing-card-box-using-a-3d-super-elips)* * [Resources on getting horus/ciclop scanners to work?](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/8057/resources-on-getting-horus-ciclop-scanners-to-work)<issue_comment>username_1: A couple of points: Asking for a machine to solve a specific problem, or software which can do something 'specific' is not really a shopping question, so long as the question is asked in the right way. We do need to avoid subjective questions, but sometimes this can be the result of a misunderstanding (i.e. find me a non-CN supplier of this budget Chinese printer {which also seems to be a decent product}). Topics which bridge into something like Electronics can be useful because the field is very large, and EE.SE makes an assumption of near degree level expertise. Useful answers here could be more 'off the shelf' routes to achieving what could potentially be fairly 'textbook' to someone with the right background. Same with making trivial changes to firmware, using a complex software tool for a trivial task, etc. If the task is common, relevant and bounded then a 'hand-holding' answer here will be much more valuable/findable than pushing questioners to a more specific site. Once people move from trivial use of these tools they may well end up needing to self-educate before they reach a point that EE.SE, or SO will accept their questions. We're at a difficult point between a mass market consumer product, and emerging tech. The IoT site has similar challenges. Upvotes: 3 [selected_answer]<issue_comment>username_2: I pondered this question a while ago and tried to come up with a coherent and minimalistic strategy. This would be my suggestion, as to what is on-topic or off-topic: [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/tCcAG.png) So, basically, on-topic would follow the formula: `(formingMethod == additive OR substractive) AND (instrument == machine)` Off-topic would have the formula: `(formingMethod == transformative) OR (scale == mass) OR (instrument == human)` This is just my suggestion and I invite everyone to put forward their argument, if they think, that a better strategy or community can be created, if the boundaries are to be moved or the criteria re-defined. Vacuum forming on an individual/batch scale, for example, would be a topic, that is close to the other "green fields". If we want vacuum forming to be on-topic, we would have to give up the "transformative" criteria. I'm sure, there are other points like this. I also assume, such a strategy would have to be adapted in the future, when these methods have either matured, have been adopted by the masses, or other methods have been discovered. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_3: I propose that we add **Direct Ink Writing (DIW)** and **Melt Electro-Writing (MEW)** to the list of on-topic subjects at <https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/help/on-topic> [Direct Ink Writing](https://labs.wsu.edu/mpml/projects/): > > Direct-Ink-Writing (DIW) is an extrusion-based additive manufacturing method heavily utilized in meso- and micro-scales. In DIW, the liquid-phase “ink” is dispensed out of small nozzles under controlled flow rates and deposited along digitally defined paths to fabricate 3D structures layer-by-layer. > > > [Melt Electro-Writing](https://www.advancedsciencenews.com/melt-electrowriting-where-are-we-now/) > > MEW utilizes an electric field uniquely coupled with AM technology for the controlled deposition of a molten polymer jet, which rapidly solidifies into a fiber. These submicron fibers can be consistently laid on top of each other, resulting in the ability to direct-write complex and multi-scaled architectures and structures, and overcoming the resolution challenge that a majority of other additive manufacturing technologies encounter. > > > My request to have these additive manufacturing techniques added to the list of on-topic subjects is driven by the facts that: 1. These are valid Additive Manufacturing processes; and 2. The company for which I work, [Hyrel 3D](http://hyrel3d.com), has customers (mostly at universities) using these processes. Upvotes: 1

2018/07/08

<issue_start>username_0: as it is currently, there are several [diy-3d-printer](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/diy-3d-printer "show questions tagged 'diy-3d-printer'") questions that gave info about a specific printer. While I tried to add the appropriate names for these kit-printers, I feel that it technically is inappropriate for these to actually *have* this tag. Even as the DIY tag contains the "assembled from a kit by the end user" in the wiki, there is also non-commercially in it, meaning it seems to be meant for a true DIY kits like [Hypercube](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2254103) or such. They are so vastly different, that I fel we should encourage the following: * pull any comercial kits out of the [diy-3d-printer](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/diy-3d-printer "show questions tagged 'diy-3d-printer'") tag * add a tag [printer-kit-assembly](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/printer-kit-assembly "show questions tagged 'printer-kit-assembly'") or use [printer-building](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/printer-building "show questions tagged 'printer-building'") for questions that struggle with the assembly of a kit together with the specific model's tag * enforce the specific tag of the kit for questions having problems with it<issue_comment>username_1: It got too long to fit in a comment: That does seem sort of reasonable. A DIY printer should be one that has been sourced from various parts. Or should that also include (or be exclusively) DIY designs? I mean, DIY means Do It Yourself, so a commercial kit, is literally a DIY printer, even though it is following a recognised design. It may seem a pedantic point over semantics but what is classed as DIY? Is it: 1. A true home brew, DIY design? And everything made from scratch with a lathe and possibly another 3D printer? 2. Following a RepRap design straight of the Wiki/Github and printing the plastic parts yourself 3. Following a RepRap design straight of the Wiki/Github but buying the plastic parts (because you don't yet have a printer) 4. Following a RepRap design straight of the Wiki/Github but a complete kit 5. Buying a commercial printer available as a kit, in kit form. To me, there is not much difference between the last two, *if* the commercial printer is derived from a RepRap. Even 2 and 3 are just as DIY as each other, really. So, just to play devil's advocate, here are four real word scenarios... * Would you class a P3Steel as a DIY [diy-3d-printer](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/diy-3d-printer "show questions tagged 'diy-3d-printer'") tag *or* as a printer-kit [printer-building](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/printer-building "show questions tagged 'printer-building'") tag *if* the frame was purchased as a kit from Poland, but the rest of it was sourced separately from various places, such as Chinese eBay vendors? * Likewise, a Kossel, whose plastic parts were bought from a eBay vendor and then the aluminium struts were cut to length in the back streets of Bangkok - would that be a commercial kit (because the plastic parts were available commercially), or DIY? * Also, a Wilson II, whose plastic parts were from MJRice (the designer of the Wilson), but the aluminium came from a cottage industry aluminium extruder in Vietnam, who you had had to walk miles to find. Commercial kit or DIY tag? * Now, twisting it slightly... What about a complete Wilson II kit? Where the entire frame and kit has been purchased from an eBay vendor, or MJRice. Is that commercial or not? There seems to be a fine line between the last two. We might need to be very specific in the tag definitions if people aren't going to get confused. If, all four examples are DIY then fine. If none of them are, because the plastic parts were purchased, then ok, we have a *very strict* definition of DIY. Just for completeness, the first three scenarios are my personal purchasing experiences, where I considered them as DIY printers. Now, to be fair to your question, I *think* I know what you mean. You are referring to printer kits from established manufacturers that are available pre-built, *or* as kits. Is that right? I just want to clarify what defines a commercial kit and a DIY kit. Does that make sense? I might have got a bit carried away. Upvotes: 1 <issue_comment>username_2: To me, the dividing line between "DIY" and "not DIY" is who you deal with if a part is defective when you get it. If you're contacting different vendors for a jammed bearing, a miswired stepper motor, or a dead controller board, it's DIY. If you talk to the same person regardless of which part is defective out of the box, it's not DIY. So, from username_1's examples, 1, 2, and 3 are DIY, while 4 and 5 aren't. Yes, that means that a printer can evolve from "not DIY" to "DIY". For example, if you start with a preassembled Prusa i3 Mk3, but then replace the V6 hotend with a Volcano hotend in an extruder found on Thingiverse, switch to a 320-watt Meanwell PSU, replace the display with a touchscreen, change out the ball bearings for sleeve bearings, upgrade the steppers for more precision, and install a BuildTak bed, you've now got a DIY printer. Upvotes: 2

2018/07/16

<issue_start>username_0: At the moment there are two tags related to fans: * [print-fan](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/print-fan "show questions tagged 'print-fan'") * [fans](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/fans "show questions tagged 'fans'") If you look at the topics there is no distinction which fans are meant, this must be read in the questions. Should we create separate tags for specific fan applications?<issue_comment>username_1: There aren't that many topics labelled with either one of the existing tags, so re-tagging will not be a problem. Indeed these tags are generic tags and do not cover the range of fans specifically for the application they are used for. There are 3 types of applications for fans in 3D printers, * electronics cooling fans (board/stepper/stepper drivers cooling), * part cooling fans (filament cooling after deposition), and * cold end cooling fans (extruder cold end cooling). How about making 3 categories and re-tag? (in the same order as the previous list) * [electronics-fan](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/electronics-fan "show questions tagged 'electronics-fan'"), * [part-cool-fan](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/part-cool-fan "show questions tagged 'part-cool-fan'") (or [filament-fan](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/filament-fan "show questions tagged 'filament-fan'") or [print-fan](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/print-fan "show questions tagged 'print-fan'")), and * [extruder-fan](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/extruder-fan "show questions tagged 'extruder-fan'"). Alternatively, we could just use a single tag and let the poster make sure that he explains clearly which fan is used. Upvotes: 1 <issue_comment>username_2: 3 tags is probably overly complex. I've not looked at the question list but I expect that these questions should also have a print quality or electronics tag, making the categorisation of the question fairly clear. The problem to me of having several tags is choosing which one would be relevant to a question, and also having to literally look through all the individual tags if you were looking for a question that matches a certain type of issue. Looking at the questions so far, the vast majority are discussing the part cooling fans, or the distinction between part cooling and extruder/heatbreak cooling. I don't see any questions about specifically cooling the circuit board as was indicated in the tag wiki for [print-fan](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/print-fan "show questions tagged 'print-fan'"). Given the potential confusion about what a fan is for, and the lack of a need so far to identify questions about PSU cooling, a single [fans](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/fans "show questions tagged 'fans'") tag still makes sense. Tags can be combined as [fans](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/fans "show questions tagged 'fans'") [print-quality](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/print-quality "show questions tagged 'print-quality'"), or [fans](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/fans "show questions tagged 'fans'") [power-supply](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/power-supply "show questions tagged 'power-supply'"), but tags can't rely on being combined to make sense. Upvotes: 0

2018/07/19

<issue_start>username_0: There are times when certain standardised comments are called for. Here are some examples (the links go to the various sections below, under the Answers): * [General comments](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/303/do-we-have-standardised-comments#answer-305) * Prompting user to accept an answer - *in order to clear the unanswered question list* * [Problems with comments](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/303/do-we-have-standardised-comments#answer-304) + Answer posted in comments - *Solutions to the question posted in the comments, do not show up in searches* + Limiting comments - *Additional information, that **may or may not** have been requested is posted in comments, rather than as an edit to the question* * [Poor quality questions](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/303/do-we-have-standardised-comments#answer-402) + Ask a good question + Unbounded questions * [Poor quality answers](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/303/do-we-have-standardised-comments#answer-393) + Short answer - *An answer lacking detail, no explanation provided* + Repetition - *No new information, the contents of a previously posted answer is repeated by a different user* + Link only answer - *Only a link is provided, with no summary, or content, of the link included* + Question posted as answer - ***Another** question, (possibly) related to the OP's question, is posted as an answer* + "Me too" answer - *"I **also** have this issue"* + Edit to a previous answer - *user posts second answer with additional information, not realising that there is an edit button for their first answer* *et cetera*...<issue_comment>username_1: Comments ======== > > Question in a comment > --------------------- > > > Hi and welcome to SE.3DP! Please do not ask new questions in comments. Without wishing to sound harsh, StackExchange is a Q&A site, and not a forum of threaded messages. The reason for this is to aid the search for answers to issues, and provide it in a structured Q&A way. I know that this might seem a pain, but can you repost your question using the [Ask Question](https://x) link at the top of the page? When you repost your new question, please feel free to refer back to this original question using the URL, seeing as it is the reason why you posted in the first place. > > > **C&P ⎘** ``` Hi and welcome to SE.3DP! Please do not ask new questions in comments. Without wishing to sound harsh, StackExchange is a Q&A site, and not a forum of threaded messages. The reason for this is to aid the search for answers to issues, and provide it in a structured Q&A way. I know that this might seem a pain, but can you repost your question using the [Ask Question](/questions/ask) link at the top of the page? When you repost your new question, please feel free to refer back to this original question using the URL, seeing as it is the reason why you posted in the first place. ``` > > Answer in a comment > ------------------- > > > Comments are not recommended for any of the following: [Answering a question or providing an alternate solution to an existing answer; instead, post an actual answer (or edit to expand an existing one)](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/help/privileges/comment). Feel free to post an answer instead. Thanks. > > > **C&P ⎘** ``` Comments are not recommended for any of the following: [Answering a question or providing an alternate solution to an existing answer; instead, post an actual answer (or edit to expand an existing one)](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/help/privileges/comment);. Feel free to post an answer instead. Thanks. ``` > > Limit Comments > -------------- > > > It is better to [edit](https://x) your question to add information requested in comments, rather than adding more comments. Comments are for helping to improve questions and answers, and are distracting, so we try to keep them to a minimum. All of this information can be edited into your question to make it easier for people to answer your question. If all of the information is contained in one block then people don't have to read all of the comments to discover all of the information. Once all of the information needed to answer the question is contained within it, the comments can be tidied & deleted. > > > **C&P ⎘** ``` It is better to [edit] your question to add information requested in comments, rather than adding more comments. Comments are for helping to improve questions and answers, and are distracting, so we try to keep them to a minimum. All of this information can be edited into your question to make it easier for people to answer your question. If all of the information is contained in one block then people don't have to read all of the comments to discover all of the information. Once all of the information needed to answer the question is contained within it, the comments can be tidied & deleted. ``` > > *Self*-answered in a comment - Initial request > ---------------------------------------------- > > > Did any of the posted answers solve your issue? If so, please mark it as the accepted answer. If not, then either refine your question or please post your comment above (which appears to contain the solution) as an answer, and then mark it as accepted in 48 hours, in order to remove your question from the unanswered queue. Answers are not allowed in comments, and may be deleted. If your answer is posted as an answer then it becomes searchable and may help others with the same issue. > > > **C&P ⎘** ``` Did any of the posted answers solve your issue? If so, please mark it as the accepted answer. If not, then either refine your question or please post your comment above (which appears to contain the solution) as an answer, and then mark it as accepted in 48 hours, in order to remove your question from the unanswered queue. Answers are not allowed in comments, and may be deleted. If your answer is posted as an answer then it becomes searchable and may help others with the same issue. ``` > > *Self*-answered in a comment - Second request (citing comment - obviously replacing the `blah blah blah`!) > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > Hi, could you post your comment `blah blah blah` as an answer (maybe expanding upon it as well, if possible) and mark it as accepted. That way your question will no longer be in the unanswered list. Thanks > > > **C&P ⎘** ``` Hi, could you post your comment `blah blah blah` as an answer (maybe expanding upon it as well, if possible) and mark it as accepted. That way your question will no longer be in the unanswered list. Thanks ``` > > *Self*-answered in a comment - Final Reminder (also citing the comment) > ----------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > Hi, ***please*** could you post your comment `blah blah blah` as an answer (and expanding upon it as well, if possible and a photo as says) and mark it as accepted. That way your question will no longer be in the unanswered list. Thanks. (1) Comments do not show up in searches, (2) Your answer may help someone else (3) As we are a beta site we *really* need to keep the number of unanswered questions to a minimum, if we are to continue as a site (4) You will earn more reputation from votes and accepting your answer. Thanks in advance > > > **C&P ⎘** ``` Hi, ***please*** could you post your comment `blah blah blah` as an answer (and expanding upon it as well, if possible and a photo as says) and mark it as accepted. That way your question will no longer be in the unanswered list. Thanks. (1) Comments do not show up in searches, (2) Your answer may help someone else (3) As we are a beta site we \*really\* need to keep the number of unanswered questions to a minimum, if we are to continue as a site (4) You will earn more reputation from votes and accepting your answer. Thanks in advance ``` Upvotes: 3 [selected_answer]<issue_comment>username_2: Frequently you'll find that you type similar comments, but depending on inspiration and time, the comments differ. It would be an excellent idea to maintain a standard comments reply list on some sort of platform (GitHub, GitLab, community wiki on meta, etc.). Note that an automatic standardized comment already exists for marking a duplicate topic; the system will post a default duplicate comment message for you which you can change within 5 minutes after posting. *Where applicable, replace with the actual user name of the poster being addressed* Each standardised comment below is shown in two formats: 1. As *block quotes* for readability 2. As *code formatting*, for ease of copy and paste (**C&P ⎘**) There are four sections: * [General Comments](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/303/do-we-have-standardised-comments#answer-305) * [Comments](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/303/do-we-have-standardised-comments#answer-304) * [Questions](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/303/do-we-have-standardised-comments#answer-402) * [Answers](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/303/do-we-have-standardised-comments#answer-393) ### Note on shortcuts: *Magic links* and Relative paths It is possible to reduce the length of the comments, so that they fit, by using *shortcuts*. Note that the `[help]`, `[ask]`, `[answer]` and `[about]` tags (in the C&P) expand into *Help Center*, *How to Ask*, *How to Answer* and *Tour* links, respectively - so the entire URL does *not* need to be specified. For example: * `[help]` => [help center](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/help) * `[ask]` => [How to Ask](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/how-to-ask) * `[answer]` => [How to Answer](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/how-to-answer) * `[about]` => [tour](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/tour) * `[tour]` => [tour](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/tour) * `[chat]` => [3D Printing Chat](https://chat.stackexchange.com/) * `[edit]` => Edit the post link N.B. `[tour]` and `[about]` are equivalent. See [comment formatting](https://stackoverflow.com/editing-help#comment-formatting) for more information, or *better still*, see the [Complete list of help center magic links](https://meta.stackexchange.com/a/242306/369403). Also worthy of mention are *relative links*, so you can skip the *absolute URL* part (i.e. `https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com`). For example: * `[Ask Question](/questions/ask)` => Ask Question link (at the top of the page) Just copy the relative part of the URL (to the page that you want to point to) from your browser. --- General comments ================ Welcome to Stack Exchange ------------------------- Please use these in conjunction with other necessary/constructive comments - not as a stand alone comment, as these tend to add *noise* ``` Hi and welcome to Stack Exchange! ``` or ``` Hi and welcome to Stack Exchange 3D Printing! ``` or shorter (given the limited number of character) and more precise ``` Hi and welcome to SE.3DPrinting! ``` or even shorter ``` Hi and welcome to SE.3DP! ``` > > Post to be deleted > ------------------ > > > Unfortunately your post will be deleted, but please do not let this discourage you. Hang around, [ask a question](https://x), post an answer containing a solution, make some constructive edits and earn some reputation, and with a reputation of 50 you will be able to leave comments. Good luck! :-) > > > **C&P ⎘** ``` Unfortunately your post will be deleted, but please do not let this discourage you. Hang around, [ask a question](/questions/ask), post an answer containing a solution, make some constructive edits and earn some reputation, and with a reputation of 50 you will be able to leave comments. Good luck! :-) ``` --- Upvotes: 3 <issue_comment>username_3: A while ago I found a browser add-on which has canned comments embedded in it. This script was made for Stack Exchange. The name of the add-on is: [AutoReviewComments](https://github.com/Benjol/SE-AutoReviewComments). There is a complete write-up on it over at [StackApps](https://stackapps.com/q/2116/54833), which is SE's site for just this sort of thing. One of the great things about it is it's completely customizable. I've found since I've been sneaking around here on 3D Printing, it automagically sets the "welcome" note to the current site, as well as if there are custom comments you've added on another site won't show up here. That's pretty kewl in my book. One of the things you could do is to create custom comments within the add-on copied from the other great Answers in this Meta post. Upvotes: 3 <issue_comment>username_2: Answers ======= > > New user, Me too answer > ----------------------- > > > Hi and welcome to SE.3D Printing. SE websites are driven by questions and answers, your answer is more a forum style "Me too" comment to another question where you ask for help to start a discussion. This is not what the answer section should be used for. Please read the [help center](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/help), accessible through the button with the question mark at the top right menu. Please take the [tour](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/tour) and also have a look at the questions and answers to understand how SE works. > > > **C&P ⎘** ``` Hi and welcome to SE.3D Printing. SE websites are driven by questions and answers, your answer is more a forum style "Me too" comment to another question where you ask for help to start a discussion. This is not what the answer section should be used for. Please read the [help], accessible through the button with the question mark at the top right menu. Please take the [about] and also have a look at the questions and answers to understand how SE works. ``` > > New user, Thanks answer > ----------------------- > > > Hi and welcome to SE.3D Printing. It is great that the provided answer helped you. However, SE websites are driven by questions and answers, your answer is more a forum style "Thanks" comment to another answer. This is not what the answer (nor comment) section should be used for. Please use the voting buttons instead, as it is votes which drive the community. Please read the [help center](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/help), accessible through the button with the question mark at the top right menu. Please take the [tour](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/tour) and also have a look at the questions and answers to understand how SE works. > > > **C&P ⎘** ``` Hi and welcome to SE.3D Printing. It is great that the provided answer helped you. However, SE websites are driven by questions and answers, your answer is more a forum style "Thanks" comment to another answer. This is not what the answer (nor comment) section should be used for. Please use the voting buttons instead, as it is votes which drive the community. Please read the [help], accessible through the button with the question mark at the top right menu. Please take the [about] and also have a look at the questions and answers to understand how SE works. ``` > > New user, answer as comment > --------------------------- > > > Hi and welcome to SE.3D Printing. SE websites are driven by questions and answers, your answer is more a forum style comment to another answer. This is not what the answer section should be used for. Your answer has been converted to a comment. When you gain enough reputation (50) you will be able to comment directly on an answer. Please read the [help center](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/help), accessible through the button with the question mark at the top right menu. Please take the [tour](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/tour) and also have a look at the questions and answers to understand how SE works > > > **C&P ⎘** ``` Hi and welcome to SE.3D Printing. SE websites are driven by questions and answers, your answer is more a forum style comment to another answer. This is not what the answer section should be used for. Your answer has been converted to a comment. When you gain enough reputation (50) you will be able to comment directly on an answer. Please read the [help], accessible through the button with the question mark at the top right menu. Please take the [about] and also have a look at the questions and answers to understand how SE works. ``` > > Poor quality - Short answer > --------------------------- > > > Hi , and welcome to SE 3D Printing! Whilst your answer may be technically correct, it *is* lacking detail, and, as such, it has been recommended for deletion, unfortunately. If you could expand it then you may get a more positive response. I would recommend that in addition to reading some highly voted answers to gauge the standard expected, that you take a look at the help section relating to [answering](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/help/answering) questions, in particular [How to write a good answer](https://3dprinting.com/help/how-to-answer), and take the [tour](http://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/tour) for more information on how stack exchange works. Thanks :-) > > > **C&P ⎘** ``` Hi , and welcome to SE 3D Printing! Whilst your answer may be technically correct, it \*is\* lacking detail, and, as such, it has been recommended for deletion, unfortunately. If you could expand it then you may get a more positive response. I would recommend that in addition to reading some highly voted answers to gauge the standard expected, that you take a look at the help section relating to [answering](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/help/answering) questions, in particular [answer], and take the [tour] for more information on how stack exchange works. Thanks :-) ``` > > Poor quality - Repetition > ------------------------- > > > Hi and welcome to SE 3D Printing! Whilst your answer may be technically correct, it *is* lacking detail, reiterates a previous answer and, as such, it has been recommended for deletion. If you could expand it then you may get a more positive response. I would recommend that in addition to reading some highly voted answers to gauge the standard expected, that you take a look at the help section relating to [answering](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/help/answering) questions and take the [tour](http://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/tour) for more information on how stack exchange works. > > > **C&P ⎘** ``` Hi and welcome to SE 3D Printing! Whilst your answer may be technically correct, it is lacking detail, and reiterates a previous answer and, as such, it has been recommended for deletion. If you could expand it then you may get a more positive response. I would recommend that in addition to reading some highly voted answers to gauge the standard expected, that you take a look at the help section relating to [answering](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/help/answering) questions and take the [tour](http://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/tour) for more information on how stack exchange works. ``` > > Poor quality - Link only > ------------------------ > > > Thanks for your answer but we are looking for comprehensive answers that provide some explanation and context. Very short answers cannot do this, so please [edit](https://x) your answer to explain why it is right. Additionally, we prefer answers to be self contained where possible. [*link only*](https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/8231/) answers are frowned upon (as links [tend to rot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Link_rot)) & will be rendered useless if the linked-to content disappears. If you add more context and detail from the link, it is more likely that people will find your answer useful. > > > **C&P ⎘** ``` Thanks for your answer but we are looking for comprehensive answers that provide some explanation and context. Very short answers cannot do this, so please [edit] your answer to explain why it is right. Additionally, we prefer answers to be self contained where possible. [*link only*](https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/8231/) answers are frowned upon (as links [tend to rot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Link_rot)) & will be rendered useless if the linked-to content disappears. If you add more context and detail from the link, it is more likely that people will find your answer useful. ``` > > Question posted as an answer > ---------------------------- > > > Hi and welcome to SE.3DP! Unfortunately, your answer does not answer the question. Without wishing to sound harsh, StackExchange is a Q&A site, and not a forum of threaded messages. The reason for this is to aid the search for answers to issues, and provide it in a structured Q&A way. I know that this might seem a pain, but can you repost your question using the [Ask Question](https://x) link at the top of the page? When you repost your new question, please feel free to refer back to this original question using the URL, seeing as it is the reason why you posted in the first place. > > > **C&P ⎘** ``` Hi and welcome to SE.3DP! Unfortunately, your answer does not answer the question. Without wishing to sound harsh, StackExchange is a Q&A site, and not a forum of threaded messages. The reason for this is to aid the search for answers to issues, and provide it in a structured Q&A way. I know that this might seem a pain, but can you repost your question using the [Ask Question](/questions/ask) link at the top of the page? When you repost your new question, please feel free to refer back to this original question using the URL, seeing as it is the reason why you posted in the first place. ``` > > Clarification comment posted as an answer > ----------------------------------------- > > > Hi and welcome to SE.3DP! Unfortunately, your comment posted as an answer does not answer the question. StackExchange is a Q&A site, and not a forum of threaded messages. The reason for this is to aid the search for answers to issues, and provide it in a structured Q&A way. Your post may be deleted and converted to a comment, but please do not let this discourage you. Hang around, [Ask Question](https://x), post an answer containing a solution, make some constructive edits and earn some reputation, and with a reputation of 50 you will be able to leave comments. > > > **C&P ⎘** ``` Hi and welcome to SE.3DP! Unfortunately, your comment posted as an answer does not answer the question. StackExchange is a Q&A site, and not a forum of threaded messages. The reason for this is to aid the search for answers to issues, and provide it in a structured Q&A way. Your post may be deleted and converted to a comment, but please do not let this discourage you. Hang around, [ask a question](/questions/ask), post an answer containing a solution, make some constructive edits and earn some reputation, and with a reputation of 50 you will be able to leave comments. ``` Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_2: Questions ========= *Please note that if a user is new and has shown some research effort in composing the question, gently guide the new user in completing the question rather than using some of the statements below. If a question needs some more information or an image, use comments or flag for moderator attention if you don't have enough reputation to post comments. We welcome every new member, but not everybody is acquainted with the SE Q/A style (frequently it is assumed that it is similar to a forum of threaded messages).* > > New user, forum style question > ------------------------------ > > > Hi and welcome to 3D printing.SE! SE websites are driven by questions and answers, your question is more > a forum style question where you ask for help to > start a discussion. Please read the help section, accessible through the button > with the question mark at the top right menu. > > > **C&P ⎘** ``` Hi and welcome to 3D printing.SE! SE websites are driven by questions and answers, your question is more a forum style question where you ask for help to start a discussion. Please read the [help] section, accessible through the button with the question mark at the top right menu. ``` > > Ask a good question > ------------------- > > > I would recommend that in addition to reading some highly voted questions to gauge the standard expected, that you take a look at the help section relating to [asking](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/help/asking) questions, in particular [How to ask a good question](https://3dprinting.com/help/how-to-ask), and take the [tour](http://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/tour) for more information on how stack exchange works. Thanks :-) > > > **C&P ⎘** ``` I would recommend that in addition to reading some highly voted questions to gauge the standard expected, that you take a look at the help section relating to [asking](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/help/asking) questions, in particular [How to ask a good question](https://3dprinting.com/help/how-to-ask), and take the [tour](http://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/tour) for more information on how stack exchange works. Thanks :-) ``` > > Unbounded questions > ------------------- > > > Welcome to SE 3D Printing , but I'm afraid that Unbounded Design Questions are off-topic because there are many ways to solve any given design problem, so questions that ask for a list of approaches, a subjective recommendation on a method (for how to build something, how to accomplish something, what something is capable of, etc.) or shopping selection are off-topic. We prefer [practical, answerable questions based on actual problems that you face](http://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/help/dont-ask). Take a look at [How to Ask](http://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/help/how-to-ask) & [tour](http://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/tour) for more information on how Stack Exchange works. > > > **C&P ⎘** ``` Welcome to SE 3D Printing , but I'm afraid that Unbounded Design Questions are off-topic because there are many ways to solve any given design problem, so questions that ask for a list of approaches, a subjective recommendation on a method (for how to build something, how to accomplish something, what something is capable of, etc.) or shopping selection are off-topic. We prefer [practical, answerable questions based on actual problems that you face](http://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/help/dont-ask). Take a look at [ask] & [tour] for more information on how Stack Exchange works. ``` > > Too localised (?) > ----------------- > > > As it stands this question is unlikely to help future visitors and may get closed as [too localized](http://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/help/closed-questions). While it is useful to have all of the background in one place, could I suggest dividing this up into a series of [practical, answerable questions based on actual problems that you face](http://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/help/dont-ask). See [Is it ok to ask for opinions?](http://meta.3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/153/is-it-ok-to-ask-for-opinions/154#154) for more background. > > > **C&P ⎘** ``` As it stands this question is unlikely to help future visitors and may get closed as [too localized](http://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/help/closed-questions). While it is useful to have all of the background in one place, could I suggest dividing this up into a series of [practical, answerable questions based on actual problems that you face](http://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/help/dont-ask). See [Is it ok to ask for opinions?](http://meta.3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/153/is-it-ok-to-ask-for-opinions/154#154) for more background. ``` > > Bad fit questions/Questions by new users for closed for other reasons > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > Welcome to 3D Printing.SE , but I'm afraid that questions like this really aren't a good fit for a stack exchange site. We prefer [practical, answerable questions based on actual problems that you face](http://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/help/dont-ask). Take a look at [How to Ask](http://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/help/how-to-ask) and [tour](http://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/tour) for more information on how stack exchange works. Also, the [3D Printing question checklist](http://meta.3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/1302/3dprinting-stack-exchange-question-checklist) has good advice on how to write a good question. If you [edit](https://x) your question to fit our community guidelines we can reopen it for you. > > > **C&P ⎘** ``` Welcome to SE.3DP, but I'm afraid that questions like this really aren't a good fit for a stack exchange site. We prefer *[practical, answerable questions based on actual problems that you face](http://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/help/dont-ask)*. Take a look at [ask] and [about] for more information on how stack exchange works. Also, the [*3DP* question checklist](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/q/340) has good advice on how to write a good question. If you [edit] your question to fit our community guidelines we can reopen it for you. ``` > > Old question, no accepted answer - With multiple answers available > ------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > Have you found & fixed the problem? If any of the answers helped you to get an answer to your question or come to your own conclusions then please do vote & accept an answer (using the tick button next to it). This helps us reduce the [unanswered questions list](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/unanswered) & stops the question from being bumped once in a while. If you found another answer (than those already posted), please add that answer (& accept after 48 hours) to share your experience with the community. If you have not been able to address the problem please update your question. > > > **C&P ⎘** ``` Have you found & fixed the problem? If any of the answers helped you to get an answer to your question or come to your own conclusions then please do vote & accept an answer (using the tick button next to it). This helps us reduce the [unanswered questions list](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/unanswered) & stops the question from being bumped once in a while. If you found another answer (than those already posted), please add that answer (& accept after 48 hours) to share your experience with the community. If you have not been able to address the problem please update your question. ``` > > Old question, no accepted answer - With multiple answers available (alternative) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > Hello @[UserName], I noticed your question has been up for a while > now. Have any of the answers below been able to solve your question? > If so, would you mind accepting the appropriate answer. If not, what > is missing so that we may help you further? Also, if you have figured > it out on your own, you can always answer and accept your own > solution. Thank you. > > > **C&P ⎘** ``` Hello @[UserName], I noticed your question has been up for a while now. Have any of the answers below been able to solve your question? If so, would you mind accepting the appropriate answer. If not, what is missing so that we may help you further? Also, if you have figured it out on your own, you can always answer and accept your own solution. Thank you. ``` > > Old question, no accepted answer - If there is only one answer > -------------------------------------------------------------- > > > Have you found and fixed the problem? If so, has the answer below led > you to the solution? Please vote to accept the answer so this question > is not bumped up once in a while and can be removed from the > unanswered question list. You may even add your own solution and > accept that after 48 hours! If you have not been able to address the > problem please update your question. > > > **C&P ⎘** ``` Have you found and fixed the problem? If so, has the answer below led you to the solution? Please vote to accept the answer so this question is not bumped up once in a while and can be removed from the unanswered question list. You may even add your own solution and accept that after 48 hours! If you have not been able to address the problem please update your question. ``` > > Old question, no answer > ----------------------- > > > Unfortunately, up to now, no answers are given on your question! Have > you found an answer yourself? If so, you may add your own solution and > accept that after 48 hours. If you have not been able to address the > problem please update your question so other people may help you find > an answer. You can even decide to delete the question. We need to > reduce the [unanswered questions > list](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/unanswered) to graduate > from the Beta stage. > > > **C&P ⎘** ``` Unfortunately, up to now, no answers are given on your question! Have you found an answer yourself? If so, you may add your own solution and accept that after 48 hours. If you have not been able to address the problem please update your question so other people may help you find an answer. You can even decide to delete the question. We need to reduce the [unanswered questions list](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/unanswered) to graduate from the Beta stage. ``` > > Self answered but not accepted any answer > ----------------------------------------- > > > Good to see you solved the problem and took the time to share it with > us! Please accept your answer so that it does not pop up to the top of > the queue once in a while. This also will help us reducing the > [unanswered questions list](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/unanswered). > > > **C&P ⎘** ``` Good to see you solved the problem and took the time to share it with us! Please accept your answer so that it does not pop up to the top of the queue once in a while. This also will help us reducing the [unanswered questions list](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/unanswered). ``` > > Multiple questions post > ----------------------- > > > Hi and welcome to 3D printing.SE! SE websites are driven by questions and answers, your question contains > multiple questions which makes it more difficult to answer as there > are multiple answers. Please read the [help] section, accessible > through the button with the question mark at the top right menu and > read [ask]. Please split up your question by adding the other > questions in a separate question! > > > C&P ⎘ ``` Hi and welcome to 3D printing.SE! SE websites are driven by questions and answers, your question contains multiple questions which makes it more difficult to answer as there are multiple answers. Please read the [help] section, accessible through the button with the question mark at the top right menu and read [ask]. Please split up your question by adding the other questions in a separate question! ``` > > Cross-posted question > --------------------- > > > Hi and welcome to 3D printing.SE! Hi and welcome to 3D printing.SE! I > see that you have cross-posted this question on another Stack Exchange > site. Cross posting is frowned upon, please see [Is cross-posting a > question on multiple Stack Exchange sites permitted if the question is > on-topic for each > site?](https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/64068/is-cross-posting-a-question-on-multiple-stack-exchange-sites-permitted-if-the-qu). > Please delete one of copies of the question. > > > C&P ⎘ ``` Hi and welcome to 3D printing.SE! I see that you have cross-posted this question on another Stack Exchange site. Cross posting is frowned upon, please see [Is cross-posting a question on multiple Stack Exchange sites permitted if the question is on-topic for each site?](https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/64068/is-cross-posting-a-question-on-multiple-stack-exchange-sites-permitted-if-the-qu). Please delete one of copies of the question. ``` Upvotes: 2

2018/08/03

<issue_start>username_0: Our site is dealing with electronics and practical engineering, so we use formulas in questions and answers on occasion, most usually when we have to figure out electronic ratings. When we talk about the [design](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/760/analytic-equations-to-make-algorithm-of-3d-printer) or [function](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/631/how-are-delta-movements-calculated) of printers more than "rule of thumb", we need complex math. When we estimate [print times](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/4472/how-is-the-print-time-of-an-object-to-be-printed-estimated?s=4%7C17.5425) formulas could be used to illustrate the calculations. When we want to estimate the [length of a spool of filament](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/6557/is-the-110m-length-accurate-for-3-0mm-1k-spool), we need math. When we discuss [movement paths](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/a/5155/8884), we also come into need for 3D geometry which can be simplified by using non-carthesian coordinates or functions - which in turn need manual typing of greek letters or proper formulas to be displayed well. Up to now I have been typing LaTeX formulas in online converters and copy paste the link to the image generated formula. This is quite labor intensive, especially since the SE does support built in MathJax. A recent [answer](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/a/6540/5740) showed LaTeX/MathJax code in the answer, but that did not render into an actual formula image as it is not enabled. > > * Supply voltage $ U\_S = 12V \or 24V $ > * Logic Voltage $ U\_L = 5V $ > * Sensor Voltage $ U\_sens = U\_L$ > * Temperature control (Hotend/Bed/Cooling fans) $ U\_T = U\_S$ > > > Why can't we enter formulas directly in posts?<issue_comment>username_1: MathJax would be really helpful: We recently discussed [How is infill generated via slicing?](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/6832/how-is-infill-generated-via-slicing/6836#6836) and the answer is linear algebra. Displaying linear algebra without formulas is a PITA. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_2: $$\text{3D Printing Stack Exchange} \subset \text{Stack Exchange sites that use MathJax}$$ There are [~17 posts](http://data.stackexchange.com/3dprinting/query/879802/mathjax-inline) that could use an edit. Most of those are prices that have been converted into MathJax. You can fix that by escaping the dollar sign: ``` $ => \$ ``` I'll work on those edits myself, but I'd love to get some help. Upvotes: 4 [selected_answer]

2018/08/15

<issue_start>username_0: I'm seeing a current trend towards many questions only receiving a single answer, and according the the [Area 51](http://area51.stackexchange.com/proposals/82438/3d-printing) stats, we ought to have an *average* closer to 2.5. Granted that some questions are really only in need of a single (obvious) answer, I think we're missing something here. I've seen a few questions with 'answers in the comments', which is understandable if a user wants to make a drive-by quick tip, but we should really be encouraging them to try and come back later to get the points due to them. Are users put off by an expectation that a wrong answer might lose them rep? Or by an overly high (assumed) expectation for making an answer? What can we do to raise ApQ, without dropping answer quality significantly? Some thoughts from IoT meta on why [more answers are good](https://iot.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/291).<issue_comment>username_1: Well done for bringing this up. I was looking at those numbers too. Referring to [this post](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/264/what-does-it-take-to-get-out-of-beta-stage/265#265), almost all of the stats are improving (albeit) slowly, except for one, the ApQ > > Are users put off by an expectation that a wrong answer might lose them rep? > > > It seems that way. Without wishing to provide a link to the actual comment, I noticed a comment the other day that suggested as much, and a nicely detailed comment was left instead. To be fair, I feel that way sometimes, and often hesitate (maybe rightly so to save myself from spamming the site) in posting questions on SE.Meta, as there are a number of drive-by downvoters there1. Unless you have a definite bug that you are able to document clearly or have a well rounded proposal that can be implemented easily, then your question may end up downvoted. This is probably rightly so, TBH, in most cases, but nevertheless it can be discouraging. If you don't have much hard-earned rep then you may be less willing to risk it by posting a informative answer, that only answers half the question. Is that a bad thing? Well, it is a double edged sword. It is a good thing, because that promotes good solid answers, but with the downside that you point out (a lack of multiple answers per question). What can we do? Probably, not much other than creating a small community by promoting a friendly environment and communicating more clearly... Inviting people to chat in the chatroom, being more welcoming (with Hi and welcome), actually helping people without the old "Did you google this?" immediately. All of these things help a lot. And which we seem to have developed of late. So we seem to be getting there. I know that a number of members have already been adding answers to single answer questions as well as tackling the unanswered queue too. The more people that help the better... --- 1 Don't get me wrong, I looove (justified) downvotes, but I would like to know *why*. Upvotes: 3 [selected_answer]<issue_comment>username_2: It seems, that there are roughly four categories of questions here: 1. **Questions that are too broad for which we have expertise**. Example: [How to build the cheapest but safest laser engraver](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/q/6661/10684). For these questions, we generally know how to respond properly, but the questions are so ill-defined, that the whole thread becomes a mess. 2. **Questions that are too broad for which we do not have expertise**. Example: [Am I allowed to publish a 3d scan of a [Buddha] statue?](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/q/6640/10684). These questions are formulated properly, but we lack the expertise, and so everybody chimes in with "half knowledge". 3. **Questions that are narrowly defined**. Example: [What voltage does the Creality Ender-3 run at?](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/q/6342/10684). These questions can be solved with one answer. 4. **Questions that are well-defined, but have multiple solutions**. Example: [Noise Reduction](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/q/4459/10684). These are some sort of "medium size" questions, neither too broad so as to invite opinions, but not too narrow so they can be completed with one answer. I think, to raise both the quality and the quantity of threads here, we should reduce questions of type 1 and 2, and promote questions of type 3 and 4. In my opinion, posters of type 1 questions should be politely asked to narrow down their questions or, if not possible, marked as off-topic, closed, too broad or whatever designation exists. Type 2 questions should be moved to another Stack Exchange site. **As for answers per questions**: Clearly, type 4 questions are the ones, that will raise the answers-questions-ratio (without sacrificing quality). But: Type 1 questions, if properly narrowed, can easily become type 4 questions and, therefore, help in raising the answers-questions-ratio. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_3: Something to realize is, ApQ is one of the least dependent factors for graduation. I don't think this site lends to having a huge amount of ApQ's, because usually there is only going to really be one answer which will work. I think the ApQ category was based more towards the programming/tech sites. I mean, when programming, there's almost ALWAYS going to be more than one way to answer a question.Then when you look at other sites where there is advice given, like Travel.SE or Law.SE, you could possibly see a plethora of answers for each of their questions. Then you take WorldBuilding.SE and it's a whole new level. IIRC, when Mechanics.SE graduated, we had sub 2.0 ApQ. I don't think 3D's is out of line with that and it isn't going to hurt the site for graduation. While multi-ApQ is not a bad thing, it only works if the question deserves it. If the question isn't answered correctly or if there might be something else which could be the answer, then multi-ApQ is an awesome thing. To make answers for answer sake, just to boost the ApQ, that can be ugly. A much better idea is (IMHO), to upvote good Q/A's and downvote bad ones. I completely agree with moving the site forward, but my suggestion is to move it forward in the right direction by putting energy where energy is needed. Upvotes: 1

2018/08/19

<issue_start>username_0: I see a number of people writing "CURA", when I have always called it "Cura". So I started to wonder if CURA was a *capitalised* acronym, like LiDAR or NATO (but not like radar or laser). I had a look and the Wikipedia entry, [Cura (software)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cura_(software)) doesn't appear to suggest that. So I wondered if it was a marketing thing. --- After all, over on SE.Arduino, *lots* of people write "Arduino UNO" - I myself did so to, for a long time, until <NAME> [picked me up on it](https://arduino.stackexchange.com/questions/13839/can-i-use-analogreadresolution-on-an-uno-or-leonardo#comment25114_13839): > > [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/6piXl.png "Uno not UNO") > > > I *think* that the reason that I did was that the Arduino pages write it in that way (arguably incorrectly) and it just seems to be a branding/marketing ploy. So, is this the same sort of thing with CURA? I am just wondering where it started and came from?1 --- 1 As one does on a boring rainy Sunday morning :-)<issue_comment>username_1: Actually, it's neither: [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/H7bOQ.png) If you wanna believe this image, it's: Ultimaker **cura** ... all lower case. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_2: As of version 4 the splash screen has changed, also the branding/naming of the product throughout Ultimaker's website. [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/1eX3U.png) Technically it is not *CURA* or *cura*, it is *Ultimaker Cura*. Upvotes: 3 [selected_answer]

2018/08/24

<issue_start>username_0: Yesterday, I was reading 3dprinting.meta and read a suggestion that (which I rephrase as) we should ask questions for the purpose of bringing answers inside our tent. I spent some time thinking about questions I have been asked by friends who purchased FDM machines and were starting to undertake their own designs. In particular, among the engineers I hang with there is a desire for the generally-accepted-as-valid design principles -- the design rules that, when followed, will usually work. I haven't come across a reference that lays out such rules for FDM printing, and so I launched a question which someone who knew of such a rule set could answer, or which I could later attempt to answer if a better answer didn't appear. I asked [this question](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/6726/primer-on-3d-printing-design-rules). The question drew a "have you googled that?" response, coupled with a helpful link. Other comments ensued, along with two down-votes on the question. My question here is in two parts: Is this an appropriate activity -- to ask a question hoping to receive a better answer that I would write myself, and If the motivation for the question is appropriate, how should the question have been better formed? I realize that two downvotes isn't all that important, but it is important to me to understand and act in concert with the community culture.<issue_comment>username_1: The "Have you googled this" comment was a little like the comments that we used to see, and which, of late, we fortunately haven't seen much of (please see [my answer](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/134/post-closing-issues/263#263) to [Post Closing Issues](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/134/post-closing-issues)). However, it *was* backed up with an extremely useful link and a query for clarification so it may not have been meant as a straight forward "Have you googled this"-esque comment. I reworded that comment slightly, to soften it. I think that the negative votes probably reflected the accompanying [too broad] close votes. However, as I mentioned in [my comment](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/6726/primer-on-3d-printing-design-rules?noredirect=1#comment10424_6726), your question didn't seem that broad to me, or rather, while it might have been *seen* as being a *little* broad, it seemed no broader than your linked to question or other examples that I've seen. *Note that this is my personal opinion, and doesn't mean that the question shouldn't be closed, or, conversely, should be left open. It is for the community to decide*. The on-topic page *is* in a state or flux, and has been for a while now. I attempted to propose a definitive version with [Game plan - What is on-topic?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/276/game-plan-what-is-on-topic), but I haven't got around to following it up as I wasn't sure if the community approved - the feedback wasn't particularly conclusive. The mod team should get together to discuss, I guess. Or if anyone feels like chipping in, please left a comment or answer on the Meta post - or mention it in one of the [chatrooms](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/307/do-we-have-a-chatroom). Upvotes: 0 <issue_comment>username_2: **TL;DR** The *answer* that this question was looking for can be covered in 4 or 5 basic points, without much ambiguity. The question is therefore not fundamentally *too broad*, but could maybe be made a bit more specific. Too broad seems a bit of a mis-assessment, but I think it's maybe a mistake to ask where to find this information, since that does read a little bit like "find me a link". I think a better question would be to ask what are the basic design rules - and then worry if that is too broad. We need to focus as a community on taking questions which don't quite fit, and improving them, otherwise we will not get people coming back with more questions and later helping others. There is still a focus amongst some members on only answering specific 'problem' questions, rather than generating a comprehensive resource covering the whole subject. SE intends to be the top search result (and presumably the answer and un-informed student was looking for). Maybe 'design rules" seems to broad, when you presumably care about the factors that are unique to FDM. (i.e. exclude all the general engineering principles which would be common to subtractive machining, injection moulding, etc. even though they are obviously still relevant). I feel this was kind of implicit in the question, but some may have been mislead by the terminology. Should tolerances be included? With an electronics background rather than engineering, `Design Rules` implies a final sign-off stage check of low level trivial detail rather than the entry point to the design flow. I think the question also suffers slightly from a *I have an answer in mind, so it seems that I'm asking the question in a way that leads to that answer*, kind of an X-Y of getting the answer posted (in this case, the answer is the true goal, not the question). Upvotes: 2

2018/09/03

<issue_start>username_0: We have two tags: [support](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/support "show questions tagged 'support'") & [support-structures](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/support-structures "show questions tagged 'support-structures'") These two are essentially the same thing. Even the abbreviated tag-wikis are pretty much saying the same thing. IMHO, we should combine the two tags as they are superfluous. There was the Meta question: [support-material / support-structures Tag unification?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/q/168/11242) which was about combining [support-material](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/support-material "show questions tagged 'support-material'") & [support-structures](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/support-structures "show questions tagged 'support-structures'") which was turned down, but this request is quite different.<issue_comment>username_1: I've made a synonym - apparently it needs [some votes](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/tags/support-structures/synonyms). Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_2: The tags [support](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/support "show questions tagged 'support'") & [support-structures](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/support-structures "show questions tagged 'support-structures'") are in fact referring to exactly the same thing! Furthermore, the meaning of support can be interpreted differently (i.e. helping out). I support renaming/merging the [support](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/support "show questions tagged 'support'") labelled questions to [support-structures](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/support-structures "show questions tagged 'support-structures'"). This implies that the [support](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/support "show questions tagged 'support'") tag is removed and it could be reinstated at any time by new questions. Users with enough reputation can remove the [support](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/support "show questions tagged 'support'") tag if it gets recreated and we could create a synonym later. In my humble opinion, the best solution may be to rename [support](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/support "show questions tagged 'support'") to [supports](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/supports "show questions tagged 'supports'") and then make it a synonym for [support-structures](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/support-structures "show questions tagged 'support-structures'")! Upvotes: 3 [selected_answer]

2018/09/03

<issue_start>username_0: There was a previous question suggesting that the [support](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/support "show questions tagged 'support'") and [support-materials](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/support-materials "show questions tagged 'support-materials'") tags should be merged, and at the time the only response was [to keep them distinct](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/q/168/11242). 2 years later, I think it is time to disagree. I've already found [questions](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/5318) which talk about support material in the abstract sense, of how to slice, rather than the intended use of the tag to identify the specific material used for support. This automatically makes the tags too imprecise to retain. We should retain the [support](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/support "show questions tagged 'support'") tag, and merge the other two into it, since that covers the whole group of questions cleanly. I don't think we need synonyms, unless the other tags get re-added by users in the future. I don't think the aim of tags is to generate a complete literal taxonomy of the subject, rather we are trying to define: * What subjects are on topic (support certainty is) * How to most usefully group questions. Now, support (the structure) and the types of material are literally different things,but together they encompasses the topic of support. There is nothing wrong about referring to the specialist filaments as support. It is also misleading to assume that the structure can be discussed in isolation from the potential materials which can be used. Along the lines of avoiding the highly complex [suggested heirarchical filament taxonomy](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/a/61/4927), I think we can best help people to find questions about support by consolidating the questions under a single tag.<issue_comment>username_1: Both tbm0115 and Sean make very good arguments and I am really on the fence on this one... So, I am withdrawing my solution for the moment, as I am not sure that I agree with the amalgamation of the two tags. However, *if* they are to be amalgamated then I would propose that this would be the way to do it... --- You might not like this temporary solution, as you state that synonyms aren't needed... I can make [support-structures](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/support-structures "show questions tagged 'support-structures'") and [support-materials](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/support-materials "show questions tagged 'support-materials'") synonyms of [support](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/support "show questions tagged 'support'"), *for the moment* (so swapping the [support-structure](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/support-structure "show questions tagged 'support-structure'") and its synonym [support](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/support "show questions tagged 'support'") that I did yesterday and add [support-materials](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/support-materials "show questions tagged 'support-materials'") as a synonym of [support](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/support "show questions tagged 'support'")). Then *later* they can be merged into [support](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/support "show questions tagged 'support'"), once any issues (or non-issues) have been raised or pointed out - or if there are any serious objections later on down the line, the synonyms can be easily removed and reverted (whereas a merge can't be). Does that sound like a acceptable plan? Upvotes: 0 <issue_comment>username_2: I object to merging the two, my reasoning having been explained in chat several times, and brought to point by tbm115: > > Tbm0115 - "support-material" should define the material-type (ie. PLA, ABS, PVA, etc.) which in FDM is usually the same as the print-material. However, in the case of machines like dual-extruders can be completely different. The print-material for the body of the part can be PLA while the support-material can be PVA. > > > Support-structure defines the "style" of structure that is generated by the slicer. For instance, I can have a scaffolding-like structure to support bridges and spire-like structure for small overhangs. Personally, I view infill as a subset of support-structure because it is material that is meant to support the overall body including ceilings. With infill I can have square, hexagonal, even cat-like styles of support structure. > > > username_2 - I agree on the structure being more about style (Trees, pylons, towers, included in the design or not, everywhere or not) while support material is more a subset of filament - PVA is one of those, but also one could use (in a dual extruder) ABS on a PLA print, and then remove the supports with acetone or some other stuff. One might use a super low melting filament and remove with heat. > > > Upvotes: 1

2018/09/06

<issue_start>username_0: We were offered to [get MathJax enabled](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/314/can-we-get-mathjax-enabled). Now, we need to decide on which character to have text between them parsed into MathJax! So please either add your suggestion or cast your vote!<issue_comment>username_1: Let's stay with the classic $. Example: \$\$\frac{1 \times 2}{2} = 1\$\$ --- *Now that MathJax is enabled, it renders to: $$\frac{1 \times 2}{2} = 1$$* Upvotes: 3 [selected_answer]<issue_comment>username_2: An alternative character could be the Tilde `~`. Upvotes: 0 <issue_comment>username_3: Dollar works in isolation. See: > > [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/AhPfX.png) > > > However, two (seemingly unrelated) dollar signs *will* cause a problem, see [Weird behaviour when using two (2) $ signs?](https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/315381/weird-behaviour-when-using-two-2-signs), such as this: ``` * Build a $1 Billion home ([<NAME>](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antilia_(building))) * Build a $1.2 Billion Yacht ([<NAME>](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eclipse_(yacht))) ``` Upvotes: 0

2018/10/07

<issue_start>username_0: Tag [nylon](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/nylon "show questions tagged 'nylon'") exists already, but I think it would be incredibly useful to have a TPE/TPU tag and a tag for all flexibles as a category. **EDIT:** It has come to my attention that the tag [flexible](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/flexible "show questions tagged 'flexible'") already exists. I still would like to see a tag [tpu](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/tpu "show questions tagged 'tpu'") though.<issue_comment>username_1: Let's stay with the classic $. Example: \$\$\frac{1 \times 2}{2} = 1\$\$ --- *Now that MathJax is enabled, it renders to: $$\frac{1 \times 2}{2} = 1$$* Upvotes: 3 [selected_answer]<issue_comment>username_2: An alternative character could be the Tilde `~`. Upvotes: 0 <issue_comment>username_3: Dollar works in isolation. See: > > [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/AhPfX.png) > > > However, two (seemingly unrelated) dollar signs *will* cause a problem, see [Weird behaviour when using two (2) $ signs?](https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/315381/weird-behaviour-when-using-two-2-signs), such as this: ``` * Build a $1 Billion home ([Mukesh Ambani](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antilia_(building))) * Build a $1.2 Billion Yacht ([Roman Abramovich](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eclipse_(yacht))) ``` Upvotes: 0

2018/10/15

<issue_start>username_0: As some people probably know, this is the 3rd iteration of a SE site proposal whose scope covers 3D printers. The first 2 were [Personal Manufacturing](http://area51.stackexchange.com/proposals/22246/personal-manufacturing)(before my time) and [Digital Fabrication](http://area51.stackexchange.com/proposals/41850/digital-fabrication)(I tried and failed). Now I am faced with a situation where I want to ask a question about DIY Polystyrene foam milling (I was researching a bit of [foam casting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost-foam_casting) for a micro-hydro turbine wheel), and I don't have a convenient SE site to ask it. So my question is that, is it possible to expand the scope of the 3DPrinting SE to a more general scope, in particularly 3D Milling, given that a LOT of the underlying tech IS shared? I am asking this because a lot of the people involved in the first 2 failed proposals are participating here and may be able to help answer my questions (and further, despite the site's title, this [answer](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/a/143/150) advises a more inclusive approach). *Minor Addendum: I would love being able to ask questions related to even [Dave Gingery's work](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_J._Gingery) here, but that's a very long way off (It would've definitely been on-topic for Personal Manufacturing).*<issue_comment>username_1: Please look into [this question](/questions/147/hobbyist-machine-questions-on-topic), which is a similar question as you ask. I think the general consensus is that CNC and laser cutting machines fall in the same category as 3D printers with respect to control, axis, modeling, etc. as the difference may be the tool the positioning head is carrying. My general concern is if you want to include this, does the name of the site cover the content? "Makers.SE" is suggested, but that would include even more "hobbyist machines" that at least fall very much out of this scope (like the mentioned vacuum forming). When we keep the name 3DPrinting, it should be about 3D printing, if the scope is extended (which is perfectly defendable for CNC machines and laser cutters based on similarity), the name should be changed (if that is possible). I'm not in favor to change the name as it might scare people away or may cause people to not find the site. At the moment we are already doing everything we can to get out of the Beta phase. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_2: A quick reply for now (I might expand on it later). Please see [Game plan - What is on-topic?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/276/game-plan-what-is-on-topic). I've been trying to build a list for the On-topic page. I can add your suggestions to that list, if you like. Although CNC is already added to the list, but foam cutting isn't (yet). There were some questions asked about polystryrene cutting in [chat], from [here](https://chat.stackexchange.com/transcript/message/46947393#46947393) onwards. I don't think an actual question was posted though. I agree with username_1, that, IMHO, we shouldn't change the name as it might put people (3D enthusiasts) off, and we are attracting more and more hits everyday (albeit slowly), see [this answer](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/264/what-does-it-take-to-get-out-of-beta-stage/265#265). Upvotes: 2

2018/11/02

<issue_start>username_0: Just a random thought, and if I wasn't asking the question myself I'd probably down vote it, but... are screenshots the best way to show printer settings, or would a text version be better? Ok, yes, a screenshot is probably easier to do and post, and will show a familiar UI and be easy on the eye and make it easy to notice errors/improvements. However, having a (standardised) text format would make it *searchable*. After all, other sites always say, "please copy and paste the error rather than post a screenshot" - because the text in a screenshot is not searchable. Yes, it could/would be a pain to enforce this rule (is it possible to easily export printer settings as a file file?) and/or edit the text version of the settings into the post. This is probably a daft "thought experiment" of an idea... but I thought I'd float it anyway.<issue_comment>username_1: The problem with settings is that there are so much settings, if OP's are asked to post certain settings the OP or the one that helps might miss some other parameters that would be visible in a screenshot. I was able to spot a few problems already using the screenshots. Another thought: "What would you gain by searchable settings?". In case of error messages I am absolutely convinced that you should, but I do not see the advantage for searching/indexing. What does being searchable actually add? Questions and answers are usually not that long to spot certain text when you are on a page, what does it add if it is searchable for the site? E.g. if I would search for `combing`, you now get some hits, if everyone posts the settings in text you suddenly have many more you need to scroll through... Upvotes: 0 <issue_comment>username_2: Text would probably be best because it is searchable, so things can be found faster then by just looking at the long list of settings available in any slicer/printer/device available with your own eyes. However, as far as I'm aware, exporting settings in text format from a slicer/printer is still wishful thinking due to many factors. I remember a long conversation on the Ultimaker forums a few months ago about this very proposal: being able to export settings in some form, to make it easier for people who are experimenting to follow the various iterations of settings more easily. Some people asked for text format, csv, odt, etc, but the people of Ultimaker ultimately crushed the hopes of everyone by explaining, in technical terms that I did not completely understood, that it wasn't possible without rebuilding the whole thing from scratch. Thus why we're stuck with screenshots for the foreseeable future. Upvotes: 1

2018/12/06

<issue_start>username_0: For those who did not know, linking to off-site content in answers is a no-go at SE sites unless you provide context. From [help](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/help/how-to-answer): > > **Provide context for links** > Links to external resources are encouraged, > but please add context around the link so your fellow users will have > some idea what it is and why it’s there. Always quote the most > relevant part of an important link, in case the target site is > unreachable or goes permanently offline. > > > What about linking to off-site content for questions? [How do I ask a good question?](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/help/how-to-ask) is not clear about that. A question on meta.stackexchange reads: ["Auto-ban questions that use pastebin?"](https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/94807/auto-ban-questions-that-use-pastebin). This hints to banning people that use external linking in their answer. I can image for large sites (hundreds to thousands questions a day) or specific sites (about programming) you definitely want a method to shift the quality of questions. But we are small. Furthermore, it is sometimes necessary (as the OP does not have the knowledge, and we don't have the overview) to ask for the complete file (e.g. configuration.h or G-code). You sure don't want people to post their complete configuration.h or G-code file into the question. As links to off-site content seem to die over time, what can we do best to preserve the information for the question?<issue_comment>username_1: A possibility is to allow off-site content for the OP to post. Once the problem is spotted, the one answering the question could update the question with relevant parts of the off-site content, or copy the relevant parts into the answer. Upvotes: 1 <issue_comment>username_2: *Copied from chat* --- I agree about the posting of the entire configuration file or G-code in a question is too big to fit, etc. What is really needed, and I've thought this for a long time, is a SE sanctioned version of PasteBin [functionality]. A persistent scrapbook/scratchpad site internal to SE (like the i.stack.imgur.com site) where *over-sized* chunks of code/configs/text can be pasted, without it being an external link (which carry the inherent risk of link death). That would be the correct solution, and I don't understand why that hasn't been set up. Seems odd to me. Upvotes: 3 [selected_answer]

2019/02/01

<issue_start>username_0: It is open season for posting ads on other sites. It might be a good idea to take advantage of this to help 3dPrinting.SE grow. I'm wondering what everyone might think about it? If it does interest you, please post up an answer to this question with where you might think would be a good place to advertise. Usually, the other site would need to relate to this one in some way. It's been my experience if it doesn't relate, the ad will get shut (or shot) down. If you feel you have the artistry to create an ad for another site, post that up, too! We can critique the work and ensure most everyone likes the idea before posting it over. We really do want to put our best foot forward! There are some rules in making an image: * The image that you create must be 300 x 250 pixels, or double that if high DPI. * Must be hosted through our standard image uploader (imgur) * Must be GIF or PNG * No animated GIFs * Absolute limit on file size of 150 KB * If the background of the image is white or partially white, there must be a 1px border (2px if high DPI) surrounding it. If you have some ideas and would like to discuss, you can also post ideas or questions a little more free form over on the [site chat](https://chat.stackexchange.com/rooms/79830/public-3d-printing-room). If you like the idea, please let everyone know!<issue_comment>username_1: Sounds like a great idea. StackOverflow is by for the most populated site (and the one I came from). 3D printing interests nerdy-trendy folks like those the in SO, that's where I can from. Prehaps woodworking SE sites would work as well. Upvotes: 0 <issue_comment>username_2: Considering 3D printing needs 3D models, I think it would be natural to advertise on [Blender.SE](https://blender.meta.stackexchange.com/q/2580/13218), perhaps with a catchphrase like "Want to print your Blender model?" [GraphicDesign.SE](https://graphicdesign.meta.stackexchange.com/q/3573/30985) also has questions about 3D design (not necessarily 3D *model*), and the scope on 3D-related questions is debatable. Regardless of that, I think there's nothing to lose trying to advertise there? Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_3: How about [Engineering.SE](https://engineering.stackexchange.com/)? 3D printers are pieces of engineering ingenuity, we sometimes receive questions that should be asked at the Engineering stack, I could imagine that there is a need for the other way around where people are interested in materializing their engineering question or solution. As I'm seriously lacking graphical design skills; I cannot really contribute to the actual design, but what may be interesting is to have a printed gear/sprocket morph into an actual gear/sprocket with the text "How about materialize your idea" or something with similar context. This could be something to start from: [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/cgn85.jpg) Upvotes: 2

2019/04/22

<issue_start>username_0: I don't want to ask off-topic and opinion questions here, but I would like to find a cadre of others dialing in their devices. Any ideas?<issue_comment>username_1: I stumbled across this forum/group, [Original Prusa i3 MMU2S & MMU2](https://forum.prusaprinters.org/forum/english-forum-original-prusa-i3-mmu2s-mmu2/), amongst all of the other [Prusa printers forums](https://forum.prusaprinters.org) on the [Prusaprinters blog](https://blog.prusaprinters.org/prusa-i3/), which seems fairly active. In particular, the [User mods - OctoPrint, enclosures, nozzles, ...](https://forum.prusaprinters.org/forum/original-prusa-i3-mmu2s-mmu2-user-mods-octoprint-enclosures-nozzles-.../) page seems like it might be what you are looking for. Upvotes: 3 [selected_answer]<issue_comment>username_2: There is a lot of activity on Reddit related to 3D printing and the Prusa printers. Upvotes: 0

2019/05/28

<issue_start>username_0: I found this question, [laser is engraving the negative space](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/10010/laser-is-engraving-the-negative-space) in the close queue this morning as being off topic. I was about to respond, and through I'd look at the community view on meta. I found this question and answer: [FDM printer that can also mill and engrave -- what's in scope?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/67/fdm-printer-that-can-also-mill-and-engrave-whats-in-scope/68#68), and this META discussion [Is it possible to expand the scope of this site?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/349/is-it-possible-to-expand-the-scope-of-this-site) which suggests that it would be on topic. What should I do with the question? As a relatively low-reputation participant, I want to defer to the greater experience. Many of the problems of 3D printing and laser etching are similar, but not all. The equipment is much like FDM 3D printers, with some differences. How finely should we diagnose the nature of the problem before deciding if it is on topic?<issue_comment>username_1: **I say allow them.** To let you know what's out there, I work at [Hyrel](http://hyrel3d.com). Our printers can take [spindle (milling) heads and additional axes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0lvN-aPYHI), and even [diode](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OceUiuTixPA) and [CO2 lasers](https://youtu.be/FnYDoNkgOrI), and they all operate on the same gcode - we tell people E is for Emit as well as Extrude. We even have a [TIG welding](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azFY-IqDB_0) attachment. We also run our [Fadal CNC machines](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIGeQmXNbNE) on our printer software and firmware. To many people this is a natural progression for a well-built 3D positioning system, and I encourage a broader definition. Upvotes: 3 <issue_comment>username_2: This is a tricky one, as 3d printers are starting to be bundled with lasers. Note those kits will totally blind you. 3d printers are being bundled with everything, really if you look at the things <http://diabasepe.com/> is making. (Cool guys btw) However. To me this is the same as asking about a woodburning kit question in an electronics forum, because they both use soldering irons. If we allow a removal base machines, such as lasers, we will also have to allow discussions about CNC machines. In the case of that question, they would get bonus points if it was a pure gcode question. Maybe even if it was on a multi use machine.. Instead its asking us to debug their laser setup. Thats not really formatted for stackoverflow anyways. They need to go to a forum. Also as someone that once made a Cheap Chinese laser cutter use a RAMPS 1.4 board, I know exactly how similar they are. But in the end, additive manufacturing isn't this kind of laser (as we have SLA and powder printing) At first I was this is dead simple not on topic. Thinking about laser and 3d printing is a good counter arguments, but that is not what this topic is. It is not additive manufacturing, and its not being done to a part which was additively made. I think its a firm off topic. Upvotes: 0

2019/06/07

<issue_start>username_0: Should we really close this question: [3d printer part clones from china - legality](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/10200/3d-printer-part-clones-from-china-legality)..? Are legal questions on topic? We have a legal section in the [Game plan - What is on-topic?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/276/game-plan-what-is-on-topic) and a [legal](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/legal "show questions tagged 'legal'") tag.<issue_comment>username_1: **I say allow them.** To let you know what's out there, I work at [Hyrel](http://hyrel3d.com). Our printers can take [spindle (milling) heads and additional axes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0lvN-aPYHI), and even [diode](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OceUiuTixPA) and [CO2 lasers](https://youtu.be/FnYDoNkgOrI), and they all operate on the same gcode - we tell people E is for Emit as well as Extrude. We even have a [TIG welding](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azFY-IqDB_0) attachment. We also run our [Fadal CNC machines](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIGeQmXNbNE) on our printer software and firmware. To many people this is a natural progression for a well-built 3D positioning system, and I encourage a broader definition. Upvotes: 3 <issue_comment>username_2: This is a tricky one, as 3d printers are starting to be bundled with lasers. Note those kits will totally blind you. 3d printers are being bundled with everything, really if you look at the things <http://diabasepe.com/> is making. (Cool guys btw) However. To me this is the same as asking about a woodburning kit question in an electronics forum, because they both use soldering irons. If we allow a removal base machines, such as lasers, we will also have to allow discussions about CNC machines. In the case of that question, they would get bonus points if it was a pure gcode question. Maybe even if it was on a multi use machine.. Instead its asking us to debug their laser setup. Thats not really formatted for stackoverflow anyways. They need to go to a forum. Also as someone that once made a Cheap Chinese laser cutter use a RAMPS 1.4 board, I know exactly how similar they are. But in the end, additive manufacturing isn't this kind of laser (as we have SLA and powder printing) At first I was this is dead simple not on topic. Thinking about laser and 3d printing is a good counter arguments, but that is not what this topic is. It is not additive manufacturing, and its not being done to a part which was additively made. I think its a firm off topic. Upvotes: 0

2019/06/08

<issue_start>username_0: Our topics page has been sorely lacking for a few years now, and in need of an update, in order to reflect what the site has become, and to take into account what people has been asking for. Note that, the core concept is still the same - 3D Printing. However, the scope has been widened in a number of ways/directions. For example: * to include technologies which aren't strictly 3D Printing, but where there is overlap * to cover 3D Printing related tools, such as scanning, and tools/software used * to cover 3D printing related areas, such as modelling, legal issues, * and so on. After the suggested expanded topics list had been sitting around for about a year now, on [Game plan - What is on-topic?](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/276/game-plan-what-is-on-topic), and changed/modified throughout the year to accomodate comments/feedback/requests, the proposed list has been moved on to the actual On-topics page, in the Help Center: [What topics can I ask about here?](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/help/on-topic) Yes, it will still need a little tidying up, as it is basically a copy and paste and some additional formatting to make it fit, but at least it's there now - just rough around the edges. Please, if you have any comments/suggestions/improvements/disagreements/anger, please post it as comments or answers below. Feedback, any feedback at all, will be more than welcomed.<issue_comment>username_1: I like the expanded definitions, but there is probably an issue with some of the things you'd put into "just rough around the edges" portion of what you state. For instance, "Print Services" are mentioned as far as on-topic and what is allowed. *To what extent are Print Services* on-topic and allowed? In and of itself, as you've stated it, it could be anything from what to expect to giving them service recommendations (ie: *What's a good place to get xxxx done?* or *Who provides to best services in the Dallas, TX area?*) This isn't the only place where it could be done. If you don't want questions like this, throw a little more specification in there as far as what would be acceptable. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_2: I have updated the [on-topic page](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/help/on-topic) which some further explanations that came to mind, as well as some hopefully not to wishy-washy small print. The points below have been spliced into the on-topic page in (hopefully) the appropriate places. *If anyone has any other suggestions of further expansions to the explanations of the new on-topic topics that they feel are left a little too open ended and would like to see spliced in, then please add them below (to either this wiki answer or post their own answer) and I'll edit them in.* --- 1. Recommendation-based questions ***really*** are off-topic, unless very specific indeed - and even then they may still end up being closed. 2. We want to try to answer as many questions as possible, but they do need to be answerable, and not require opinion based answers - some questions will only be able to attract opinion based questions, so again, don't be surprised if they get closed... 3. Print services questions, should not be asking for recommended service suppliers, but rather is it reasonable to ask such and such of a print service, or what do they usually provide, or is this a reasonable request to be made of a print service - again, these may only be able attract opinion based answers so again these questions are likely to be closed. 4. One thing to bear in mind is that a lot of questions can only be answered by opinions, but those opinions are usually based in, and backed up by, fact and empirical results. A question asked that requires supposition and thought-experiment type answers are generally purely opinion, and not really (and can not be) backed up by hard facts. 5. Legal issues may be asked, but as we are not lawyers then *I Am Not A Lawyer* (IANAL) should always apply. Generic legal questions can also be asked on [SE.Law](https://law.stackexchange.com). 6. Given the fluid nature of this nascent beta site, the following list of topics has been added, after evaluating demand from the community. Some topics such as CNC, and Laser engraving, whilst are not 3D Printing, they share a lot of commonality. Where such questions are regarding such commonality then they ***may be*** considered to be on-topic. As always, all topics are subject to community discretion. For further explanation see [Game plan - What is on-topic?](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/help/on-topic) 7. This list will eventually be integrated into the **Common Topics** section above. Upvotes: 2

2019/07/16

<issue_start>username_0: 3D Printing's [First Pro-Tem moderator election](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/election/1) has come to a close, the votes have been tallied, and the new moderators is: [](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/users/5740) They'll be joining [the existing crew](https://3Dprinting.stackexchange.com/users?tab=moderators) shortly — please thank them for volunteering, and share your assistance and advice with them as they learn the ropes! Also, please join me in thanking tbm0115 who will be stepping down as moderator. For details on how the voting played out, you can download the election results [here](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/election/1), or [view a summary report online](https://www.opavote.com/results/5831275661230080).<issue_comment>username_1: I like the expanded definitions, but there is probably an issue with some of the things you'd put into "just rough around the edges" portion of what you state. For instance, "Print Services" are mentioned as far as on-topic and what is allowed. *To what extent are Print Services* on-topic and allowed? In and of itself, as you've stated it, it could be anything from what to expect to giving them service recommendations (ie: *What's a good place to get xxxx done?* or *Who provides to best services in the Dallas, TX area?*) This isn't the only place where it could be done. If you don't want questions like this, throw a little more specification in there as far as what would be acceptable. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_2: I have updated the [on-topic page](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/help/on-topic) which some further explanations that came to mind, as well as some hopefully not to wishy-washy small print. The points below have been spliced into the on-topic page in (hopefully) the appropriate places. *If anyone has any other suggestions of further expansions to the explanations of the new on-topic topics that they feel are left a little too open ended and would like to see spliced in, then please add them below (to either this wiki answer or post their own answer) and I'll edit them in.* --- 1. Recommendation-based questions ***really*** are off-topic, unless very specific indeed - and even then they may still end up being closed. 2. We want to try to answer as many questions as possible, but they do need to be answerable, and not require opinion based answers - some questions will only be able to attract opinion based questions, so again, don't be surprised if they get closed... 3. Print services questions, should not be asking for recommended service suppliers, but rather is it reasonable to ask such and such of a print service, or what do they usually provide, or is this a reasonable request to be made of a print service - again, these may only be able attract opinion based answers so again these questions are likely to be closed. 4. One thing to bear in mind is that a lot of questions can only be answered by opinions, but those opinions are usually based in, and backed up by, fact and empirical results. A question asked that requires supposition and thought-experiment type answers are generally purely opinion, and not really (and can not be) backed up by hard facts. 5. Legal issues may be asked, but as we are not lawyers then *I Am Not A Lawyer* (IANAL) should always apply. Generic legal questions can also be asked on [SE.Law](https://law.stackexchange.com). 6. Given the fluid nature of this nascent beta site, the following list of topics has been added, after evaluating demand from the community. Some topics such as CNC, and Laser engraving, whilst are not 3D Printing, they share a lot of commonality. Where such questions are regarding such commonality then they ***may be*** considered to be on-topic. As always, all topics are subject to community discretion. For further explanation see [Game plan - What is on-topic?](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/help/on-topic) 7. This list will eventually be integrated into the **Common Topics** section above. Upvotes: 2

2019/08/31

<issue_start>username_0: We should do some tag maintenance, especially regarding printers to make them easier to read. Use an answer to propose a change, merge or split. Discussions for each change should go into the comments of each change. Some things are easier than others: * **Renaming** a tag can be done with mod tools. * **Alias/Synonyms** are reasonably quick, often follow along renaming * Some tags need **manual (separation)**. Sifting through what is and what isn't this tag has to be done to separate the stuff. It can be noisy to the front site but has to be done.<issue_comment>username_1: Printers: Anet series ===================== * [aneta2](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/aneta2 "show questions tagged 'aneta2'") -> [anet-a2](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/anet-a2 "show questions tagged 'anet-a2'") * [aneta6](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/aneta6 "show questions tagged 'aneta6'") -> [anet-a6](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/anet-a6 "show questions tagged 'anet-a6'") * [aneta8](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/aneta8 "show questions tagged 'aneta8'") -> [anet-a8](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/anet-a8 "show questions tagged 'anet-a8'") Type: **renaming** Status: **Done** by [Greenonline](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/users/4762/greenonline) Upvotes: 1 <issue_comment>username_1: Manufacturer: [ultimaker](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/ultimaker "show questions tagged 'ultimaker'") ============================================================================================================================== * Many questions in [ultimaker](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/ultimaker "show questions tagged 'ultimaker'") are not about the manufacturer but... + [cura](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/cura "show questions tagged 'cura'"), their Slicer; see [separate Item](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/a/433/8884) + [ultimaker-1](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/ultimaker-1 "show questions tagged 'ultimaker-1'") aka Ultimaker Original + [ultimaker-2](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/ultimaker-2 "show questions tagged 'ultimaker-2'") aka 2+ + [ultimaker-3](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/ultimaker-3 "show questions tagged 'ultimaker-3'") third product iteration + latest is the Ultimaker S5 (2019), no tag/questions yet type: **manual** Status: **Done** 2 questions remain: one about an unknown Ultimaker printer, one about an Ultimaker Filament (which I think should stay) Upvotes: 1 <issue_comment>username_1: Ultimaker Cura ============== This has some options: 1. Keep [cura](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/cura "show questions tagged 'cura'") 2. Rename to [ultimaker-cura](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/ultimaker-cura "show questions tagged 'ultimaker-cura'"), alias [cura](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/cura "show questions tagged 'cura'") to it. 3. Keep [cura](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/cura "show questions tagged 'cura'") *and* alias [ultimaker-cura](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/ultimaker-cura "show questions tagged 'ultimaker-cura'") to it. Type: Variant 2, official name. Status: **DONE** by Greenonline Upvotes: 1 <issue_comment>username_1: Filled-PLA ========== Status: **TBD** Type: **TBD: Alias/Synonym or Rename** 1. [filled-pla](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/filled-pla "show questions tagged 'filled-pla'") (current) reasonably gets the point across 2. [blended-pla](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/blended-pla "show questions tagged 'blended-pla'") would be a good synonym or alternate name 3. [modified-pla](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/modified-pla "show questions tagged 'modified-pla'") seems to be used synonymously but could be understood as a master-term for [pla+](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/pla%2b "show questions tagged 'pla+'") and [htpla](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/htpla "show questions tagged 'htpla'") too. Upvotes: 1 <issue_comment>username_1: Manufacturer: FlashForge ======================== * Split up to their printers [flashforge-creator](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/flashforge-creator "show questions tagged 'flashforge-creator'") [flashforge-adventurer-3](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/flashforge-adventurer-3 "show questions tagged 'flashforge-adventurer-3'") [flashforge-finder](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/flashforge-finder "show questions tagged 'flashforge-finder'") * added [flashprint](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/flashprint "show questions tagged 'flashprint'") Type: Manual Status: **Done**. One [flashforge](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/flashforge "show questions tagged 'flashforge'") question about a shared item remaining (and keeping the tag itself alive) Upvotes: 1 <issue_comment>username_2: Printer manufacturer: Creality ============================== Status: **Done** Note that the tag for this manufacturer **does not exist**, printers are listed solely by the printer model type/name: [cr-10](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/cr-10 "show questions tagged 'cr-10'"), [ender-3](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/ender-3 "show questions tagged 'ender-3'"), [ender-4](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/ender-4 "show questions tagged 'ender-4'") and [ender-5](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/ender-5 "show questions tagged 'ender-5'"). In the light of FlashForge and Ultimaker, shouldn't the manufacturer be included (prefixed) in the tag? Upvotes: 1 <issue_comment>username_1: Ultimaker 1 =========== * Technically the [ultimaker-1](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/ultimaker-1 "show questions tagged 'ultimaker-1'") is named [ultimaker-original](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/ultimaker-original "show questions tagged 'ultimaker-original'") Type: Rename Status: **DONE** by [username_2](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/users/5740/username_2) Upvotes: 1 <issue_comment>username_1: Manufacturer: E3D ================= We have a lot of questions tagged [e3d](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/e3d "show questions tagged 'e3d'"). Some concearn the [e3d-v6](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/e3d-v6 "show questions tagged 'e3d-v6'"), one the [e3d-titan-aero](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/e3d-titan-aero "show questions tagged 'e3d-titan-aero'"), I think I have seen at least one [e3d-volcano](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/e3d-volcano "show questions tagged 'e3d-volcano'"). Should we split it? Should we weed out those that use [e3d](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/e3d "show questions tagged 'e3d'") but mean [all-metal-hotend](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/all-metal-hotend "show questions tagged 'all-metal-hotend'") instead, and make that tag? Status: **TBD** Upvotes: 1 <issue_comment>username_1: Laundry list: ============= Open ---- * [e3d](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/a/438) * [Creality](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/a/436) * [Filled PLA](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/a/434) Done ---- * [Anet](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/a/431) * [Flashforge](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/a/435) * [Ultimaker](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/a/432) + [Ultimaker 1](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/a/437) * [Cura](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/a/433) * [Monoprice](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/a/445) Upvotes: 2 [selected_answer]<issue_comment>username_2: Manufacturer: Monoprice ======================= Status: **Done** This tag ([monprice](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/monprice "show questions tagged 'monprice'")) is used for tagging questions regarding various printer types while the tag itself is the manufacturer. In analogy to the other printer tags and types these should be re-tagged with the proper printer types. The tag appears to be used 52 times, of which 27 times used this year. Printers that are tagged under the [monoprice](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/monoprice "show questions tagged 'monoprice'") manufacturer tag are: * Monoprice Architect * Monoprice Select Mini (v1/v2) * Monoprice Maker Select * Monoprice Maker Select Plus * Monoprice Maker Ultimate * Monoprice Mini Delta * Monoprice Dual Extrusion Upvotes: 0

2019/09/01

<issue_start>username_0: Every time I write "Cura" in a question or answer, it gets edited to "Ultimaker Cura", [most recently](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/a/10940/11157) resulting in awkward verbose repetition that required additional edits to fix. I don't see any justification for requiring use of official verbose names for software products that can be clearly identified by a well-known shorter name. For example on computing SE sites we don't force users to write "Microsoft Windows" or "Redhat Linux" in contexts where "Windows" or "Redhat" would be understood. And even on this site I don't recall every mention of "Ender 3" getting edited into "Creality Ender 3". Is such a policy (it's effectively a policy, since it's enforced by edits made by a moderator) appropriate for this site? For what it's worth, as a new-ish contributor to this SE site, having nitpicky edits to all of my posts does not make me feel welcome and appreciated.<issue_comment>username_1: Printers: Anet series ===================== * [aneta2](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/aneta2 "show questions tagged 'aneta2'") -> [anet-a2](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/anet-a2 "show questions tagged 'anet-a2'") * [aneta6](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/aneta6 "show questions tagged 'aneta6'") -> [anet-a6](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/anet-a6 "show questions tagged 'anet-a6'") * [aneta8](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/aneta8 "show questions tagged 'aneta8'") -> [anet-a8](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/anet-a8 "show questions tagged 'anet-a8'") Type: **renaming** Status: **Done** by [Greenonline](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/users/4762/greenonline) Upvotes: 1 <issue_comment>username_1: Manufacturer: [ultimaker](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/ultimaker "show questions tagged 'ultimaker'") ============================================================================================================================== * Many questions in [ultimaker](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/ultimaker "show questions tagged 'ultimaker'") are not about the manufacturer but... + [cura](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/cura "show questions tagged 'cura'"), their Slicer; see [separate Item](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/a/433/8884) + [ultimaker-1](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/ultimaker-1 "show questions tagged 'ultimaker-1'") aka Ultimaker Original + [ultimaker-2](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/ultimaker-2 "show questions tagged 'ultimaker-2'") aka 2+ + [ultimaker-3](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/ultimaker-3 "show questions tagged 'ultimaker-3'") third product iteration + latest is the Ultimaker S5 (2019), no tag/questions yet type: **manual** Status: **Done** 2 questions remain: one about an unknown Ultimaker printer, one about an Ultimaker Filament (which I think should stay) Upvotes: 1 <issue_comment>username_1: Ultimaker Cura ============== This has some options: 1. Keep [cura](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/cura "show questions tagged 'cura'") 2. Rename to [ultimaker-cura](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/ultimaker-cura "show questions tagged 'ultimaker-cura'"), alias [cura](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/cura "show questions tagged 'cura'") to it. 3. Keep [cura](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/cura "show questions tagged 'cura'") *and* alias [ultimaker-cura](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/ultimaker-cura "show questions tagged 'ultimaker-cura'") to it. Type: Variant 2, official name. Status: **DONE** by Greenonline Upvotes: 1 <issue_comment>username_1: Filled-PLA ========== Status: **TBD** Type: **TBD: Alias/Synonym or Rename** 1. [filled-pla](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/filled-pla "show questions tagged 'filled-pla'") (current) reasonably gets the point across 2. [blended-pla](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/blended-pla "show questions tagged 'blended-pla'") would be a good synonym or alternate name 3. [modified-pla](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/modified-pla "show questions tagged 'modified-pla'") seems to be used synonymously but could be understood as a master-term for [pla+](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/pla%2b "show questions tagged 'pla+'") and [htpla](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/htpla "show questions tagged 'htpla'") too. Upvotes: 1 <issue_comment>username_1: Manufacturer: FlashForge ======================== * Split up to their printers [flashforge-creator](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/flashforge-creator "show questions tagged 'flashforge-creator'") [flashforge-adventurer-3](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/flashforge-adventurer-3 "show questions tagged 'flashforge-adventurer-3'") [flashforge-finder](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/flashforge-finder "show questions tagged 'flashforge-finder'") * added [flashprint](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/flashprint "show questions tagged 'flashprint'") Type: Manual Status: **Done**. One [flashforge](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/flashforge "show questions tagged 'flashforge'") question about a shared item remaining (and keeping the tag itself alive) Upvotes: 1 <issue_comment>username_2: Printer manufacturer: Creality ============================== Status: **Done** Note that the tag for this manufacturer **does not exist**, printers are listed solely by the printer model type/name: [cr-10](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/cr-10 "show questions tagged 'cr-10'"), [ender-3](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/ender-3 "show questions tagged 'ender-3'"), [ender-4](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/ender-4 "show questions tagged 'ender-4'") and [ender-5](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/ender-5 "show questions tagged 'ender-5'"). In the light of FlashForge and Ultimaker, shouldn't the manufacturer be included (prefixed) in the tag? Upvotes: 1 <issue_comment>username_1: Ultimaker 1 =========== * Technically the [ultimaker-1](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/ultimaker-1 "show questions tagged 'ultimaker-1'") is named [ultimaker-original](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/ultimaker-original "show questions tagged 'ultimaker-original'") Type: Rename Status: **DONE** by [username_2](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/users/5740/username_2) Upvotes: 1 <issue_comment>username_1: Manufacturer: E3D ================= We have a lot of questions tagged [e3d](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/e3d "show questions tagged 'e3d'"). Some concearn the [e3d-v6](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/e3d-v6 "show questions tagged 'e3d-v6'"), one the [e3d-titan-aero](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/e3d-titan-aero "show questions tagged 'e3d-titan-aero'"), I think I have seen at least one [e3d-volcano](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/e3d-volcano "show questions tagged 'e3d-volcano'"). Should we split it? Should we weed out those that use [e3d](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/e3d "show questions tagged 'e3d'") but mean [all-metal-hotend](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/all-metal-hotend "show questions tagged 'all-metal-hotend'") instead, and make that tag? Status: **TBD** Upvotes: 1 <issue_comment>username_1: Laundry list: ============= Open ---- * [e3d](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/a/438) * [Creality](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/a/436) * [Filled PLA](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/a/434) Done ---- * [Anet](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/a/431) * [Flashforge](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/a/435) * [Ultimaker](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/a/432) + [Ultimaker 1](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/a/437) * [Cura](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/a/433) * [Monoprice](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/a/445) Upvotes: 2 [selected_answer]<issue_comment>username_2: Manufacturer: Monoprice ======================= Status: **Done** This tag ([monprice](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/monprice "show questions tagged 'monprice'")) is used for tagging questions regarding various printer types while the tag itself is the manufacturer. In analogy to the other printer tags and types these should be re-tagged with the proper printer types. The tag appears to be used 52 times, of which 27 times used this year. Printers that are tagged under the [monoprice](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/monoprice "show questions tagged 'monoprice'") manufacturer tag are: * Monoprice Architect * Monoprice Select Mini (v1/v2) * Monoprice Maker Select * Monoprice Maker Select Plus * Monoprice Maker Ultimate * Monoprice Mini Delta * Monoprice Dual Extrusion Upvotes: 0

2019/11/20

<issue_start>username_0: We are currently looking at the scope definition on the Arts & Crafts site. Some 3D subject matter could be on-topic there, and we don't want to steal any thunder from the 3D Printing site. Your "what's on topic" discussion in the Help section covers a lot of subject matter beyond 3D printing per se. It also lists a curious off-topic example (assembling 3D printed parts), although it isn't clear whether that would still be considered off-topic. 1. It would be nice to be able to succinctly describe what would be off-topic on A&C by virtue of being on-topic here. Does the following accurately summarize what's on-topic here (not a complete scope for this site, just a boundary for A&C)? > > Computer-driven creation of 3D objects, and components for creating 3D objects, (e.g., 3D printing, cutting of flat components used to build 3D objects via equipment like CNC, laser cutters, hobby cutters like Cricut, etc.). > > > 2. Would this site include non-computer-driven 3D printing via handheld technology? For example there are novelty pens that take a filament and create hand-drawn 3D objects, and a common hobby theme is creating 3D objects using a hot glue gun. My assumption is that this site is only concerned with computer-controlled equipment. 3. My reading is that this site's focus ends with the production of the parts, possibly with a few extensions, like joining parts into a whole if technology limitations require producing it in sections, or smoothing the surface of the produced part. Would I be correct that the following kinds of things would not be on-topic? * assembling a wooden object made from laser-cut parts (although producing the parts would be on-topic) * decorating the finished item (or would finishes that bond with the filament material be on-topic? Would surface prep for finishing be on-topic?) Any further guidance you can provide to help us define what not to ask on Art & Crafts because it's covered here?<issue_comment>username_1: This answer addresses some of the things that came to mind based on your question. * Post processing 3D printed objects is on topic, this includes surface treatment, weathering, annealing and connecting parts (the topic ["Game plan - What is on-topic?"](/q/276) suggests connecting parts is off-topic, but questions on this topic have been allowed since that old referenced question). * It appears that handheld 3D pens (no novelty IMHO) share some topics with this site. E.g. material printing temperatures, cooling, adhesion to build platform, and maybe more related questions, e.g. clogging? * Assembly of laser cut parts would not be on-topic, unless the parts are a frame of a 3D printing/cutting machine. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_2: in addition to username_1: Re 1: Note that while CNC is (barely) on topic, vinyl plotters are not. One could summarize us better as "Methods of additive manufacturing and machines that share same or similar motion systems". Re 2: yes and no: A better term would be "digitally controlled" as printer boards aren't full computers, but 3D pens would be technically on topic as a quite close topic (they use the very same filament as printers usually). Re 3: The main scope is Assembly and Maintenence as well as Troubleshooting of the machines used. It extends into design and postproduction to the degree it is specific to the tools of the trade. Your first example is usually Off Topic (unless it's an assembly for a printer component), while the second is somewhat careful to look at: How to prepare a surface for further postprocessing is usually filament dependent and thus in scope. We even have the [post-processing](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/post-processing "show questions tagged 'post-processing'") Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_3: We don't get a lot of traffic here on 3D Printing (Beta). I check every day, and often don't find questions to respond to -- and I am prone to over-responding. Is the intention of SE that questioners (within one particular activity they undertake) will tend to ask questions on one site, or do we expect sites to have very narrow, non-overlapping scopes and place the onus on questioners to determine the correct site? In other words, if I cross-country ski and also 3D Print, clearly questions about each activity should go to different sites. But, within cross-country skiing, would questions about waxing be directed to a materials science site, questions about packing the snow be directed to a landscaping site? Or, would they all fit within cross-country skiing? I know this isn't a clear answer. To the extent that I may take a position, I would encourage someone who has found this site to stick here until they clearly can be better served elsewhere. Upvotes: 1

2019/12/08

<issue_start>username_0: Half a year passed since [Tag Maintenance Summer 2019](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/430/tag-maintenance-summer-2019). A lot was done, some wasn't, so cleanup and rinse and repeat: Let's do some tag maintenance, especially regarding printers to make them easier to read. Use an answer to propose a change, merge or split. Discussions for each change should go into the comments of each change. Some things are easier than others: * **Renaming** a tag can be done with mod tools. * **Alias/Synonyms** are reasonably quick, often follow along renaming * Some tags need **manual (separation)**. Sifting through what is and what isn't this tag has to be done to separate the stuff. It can be noisy to the front site but has to be done.<issue_comment>username_1: Laundry list: ============= Open ---- * [Filled PLA](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/a/458/8884) * [Repair vs. Maintenance](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/a/459/8884) Done ---- * [e3d](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/a/456/8884) * [Monoprice](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/a/455/8884) * [Creality](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/a/457/8884) * [Prusa](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/a/460/8884) Upvotes: 3 [selected_answer]<issue_comment>username_1: Manufacturer: Monoprice ======================= Status: **Done** [Takeover from Summer 2019](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/a/445/8884) This tag ([monprice](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/monprice "show questions tagged 'monprice'")) is used for tagging questions regarding various printer types while the tag itself is the manufacturer. In analogy to the other printer tags and types these should be re-tagged with the proper printer types. The tag appears to be used 52 times, of which 27 times used this year. Printers that are tagged under the [monoprice](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/monoprice "show questions tagged 'monoprice'") manufacturer tag are: * Monoprice Maker Architect * Monoprice Select Mini (v1/v2) * Monoprice Maker Select * Monoprice Maker Select Plus * Monoprice Maker Ultimate * Monoprice Mini Delta * Monoprice Dual Extrusion *Note the "MP" is dropped from certain names, this should be related to **M**ono**P**rice.* Upvotes: 1 <issue_comment>username_1: Manufacturer: E3D ================= Status: **Done**/split up [Takeover from Summer 2019](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/a/438/8884) We have a lot of questions tagged [e3d](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/e3d "show questions tagged 'e3d'"). Some concearn the [e3d-v6](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/e3d-v6 "show questions tagged 'e3d-v6'"), one the [e3d-titan-aero](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/e3d-titan-aero "show questions tagged 'e3d-titan-aero'"), I think I have seen at least one [e3d-volcano](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/e3d-volcano "show questions tagged 'e3d-volcano'"). As of today (updated), there's a pair of [e3d-hemera](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/e3d-hemera "show questions tagged 'e3d-hemera'")/(formerly: [e3d-hemes](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/e3d-hemes "show questions tagged 'e3d-hemes'")) and a single [e3d-v5](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/e3d-v5 "show questions tagged 'e3d-v5'") on a very old question. Should we split it? Should we weed out those that use [e3d](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/e3d "show questions tagged 'e3d'") but mean [all-metal-hotend](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/all-metal-hotend "show questions tagged 'all-metal-hotend'") instead, and make that tag? * It has been split. Upvotes: 0 <issue_comment>username_1: Printer manufacturer: Creality ============================== Status: **Done** [Takeover from Summer 2019](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/a/436/8884) Note that the tag for this manufacturer **does not exist**, printers are listed solely by the printer model type/name: [cr-10](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/cr-10 "show questions tagged 'cr-10'"), [ender-3](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/ender-3 "show questions tagged 'ender-3'"), [ender-4](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/ender-4 "show questions tagged 'ender-4'") and [ender-5](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/ender-5 "show questions tagged 'ender-5'"). In the light of FlashForge and Ultimaker, shouldn't the manufacturer be included (prefixed) in the tag? Upvotes: 1 <issue_comment>username_1: Filled-PLA ========== Status: **TBD** Type: **TBD: Alias/Synonym or Rename** [Takeover from Summer 2019](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/a/434/8884) 1. [filled-pla](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/filled-pla "show questions tagged 'filled-pla'") (current) reasonably gets the point across 2. [blended-pla](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/blended-pla "show questions tagged 'blended-pla'") would be a good synonym or alternate name 3. [modified-pla](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/modified-pla "show questions tagged 'modified-pla'") seems to be used synonymously but could be understood as a master-term for [pla+](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/pla%2b "show questions tagged 'pla+'") and [htpla](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/htpla "show questions tagged 'htpla'") too. Upvotes: 0 <issue_comment>username_1: Repair vs. Maintenance ====================== Status: **TBD** We have both a [repair](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/repair "show questions tagged 'repair'") and a [maintenance](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/maintenance "show questions tagged 'maintenance'") tag with 10 and 25 Questions respectively. Repair is described as: > > Use this tag to indicate the actions or activities to undertake to fix an item or a process. > > > while Maintenance is > > Questions about general maintenance and upkeep of printers. > > > I would like to redraw the distinguishing line, which is rather blurry: * Maintenance can be replacing worn parts, which also could be seen as repair if it brings a machine back to specs. * some maintenance tagged questions are also [troubleshooting](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/troubleshooting "show questions tagged 'troubleshooting'"), which means they could equally well be tagged repair * other maintenance tagged questions are tagged with [replacement-parts](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/replacement-parts "show questions tagged 'replacement-parts'"), which would imply a repair of the first type happening as part of routine maintenance (and could arguable count as a repair) As those tags are rather similar, we need to find a solution: 1. Redraw the line and distinguish better, maybe recategorize parts. * maybe [model-repair](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/model-repair "show questions tagged 'model-repair'") vs. [printer-maintenance](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/printer-maintenance "show questions tagged 'printer-maintenance'")? 2. Merge the tags into one or the other (maintenance is more inclusive), alias one to the other? 3. Keep as it is? 4. Other? Upvotes: 0 <issue_comment>username_1: Prusa ===== Status:**Done** Type: Re-tag In light of correcting tags to the official names [prusa](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/prusa "show questions tagged 'prusa'") should be [prusa-research](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/prusa-research "show questions tagged 'prusa-research'") Upvotes: 1

2020/01/04

<issue_start>username_0: As the question states, should [bed](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/bed "show questions tagged 'bed'") and [build-plate](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/build-plate "show questions tagged 'build-plate'") be merged? Basically, both tags refer to the same part of the printer; [bed](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/bed "show questions tagged 'bed'") should be a synonym for [build-plate](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/build-plate "show questions tagged 'build-plate'").<issue_comment>username_1: Edit: I like username_2's suggestion best. ===================================== I vote **no**. Our (Hyrel) printers have, on some models, a thick aluminum [bed](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/bed "show questions tagged 'bed'") that can reach 200C, but we expect users to mount different [build-plate](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/build-plate "show questions tagged 'build-plate'")s on it, depending on what material they're printing with. These can be coated with PEI, garolite, polycarbonate, or others; or they can be commercial build plates like GeckoTek or Anycubic Ultrabase. You heat the bed. You print on the build plate. In some cases, these may be a single item. Upvotes: 1 <issue_comment>username_2: I too vote for **no**, but for different reasons: The [y-axis](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/y-axis "show questions tagged 'y-axis'") or [z-axis](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/z-axis "show questions tagged 'z-axis'") hold the [carriage](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/carriage "show questions tagged 'carriage'"), which levels the Print[bed](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/bed "show questions tagged 'bed'"). The [bed](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/bed "show questions tagged 'bed'") can be heated and is the carrier for the [build-surface](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/build-surface "show questions tagged 'build-surface'"). For example, whenever we talk about a "glass bed" we actually mean a glass [build-plate](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/build-plate "show questions tagged 'build-plate'") that is mounted on a heated bed. Springsteel usually is correctly referred to as build surface. BuildTak and other build-surfaces are bonding directly to the bed. The distinction is pretty much along these lines: * The mechanical moving system is under the [bed](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/bed "show questions tagged 'bed'") + the heating effect of this makes it a [heated-bed](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/heated-bed "show questions tagged 'heated-bed'") * The area directly in contact with the extruded plastic is the [build-surface](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/build-surface "show questions tagged 'build-surface'") * The plate in contact with the curing resin in an SLA printer would be the [build-surface](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/build-surface "show questions tagged 'build-surface'") Technically, there might be a renaming needed closely related: * [glass-bed](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/glass-bed "show questions tagged 'glass-bed'") to [glass-build-surface](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/glass-build-surface "show questions tagged 'glass-build-surface'")? Upvotes: 1 <issue_comment>username_3: It should not be about merging of tags, rather we should come up with a proper terminology to identify the correct parts of the "build platform". Basically, every printer consists of a frame with some sort of guide rails1 moving a carriage. On this carriage a build surface is attached where the printer prints the print on; it is always the top of the stack. Note that this can be e.g. a moving Y-axis2 or moving Z-axis carriage3. In some cases the carriage is missing and there is just a static mounting, then it's a platform instead4. It is basically irrelevant if the build surface is glued to the stack or removeable in some way or another. Between the carriage and the build surface you can have have a stack of multiple elements: a structure or structures, a plate, plates or matts, insulation, etc. This **whole** assembly of elements make up the build platform, an example is shown below. [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/M3xCs.png) Note that the linear support can be mounted in Y or Z direction. To tag the elements that make up the *build platform assembly*, a proposed solution can consist of the following terms for subassemblies: * [z-axis](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/z-axis "show questions tagged 'z-axis'") or [y-axis](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/y-axis "show questions tagged 'y-axis'") in combination with [carriage](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/carriage "show questions tagged 'carriage'"), * [platform](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/platform "show questions tagged 'platform'") (to support printers that have a solid platform, e.g. Hyrel/Delta) * [heated-bed](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/heated-bed "show questions tagged 'heated-bed'") (aluminium bed or a silicone matt), which can have a * [glass-print-surface](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/glass-print-surface "show questions tagged 'glass-print-surface'"), [pei-print-surface](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/pei-print-surface "show questions tagged 'pei-print-surface'"), [buildtak-print-surface](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/buildtak-print-surface "show questions tagged 'buildtak-print-surface'"), etc. possibly augmented with the additional tag of [removeable-print-surface](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/removeable-print-surface "show questions tagged 'removeable-print-surface'") or [magnetic-print-surface](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/magnetic-print-surface "show questions tagged 'magnetic-print-surface'"). Annotations ----------- 1. The rails often take the shape of rods and bearings, linear rails of V-slot profile. 2. Carthesian Portal or Cantilever printers 3. CoreXY like the Hypercube 4. Delta Printers Upvotes: 3 [selected_answer]

2020/03/10

<issue_start>username_0: [Updating Marlin Firmware - Step by Step Guide](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/12153/updating-marlin-firmware-step-by-step-guide) Page asks for step by step updates, but is locked for comments, answers, or edits. How does one help?<issue_comment>username_1: Users with a high enough reputation were able to edit the question and the answer, it has been locked for lower reputation users to prevent adding other answers while we were establishing a framework for the answer. Once the answer is visible the whole community will be able to add to the answer within the framework of the answer. Note that we possibly will lock the addition of new answers. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_2: The question was locked when several of the vets [username_1 and me mainly] were working on the infancy of the answer - it was 2 days of a hot mess as we went through the source code to find all the essential settings we usually forget after we have set them for our own machine distributions - if we even do our own distribution and not take one from another that was so kind to make it for the same machine. Upvotes: 0

2020/04/03

<issue_start>username_0: Several questions are related to first layer calibration or issues: I found 43 of them with "first layer" in the title alone, 150 with "first layer" anywhere (no duplicates). I propose adding a "first-layer" tag to more easily retrieve said questions. I already applied it to my latest question without thinking about it, but I can remove it if desired.<issue_comment>username_1: Yes, I support this idea. A [first-layer](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/first-layer "show questions tagged 'first-layer'") tag would be useful. Upvotes: 0 <issue_comment>username_2: I think the [adhesion](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/adhesion "show questions tagged 'adhesion'") tag should be used instead. Upvotes: 2 [selected_answer]

2020/09/13

<issue_start>username_0: I've been here for a little while. I am still a low-reputation of SE, with most of my involvement being here. I know that each SE has it's own personality, somewhat derived from the charter, somewhat from the written standards, and somewhat determined by the customary practices in the community. I have found from reading many answers that the first line is often "soft". A welcome to a new user. A word of appreciation for the question. A social throat-clearing before jumping into the substance of the answer. Over time, I have adopted this form myself, especially with a user who is new to 3D Printing SE. Three days ago, one of my answers was edited to remove the preliminary social lubricant. I'm fine with this, and I understand it is in keeping with the position that the value of SE to the investors is in the responsive content of the answers, not in the social glue. I would have approved the edits myself except that one can not do that from the app. Today, I connected through a desktop and found that the edit had been auto-approved. Again, no problem. But to the question. We want to be welcoming to new users, and we hope they will stay close to the site and become active members. To do so requires communication, the informal, person-to-person communication that builds oxytocin rather than facts. This doesn't fit the business purpose of SE, but it is necessary to support the mission of SE which must succeed for the business to succeed. Is the right method to: 1. Welcome people in an answer, 2. Welcome people in a comment, where it is also not appropriate, 3. Do not welcome people -- just stick to the facts, or 4. Welcome people in an answer but go back later and strip it out?<issue_comment>username_1: I struggled with the same question since I saw the edit, good that you brought this to Meta! Thanks! As the community of regular and active members is limited, I think it is okay to welcome people in a comment or an answer. It would be a shame to scare people away after their first question, resulting in abandoned questions and unaccepted answers. But, we do need to conform to the Q&A format and sometimes need to remind people this isn't a forum of threaded messages and we do have some rules to participate. We have created some [standard comments](/q/303/) that welcome and thank new members but at the same time lead them to the rules of the site. It might be a good idea to approach first time (SE) members friendly. Welcoming comments can and tend to be deleted after a while when users aren't new anymore (everybody can raise a flag on a comment to vote for *”It's no longer needed"*). So option 4 would be my preferred option. Personally I think this site is more welcoming than larger sites as SO for instance. My first experiences at SO didn't make me feel welcome. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_2: I saw that suggested edit too, and I was unsure what to do and left it and then (lamentably) forgot to go back to it. TBH, while it was a nice gesture to a new user, I think that the welcome was (sort of) out of place in the answer, purely because the welcome would age away with time, whereas the technical meat of the answer wouldn't... If that makes sense. Sorry, I don't have time to post a longer answer, at the moment, but I'd say put the "welcome" in a ethereal comment, which can easily be cleaned up later, and keep the answers to be just that: technical info. Upvotes: 2

2021/01/16

<issue_start>username_0: Currently, pure CAD questions are out of scope of our Stack, but we have quite some cases that edge, where the question about the CAD is about how to make a model printable or design principles or such. Where do we draw the line in the sand? [This was once discussed in 2016, but no conclusive answer defined.](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/204/the-fine-line-between-3d-and-cad)<issue_comment>username_1: I struggled with the same question since I saw the edit, good that you brought this to Meta! Thanks! As the community of regular and active members is limited, I think it is okay to welcome people in a comment or an answer. It would be a shame to scare people away after their first question, resulting in abandoned questions and unaccepted answers. But, we do need to conform to the Q&A format and sometimes need to remind people this isn't a forum of threaded messages and we do have some rules to participate. We have created some [standard comments](/q/303/) that welcome and thank new members but at the same time lead them to the rules of the site. It might be a good idea to approach first time (SE) members friendly. Welcoming comments can and tend to be deleted after a while when users aren't new anymore (everybody can raise a flag on a comment to vote for *”It's no longer needed"*). So option 4 would be my preferred option. Personally I think this site is more welcoming than larger sites as SO for instance. My first experiences at SO didn't make me feel welcome. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_2: I saw that suggested edit too, and I was unsure what to do and left it and then (lamentably) forgot to go back to it. TBH, while it was a nice gesture to a new user, I think that the welcome was (sort of) out of place in the answer, purely because the welcome would age away with time, whereas the technical meat of the answer wouldn't... If that makes sense. Sorry, I don't have time to post a longer answer, at the moment, but I'd say put the "welcome" in a ethereal comment, which can easily be cleaned up later, and keep the answers to be just that: technical info. Upvotes: 2

2021/05/14

<issue_start>username_0: I've just noticed this Meta post, [Testing three-vote close and reopen on 13 network sites](https://meta.stackexchange.com/q/364007/280335) and I wondered whether we should employ it here, and what do other people think? We are a smallish site, with a smallish number of active users (although it isn't *that* small, and is slowly growing over time, it should be noted). We don't have a problem with review queues building up *except* with the close votes. Some questions do seem to hang around for a while in the close queue. The problem with the close vote review queue requiring 5 votes when there is a *limited* number of active reviewers (where two of which are moderators) is this: If a moderator votes, then the question is automatically closed, even if there aren't 5 votes - if a moderator casts the first vote to close then the question is closed straight away, without waiting for another four votes - so the vote is not democratic, but instead, dictatorial in nature. As such, moderators tend to not vote, unless the question blatantly needs closing (i.e. spam, vulgarity, etc.). There are ways around this problem: * sock puppets (moderators have a fake account to cast votes only in the review queue), or; * waiting for four votes and then a moderator casting the fifth vote (or waiting for three votes and then moderators agreeing (behind the scenes) to cast the final two votes, etc.) However, these aren't ideal, and just shortening the queue might make things better. This need not be a permanent change, I guess, so if this site, for some reason, eventually exploded in popularity, the review queue *could* go back to five votes (but I'm not 100 % sure about that, see the SE.Meta post above to check). So... should SE.3DP jump on the "three votes to close" train? Or are things OK as they are? What do other users think? *Please* leave a comment or answer. To make things super simple, and if you don't have time to write a comment or answer, you can just vote on the **Yes** answer or the **No** answer. ### End of voting date To give this vote an end point, and not make it so opened-ended, I guess we should tally a "final" vote on the 1st July 2021 - which is May 6 (trial start date) plus 45 days (length of trial) plus a little bit more. As we can't join the trial halfway through, there isn't much point to tallying up the votes before that. At that point Catija will be sent the results.<issue_comment>username_1: Yes, we should have a *three* vote close question review queue -------------------------------------------------------------- Upvotes: 3 <issue_comment>username_1: No, we should stay with the *five* vote close question review queue ------------------------------------------------------------------- Upvotes: 0 <issue_comment>username_2: It's been almost a whole year since this was escalated this to the Community Team, so I apologize for the delay in actually processing the request! But the good news is **you now officially only need 3 close votes to close a question on 3D Printing SE!** After looking at the data, I think it's clear that there's no reason for y'all to have this set at 5. Thank you so much for bearing with us while we got to this request. We'll check back in with you all in a few months to see how things are going — if things are going great, we may not post an update but please feel free to leave a comment if you want us to post something. Here's some basic stats of how things look: Over the last two years, you've had heavy fluctuations in effectiveness, when looking into what percentage of questions that received at least one flag or vote to close actually ended up getting closed. As you can see, the effectiveness is in the 60%~100% range — the good news is that the numbers of posts this represents are relatively small (always under 20 posts per month). [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/iT5UH.png) The graph below, however, does show something that is a bit more concerning: [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/922SP.png) This shows that the moderation team is doing the bulk of the closing, which can be problematic because the mods shouldn't be making these decisions on their own, even with other users weighing in. To add a bit more nuance, though, it looks like the moderation is not *single-handedly* closing the posts, but rather stepping in to aid the community on a big chunk of cases — the graph below shows which vote the moderators cast, to close posts: [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/6DeBm.png) When working on this project, Catija had found two primary use cases for this change: 1. When too many items are going unhandled (not unclosed, just unhandled) 2. When the moderators are doing the bulk of the closing/reopening. Because the mods here are casting the bulk of the final close votes, the first graph looks good (at least in the months where 100% effectiveness is reached). However, this creates an imbalance between closing and reopening as the mods now have to be really thoughtful about reviewing for reopening. So, my hope is that changing this to three votes to close/reopen will take some of the workload off the mods and also increase the number of posts that find their way to be reopened - assuming it's worth reopening them! Upvotes: 4 [selected_answer]

2021/07/08

<issue_start>username_0: Our site has the default Stack Exchange logo (text balloon with text 3D), is it possible to change this logo? I was thinking of something like this: [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/n4VXE.png) or [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/w05Jd.png) If it is possible, we could try to write out a competition and vote! E.g. instead of the lines, the printed image of 3D<issue_comment>username_1: Yes, we can! Or at least discuss if we like a different logo. From [this answer](https://meta.stackexchange.com/a/298341/) on Meta Stack Exchange question "[What's the process to change a site logo?](https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/298338/whats-the-process-to-change-a-site-logo)" we can read: > > If you have an issue with a logo on a site, the best place to start is to open a discussion on that site's meta. Tag it [discussion](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/discussion "show questions tagged 'discussion'") and [design](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/design "show questions tagged 'design'"), and see what the overall community feeling is. > > > Another part reads: > > [Community managers](https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/99338/who-are-the-community-team-and-what-do-they-do) monitor per-site metas, so if/when the discussion concludes and the site's community largely supports a change, they can bring your concerns to the design team. > > > There is no specific mention if Beta state sites can modify the logo, Beta sites share the smae layout set out by the Stack Exchange designers: > > Our designers come up with the overall site design (including the logo), with some input from the communities. (With the exception of sites that are still in beta or have only recently graduated - those all share the same design.) > > > However, we can start a discussion whether we would like to have a different logo/favicon. Feel free to add your thoughts ans an aswer to the question. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_2: i'd like to remind my old suggestion :) [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/oVISY.png) here is the original post <https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/a/248/1211> Upvotes: 1

2022/05/08

<issue_start>username_0: We got [MathJax enabled](https://3dprinting.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/314/can-we-get-mathjax-enabled). Today I learned that there is even more! We could have [**support for Physical units** enabled as part of the mhchem package](https://worldbuilding.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/9710/can-we-extend-mhchem-support-in-mathjax-to-include-physical-units?cb=1)! We use physical units **a lot** and demand the SI formatting. Let me quote from Worldbuilding: > > Chemistry Stack Exchange is obviously the main consumer of this feature and has a [nice FAQ on its use](https://worldbuilding.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/9710/can-we-extend-mhchem-support-in-mathjax-to-include-physical-units?cb=1). The chemists get two things that we don't: > > > * `\require{mhchem}` is implicit... you get support automatically without having to require it explicitly. > * They get physical unit formatting via `$\pu{273.15 K}$`, which currently renders as a grumpy error on WB.SE and WB meta that looks [with only mhchem enabled] like this [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/NyXoU.png) > > > **Can we have that too? Pretty please?** I am tired of having to type `$273.15\ \text{K}$` and such, especially if it is complex things in the unit!<issue_comment>username_1: I support this request for people that do want to use the support for physical units. *(vote up this answer if you are in favor)* --- For values and units I haven't used the MathJax notation (only for complex equations), I've always used the html characters for formatting values and units. The example from the question would be written as: ``` 273.15 K ``` which renders to "273.15 K" or in Celsius: ``` 0 °C ``` which renders to "0 °C". The drawback of using the LaTeX style from MathJax (and presumably with mhchem support) is that the rendered value and unit are in a different font, for example: | Text rendering | MathJax rendering | MathJax code | | --- | --- | --- | | 273.15 K | $273.15\ \text{K}$ | `$273.15\ \text{K}$` | | 0 °C | $0\ ^\text{o}\text{C}$ | `$0\ ^\text{o}\text{C}$` or `$0\ ^\circ\text{C}$` | Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_1: I do not support this request to support physical units. *(vote up this answer if you are not in favor)* Upvotes: 0 <issue_comment>username_2: The deed is done. Behold! In all its glory: $$\pu{273.15 K}$$ Upvotes: 3 [selected_answer]

2023/04/13

<issue_start>username_0: Looking through tags, I noticed that there are many different kinds of tags excerpt. A few examples: > > For questions about the Creality Ender 3 family of 3D printers > > > > > Questions about the 3D printer firmware Marlin. > > > > > when a logical or systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it is requested. > > > > > helps to specify that the question is concerned with the material the print itself is made from. This includes 'filament' as a subgroup but also SL… > > > > > should involve a 3D printer that is manufactured by Monoprice and branded by the name MP Select Mini 3D Printer v1/v2/pro. > > > I wanted to add excerpt to another tag, but it looks like there is no template for it. Each tag is written differently and it looks a bit messy. In addition, in many cases, tag excerpt is too long. I have already read [What should a tag wiki excerpt contain?](https://stackoverflow.com/help/tag-excerpts), but I would also like to know what should be the template for a tag excerpt?<issue_comment>username_1: I support this request for people that do want to use the support for physical units. *(vote up this answer if you are in favor)* --- For values and units I haven't used the MathJax notation (only for complex equations), I've always used the html characters for formatting values and units. The example from the question would be written as: ``` 273.15 K ``` which renders to "273.15 K" or in Celsius: ``` 0 °C ``` which renders to "0 °C". The drawback of using the LaTeX style from MathJax (and presumably with mhchem support) is that the rendered value and unit are in a different font, for example: | Text rendering | MathJax rendering | MathJax code | | --- | --- | --- | | 273.15 K | $273.15\ \text{K}$ | `$273.15\ \text{K}$` | | 0 °C | $0\ ^\text{o}\text{C}$ | `$0\ ^\text{o}\text{C}$` or `$0\ ^\circ\text{C}$` | Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_1: I do not support this request to support physical units. *(vote up this answer if you are not in favor)* Upvotes: 0 <issue_comment>username_2: The deed is done. Behold! In all its glory: $$\pu{273.15 K}$$ Upvotes: 3 [selected_answer]

2023/05/03

<issue_start>username_0: As you all know, advertising is an important source of revenue for Stack Overflow and it helps us support all the sites across the Stack Exchange Network and the resources that go into maintaining and improving the experience on the platform. We are going to be introducing middle sidebar ads, which have been on the main Stack Overflow site for years, to some of the tech sites including 3D Printing. The middle sidebar ads have the same standards as any other ads on the platform. Ads are non-intrusive and static. Ads go through a vetting process to ensure they are appropriate for the communities on Stack Exchange. If you see an ad that may not follow our established standards and guidelines, you can let us know by using the "**report this ad**" functionality. Here is a mockup of what these will look like when two ads are showed (the existing ad placement and the new middle sidebar ad placement): [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/DYWAJ.jpg) This ad space won’t be available for display until May 10 because we wanted to give you a heads-up before you started seeing them. Ads are an essential line of business for us and we’re committed to giving you advanced notice whenever we introduce a new form of advertising on the network sites. If you have any questions or concerns, please let us know.<issue_comment>username_1: Instead of random adds, is it possible to attract Stack specific/related adds e.g. contact 3D printer manufacturers for add space. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_2: There used to be a reputation milestone of 200, [reduce ads](https://stackoverflow.com/help/privileges/reduced-ads), which reduced the amount of visible advertising. However, I notice that on our [Privileges page](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/help/privileges) it doesn't see to be there. I'm not sure if it was there previously, and has been removed, or was never there. I don't remember it being so, but was this just a privilege only on Stack Overflow? Upvotes: 1

2023/05/12

<issue_start>username_0: In the last weeks, I have seen about half a dozen answers that do not answer the questions properly and just read *strange*. I ran them through [writer's AI content checker](https://writer.com/ai-content-detector/) and for the worst ones got scores of 19% to 45% Human generated text. [Copyleaks AI checker](https://copyleaks.com/ai-content-detector) scored the same texts that the likelihood of a human origin was less than 80%, in one case even showing up as only 19%. The problem is, that the *solutions* offered in those texts are at times totally nonsensical. This has to stop. **I propose to formally ban all AI-generated answers for the time being and to delete AI generated content as it is detected.**<issue_comment>username_1: As a community we decide what we allow or don't allow in our stack. Voting is the means by which we do this, so, if maleficent or AI generated content is being generated, just vote down and vote to close (as it doesn't answer the question). The system will take care of such users or mods will pick this up to process further. Fact is that we need to be aware that not everybody is as fluent in English, so, we need to take care to misjudge posters on a single answer or question. But, generally, good point to be aware of. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_2: Can you show examples of this? I wasn't aware and it sounds baffling. Are there robots crawling the site and posting garbage answers just because? Or are they posting spammy links for example, like the good old days when we had blogs and the comments would be full of those unless we enabled a captcha? Also, being an ESL myself, username_1 made a good point. Sometimes people have wonky English but they are still human. Upvotes: 0 <issue_comment>username_3: TL;DR - I agree with the proposal --- *Note that I found it was rather difficult to formulate an answer to this question, without making it sound negative, opinionated and panic inducing. In fact I decided to remove quite a bit, and just leave in factual links and quotes.* --- I came across this meta question over on SO today, [How can we determine whether an answer used ChatGPT?](https://meta.stackoverflow.com/q/421880/4424636), and [this answer](https://meta.stackoverflow.com/a/421946/4424636) in particular grabbed my attention: > > I don't think there's going to be any value in having ***you***, a mere mortal, try to determine if an answer or question was generated by ChatGPT. > > > The reason is super, super simple: **we don't want this to turn into a witch hunt**. > > > There are things you can do even today to help with curation of answers; if an answer is wrong or incomplete, you can downvote it. If you *happen* to notice a trend of similarly bad answers from an account, you can flag for moderator attention with the series of answers you've got as evidence. > > > This shouldn't be a "those bad answers are more moderatable than others" situation - just vote on answers as you always would, and let the moderators deal with the heavier lifting on this circumstance. > > > Which raises a valid point of allowing *suspicion and doubt* to get the better of us. Yes, we have recently seen some questionable posts, and (to be frank) even now I am still not 100% convinced what the *root* cause of those posts were. Nevertheless, community voting and flagging seem to allow us to handle such situations reasonably well. However, one thing that is certain: ChatGPT, and any other derivatives, are not going to go away, and it is probably going to become more and more difficult, as time goes by and the technology "improves", to detect such posts. The tools that you used (and refer to in your question), while I haven't tried them myself, look useful - even though they themselves would *also* appear to be using some sort of artificial decision making! The best tools are probably our own eyes and knowledge to root out suspect sentences and phrasing as well as (more importantly) suspect advice. In addition, a couple of answers (to the linked to meta SO question) also point out some good tips and what to look for - such as [this answer](https://meta.stackoverflow.com/a/422561/4424636) and the first paragraph of [this answer](https://meta.stackoverflow.com/a/422063/4424636), in particular. Upvotes: 1

2016/01/12

<issue_start>username_0: When I've printed an object I've had to choose between high resolution and quick prints. What techniques or technologies can I use or deploy to speed up my high resolution prints?<issue_comment>username_1: You could experiment with slicing. For example, you might not need high resolution all over the object, but you can speed up some straight parts by using greater layer high there. See a [part of Slic3r manual](http://manual.slic3r.org/expert-mode/variable-layer-height) about such thing. It is also possible to print thicker infill every Nth layer, see [Infill optimization](http://manual.slic3r.org/expert-mode/infill-optimization) in Slic3r. Other slicers might have those features as well. Upvotes: 4 [selected_answer]<issue_comment>username_2: For FDM technologies in general with a single extruder, slicing modifications is your only options. However there will be a trade off between quality and speed. For ABS, changing to a machine with a enclosed build (such as a zortrax) chamber may help and a heated build chamber (Stratasys machine) will help the quality and reliability but not the print speed directly. As ABS has a tendency to warp vase mode is not the best idea either. If you only need high resolution and not strength then reducing the infill percentage or even using vase mode will speed up the print. Also changing to a material that you can print at higher speeds like PLA will magnify any of the previous settings. If you have two extruders then changing to a wider nozzle and using that for infill may speed up the print, heating and cooling time during extruder changeover may actually make it slower. For other technologies there are lots of options digital light projection (DLP) and stereolithography (SLA) both provide significantly higher resolution then FDM, with DLP being the faster of the two, [comparison](https://formlabs.com/blog/3d-printing-technology-comparison-sla-dlp/). Take the review with a grain of salt though as the technologies are far from standardised, for example out DLP at work offers far higher resolution and speed then our SLA which is quite old. Sintering or melting technologies can scan the outline every layer then perform a infill of multiple layers at once to speed up the process. Upvotes: 2

2016/01/12

<issue_start>username_0: I would like to buy a 3D printer, but I'm concerned about the health risks that are associated with its operation. Some groups of scientists say it can be [harmful](http://www.techworld.com/news/personal-tech/scientists-warn-of-3d-printing-health-effects-as-tech-hits-high-street-3460992/) for humans. What do I need to consider before buying a 3D printer if I care about my health? Are there any safe printers?<issue_comment>username_1: Almost all 3D printers have issues that could cause health problems. FDM/FFF printers heat plastic to a temperature that may cause it to off-gas, and these byproducts may not be healthy. SLA printers often use epoxies that may off-gas, or may be somewhat toxic prior to being cured. Powder based printers can also off-gas, in addition to the powder itself presenting a possible hazard. Many hobbyist and small companies dance around the problem, and suggest that the machines always be used in well ventillated areas. Professional machines often have filters and ventillation systems built in. Rather than trying to find a "perfectly safe" 3D printer, spend some time deciding what you want to use one for, find printers suitable for your use, and expect that you'll need to provide reasonable ventilation for almost any printer. Plan your installation for that, and you should be able to make any printer safe for your required use. If, however, you plan on setting up a printer farm with many printers, and plan to have yourself or others spend significant time operating them, I suggest you work with a health and safety professional and have them identify possible hazards and plan mitigation. Upvotes: 4 <issue_comment>username_2: There is very little information about safety available, as home 3D printers are relatively new. However, plastics such as ABS have a long history in making plastic products, and a study found that at traditional manufacturing methods (such as injection molding and hot wire cutting) [do not release dangerous levels of carcinogens and/or respiratory sensitizers in to the air](http://annhyg.oxfordjournals.org/content/57/3/399). Of course, 3D printers are not among the processes covered in the study. In home 3D printing circles, [this study](http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1352231013005086) that looks at ultrafine particle (UFP) emissions, is often cited. It finds that printing ABS releases relatively high levels of UFP's and PLA releases significantly fewer (but still quite a large amount). However, it is unclear whether/how dangerous these UFP's are in the amounts emitted. It is often suggested that PLA, partly because of the reduced UFP emissions is safer to print than ABS, partly because of its "natural" origins as it can be derived from materials such as cornstarch. I would caution against this line of reasoning since "natural" materials can still be poisonous (snake venom is natural, after all) and the cornstarch is heavily processed so it hardly resembles its original form. The lower UFP emissions may suggest it is safer, but the study is only quantitative, not qualitative. That said, PLA does probably pose less of a risk (despite my earlier argumentation against "natural" materials, PLA does play quite nicely with the human body), but I contend the risk with ABS is not too large anyways, given that it has been safely used in factories for decades. [Another study](http://fire.nist.gov/bfrlpubs/fire86/art017.html) is often miscited, supposedly saying that 3D printing ABS releases hydrogen cyanide. The study only looks at the thermal decomposition of ABS, which happens at significantly higher temperatures than are reached during printing (but a significantly malfunctioning printer might cause toxic gasses to be released, but I contend that at that point you should worry about your printer being on fire, rather than temporary exposure to some toxins). There are no printers out there that are fundamentally safer than others. However, some printers have an enclosure (containing the fumes) and some even have a carbon filter and a fan for fume extraction. If you would like to err on the side of caution, this might be a good choice (but again, it is not clear if a carbon filter is totally effective). Finally, as printers are generally quite noisy it tends to be preferrable to keep your printer in a separate room from where you usually work. In this case, fume exposure (during the few minutes that you go to check on your print) is minimal, and the potential advantages of a "safer" printers or using "safer" materials diminish. Incidental exposure as a hobbyist is probably not a big deal; workers in factories are exposed to the fumes of melted plastic their entire lives and they don't seem to be dropping dead. On the other hand, if you are going to be printing structurally then it is probably preferable to move your printer to a separate room, if not because of health and safety because of the noise. Upvotes: 6 [selected_answer]<issue_comment>username_3: Apart from the inherent process itself and direct health hazards from that, many 3D printers also require some complementary technology to work. [fdm](/questions/tagged/fdm "show questions tagged 'fdm'") printers have a printing head that needs to move around in 3D space. **Moving machinery parts can be a hazard**. In a home/hobbyist environment with children for example, I would recommend to buy a printer with a housing. "open" designs often feature **bare electronics** mounted directly to the printer structure. This rises the possibility of short circuits and electric shock. The printers that heat material often do so at very high temperatures. **Hot parts of the printer** should not be touched. Upvotes: 3 <issue_comment>username_4: I am going to address the air issue as it is currently unresolved. username_3 offers [a great answer for common safety issues](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/a/15/188). The short answer is that based on our limited knowledge at this point, there may be imperceptible health hazards related to [FDM / FFF printers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fused_deposition_modeling) and therefore additional safety precautions are, in my opinion, necessary and not optional or secondary as suggested by some in the community. In other words, if you can isolate your printer in a well-vented area where people rarely go, then of course it's not a health risk, but if people will be exposed to the air of the printer for any significant periods of time, you need to do something about it. This is my situation - where I live dedicated workshops and extra rooms are luxuries that most people do not have. --- Realistic Chance of Being Dangerous --> Treat It As Dangerous ============================================================= The key information at this point in time is [the UFP (Ultra-Fine Particle) study](http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1352231013005086) that is linked in [Tom's answer](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/a/12/188). Leaving out the scary / detailed parts: > > Therefore, results herein suggest that caution should be used when > operating these 3D printing instruments inside unvented or unfiltered > indoor environments due to their large emissions of UFPs. > > > One important limitation to this study is that we have no information > about the chemical constituents of the UFPs emitted from either type > of 3D printer [...] > > > [...] there may also be > differences in toxicity because of differences in chemical > composition. > > > This means that although many processes release UFPs (the authors of the paper compare to cooking), all UFPs are not created equal. Since the UFPs from 3D printing are still an unknown, the only real answer from a safety perspective is to treat them as dangerous. --- This is not legal, safety, or professional advice! ================================================== I am not qualified to give an opinion on what should be done but I will share what I would do: * **Venting** - Active airflow pushing the envelope of air around the print into a large, unpopulated body of air. * **Enclosure + Venting** - By fully enclosing your printer, it will probably keep the UFPs mostly within the enclosure. You could combine that with either continuous venting or as some have suggested purge venting before opening the enclosure. * **Enclosure + Filtering** - A filter can be applied both to the vent to reduce the output of UFPs (e.g. if you have no access to a safe body of air) and as a recirculating system that removes the UFPs from the body of air within the enclosure. **A note on [positive vs negative pressure](http://www.silverstonetek.com/techtalk_cont.php?area=en&tid=wh_positive)** related to venting and filtering: if you produce positive pressure within the enclosure, you are going to be blowing all the UFPs out into your environment anyway. Negative pressure vented to a safe body of air or neutral pressure with good seals and recirculated filtering may avoid that. **A note on filters**: Activated carbon filters will not remove UFPs. HEPA filters may remove 3D printing UFPs. --- Which Printer? ============== As long as the uncertainty exists, I predict that as the market matures, filtering and enclosures will become more standard. At this point in time, the only enclosed AND HEPA filtered consumer-grade FDM printers I am aware of are the [Up! Box](https://www.3dhubs.com/3d-printers/up-box) and the [Zortrax Inventure](https://www.3dhubs.com/3d-printers/zortrax-inventure). There are a number of enclosed printers without filtering. As an alternative, at least [one company](http://www.3dprintclean.com/) has appeared with products targeted at those who are concerned about various safety aspects of 3d printing. Upvotes: 3

2016/01/12

<issue_start>username_0: I know the minimum layer height will effect how detailed of an item you can print and the amount of time it takes to print something, but is it necessary to have an extremely low minimum layer height if you plan to print only larger objects?<issue_comment>username_1: As with any manufacturing process, you'll need to learn to "use the right tool for the job". It depends on the requirements of the part. To answer your question, I would suggest using a larger layer height for the sheer fact of reducing print time on larger objects. However, it depends on the part and how small the details are on the part. If your part has sharp edges that are required for the proper functionality of the part, then you'll want to use a smaller layer height. Or if your part fits into another part, you'll probably want to use a smaller layer height. Another variable might be whether or not post-processing is necessary. Is this part going to be purposefully printed larger/rougher with the idea to use a Dremel later to smooth everything out? If yes, then use a larger layer height. Upvotes: 3 <issue_comment>username_2: I believe the [Slic3r Manual](http://manual.slic3r.org/first-print/first-layer) summarizes this quite nicely: > > A thicker layer height will provide more flow, and consequently more heat, making the extrusion adhere to the bed more. It also gives the benefit of giving more tolerance for the levelness of the bed. It is recommended to raise the first layer height to match the diameter of the nozzle, e.g. a first layer height of 0.35mm for a 0.35mm nozzle. > > > In other words, larger layer heights for the first layer typically gives better adhesion, and makes inaccurate bed leveling (and auto leveling) still work. Upvotes: 4 [selected_answer]<issue_comment>username_3: In short: no. Smaller layers will make your prints look nicer. That said, in my experience, most printers can handle roughly the same layer heights, no matter what the manufacturer says it can do. With a little tinkering, you can get any printer to do what you tell it to do. That said, for larger prints, you really won't want to lower the layer height too much. Typically, the quality difference you see in a print that's, say, .2 mm layer height (typical) vs .1mm layer height (typically high quality) is not that much different. Note that lowering your layer height increases the number of layers in your object, so it'll take longer to print and have more opportunities to fail along the way. For anything of significant size (150 mm + or so) it's really not worth the extra risk, I'd say. Upvotes: 1

2016/01/12

<issue_start>username_0: Plastic is used in 3D FDM/FFF printing partly because it had a wide temperature range for its glass state - where it can be flowed with some force, but won't flow due only to gravity. Most metals have a very narrow, or non-existant, glass state. They transition from solid to liquid with almost no flowable-but-not-liquid state. Are there any metals or alloys that display a glass transition state?<issue_comment>username_1: I"m no expert on this, but the article at <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amorphous_metal> may be relevant for you. There are some special alloys, such as gold/silicon and various titanium-based ones, that become "bulk metal glasses" if cooled extremely quickly (for example, by sputtering onto a spinning cold surface). The speed of cooling prevents crystal formation. Early BMGs were quite strong but brittle; improvements have reduced brittleness and required cooling speed. Upvotes: 3 <issue_comment>username_2: I think the closest you're going to get is with a composite material. Over the last 2 years or so, there have been more and more composite filaments emerging on the market for consumer 3D printers. I good example of composite filaments can be seen on [Proto-Pasta](http://www.proto-pasta.com/). Since the filament must mostly be comprised of the polymer "binder", the material will obviously not exhibit all the properties of both. Without getting into too much Material Science, consider the composite of both ABS and Iron (or some other ferrous-based metal). You cannot expect to print a solid circuit out of the filament because the iron may not be represented throughout all directions of the filament, therefore resulting in resistance or flat out non-conductivity. So, to answer your question: I'm not aware of a significantly larger glass state in a type of metal/alloy. Your best bet is a composite, but it depends on the requirements for your part if a composite will work. Then, you'll have another battle of finding the right type of composite and worst of all, a good supplier lol Upvotes: 3 <issue_comment>username_3: I spent some time looking at making an FDM machine that would print bronze filament. An alloy commonly made into wire had a difference between the solidus and liquidus temperature of only 50 degrees C. I determined that one could make a conventional hot end, electrically heated, made of either molybdenum or tungsten. I did not determine how the bronze would behave in the 50 degree solid-to-liquid zone. I was more concerned about the solubility of the nozzle material in copper, for which I could find very little published data. From my experience welding, and from printing plastics with FDM, there could be a problem with layer adhesion. To really bond, the cooled material needs to be melted by the material being deposited in the next layer. This is complicated by the temperature of the cooled material, the thermal conductivity of the material, and the propensity of the material to form oxides. These could be mitigated by heating the object in an inert atmosphere. So, to answer the question, I would suggest looking at bronze alloys because they melt at moderate temperatures, and are less prone to oxidation than aluminum alloys. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_4: A few things are required for effective extrusion-style 3d printing materials: * It must stay where placed by the nozzle long enough to harden (or, alternately for pastes and such, have a shear-thinning or thixotropic viscous profile so it will not flow under its own weight). * If using a filament extruder, it must have a wide range of viscosity that varies gradually over a considerable temperature range. This is necessary to develop the proper "cap zone" semi-melt shearing behavior that allows the incoming filament to act like a piston and generate pressure upstream of the nozzle. Pellet extruders have a similar requirement but related to screw/wall shearing rather than filament/wall shearing. If using neither filament nor pellets, such as clay printers, the material must be pumpable by a positive-displacement pump. (It is possible to pump molten metal, but the cost is quite high.) * It must form some kind of bond with previously-deposited solid material, without needing to be in a state that will rapidly flow and lose shape. * It must have some combination of low shrinkage, the ability to creep at the printer's ambient temp, and/or low stiffness that allows consecutive layers to be stacked without an unacceptable amount of warping. Liquid metals tend to have a conflict between "Staying where you put it" and "bonding with the previous layer." In order for deposited metal to fully bond, the interface material needs to reach the melting point so a true fusion weld occurs. And in order to supply enough heat to remelt the interface without an additional heat source like an arc, the deposited molten metal needs to be very hot. So it will tend to run while it cools. High density and high heat capacity makes it run fast and cool slowly. Pretty much every DIY metal 3d print (such as made by wire-feed MIG welders) ends up looking something like this: [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/FTyNd.png) <https://3dprint.com/29944/diy-metal-printing-garage/> In comparison, polymers have long molecular chains that allow them to "diffusion weld" and adhere WITHOUT fully remelting the interface. Molten liquid plastic will stick to solid plastic quite effectively. The interface only needs to get hot enough for appreciable diffusion to intertwine the molecular chains. This will occur between the glass point and melting point, without true fusion occurring. So you can print molten plastic at a temperature where it will stay in place long enough to harden, and still get good bonding. Metals also tend to be very stiff, which encourages warping. It is difficult to build a heated environment of sufficient temperature to properly stress-relieve the thermal contraction stress as the print progresses, whereas with plastic a heated build plate and warm enclosure can permit warping stresses to start relaxing as the print progresses. **It is possible to "FDM-style" 3d print filament/wire made of metal alloys that have a wide range between solidus and liquidus.** It has [been done using solder](https://www.adafruit.com/adablog/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/MetalPrinting.jpg) and [similar alloys](http://blog.reprap.org/2011/06/new-approach-to-printing-metals.html). However, between the warping stresses, poor layer bonding from inadequate interface re-melting, and use of soft low-melting alloys, **the resulting printed parts will usually end up being weaker than if they had simply been printed in a strong plastic.** For example, PEEK is nearly as strong as aluminum, and carbon fiber or fiberglass composite plastics can exceed metals on various performance metrics. So what's the point of printing with weak, brittle metal alloys? Over the years, lots of people have tried FDM-style metal printing, but no one has found it worthwhile to pursue in the long run. More typical DIY metal printing approaches like 3D MIG welding following by cleanup machining will produce better results. Upvotes: 4 [selected_answer]

2016/01/12

<issue_start>username_0: What are the main differences when using ABS over PLA and vice versa?<issue_comment>username_1: Paraphrasing [this](http://www.protoparadigm.com/news-updates/the-difference-between-abs-and-pla-for-3d-printing/) site. Feel free to add suggestions in the form of comments and I will try to incorporate them. Summary * ABS: Stronger, machinable, more flexible, and more temperature resistant than PLA. Typically printed on a heated bed. Warping is a common problem when printing ABS. * PLA: Wider range of filaments available, easier and in some cases faster to print. Not as strong as ABS and the fact that its biodegradable could be seen as both a benefit and a drawback. Material Properties: * ABS: Strong plastic with mild flexibility. Naturally beige in color. Can be filled and sanded. Higher temperature. Easy to recycle. * PLA: Not as strong as ABS but more rigid. Naturally transparent. More difficult to fill and sand. Can sag in hot temperatures. Sourced from organic matter so it can be broken down in commercial compost facilities. Part Accuracy: * ABS: Part warping is a significant issue. Sharp corners will often be rounded. * PLA: Less heat required contributes to less warping. Becomes more liquid at common extruder temperatures so finer details can be printed. Safety and Handling: * ABS: Strong burning/melting plastic smell is present when printing ABS. Health concerns have been raised regarding airborne ultrafine particles generated while printing with ABS ([ref](https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.atmosenv.2013.06.050)). ABS will absorb moisture causing popping when the moisture enters the hot end. This leads to discontinuities in the print job. * PLA: Doesn't smell as strongly when printing due to its organic nature. Moisture can also be absorbed into PLA and can irreversibly damage it. Upvotes: 6 [selected_answer]<issue_comment>username_2: The problem is that it's almost impossible to answer the PLA/ABS question just by looking at the material characteristics as it is so dependent on the application and even the specific object you're printing. The decision guide in this [infographic](http://www.cubicity.com/blog/knowledge-base/abs-vs-pla-infographic-decision-guide) covers the following points that usually should be involved when deciding between ABS and PLA: **Ventilation** - I wouldn't recommend putting your nose into the printer with any material, but being exposed to ABS fumes is likely a lot worse. **Heated Bed** - This is an easy one: Without one, PLA should be your choice. If you do have one though, it might improve adhesion of PLA as well (set to ~60C instead of 90C-110C for ABS) **Exposure to Heat or Mechanical Stress** - ABS would be the preferred choice as PLA melts at lower temperatures (it might start to deform when left in your car in the summer) and ABS can endure more bend before breaking. Of course even ABS has upper limits and you might want to consider other materials like *Polycarbonate* for extreme applications. On the other hand there are newer materials that share many PLA features (biodegradable, no heat bed required) but are more similar to ABS in their mechanical properties (e.g. BioFila Linen) and temperature stability (e.g. Advanced PLA, ExcelFil EVO). **Printer Enclosure** - Not a must-have for using ABS, but especially objects with large footprints are susceptible to warping when they cool too fast. A fully enclosed printer ensures a slow and even cooling process. **Post Processing** - Often an afterthought, but ABS has a slight advantage here as it is a little easier to sand and you have the option of working with acetone (which I personally wouldn't mess with unless you REALLY need to). **Print Temperature** - Roughly 190C-220C for PLA and 220C-240C for ABS, so be sure that your printer can go high enough to extrude ABS. **Biodegradability** - PLA is biodegradable (under specific circumstances) which is a consideration when printing test objects, prototypes and other objects that will be discarded. Upvotes: 3 <issue_comment>username_3: PLA (polylactic acid) melts at a lower temp and does not warp AS BADLY when cooled. It is non-toxic (in USA it comes from cornstarch, beets in some countries, or tapioca root) It is less flexible than ABS, could rip or crumble. ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) is a harder and more sturdy plastic. (What Legos are made of). A heated bed is used to keep it from cooling too fast, as warping can be a problem is you cool it too fast (being close to an exterior door or an air vent) An enclosed printer helps regulate temp and avoids SOME of this problem. Some people get headaches from the smell of molten ABS over a prolonged time. It flexes better than PLA. Can be sanded or cut easily and maintain integrity. Beware of CHEAP ABS as it may contain a higher amount of HCN (Hydrogen Cyanide) that can be released when used (but usually around 1 part per million, about one fourth the dangerous limit.) "GOOD" ABS CAN contain HCN as well, but it is not released by "normal" printing temperatures. (avoid burning ABS or Nylon) so, all in all: PLA is safe/non-toxic, biodegradable, uses less energy to print, less flexible. ABS is harder, sturdier, will last nearly forever (if not bent or stressed or frozen). Somewhat flexible and will snap back. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_4: > > PLA/ABS general and thermal properties > > >  Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_5: Basic facts and tips for using and choosing ABS and PLA materials: Made from: ``` ABS: Petroleum based PLA: Corn or other plants ``` Smell: ``` ABS: smell of hot plastic, PLA: gives off a smell similar to a semi-sweet cooking oil. Less intense smell than ABS. ``` Part Accuracy: Both PLA and ABS are capable of building dimensionally accurate parts. However, there are characteristics that we need to memorized. ABS: will be curling upwards of the surface in direct contact with the 3D printer’s print bed. for fine and delicate features on parts involving sharp corners, such as gears, there will often be a slight rounding of the corner. PLA: much less part warping. but it undergoes more of a phase-change when heated and becomes much more liquid. The increased flow can also lead to stronger binding between layer. ``` Recycling: ``` ABS: Recycling number 7, most local recycling programs do not accept ABS. It generally being recycled into plastic lumber. PLA: it biodegrades, however the process takes a long time when outside of an industrial composting facility Why we provide a vacuum sealed package for ABS and PLA products? long term exposure to a humid environment without sealed package may result in detrimental effects, both to the printing process and to the quality of finished parts. ABS: will tend to bubble and spurt from the tip of the nozzle when printing, part accuracy, strength are reduced. Raises the risk of clogging the nozzle. ABS can be easily dried by using dry or hot air. PLA: bubbles or sporting at the nozzle, also discoloration and a reduction in 3D printed part are found when in long term moisture environment. Improving the printing outcomes （Blue tape and Kapton tape pictures) PLA: printing temperature approximately: 190°C - 240°C ABS: printing temperature approximately: 225°C - 250°C (recommend to use a heated print bed) A good first layer adhesion is of the utmost importance in obtaining the best results for the prints. Using Blue Tape or Kapton Tape. Hairspray the print bed. To attain optimal result for the prints, you need to consider variables such as nozzel diameter, printing speed, and layer height. Summary: ABS: A preferred filament for the prints with engineering and professional purposes with its strength, machinability, flexibility, and higher temperature resistance. The bad plastic smell is due to the petroleum based origin. Required a heated print bed to attain ABS printing reliability. PLA: Wide range of available colors, provide translucencies and glossy feel of the prints. Plant based and semi-sweet corn like smelling are appreciated over ABS. When properly cooled, PLA seems to perform higher maximum printing speeds, and sharper printed corners. Combining this with low warping on parts make it a popular plastic for household uses, toys, hobbyists, and educational purposes. to know more please visit [abs vs pla](http://www.3dsolutech.com/abs-vs-pla) Upvotes: 2

2016/01/12

<issue_start>username_0: My MakerBot printer supports only two filaments at the same time. What are techniques to print objects with more than two colors for one object?<issue_comment>username_1: The most obvious solution is to pause the print and swap filament for another color. Another option is to [splice pieces of filament](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdlqGR5n9Zk) together, though this does not allow very precise control of when the switch happens. There is also a device that can automatically slice filament this way. Finally, another option that uses very little external equipment is to [use (permanent) markers to colorize light-colored filament](http://reprap.org/wiki/Coloring_filament). Other options include upgrading to a printer with more hotends, or installing a hotend with multiple filament inputs and one outputs, but these options would involve significantly changing your printer setup. Upvotes: 4 [selected_answer]<issue_comment>username_2: I've seen where certain slicers and/or firmware installations will allow you to set pauses mid-print so you can insert a different filament and resume. Such firmware that I'm aware of is [Sailfish](http://www.sailfishfirmware.com/doc/install-installing.html). I haven't personally used this, but I've heard many great things for people who enjoy tinkering with their machine(s). Alternatively, there are 3D-printable attachments for your extruder that allow you setup markers to [color your filament](http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:77424) (mentioned by Tom in another answer). Upvotes: 3 <issue_comment>username_3: Another approach is Mosaic Manufacturing's [Palette](http://www.mosaicmanufacturing.com) – it appears to a single extruder 3D printer as a filament reel, but it is creating a custom filament on-the-fly by > > pulling information from a multi-extruder .gcode file to determine the length, and the order, each color segment needs to be. > > > The device was a successful [Kickstarter campaign](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mosaic3d/the-palette-3d-printing-evolved/description) and as far as I can tell it isn't shipping yet (as of January 2016), but they are taking orders and promising an April 2016 ship date. Upvotes: 3 <issue_comment>username_4: Answering this question fully depends on the type of printer you have. Some printers have a pause capability, while others do not. Some have multiple extruders, while most do not. Some have a tube leading to the extruder and others do not. You specifically are asking about dealing with more than two colors when you have a dual-extruder, but the question generalizes to how to get more colors than you have extruders. Markers probably offer the easiest solution. You could have different markers on the feeds for each extruder. For printers with no pause ability, you might have to snip one filament and hand feed the second color after the first one until it can be caught by the feeder gear. There are rigs that are available, or that you can make, that will let you connect two strands together lengthwise. You can then make up a single piece of filament that has multiple colors. Thus, one extruder head will be generating multiple colors. The Kickstarter mentioned elsewhere essentially does this automatically for several strands whose lengths are calculated precisely by special software. The result is a single strand of filament that goes into one of your extruders - the other extruder would be unused with this solution. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_5: The standard option is to change out filaments at certain times during the print. Software to add these pauses to your print automatically are around, with one ([ColorPrint](http://prusaprinters.org/color-print/)). This method works if you only want to change at a certain Z height, and not intermix colors on the same levels. The other newer development that works for many printers (this works for single nozzle printers as well) are getting Y type adapters that allow more than 1 filament to be fed into a single extruder, and use a rapid retraction to pull the filament back out past the Y connector to allow the next color to be fed into the nozzle. Several companies are putting products like this out on the market at this time. An example of this can be seen at this [page](http://prusaprinters.org/original-prusa-i3-mk2-multi-material-upgrade-release/). As mentioned in other answers, [Mosaic Pallette](https://www.mosaicmanufacturing.com/) is an option to drive more complicated multi-color prints, but is a rather expensive option at $999. The [E3d Kraken](http://e3d-online.com/The-Kraken) might be a possible hotend upgrade to a Makerbot, although it would involve a fair amount of work. Upvotes: 2

2016/01/12

<issue_start>username_0: I'd like to print modifications for my bird feeder, both to patch over the hail damage from last summer and to try to deter the neighborhood squirrels. I have an FDM printer (and experience with nylon, ABS, and PLA, though don't restrict answers to those if there's something else that's better), what kind of filament would stand up best to daily exposure to sun, rain, snow, etc?<issue_comment>username_1: PET(G) is a strong contender. It is very strong and water-resistant, and as such is often used to make pop bottles. PLA has a reputation for being "biodegradable" and therefore it is often discouraged to use PLA outside and/or in contact with water. However, PLA only biodegrades under very specific conditions which it won't generally be exposed to so it can be used (though, as a harder and less flexible material it is more likely to be damaged by hail). ABS and Nylon are good choices as well. Basically, any plastic you have on hand will last for years, even in an outside application. Upvotes: 3 <issue_comment>username_2: I think ABS would be your best bet. It's not biodegradable and realtivley easy to print. But you can use more or less any material if you use some form of coating on it. I would always go for coated PLA instead of other materials just because PLA is the easiest to print and it's nontoxic. Upvotes: 1 <issue_comment>username_3: I would think that ABS is a good choice if the application isn't in direct sunlight. ABS is what sprinkler lines are made from and those obviously do well under ground, though I have seen ABS that is left in the sun get super brittle over time and snap easily. PLA also will slowly melt in direct sunlight. I have seen this one firsthand, having left a print on my windowsill and watching it slowly morph with the weight of objects on top of it. PETG is good in terms of easier printing with a good strength, but I cannot say that it's particularly good for outdoor use, depending on your use-case. It can be food-safe though! It would seem to me like Nylon is your best bet, since this is super strong stuff, and is used as gears for things that exist outside, like boats and motorcycle parts, etc. I don't have specific proof that this is the best, but depending on what exactly you're trying to accomplish, it's likely the best choice. You can always spray paint some kind of coating on the resulting print that will increase the UV protection. Something like [Krylon Preserve It Aerosol Spray](https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/B00AQ72JHE) perhaps? Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_4: I have several items printed in PLA that have been outdoors for about a year now. Apart from some discoloration I don't see any structural damage (yet?). Some of them are at the south side of a building so they get maximum sunlight. Of course Belgian summers can not be compared to Arizona summers! Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_5: ABS would be *toxic*, I believe (contains BPA I think) so that wouldn't be a good choice. I think PETG is safe plus UV resistant so that would be a good one. I'm not sure about PLA or other materials. Upvotes: 1 <issue_comment>username_6: Most plastic resins decompose under UV light from the sun. The chains breakdown, and the plastic becomes a powder. From examining plastic parts for outdoor use, they typically have a stable pigment built into the plastic. The pigment prevents the UV from penetrating into the object because the pigment stops or reflects the radiation. A good choice for the pigment is titanium oxide. TiO is stable under UV light and heat, so it will not bleach and lost effectiveness. As the plastic degrades in the outermost layer, the TiO remain effective until it loses all support from the plastic and is removed from the object. TiO is a bright white pigment, so the temperature of the object is lower than it would be if it were compounded with carbon black. Because TiO is inexpensive, I would expect it to be the pigment in most bright white filaments. Not "natural" white, but true, bright white. So to answer your question, I would pick the whitest version of whatever filament you would otherwise favor for the outdoors application. Upvotes: 1

2016/01/12

<issue_start>username_0: The surfaces of my printed parts using PLA plastic look rough and uneven. Would changing filament to a better one make any difference? If not, what kind of methods can I use to achieve a smoother finish for my for 3D-printed objects?<issue_comment>username_1: It is called **Acetone Finishing** Basically the 3D printed part stays in acetone vapor and the outer shell turns to smooth surface. I have heard that it works better with ABS. This article shows how *with videos*: * ([Acetone Finishing on PLA](https://ultimaker.com/en/community/10412-acetone-finishing-on-pla) - dead link). * New link: [Acetone Finishing on PLA](https://community.ultimaker.com/topic/8530-acetone-finishing-on-pla/) Upvotes: -1 <issue_comment>username_2: Your two easiest options are dipping your print in acetone or giving it an acetone vapor bath. Note this process generally only works with **ABS** not **PLA**, with the exception of some brands. There are [many](http://fabsterdam.com/3dprinting/smoothing-pla/) [articles](http://fabsterdam.com/3dprinting/smooooooth/) [online](https://ultimaker.com/en/community/10412-acetone-finishing-on-pla) where you can learn more about the process. Aside from finishing, you will generally get a smoother looking end result by **lowering the layer thickness**, and **removing any hysteresis/wobble** in your print head making sure it's well calibrated. Upvotes: 3 <issue_comment>username_3: [PLA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polylactic_acid) parts can be finished with a coat of epoxy like [XTC-3D from Smooth-On](http://www.smooth-on.com/Epoxy-Coatings-XTC/c1397_1429/index.html). This will smooth out the part and give it a pretty nice shine. I've also had a fair amount of success sanding prints, giving them a coat of automotive filler primer, and using glossy spray paint. You can also get great results with an acetone [vapor finish](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vapor_polishing) if you're willing to switch to [ABS](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrylonitrile_butadiene_styrene). Though that will require a heated bed and can be a bit more finicky to work with than PLA. Upvotes: 7 [selected_answer]<issue_comment>username_4: Acetone vaporing is a great way to smooth ABS prints. For PLA, however, acetone smoothing does not work. An [article about smoothing PLA](http://fabsterdam.com/3dprinting/smoothing-pla/) says: > > This is a pity, since PLA is much easier to work with than ABS. We found some solutions for smoothing PLA, but most involve rather dangerous-sounding chemicals such as [Tetrahydrofuran](http://www.protoparadigm.com/news-updates/vapor-smoothing-and-polishing-pla-with-tetrahydrofuran-thf/) and [Dichloromethane](http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:74093). The one exception we found is [Ethyl Acetate](http://www.printedsolid.com/smoothpla/) which seems to give good results and is (relatively) safe. > > > Other article mentioned [MEK Substitute](http://printedsolid.com/blogs/news/37035395-vapor-smoothing-3d-printed-parts-pla-colorfabb-xt-t-glase-pet), which is Ethyl Acetate as well. You could also try some kind of polisher manufactured for 3D print results, such as [XTC-3D](http://www.smooth-on.com/Epoxy-Coatings-XTC/c1397_1429/index.html). Here is a real photo of XTC-3D on PLA: [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Auq4H.jpg) Ultimaker also [suggests using chloroform](https://ultimaker.com/en/tips-tricks/17897-vapor-treating) for smoothing PLA prints. If your parts are really uneven, it might be a symptom of something bad going on with your print(er), you might want to read [Taxonomy of Z axis artifacts in extrusion-based 3d printing](https://www.evernote.com/shard/s211/sh/701c36c4-ddd5-4669-a482-953d8924c71d/1ef992988295487c98c268dcdd2d687e). > > The most recognizeable cause of this problem is Z-wobble. It is caused by the misalignment of layers in a repeating pattern with a period equal to the Z thread pitch (technically the lead, but this is the same as the pitch unless you are using a multi-start thread), and was a famous problem of the original Makebot, the CupcakeCNC. > > > Upvotes: 5 <issue_comment>username_5: It takes quite an effort to make [PLA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polylactic_acid) shiny, and it's not as simple as [ABS](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrylonitrile_butadiene_styrene) and acetone. You have to sand down the print with sandpaper with [different grit sizes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandpaper#Grit_size_table) (start with grit P100, then P240, P400, P600, P1500 and P2000). To make the shining result you have to polish the print with plastic finish compound. Alternatively you can apply [XTC-3D Print Coating](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSKxycs3kPg). See these posts: * *[Finishing 3D Printed Parts in 1 Simple Step](https://rumy.io/blog/finishing-3d-printed-parts)* * *[Ultimate Guide to Finishing 3D Printed Parts](http://blog.fictiv.com/posts/ultimate-guide-to-finishing-3d-printed-parts)* Upvotes: 3 <issue_comment>username_6: Make sure your printer is properly calibrated and that there are no jams as this can cause blobs or other defects on the object. Printing at a higher resolution would also make the object smoother, as there would also be less difference between each layer. The filament that you are using could be a cause for the rough look as well. Make sure you play around with the temperature to find the right range for a specific brand of filament. I have noticed different brands tend to print better at different temperatures, and if it too low could cause flow issues. Also leaving PLA out in the air tends to have it absorb moisture which is also no good. If you are not going to use it for a while put the filament back in a resealable bag with a desiccant to help keep moisture out. If you don't want to see the printed layers you could also try melting the surface again with a heat gun to smooth out the object. *Be careful not to overheat the object*, because could you could discoloring or cause drooping. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_7: I suggest using XTC-3D since your prints are small also you can add some UVO pigments in. It's difficult to use in large prints because has small working time. Anyway here is a print I did for a friend: [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Rj1Ep.png "Example print") [This now dead link](https://niume.com/post/208913) shows more images and say how it is done. Upvotes: -1 <issue_comment>username_8: So we know what doesn't work but what does work (but not well) is alcohol! Only isopropyl alcohol 90% (and up) will work! Also at Walmart you can get stuff called *Goo Gone* or even better is *Oops!* What you're doing is melting the plastic chemically. Since PLA is made from corn (more or less) the same chemicals won't work on this kind of bio plastic that PLA is. ABS is an oil based product so that's why acetone works. I use those two mentioned products because they are made to remove glues and waxes and don't immediately evaporate so it has time to do its job and dissolve the plastic. Alcohol will evaporate, especially with less water content, and I absolutely positively don't want anyone doing this in a bedroom or kitchen especially do not do it without ventilation! The vapors are flammable and will build up fast at room temp and takes little to set off and it's just bad! With alcohol I dip and soak the parts till I see them looking kind of soft like having a skin or depending on the PLA used silky. I print hotter than recommended with hot bed little to no fan and more feed because what happens is it gets denser past a certain temp and will look like its messing up and not print right like its clogged or not being fed fast enough and it's *true* but if you increase the feed rate to say 108 or 115 it compensates for the shrinkage and you get the same fill. Now that being said your going to get smoother prints because it becomes like watery but with faster speed and or little fan snaps it in place but the hot bed will keep it from getting too hard for the next pass of the hot end and new layer so the next layer wont go on a cold surface and can easily get squished and fused to the last layer and now two 0.15 mm layers act like three but denser and smoother. Then with the Oops! chemical or alcohol I just take what's left of the imperfections off. I take a dustless cloth and apply the solution onto it and wiping in the same direction with very little pressure till it feels like the cloth is getting stuck or its biting then I leave it alone for 15 seconds and wash it off by dunking it in a bucket of cold soapy water then rinse with fresh water and repeat if necessary. It's best if you use string to hold or suspend the parts because it's easy to leave prints behind. Also even better (and I don't offer this because any liquid when atomized can be flammable - besides water) is to use spray bottles instead and lightly spray the same process on and dip-and-dunk to take it off - instead of wiping and risking leaving prints with marks on the finished parts. There is sanding. Lots of sanding is another way to smooth parts. I also tried conformal coating my parts which works but gets messy when trying to apply over a pre applied coat. Then there's body filler or if you use paint I recommend either automotive paint with filler primer or a paint in the automotive section specifically for plastic and vinyl or heavy thick paints but not latex but lacquer paint that is heavy and fills in imperfections but lays flat when dried! There are Lexan paints for RC and model plastics but need primer. But your best bet is make sure that your printer is running 100 % print in as fine detail with no bigger than 0.4 mm nozzle and make sure your slicer profile is setup to work perfectly with how your machine works like your stepper numbers and everything because all that matters first and foremost your first layer determines the rest of the print! Level bed and clean level surface! New nozzle every few dozen prints makes a difference unless you get a high end tip! Keeping your Bowden tube fresh also makes a big difference! Get yourself feeler gauges and use them to level your bed instead of paper and it will be exact every time! And print the same speed and make as few adjustments as possible through the whole print and it will come out uniform. Taller prints if you need hot bed add heat as the print gets taller or nozzle temp because the print will lose heat as it gets higher up and won't print the same as the bottom layers. I hope this helps or was the answers you were looking for! I was just passing through and hate useless answers that done have anything to do with the question asked! People like to just talk I guess. Upvotes: -1 <issue_comment>username_9: For a cheap method to smooth out your prints, you can use clear nail polish. It will act as a resin-like coat. Upvotes: -1

2016/01/12

<issue_start>username_0: With an ABS or PLA extrusion 3D printer, are there any potentially negative quality differences that could occur if I try to print at a higher resolution? I am not concerned about print time as the equipment is not under high demand. I am, however, worried the device may be more prone to fracture, likely to have defects, or have other issues I cannot currently imagine.<issue_comment>username_1: The biggest effect I've see on resolution is due to plastic stress due to thermal gradients. The higher resolution prints build up more layers of material, and each layer has a cumulative effect on thermal stress. The upper layers pulling up more as they cool, and the lower layers curling up more strongly as the layer count is increased. To counteract this, a heated (or even just a draft free) enclosure makes a big difference. Having a heated print bed helps significantly, as long as the bed itself resists deformation (a sheet metal or PCB bed will bend more than glass under the same tension, for instance). The actual plastic strength, however, appears increased. Laying down thinner layers of material appears to increase the bond strength between layers. Upvotes: 5 [selected_answer]<issue_comment>username_2: Regarding the sturdiness of the final print, I believe it depends on the inter-layer adhesion of the filament itself - which varies greatly. Also, normally, thicker layers would increase the strength of the print up to a certain point. An informal study of strength/layer height ratio can be found [here](http://my3dmatter.com/influence-infill-layer-height-pattern/): this study suggests that the strength of the print increases up to a layer height of 0.25 mm, and then stabilizes. On the other hand, printing at high resolution often will hide defects that occur from bad quality filament, in particular filament that has degraded by absorbing too much moisture. Due to the less amount of plastic extruded per layer at high resolutions, some general printing defects also tend to be less pronounced and easier handle afterwards. Upvotes: 3 <issue_comment>username_3: In my experience building with smaller layers also makes bridging and overhangs more pronounced and less likely to fail. The smaller layers allow gradual changes for overhangs that are more abrupt with thicker layer. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_4: It's also worth noting that the ratio of nozzle diameter to layer height affects strength. The layer height is typically set slightly smaller than the nozzle diameter, so the nozzle "squeezes" the new plastic onto the previous layer. This is especially important for the first layer, because it affects how well the object sticks to the bed; but it also affects inter-layer strength. Upvotes: 2

2016/01/12

<issue_start>username_0: I would like to print parts (e.g. jewellery) for use which I don't want to look or feel like a plastic, but metal-like, so briefly people won't see much difference. Are there any specific type of home-printers that can achieve that? Or it's rather kind of filament that you should use?<issue_comment>username_1: If you'd like to print on RepRap like [FDM printers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fused_deposition_modeling), you cannot print from metal, but you can use some filament that tries to look like metal. I have good experience with [Bronzefill](http://colorfabb.com/bronzefill), but there are plenty of others, just Google for *metal filament 3d printing*. Note that sometimes the parts need to be post-processed with a *rock tumbler*. There are [several open source DIY tumblers](https://www.thingiverse.com/tag:rock_tumbler) you can build and use. If you actually want to print from metal, you would need SLS ([Selective laser sintering](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_laser_sintering)) printer, which is much more expensive. Upvotes: 5 [selected_answer]<issue_comment>username_2: > > parts ... I don't want to ... feel like a plastic > > > This is harder than looking like metal. Plastic doesn't have nearly the density of metal, nor the thermal conductivity of metal. So by touch people will be able to tell the difference between almost any metal item, and a plastic item that looks similar. For jewelry, as long as the wearer doesn't mind that it's not metal (they will be able to tell) you can fool most viewers with proper finishing. Sanding/smoothing, and then painting the printed part will work for most things. For things which dangle significantly, the swinging and action of the item may give away its density, but some objects people expect to be hollow metal can be printed in solid or high density plastic and give the same weight, though they are lower density. > > Are there any specific type of home-printers that can achieve that? > > > For things which feel metallic, no, except for very small items where the weight and thermal conductivity won't be significant. A laser sintering printer could make real metal parts if this is needed, but these don't fall into the category of home machines. If you don't mind a multi step process, you can make molds of the printed object, then cast real metal, or very high density epoxies, to accomplish your goal. Beyond that, a high resolution machine with a lot of hand-finishing work is going to get you as close as you'll get to looking like metal. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_3: The Colorfabb metal filaments are the most metal-like filaments I've used (copper, brass, and bronze) and probably the ones that would make the most sense for jewelry. While not as dense as solid metal, it's about 3 times as dense as regular plastic and when polished the metal shows through. Print at 100% infill to make it heavier. Bronzefill is about 3.9g/cm³, about 80% metal by weight, maybe 30-40% by volume. I wouldn't say the polished result feel like solid metal, but it feels even less like plastic. There's also Filamet, which promises to be almost entirely made of metal and can be sintered into solid metal, but it hasn't been released yet. Upvotes: 3 <issue_comment>username_4: In addition to the aforementioned enriched filaments which give an excellent result, ABS can be plastered, painted and even chrome plated. [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/lLmkCm.jpg) Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_5: Especially for smaller parts, I would suggest looking into electroplating. You can get a really nice, copper, nickel, or even gold finish using it. The biggest issue is that to electroplate something, it must be conductive, but there are many conductive paints on the market which you can use to apply a very light coating to make the plastic conductive. I heavily suggest priming well (2-3 coats) before applying the conductive paint, as it will help to minimize the amount of conductive paint needed. [Here is an instructables link](http://www.instructables.com/id/High-Quality-and-safe-Nickel-Plating/) on a cheap, diy, electroplating solution. It's assuming you are doing it on a metal, but once you apply the conductive paint, it's effectively the same thing. Also here is an [amazon link](http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/B008OA931A) to a fairly well priced conductive spray paint which would do the job just fine. Upvotes: 3 <issue_comment>username_6: There's also an interesting discussion of printing with specially-designed solder alloys, at [RepRap: Blog - A new approach to printing metals](http://blog.reprap.org/2011/06/new-approach-to-printing-metals.html). The author settled on 57.5%Sn, 41.3%Bi, 1.2% In, which begins to melt at 130 °C and finishes by about 170 °C. This has much better viscosity after melting, so it doesn't just drip away or bead up, and whose melting point is low enough that it can be applied directly on top of PLA or ABS. Brass nozzles corrode quickly, however, so another material is needed (anodized Al was an improvement). It sounds difficult but feasible. Upvotes: 1 <issue_comment>username_7: You have several options: 1. **Printing with filaments made up of plastic and metal powder mix**. [Bronzefill](http://colorfabb.com/bronzefill) is one example. While most may argue it doesn't look much like bronze or copper and rather clay, it can made to by some automatic polishing methods: * [How to polish copperFill & bronzeFill filament](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AU8WvGveNj4) * [Polishing 3D Printed Bronze w/ Rock Tumbler & Steel Pins](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDoYO22103Q)Some don't like the idea of having a plastic and metal powder mixture and they say if it's not pure bronze/some other alloy it might as well be painted. Which is the second option: 2. **Spray painting an ABS or PLA print with metal color spray paint.** You might need to sand or acetone bath the print first for the paint to be applied evenly. 3. **Metal plating** can be done for more realstic texture. * [Gold Plating a 3D Printed Eagle](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PnlZ4MTfCk)The 3d print should again be sanded/polished first. 4. The first method of getting actual metal object from a plastic object: **Printing with a metal clay**, then firing it in a kiln. You'll need an appropriate extruder which can extrude paste instead of filament: * [Thingiverse: metal clay extruder](http://www.thingiverse.com/search?q=metal%20clay%20extruder&sa=)There are 3D printers that can do that officially. * [MiniMetalMaker](https://www.minimetalmaker.com/)You'll need a kiln... 5. Second method of getting actual metal object from a plastic object, via **metal casting** ("lost polymer casting"). From all the above options this is the most dangerous if you're not experienced, skilled and careful. * [Make Metal Parts with a 3D Printer (lost polymer casting tutorial)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3C9aDXDIHvE) * [Metal Casting with 3d Printed Molds](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9rfr30W09c) Upvotes: 2

2016/01/12

<issue_start>username_0: I am aware of several "clear" filaments for a ABS or PLA printer. They, however, have a cloudy or frosted glass appearance. I do not believe this is possible to eliminate but I believe it can be reduced. Are there effective ways to make a print have a more transparent appearance?<issue_comment>username_1: Use Taulman t-glase and after a light sanding with really fine paper (optional really, but go for it if you can), spray it with polyurethane varnish or something similar. Check out the article [here](http://3dprint.com/29292/taulman-hacks-clear-t-glase-3d-printing-material/). Upvotes: 3 <issue_comment>username_2: You can make a mold from the print and then get a cast from that mold with a clear casting material. Upvotes: 3 <issue_comment>username_3: It depends on a lot of factors, type of plastic, whether the parts need to be strong, can you use a vase print, etc. Here's a few thoughts. PLA - The brand of PLA makes a big difference, some can be printed very clear, some can't. Most of the transparent PLAs I've used print much more clear at around 240°C. ABS - I've seen some pretty impressive clear parts printed as a single layer shell in ABS and then vapor smoothed. I tend to find ABS more translucent and less transparent though. PETG - Again the specific PETG you use matters, but I haven't seen nearly as much variation as with PLA. I'm not sure how much temperature matters, but if it's too hot you get bubbles which will decrease clarity. Thin Wall Prints - I don't have much experience here, but the Smooth On XTC-3D or vapor smoothing seem to be effective. Solid Prints If I want transparency, I usually print it at 100% infill (should be a real 100%, too much overextrusion or underextrusion will decrease transparency). Printing slower and with less cooling sometimes helps. It's easier to get the infill solid with a direct drive extruder, I couldn't get decent results with a long bowden tube (a short bowden tube works fine). Here's a page where I tested 10 transparent filaments, the printed samples are 2mm thick, 100% infill - <http://thrinter.com/10-transparent-filaments>. Those samples are all overextruded a bit, you can get better results if you dial in the extrusion precisely, but that's hard to get right, and the optimal settings may change slightly depending on the part geometry. Larger nozzles and thicker layers may help to, but I haven't experimented much with that as there are significant downsides to that approach. Upvotes: 4 [selected_answer]

2016/01/12

<issue_start>username_0: My printed parts consist rafts, supports and other extraneous filament when printing with ABS or PLA. What are efficient general techniques of removing them?<issue_comment>username_1: The best way to get rid of them is to change the design of the printed object to make them unnecessary. Instead of printing the one part with support material, the piece can be split into two or more parts which can be printed without support material and assembled after the printing. --- Given that this is not always fully possible, a convenient way to get rid of additional structures is to use a different fillament for them that can be removed easily. [This list of printing materials](https://www.matterhackers.com/3d-printer-filament-compare) includes Polyvinyl Acetate (**PVA**), which is water soluble. You can wash the support material away given that your actual printign material is not water soluble. Here's a quote from the website (emphasize mine): > > PVA (Polyvinyl Acetate) filament prints translucent with a slightly yellow tint and is **primarily used as a 3D printing support material** because it is water-soluble, meaning that **it will dissolve when exposed to water** (and so MUST be kept dry prior to use). PVA is most often used with 3D printers capable of dual extrusion: one extruder printing a primary material (such as ABS or PLA) and the other printing this dissolvable filament to provide support for overhanging features. PVA 3D printer filament is available in 1.75mm and 3mm. > > > Upvotes: 4 [selected_answer]<issue_comment>username_2: Increasing the distance between the support/raft and the print should allow for easier removal. Some slicers (such as Slic3r) have settings for 0.0 mm spacing for water dissoluble supports, and 0.2 mm for regular plastic supports. Changing the upper surface of the support also can help. Some slicers will leave the support as lines all the way to contact with the print. Others will put a full layer on the top of the support before the print. The full layer allows for better adhesion and the print not falling between the lines, but it makes it harder to remove. When the raft/support is done with lines, putting pressure on the lines in the opposite direction should cause them to break off. As you break some of the outer ones, the support can be pulled down which will continuously rip the support off. There may be a few pieces that remain. These can be removed with wood chisels. Sliding the pointed end between the support and the print will cut into the plastic which removes the support. *Note: always push the chisel away from you as it may slip. You do not want a sharp blade moving uncontrollably towards your body./* A raft with a solid top: [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/K3uKu.jpg) A raft with only lines for the top: [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/iMmvy.jpg) Upvotes: 3 <issue_comment>username_3: I use diagonal cutters and a pair of mini pliers. I print with Simplify3d and the support structures are remarkably easy to remove, I find giving a quick pull pops most off. The diagonal cutters get rid of any small beads leftover. Upvotes: 2 <issue_comment>username_4: I usually use a chisel or a flat-head screwdriver to easily remove the bottom plate that the printer auto-generates. I would also suggest using something like wire cutters or some mini pliers to pull them off. Upvotes: 1

2016/01/12

<issue_start>username_0: I would like to understand the differences between rafts, skirts and brims. They appear in the software which I'm using to edit my 3D objects. Can anybody elaborate what are these and what are the main differences between them?<issue_comment>username_1: All three of these features are used to improve the quality and success rate of prints, especially those failing due to issues on the first few layers, or due to the small size of the first layer. Raft ==== A raft is a horizontal feature made as the first few layers of a print, and is used to help with bed adhesion issues, primarily used with ABS. The first few layers printed are the brim (typically prismatic), with the part itself on top of it (with a small separation distance to aid in separation, to allow the part to be removed from the raft). This separation distance needs to be adjusted to allow the first layer of the actual part to adhere, but also for the raft to be removed easily. Skirt ===== A skirt is a single-layer feature designed to help extruder priming and to establish a stable filament flow for an optimal first layer. They are generally a few passes around the first layer "footprint" in the rough shape of the first layer, but they do not touch the part itself or help adhesion directly (although having a primed and ready extruder helps extrusion on its own). Brim ==== A brim can be considered a skirt touching the first layer shape. It is used to help adhesion, and increases the first layer surface area (thus having more area to adhere to the bed). Brims are best used for parts with small first layers that fail to adhere properly. They are generally done as perimeters (as opposed to the crosshatching of infill) to be easily removable without damaging the part. Upvotes: 3 <issue_comment>username_2: **Rafts:** Rafts are a few layers of plastic a placed on the printing surface before the object is printed. If non water dissoluble filament is used, a bit of an air gap will be placed between the raft and the print itself so it can be removed easily. A raft can help a print stick to the printing surface as it normally has a larger surface area than the bottom of the print. It also allows the bottom layers of the print to contact another layer of plastic so there is less spreading compared to printing on the printing bed itself. [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/rOghMm.jpg) **Skirts:** Skirts are loops of plastic that are extruded around the object that is being printed. On the first layer this allows the filament to get pushed through the extruder so that a steady flow can be established. A multiple layer skirt can be used to create a blockage around the print so there is less air movement on the print and the print can cool slower. [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/1XEmnm.jpg) **Brims:** A brim is a layer of plastic that is placed on the first layer of the print go allow for better adhesion to the printing surface. It does not extend under the print as a raft does, but only goes from the edge of the print to a set distance away. [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/9MnlZm.jpg) Credits: Images from Slic3r Upvotes: 7 [selected_answer]

2016/01/12

<issue_start>username_0: I've acquired all the parts to build a Reprap Prusa i3 rework, the only missing part is the frame. I'm in doubt between a MDF cut (cheaper) or acrylic (more expensive), of course a cheaper one is my preferred option until I see any disadvantage on making it of wood. I thought about variables like heat and humidity and the possibility of expansion/contraction of the frame, is this a valid concern? Will I have more precision buying the acrylic one or is it irrelevant?<issue_comment>username_1: Generally speaking, MDF will weather OK. In areas of high humidity you might experience warpage, but you can mitigate that by sealing the surface with paint or varnish. However you will probably find that of the two materials, acrylic will be more stable over a few years. Upvotes: 4 [selected_answer]<issue_comment>username_2: I want to add the following to the already direct and very good answer of @username_1. It does not answer your question, but hopefully may help many people who are reading the question when choosing between the two materials. Acrylic is less stable and will probably wear off faster than a well-built MDF frame for a 3D printer! I will address the points separately. 1. An MDF frame has much(!) more mass than acrylic, which will reduce vibrations immediately. Almost more important, a box frame, as typical for the Prusa i3 for example, stabilizes itself intrinsically more by its 'redundant wall' design (don't beat me up over the wording here, I didn't find a better way to describe the property that results from the towers.) Compare these two images taken from [reprap wiki Prusa i3](http://reprap.org/wiki/Prusa_i3): [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/h4rDp.jpg) [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/PkWVF.jpg) You will probably not find an acrylic frame with this design. Shear stress as produced by the moving carriages, as well as z-wobble from the rods should theoretically be much less. 2. The acrylic might not wear by 'natural causes' since it is not a biologic material as wood is, but it will wear much faster due to handling the material, maintenance and human errors. The material is very brittle. You can find lots of reports on the web where the frame cracked or broke during setup. Here is my favorite example from someone with a lot of experience (1:20-2:30): <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkkVk8c8XoU> 3. Acrylic is a bad choice in terms of its mechanical properties: It is soft (I found low tensile strength as a number to compare in the given database), has lots of thermal expansion (5 times higher than stainless steel) and melts at 160 C (so beware of anything touching your hotend). Feel free to compare it to other materials here (no MDF or plywood in that database, though ;-) ): <http://www.goodfellow.com/E/Polymethylmethacrylate.html> This altogether makes acrylic a very bad choice for a 3d printer frame material in my opinion. Choose MDF or plywood, you can make it look cool by painting it, too. Upvotes: 3