Mark Lanctot

Mark Lanctot

Writer

Mark is a chemical engineer, obsessed with everything technical his entire life. He only recently started 3D printing, but as with everything, compulsively researched the subject thoroughly and continues to learn. He also wants to develop his 3D design skills. Mark is always looking for that one really cool spool of filament, despite having several years’ supply already.

Posts by Mark

Dual Color Magic Filament

Dual Color Magic Filament

June 30, 2024

Previously I wrote about my experience with gold silk PLA and the amazing prints that I was able to make with it. Could it get any better?

Using a 3D Printer to Turn Straw PLA into Gold

Using a 3D Printer to Turn Straw PLA into Gold

June 25, 2024

Some of the coolest filament out there is silk PLA. I grew to be interested in it and it was a new challenge. Silk PLA is translucent PLA surrounding a TPU-like core. The two differing materials create an interface within the filament. This interface creates a shiny layer, causing the print to gleam like silk.

Mass Printing on the Bambu Lab A1 mini

Mass Printing on the Bambu Lab A1 mini

June 15, 2024

My experience using the Bambu A1 to print a popular sunflower print

Stopping to Smell the (3D Printed) Roses

Stopping to Smell the (3D Printed) Roses

June 15, 2024

I’m a technical person. I wasn’t going to print anything pretty, I was going to calibrate and test the printer, print upgrade parts and print functional parts. And that’s it. Right?

Printer Content by Mark

Bambu Lab A1 mini Filament Handling

Bambu Lab A1 mini Filament Handling

A deep dive on what filaments you can use with the Bambu Lab A1 Mini.

Hands On with the Bambu Lab AMS Lite

Hands On with the Bambu Lab AMS Lite

March 11, 2024

The Bambu Lab Automatic Material System Lite, or AMS Lite, is an add-on which allows Bambu Lab A1 series 3D printers to use up to four filament spools during a print, enabling multi-color and multi-material 3D printing. It’s available for purchase from the [Bambu Lab online store](https://geni.us/3DP_Bambu_AMS_Lite), and is also available bundled with the A1 series printers in the [Bambu Lab A1 Combo](https://geni.us/3DP_Bambu_A1Combo) and [A1 Mini Combo](https://geni.us/3DP_Bambu_A1MiniCombo). In this article, we'll take a deep dive into using the Bambu AMS Lite, from setup to final use.

Bambu Lab A1 Mini Review: Brush with Perfection

Bambu Lab A1 Mini Review: Brush with Perfection

March 8, 2024

Hands-on review of the Bambu Lab A1 Mini 3D printer, including features, assembly, printing experience, and recommended upgrades.

Sovol SV06 Plus Review

Sovol SV06 Plus Review

March 8, 2024

The Sovol SV06 Plus is not only larger at 300 X 300 X 340mm print volume, it is faster at 150mm/s (versus 80mm/s). To enable the higher speed, it uses a longer volcano-style high flow nozzle. The monochromatic LCD screen is replaced with a 4.3” touchscreen. For higher strength, the linear rods are 10mm in diameter on the SV06 Plus as opposed to 8mm on the SV06. The problematic spool holder was upgraded with bearings, a filament sensor was added and it is equipped with a higher capacity power supply in order to accommodate the larger heated bed.

Sovol SV06 Plus Assembly Guide

Sovol SV06 Plus Assembly Guide

March 8, 2024

This guide will give you an idea what to expect when first opening and assembling the SV06 Plus. The Sovol SV06 was released on October 10, 2022. It is a clone of the Prusa MK3S+ and copies its motion system by using linear rods exclusively - 2 on the X axis, 2 on the Y axis, and one on each side of the Z axis. It also uses dual Z axis motors, sensorless homing and a direct extruder. It has a conventional “Ender 3 size” 220 X 220 X 250mm print volume.

Filament by Mark

Filament Report - eSUN PLA+

Filament Report - eSUN PLA+

March 22, 2024

We review eSUN PLA+ to detail its printing performance, quality, and characteristics, offering insights to help you decide if this is the right filament for your 3D printing projects. The article includes an in-depth analysis of its general printing experience, optimal settings for temperature and retraction, and real-world test print outcomes.

Filament Report - Hatchbox PLA

Filament Report - Hatchbox PLA

March 22, 2024

We review Hatchbox PLA to detail its printing performance, quality, and characteristics, offering insights to help you decide if this is the right filament for your 3D printing projects. The article includes an in-depth analysis of its general printing experience, optimal settings for temperature and retraction, and real-world test print outcomes.

Filament Report - SUNLU PLA Meta

Filament Report - SUNLU PLA Meta

March 22, 2024

We review Sunlu PLA to detail its printing performance, quality, and characteristics, offering insights to help you decide if this is the right filament for your 3D printing projects. The article includes an in-depth analysis of its general printing experience, optimal settings for temperature and retraction, and real-world test print outcomes.

Printer Comparisons by Mark

Bambu’s Bedslingers: the Bambu Lab A1 Compared to the Bambu Lab A1 mini

Bambu’s Bedslingers: the Bambu Lab A1 Compared to the Bambu Lab A1 mini

We compare the Bambu Lab A1 and A1 Mini to explain the differences between these 3D printers and help you determine which one is the best choice for you. Includes a side-by-side feature comparison as well as our analysis of which differences matter most between the two printers.

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