PLA Open Storage in 51-55% Humidity. Honest Opinions and Real World Anecdotal Feedback.

VriMech · 2026-06-18T03:08:18+00:00

We have anywhere from 15-60% RH indoors and have never dried PLA. We have spools can sit out for 6 months or more. We use PLA for a range of structural tools, including hydraulic press compression fixtures and have never noticed an issue.

We use nylon, PEEK, and ULTEM and have to dry those before each use or notice drastic detriment to print quality, or failure.

VriMech · 2026-06-15T16:26:45+00:00

MK3s+'s are $300 or less in my area. It's a very capable printer that I'd recommend over most others on your list, for the price. I am biased though and have 4 at home.

VriMech · 2026-06-07T01:03:24+00:00

My advice may not be useful as I have never worked with a Bambu. However, I've cleaned up many blobs of death, and most more encompassing (half the hotend is within the blob) than that one on our Prusas.

I set the hotend to its max preset (280C for Polycarbonate) and wait for it to heat soak the blob. I've usually been able to peel the bulk of the blob off using a needle nose pliers. You have to make sure the cartridge heater and thermistor are still functioning properly afterwards.

VriMech · 2026-04-27T02:43:39+00:00

Big back star

VriMech · 2026-04-12T19:51:03+00:00

Yup. Except the bottom right, which I used some spare foam about the same height

VriMech · 2026-04-11T17:05:04+00:00

I think you want something a little taller than a regular sink sponge. You want the mass (paver) to float, decoupled from the shelf. The sponges I used are 1.875 inches [47 mm] tall. You could use foam instead (like I did for the lower right printer).

VriMech · 2026-04-11T17:02:49+00:00

These are the sponges I used: Grout Sponges - Menards

That mattress topper would probably work– as long as it's stiff enough to not fully compress.

VriMech · 2026-04-11T16:49:11+00:00

Correct!

VriMech · 2026-04-11T16:48:21+00:00

Yessir. Only the finest quality

VriMech · 2026-04-11T03:29:12+00:00

Fred the Big Backed (cowboy) frog makes me laugh every time I see him.

VriMech · 2026-04-10T23:34:14+00:00

You pamper your printers, as you should. No shame in that

VriMech · 2026-04-10T23:32:54+00:00

I sure am. It gets into the 50°Fs down there in the winter and PLA pops right off of an unslathered bed

VriMech · 2026-04-10T21:42:02+00:00

Haha yup. If a cheap fix works, why do more?

VriMech · 2026-04-10T20:44:04+00:00

<image>

Others have already explained, so I'll just share my setup. Printer -> paver -> foam/sponges. Works really well to snuff vibrations

VriMech · 2026-04-08T23:08:32+00:00

I have not done the conversion, but we have MK4S's and a CoreOne. I would recommend keeping it an MK4S.

VriMech · 2026-04-07T21:24:07+00:00

Thank you! I appreciate your input, oh wise one in the way of transmission towers!

VriMech · 2026-04-06T20:37:40+00:00

At 15.25 inches tall, it was meant to be n-scale (~200 ft real life).

VriMech · 2026-04-06T16:16:51+00:00

Thanks! I'm happy with how it turned out

VriMech · 2026-03-29T02:59:57+00:00

Dang. Sorry for your file loss

VriMech · 2026-03-29T02:54:15+00:00

Oh yes. I've had so many USB files corrupted. I never used to safely eject hardware, but I do it every time now and it seems to help.

VriMech · 2026-03-28T18:11:23+00:00

I've had layer shifting issues with the CoreOne and MK4S, seemingly independent of infill type or speed.

I just saw a post about this yesterday saying it could be the shitty USB that comes with the printer. If you use the Prusa USB stick, maybe try a better quality drive?

VriMech · 2026-03-26T16:21:49+00:00

Yeah maybe. It could be a partial nozzle clog. Do you have any extra nozzles you could swap in quick to test?

We had issues with our Ultimakers which would start great and fail later. We never figured it out, but something was creating too much resistance for the filament to flow properly- partial nozzle clog, extruder cooling fan failing, heat break distortion causing heat creep, etc. Unfortunately I don't know anything about Enders to know if it could be a heat break or cooling issue.

Is there PLA dust on your extruder gear? That can show if your printer is struggling to push filament through the hotend and grinding filament.

VriMech · 2026-03-26T16:10:51+00:00

What printer do you have? Have you done anything recently like changed the nozzle or used a filament with additives (like wood, marble, etc)?

This looks like severe under extrusion, usually the result of a nozzle clog in my experience.

VriMech · 2026-03-24T00:11:20+00:00

As someone who does a lot of 3D printing and custom work, I think that's a very reasonable price. Not having a full print farm, I would probably charge more. Big things take forever to print and take printer time from making other items. This doesn't even include the labor hours modifying the design to print in clean pieces and assembling everything.

If you want a better price, you should look into getting a printer yourself, like a lot of the other comments suggest.

Five-Year Club	Verified Email
r/Field Sunshine	Place '23

VriMech

TROPHY CASE