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Shopping List

Below is a list of things I personally have purchased and use.

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Filament

I heavily use Polymaker filaments. Why? Quality is outstanding, documentation is great, and prices for the most part are reasonable. I've also used Elegoo, Overture, and Hatchbox with good results.

Of course, if you own a Bambu machine, you can't go wrong with their filaments.

  • Activated Alumina - what silica beads? Activated alumina gets rid of moisture more effectively than silica, and can be recharged much easier if you put them in metal powder shakers with lids. Throw the whole thing in the oven and that's it. Can fit inside spools.
    • If you don't want to deal with purchasing two different items, this kit from Slice Engineering is a great alternative. I have two of these in my AMS and have noticed a significant drop in moisture vs silica.
  • However, if you still need good old silica, this is the brand I use. It's performed great and the increased size of the beads make them a tad easier to work with.
  • Comgrow dual slot filament dryer - while it's max heat setting is 50C, the fact that it can hold two spools and the price is decent makes this quite useful. I have it on one of my Vorons and it has worked quite well for PLA and PETG.
    • Pro tip: you can use the door latches to prop it open a bit every once in a while while heating to help the moisture drop QUICK. Or just open it for a couple of minutes every hour or 2. I've seen the moisture drop from 25-30% down to 4%.
  • EIBOS adjustable filament dryer - I use this for my engineering filaments such as TPU, ABS/ASA, PC/Nylon, etc since it has a dial to change the temp for each type of material. A fan makes sure to circulate the air and the price is great. There's mods online that allows you to use the extra space to put in silica or alumina beads for even more drying, specially if you don't want to run it 24/7.

Essentials

These are items that I use practically every day. Without them, a lot of my projects would be a lot harder to complete!

  • Vision Miner Nano Polymer Adhesive - GET DIS. Don't ask questions - just get it. This thing makes miracles and babies smile with joy. It's a bit pricey, but it lasts a long time and it's the only adhesive I've used that works with practically every filament I've thrown at it. It's also easy to clean up and doesn't leave a residue.
  • Deburring Tool - The king of essentials. Easily get rid of brims and other artifacts on the edges of prints
  • High Resolution Calipers - another essential, specially if designing your own prints
    • Cheaper Option - I've had these for years and it still works well for quick measurements
  • Lexivon Butane Torch - I use this to easily get rid of stringing from prints, heat shrink tubing, and electrical connectors that need heat to work. Can be refilled and has other tips making it a really nice addition.
  • Heat Set Insert Tips - add strength and make your prints last longer by using heat set inserts instead of screwing right into plastic. This allows models to be taken apart and put back together without worrying about stripping and plastic or not having enough strength to hold pieces together
    • This soldering iron can be used with these tips. Note that the irons listed in the "Electrical, Soldering, and Extras" section cannot be used with these tips.
  • Heat Set Insert Assortment Kit 1 and 2
  • SanDisk High Endurnace 256GB SD Cards - whether you're using Klipper, Marlin, or Bambu, these cards have been great and the price is great to boot
  • Creality 3D Printer Toolkit - a nice case and a very good assortment of tools, specially files, makes this an essential item in my book.

Electrical, Soldering, and Extras

  • Lexivon Butane Soldering Iron - what makes this a stand-out is the fact that it heats up insanely fast and is portable. Just like the torch, it can easily be refilled.
  • The one and only Pinecil Soldering Iron - this little wonder is great. USB-C power delivery, quick heating, firmware updates, and portability to the max makes this little guy a heavy-hitter.
  • Soldering Iron Tip Cleaning Wire Kit - comes with extras. I use this every time I need to solder something.
  • This heat resistant mat for soldering has saved my work surfaces, cuz lord knows how many times I've damaged my desk trying to solder without a mat. It's magnetic as well, so it can keep loose screws at bay.
    • Pro tip: use a heat gun to gently unroll it and force it to be flat.
  • 840 pcs breadboard jumper wires kit, assortment - I use these for electronics circuit prototyping
  • LED flashlight gloves - these light-weight gloves illuminate the immediate area where you're working, and with my aging eyes has been a life-saver at times.

3D Printer Add-ons and Upgrades

  • BIGTREETECH Smart Filament Sensor - can be a bit finnicky and configuration requires patience, but the fact that it has an encoder means that once configured correctly, it's the difference between saving a long print from filament path binding and kinks, or lost time, energy, and resources. Yes, it has saved my butt on a number of occasions.
  • BIGTREETECH SKR Mini E3 V3 - small but mighty, I use this board on two of my printers. Workhorse with great compatibility, price, and ports. Will work with most printers unless they're specialty.

More to come!! Stay tuned.