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