Flashforge Creator Pro - Long term use & mods & repairs

After using this printer for 6 months, I can safely say I don't regret buying it. The only problem I've had is with the 'X' axis where the carriage was too tight on the right side of its run. It's easily rectified with a piece of plastic behind the stepper motor (I used the excess from an old SIM card) which splays the running bars a little.

I have some polymer bearings coming soon and I'll be replacing the normal (ball bearing) linear bearings so there's no maintenance. If I can be bothered, I'll do a followup video with instructions on how to do it.

If you want to know how to fit Kapton tape to your glass bed t get a glass-like finish, drop a comment below.

[AndreBatson-yf]

Hello, I purchased a 2nd hand creator pro. The left extruder was working when I had the extruders in the wrong position. now there is no heat coming from it. Can you offer any assistance?

[LibertyEver]

I have the Qidi Tech 1 printer and it's the clone of your Flashforge Creator Pro. I like it a lot. I found your video to be very interesting. Thank you.

[EnglishTurbines]

Hi Tony, as an engineer who designs Laser Cutters for a living, may I make a suggestion?..First off with the X carriage off the assembly, measure the centres between the X axis shafts using your calipers at BOTH ends of the X shafts...where they meet the holders...Then saw the X carriage in half so it doesnt bind, then plate it over with some sheet aluminium and drill through correcting the error....Moulded plastic shrinks and moves as it cools during manufacture...a lot.

[davidbate]

Hi, a good lube to use on the rails and bearings is plumbers
Silicone pipe spray.
I use it on the bed of my bench planer thicknesser the timber fly’s through, silicone is so slippery

[ProdotypeGaming]

I know this video is 7 yrs old but I've just bought one of these prints and was wondering if you had any tips for a complete newbie?

[Mr_Gadge]

Fantastic honest vid with mistakes made and rectified. Well done! I'm inspired by this vid to have a go today. Expect a lot of swearing and "bollocks!" Love the outtakes I was pissing myself. Well done. I need to find out more about tightening the belts I've never done maintenance and have only fitted an Swiss all metal hot end. Prints are suddenly shite whatever I do so today is the day kid and wife free house. Dunno what I could pickup today grease and lube wise for the rods? Got wd40 that's it.

[karlkiernan]

Did you ever get this issue fixed ? Any chance you will do a update.

[Mr_Gadge]

got general machine grease and took off right panel and pulled axis motor to tense belt as I've read elsewhere. refixed whilst tightening screws back and we'll see. I just wish there was a rod replacement vid.

[bareknucklepreach]

HI
I see the glass bed on top of the standard heat bed. What was the setup you used to stop the print head and home position crashing into the glass. Did you move the end stop sensor, use marlin to change script, settings in simplify or all of the above?
Great video too : )

[flyinflea]

Good info here Tony, cheers. :)
I was doing well saving my pennies for one and then i bought another plane. I'll start saving again. :D

[arttweb]

Hi, it was my first printer several years ago. You gave me the idea to restor it ... how did you removed the left extr. .. when i remove it and power the printer it fips loud .. and yes i would love to see more inspirational voideos about this machine. Wouldnt it be betrer to remove the right one to have better acces to part cooling fan easyly and put something where the right sits for zero stop on this site? Greetz TT

[mneliason]

Can you post a link on where you picked up your new bearings. I Have the same printer for a week now and have noticed irregularities in the prints and noise and vibration when printing. Have you experienced any issues with the Z axis? min seems to be off after each print and have found the nozzles rub on the print causing the print bed to move up and down. It was just leveled on the prior print.

[SKYFPV]

WOW! That's amazing. You are so clever!

[Bitofastupidbrit]

Just saying I’ve had none of these issues with my FlashForge, whether it was transport or poor settings you have used, I have found with many of the materials I print with I use a lower temperature as the extruder is good enough to push less malleable materials out, it seems you have broken your forge yourself? Good maintenance, frequent dusting and greasing should solve most of these problems.

[EnglishTurbines]

Do the poly bearings have rolling elements?...or are they plain sleeve bearings..? I would have thought the change in quality half way up the workpeice was down to the Table not incrementing down properly..?..Not the X Axis.?...A wobbly Table in other words.

[freeelectron]

I have ordered a Flashforge Creator Pro - How is it out of the box? Do you suggest mod'ing the heat bed right from the word go?BTW thanks for your advice on this printer.

[D_Printing]

1:50 I've heard that your not suppose to rotate Linear Bearings, they are not built to be rotated

[mattstroud]

This video is great i have the same FlashForge Creator Pro 2016 model and i am looking to replace my linear bearings on the X & Y axis to IGUS Drylin bearings (They are ordered, just waiting for them to arrive). I don't suppose you ever did the follow up video where you replaced your bearings did you? Great video, and very helpful :-)

[kmo]

if it is a fault from the frabric. the better get those parts fixed fast.

[Holey_Moley]

That’s a good idea: removing one of the motors to save weight as opposed to adjusting the acceleration or tuning the printer in a different way.
Simplify 3D seems like a good product, but since I’m not making money from my printer (just a hobby) I’m going to try the cura route. It’s funny that some 3D printer companies have such crappy software. A 3D printer is just a bunch of cheap parts that have been calibrated and tuned.. wait never mind that’s most electronics... I’m just saying software can be the difference between a really nice and a really crappy product