Thread: 3D Printing - My rapid prototyping

Awesome idea RC, I will steal the same idea for my autocollimator (to replace the small torch hanging out the top!). Not that I have time to do any of that right now unfortunately. Now, if only I could 3D print a ripper tyne for an excavator I'd be happy

You can glue PLA together successfully. So just print it in small pieces.

One thought I did come up with to add strength to plastic printed parts is when designing add holes to insert strengthening rods of steel. Much like reinforcing concrete.

Originally Posted by Pete F

Now, if only I could 3D print a ripper tyne for an excavator I'd be happy

That's what the MIG is for.

PDW

What did you have in mind Pete, something like this one perhaps? I saw it at Three Ways in the N.T. a couple of days ago. It may still be there if you take a peek out the window when you pass by next.IMG_3347.jpgSorry about it being upside down, I can't turn it around with my iPad unfortunately. It has a Telstra logo and I assume it has been laying optic fibre cable. It had a huge carrier for a cable roll in place of the blade that most D9N Cat dozers would have.
Rob.

While shed action has been rather lacking due to circumstances other then repairing hydraulic rams for neighbours. I have found time to do a bit of 3D printing and design work.

I have designed these 125mm measuring cups with the writing and marks on the inside and they are in hot demand. Seems everyone around here when measuring chemicals for the garden type sprayer uses drink bottles with nikko pen marks on them.

I have also been attempting to print with flexible filament. This is a flexible thermo plastic that is not the easiest stuff to print due to it's flexibility making extrusion troublesome. But I have managed to draw and print some flexy vaccum cleaner nozzles that will not mark the walls when sucking up spiders.

20180115_185148.jpg 20180114_212809.jpg

It was mentioned earlier in this thread how the 3D printer is being utilised titanium medical implants.

How far away are we then from large-scale 3D printers displacing some metals tradespeople.I am thinking machinists in particular. Will the machinist of the future be part cad /cam operator and part technician?
Food for thought, surely.

Grahame

Originally Posted by Grahame Collins

It was mentioned earlier in this thread how the 3D printer is being utilised titanium medical implants.

My friend had a 3D printed titanium shoulder joint fitted 2 months ago. He loves it. First time in years he hasn't felt pain when he moves his arm.

This thread is now a year old. Is the BigBox still the go-to kit for a 3D printer? I see the BigBox Dual is GBP995.

My engineering student son is always looking for something to tinker with and I reckon a 3D Printer would be a good father-son project.

Originally Posted by jack620

This thread is now a year old. Is the BigBox still the go-to kit for a 3D printer? I see the BigBox Dual is GBP995.

As far as I’m aware they are not selling them anymore. Mine is still working great. Never really missed a beat. It’s 3/4 through its IDEX dual aero transformation. Not enough time at the moment to finish it.

The best bet would be to go with the Prusa i3 (latest rev). They seem to get good reviews and have plenty of supporters. I think it’s what R.C. is running.

Originally Posted by variant22

As far as I’m aware they are not selling them anymore.

I think you’re right. I must have found an old web page with the pricing info. I will investigate the Prusa. Thanks.

I have a Anet A6. It is cheap and you get what you pay for. I need to do a heap of mods to it to make it into a good printer.
https://www.gearbest.com/3d-printers...SABEgKoDvD_BwE

Yes I have a Prusa i3 Mk2. They are now selling the Mk2S, which is virtually the same as the Mk2, and also now a Mk3. The Mk3 has been a large revision with a different bed type and now more sensors to detect errors when printing.

They are still selling the Mk2S. https://shop.prusa3d.com/en/ I have ordered an upgrade kit to make mine a Mk2.5.

A popular printer these days is the Chinese Creality CR10S. https://www.gearbest.com/3d-printers...SABEgJlnPD_BwE Due to it's lower price point but large build capacity (300X300X300 and bigger variants) it has garnered a good online community, which is one thing that is handy with these consumer kits.

I follow a few 3D enthuasists on youtube. Makers Muse is a local person. 3D Printing Nerd is US based and Tom Salanderer is maybe German or Swedish.

A lot of people I come across now are amazed at the things I have made with my printer. Most people do not seem to have had any exposure to them. One person when I was trying to describe what they do, could not think outside the paper computer printer so it took a bit to describe how they work.

Latest thing I have come across. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y63sVpeViXo

Originally Posted by .RC.

3D Printing Nerd is US based...

I watched his video on the Prusa four filament print head upgrade. He liked it, but the material wastage was very high because it has to purge the current colour before printing the next colour. With some models there was more waste material than the model itself.

I reckon I'll get a Prusa i3 Mk3 with the standard print head.

Yes I do not think the Prusa multimaterial is worth it, unless you really need to print four colours.

I would rather have a dual extrusion machine. That way you can do something like print soluble support structures along with the base material. I am not really into printing kitsch stuff. I prefer educational or engineering type stuff.

Just had a brainstorm yesterday.

Many of us have old machine tools often with way wipers well past their prime.

I wonder if new wipers could be 3D printed. Modern machine tools often come with plastic way wipers these days.