First time caller, long time listener - Printing LR4 components

LowRider CNC Advice
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Hi All,
First post here for me! I just got my LR4 Hardware kit(Thanks Ryan!) and I’m preparing to print the components.
1- I found the files on Printables and Makerworld, but I don’t see any versioning - can I assume that either source is fine?
2- I didn’t read things carefully enough and I bought PLA-CF - is that an acceptable material? I realize it will be less rigid than straight PLA, but I have 3 kg and nothing else to use it on.
3- My slicer is throwing an error regarding cantilevers and supports - In the docs it says no supports - can someone tell me it will be fine before I drop 700g of filament on the core?

I have done some scouring of the forums to answer these questions and I’ve found a bit, but not enough to be confident. Please forgive me if I’ve missed a “All the answers you want are here” thread.

Printing with a Bambu Labs H2D - Bambu Labs PLA-CF

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I use the Printables parts, they’re known good.

It’ll work, provided you have a good slicer profile and suitable printer tuned well enough that it can product parts that don’t have adhesion problems.

Ryan’s parts are carefully engineered to not need supports. The slicer can’t possibly know this, so gives warnings about parts which would otherwise have issues if not carefully designed.
The most important things for you to do in order to get good parts:

  • Keep the parts in the stock configuration. Do not let the slicer flip them, and do not try to “correct” them based on your own intuition.
  • Use the recommended print settings. Do not try to “improve” the prints from intuition (e.g. adding lots of walls will make things worse, not better)
  • Do not use supports.
  • Make sure your printer is well tuned and well calibrated before printing parts.

On that final point, lots of people print “good” parts without ever checking calibration, squareness, and other factors.

I wouldn’t start with a core, I’d start with all the small parts. I’d also strongly recommend a good set of calibration prints where you actually measure printed test parts.

Some good threads on this topic for you to read:

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My first part has always been the core. Go big or go home. But what Jim says is correct otherwise. :smile:

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Thank you Jim! In hindsight starting with the core is probably not the best idea, even though I fully appreciate Philipp’s sentiment! I feel like my printer is pretty dialed in, but I will work on improving the calibration, maybe even some fresh hot ends… I’ve logged about 400 hours on my printer, which is the first 3d printer I’ve owned other than a reprap I built for my employer 15 years ago - man have they come a long way!

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The z nut pieces are good for checking tolerances

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I did the same when I printed my first MPCNC. I just wasn’t sure my printer could handle it, so I wanted the hardest print first.

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I get that, but I also get where the part takes >725g of filament.

It would mean potentially wasting significant parts of whole spools if it goes wrong. The OP noted only having 3 spools to work with, so that starts to be a notable factor in chosing what to print and when.

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This is where some inexperience comes into play. I’ve had my FDM printer since mid June, I’ve got around 400 hours on it and I’ve had a single failed print - I just assumed that lots of misprints were a thing of the past! I read in the docs that a full build of all printed pieces was 2.7kg, so I bought three spools during the latest sale at Bambu labs… In hindsight, an extra spool would have been a great idea! I don’t know if I could stand to have all the pieces out of one material, except for one!!! My head would slowly melt off my body.

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