How AI is Fixing 3D Printing Failures

3D Farmers
14 Sept 202403:06

TLDRIn this video, the creator shares their journey to reduce 3D printing failures, which led to significant machine damage and wasted filament. They discuss upgrading to a Perusai i3 printer and the importance of early failure detection. The video highlights two AI detection services, Obiko and Octo Everywhere, which analyze webcam footage to prevent print failures. The creator opted for Octo Everywhere due to its cost-effectiveness and seamless integration with their 26 printers, resulting in a less than 0.5% undetected failure rate.

Takeaways

  • 🐛 Mr. Monster Blob was a 400-gram filament failure that damaged a new 3D printer and motivated the speaker to improve failure detection.
  • 🚀 The failure rate has been reduced to less than half a percent with the help of AI, saving filament, money, and protecting printers.
  • 🛠️ Initially, the speaker used Ender 3B printers which were not suitable for high-volume printing, leading to the purchase of a Perusai i3 kit.
  • 🔍 Skipping a first layer check resulted in a disastrous print failure, causing significant damage and downtime.
  • 🔑 Two strategies for profitability in 3D printing are automating the print process and early failure detection.
  • 👀 Third-party AI detection services like Obiko and Octo Everywhere can detect print failures by analyzing video footage.
  • 💡 Obiko and Octo Everywhere are compatible with OctoPrint and most printers, offering different pricing models.
  • 💰 The cost analysis shows that Octo Everywhere is more cost-effective for the speaker's 26 printers setup.
  • 🏭 The speaker's print farm now uses Bamboo Lab printers and a Raspberry Pi 5 for monitoring, running smoothly with AI detection.
  • 📺 A tour of the print farm is offered to interested viewers, with a call to subscribe for updates.

Q & A

  • What was the significant issue the speaker faced with their 3D printer?

    -The speaker faced a significant issue when a 400-gram filament print, known as 'Mr. Monster Blob,' failed and caused damage to their brand new Perusai i3 3D printer, including breaking the extruder and bending the axis.

  • How has AI helped in reducing 3D printing failures for the speaker?

    -AI has helped by decreasing the undetected failure rate to less than half a percent, allowing for the reduction of wasted filament, saving money, and protecting the 3D printer from catastrophic failures.

  • What are the two main strategies mentioned to make a 3D printing business more profitable?

    -The two main strategies are automating the print process and detecting failures early.

  • What is the role of third-party AI detection services in 3D printing?

    -Third-party AI detection services stream video footage from a webcam to their server where AI systems scan for failure modes, helping to detect and prevent 3D printing failures.

  • What are the two most popular third-party AI detection services mentioned in the script?

    -The two most popular third-party AI detection services mentioned are Obiko (formerly known as Spaghetti Detective) and Octo Everywhere.

  • How do Obiko and Octo Everywhere differ in terms of pricing for AI detection?

    -Octo Everywhere includes AI detection in its monthly fee, while Obiko charges extra for AI time on top of the subscription cost.

  • What was the cost comparison for using Obiko versus Octo Everywhere for AI detection in the speaker's 3D printing setup?

    -Switching to Obiko would cost $650 plus $1,800 for AI detection hours, totaling $2,450 per year. On the other hand, Octo Everywhere costs $120 per year for 10 printers with unlimited hours, with additional printers costing $25 each, bringing the total to $520 for the speaker's setup.

  • What is the current setup of the speaker's 3D printing farm?

    -The speaker's 3D printing farm now consists entirely of Bamboo Lab printers, and the entire setup runs smoothly with just one Raspberry Pi 5, allowing for easy monitoring of all printers.

  • What lesson did the speaker learn from the 'Mr. Monster Blob' incident?

    -The speaker learned the importance of not skipping crucial first layer checks and vowed to never let such a failure happen again.

  • How has the speaker's approach to 3D printing evolved since the 'Mr. Monster Blob' incident?

    -Since the 'Mr. Monster Blob' incident, the speaker has upgraded to a Perusai i3 kit, automated the print process, and implemented AI detection to reduce failures and protect the 3D printer.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 Introduction to 3D Printing Upgrades and AI-Powered Failure Detection

The video introduces the viewer to the challenges faced by the creator of a 3D printing business, who suffered a significant print failure with a Perusai i3 printer. This experience led to a commitment to reducing print failures and protecting the printer from damage. The video promises to showcase how to upgrade a 3D printer to minimize filament waste, save costs, and prevent catastrophic failures. The creator initially relied on Ender 3B printers but upgraded to a Perusai i3 for increased efficiency. However, an oversight led to a failed print and severe damage, known as 'Mr. Monster Blob.' Since then, the creator has focused on failure detection and prevention, highlighting the importance of AI detection services like Obiko and Octo Everywhere, which analyze video footage for print failures. The video also discusses the economic benefits of these services, comparing their costs and effectiveness, and mentions the current setup of Bamboo Lab printers managed by a Raspberry Pi 5.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡3D Printing

3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a process of creating three-dimensional objects from a digital file by laying down successive layers of material until the object is created. In the context of the video, 3D printing is the core activity, with the focus on improving the efficiency and reliability of the process to reduce failures and save resources.

💡Filament

Filament is the material, typically in the form of a long, thin strand, that is fed into a 3D printer to create objects. It is usually made from materials like PLA, ABS, or PETG. In the video, the creator mentions a 400-gram filament that caused a failure, highlighting the importance of managing filament properly to avoid costly mistakes.

💡Perusai i3

The Perusai i3 is a model of 3D printer known for its reliability and performance. It is an open-source design, which means it can be modified and upgraded. The video script mentions the Perusai i3 as the printer that was damaged by a failed print, emphasizing the need for vigilance even with high-quality equipment.

💡Print Failures

Print failures refer to instances where a 3D print does not complete successfully, often due to issues like clogged nozzles, incorrect temperatures, or poor bed adhesion. The video is centered around the creator's experience with a significant print failure, which led to the destruction of the printer and the need for repairs.

💡AI Detection Services

AI detection services are third-party applications that use artificial intelligence to monitor 3D printing processes and detect potential failures. They analyze video feeds from cameras pointed at the printer to identify issues like 'printing the air' or 'spaghetti defects'. The video discusses two such services, Obiko and Octo Everywhere, which help in reducing undetected failure rates.

💡OctoPrint

OctoPrint is an open-source 3D printer management software that allows users to control their printers remotely, monitor print jobs, and access other features. The video mentions that the AI detection services discussed are compatible with OctoPrint, which is a common platform for managing 3D printing operations.

💡Obiko

Obiko, formerly known as Spaghetti Detective, is one of the AI detection services mentioned in the video. It offers AI-powered monitoring of 3D printing to detect and prevent failures. The service is noted for its additional cost for AI detection time on top of the subscription fee.

💡Octo Everywhere

Octo Everywhere is another AI detection service for 3D printing mentioned in the video. It includes AI detection in its monthly fee, making it a more cost-effective option for the creator's business. The service is praised for its performance in detecting failures and preventing damage to the printers.

💡Bamboo Lab X1 Carbon

The Bamboo Lab X1 Carbon is a high-end 3D printer that comes with built-in failure detection. The video script contrasts it with other printers that do not have this feature, highlighting the value of such technology in preventing costly print failures.

💡Raspberry Pi 5

A Raspberry Pi 5 is a single-board computer used in the video to manage and monitor multiple 3D printers. It is part of the creator's setup for running an automated print farm, showcasing how technology can be utilized to streamline and optimize 3D printing operations.

Highlights

AI has been instrumental in reducing 3D printing failure rates to less than half a percent.

Upgrading 3D printers can save filament, money, and protect machines from damage.

Ender 3B printers are suitable for beginners but not for high-volume printing.

The Perusai i3 kit was upgraded for increased print speed and reliability.

Skipping the first layer check led to the creation of 'Mr. Monster Blob' and printer damage.

Automating the print process and early failure detection are key to a profitable 3D printing business.

Most 3D printers lack built-in failure detection systems.

Third-party AI detection services analyze video footage for print failures.

Obiko and Octo Everywhere are popular AI detection services compatible with most printers.

Octo Everywhere includes AI detection in its monthly fee, unlike Obiko which charges extra.

Switching to Obiko would be cost-prohibitive for a large-scale operation.

Octo Everywhere's cost-effectiveness and AI performance make it the preferred choice.

The print farm now operates on Bamboo Lab printers and a single Raspberry Pi 5.

The setup allows for easy monitoring of all printers in the basement.

A tour of the print farm is planned for future content.