new to 3d printing with the usual questions

[robl]

I believe that I have done my homework by reading what I can about 3d printing. Bought a couple of books and actually designed a a "piece" for a robotic crawler. Took it to a local company and they printed it and it was a perfect fit. You can see the part here: http://www.usefulramblings.org/?page_id=6149. That is when I realized that 3d printing had a place in my tool box. I settled on a Delta model and after much looking kept coming back here. Here are some questions/concerns:

1. calibration - a subject all seem interested in. I found the page/video that described how to do it, BUT I also found this page: http://www.seemecnc.com/blogs/frontpage ... tercontrol which discusses how to do it with "MatterControl" software

a. Can MatterControl auto configure the printer w/o going through the instructional video procedure or are both required?
b. Is it necessary to configure the printer each time for a bareplate, painters plate, or kapton plate?
c. Or will one configuration cover all 3 conditions?

2. How do users normally handle/protect against power failure. I live in Florida - nuff said. I am pretty sure that if a power failure/surge occurs during printing that you have just built a door stop. True?

3. If during periods of non use is it necessary to "drain"/flush the print head?

TIA,

Ron

[teoman]

A both are needed ( or just the one in the video)
B yes but not the whole procedure. Just setting the Z height. (15 second job)
C one calibration then it is only the offset.

2 UPS? Some have recovered from that but it is fiddly and i personally probably would not be able to do it on my first failed print. It is 12V so you could put a big battery on the 12V line.


3 no need to clear. It is solid plastic and will not dry like an inkjet cartridge.