How important is a truly stable surface?

Newbie here. I have my X1C sitting on a substantial heavy wood file cabinet that is very massy. but it still is moving like crazy when the printing is going wild. So far the prints seem to be fine but I have to imagine that could cause problems particularly with larger prints. I know the print head and print sheet are moving together but it is the play that would be the issue. What is the practical experience with this? Do I need to brace the cabinet to the wall at a couple of points to keep it truly solid?

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If one can see the table, or file cabinet in this case, “moving” then it should be stablized. Or put it on something more stable.

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I run my printers on an adjustable height desk since I like being able raise it up to work on stuff. It’s definitely not a rock solid surface and my prints come out just fine. Even running my X1C and A1 Mini next to each other doesn’t seem to make any appreciable difference. Where I do run into problems is when the motion and vibration cause things to fall off the desk, which you’ll have to watch out for.

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This heavy wood file cabinet does move but not excessively. I might put some blocking on the wall and run a strap around it to hold the entire thing directly to the wall so I can easily move it if I need to.

OK guys. I’m going to weigh in here. Granted, this is my opinion but here goes.

All these videos you see on using things like granite slabs or concrete pavers to stabilize the printer base? What if I told you it was all click-bait YouTube BS? And by BS I don’t mean Bambu Studio. :rofl:

I’ve been printing on a wobbly table since I had my P1P over 18 months now. Guess what? When the printer is printing in my office, my wife expressed concern that the table would fall over, that’s how wobbly it is. My prints have always come out just fine if I tuned the filament.

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Thank you for that comment. It at least makes me feel “not stupid” for setting up like I have. I do understand why mass loading the surface would help some but for some of the stuff that really has the file cabinet moving a bit would likely end up finding a harmonic that gets the mass load moving too which means more mass is moving actually making it worse and not better. Tying into a relatively unmovable structure is really the only solution that will end up achieving anything and as you noted, it isn’t necessary. Again thank you.

My X1C lives on an older computer desk I got at Target. It’s convenient because it has a drawer (for keyboard) that I use for tool and whatnot storage. It’s a bit wobbly. This has not affected any prints, as far as I can tell.

If the table was walking when the machine runs, I’d replace it or do something to stabilize it.

This is, of course, anecdote.

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There is a very good reason for concrete slab on foam: noise reduction :slight_smile: Printer on a wobbly table or on wooden desk that resonates a lot generates a lot of noise. Heavy base reduces resonance, while foam insulates further, making the whole setup quieter.

The thing that really affecting the prints is internal resonance and wobbliness of the printer itself.

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Agree… but it would be ideal if that mass load and energy absorption material was on a truly stable surface or you’re just creating another resonance. And if that is your approach, you should remove the energy absorbing feet on the printer as well so that mass load and energy absorber work as intended, or that also creates a new resonating dynamic.

Women eh!

Remember the old saying?

Women, can’t live with them, the judge ruled in her favour.

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This is not an ad :rofl:, but if you buy these things on the Bambu Store, you will see that machine bounce around LIKE CRAZY. They’re super flexible rubber legs (and they definitely do reduce vibration noise throughout the house).

I guess a non-solid surface would be no different. I’ve had no trouble at all using the printer with these installed either.

And keep in mind I do a lot of very small detail custom made stuff (think using calipers to measure tenths of a mm size). If moving around were going to mess anything up, I would it think it’d most impact that stuff.

I’m just as surprised that it isn’t an issue, but I can’t argue with how I’ve seen it work.

Like so many folks who buy a brand new “thing” and what to pamper it, when I first got my P1P, I bought every add-on I could get out of the Bambu Store, including those so-called antivibration feet. First off, the production quality of those feet was so awful they would slip off. Second, they did absolutely nothing other than to make the machine more wobbly. I took them off and they have been sitting on the shelf ever since.

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Yeah I did the same (purchased a bunch of stuff up front).

I did find that they stopped a very annoying sound I was getting in the floor below the printer’s room. But I suspect that results will vary a lot depending on a lot of factors from your house to your improvement expectations. Jury still out on how well they hold up - no issues yet, but maybe some day.

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I learned the lesson about upgrades a long time ago. Owning a Creality 3D printer just reinforced it, but it goes back to other tools and whatnot. Don’t buy any accessories until you know what you really need. And definitely don’t look at “upgrades” touted by YouTube “influencers.”

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