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3d printer first useful thing…
Hi.
I thought I would post what I have made on my 3d printer.
It is a the first few links of a cable guide for my shopbot.
each link takes about 45 minutes to make.
I downloaded the sketchup file for the link from the Thingiverse.
The machine extrudes it out of the nozzle, onto the build plate.
Then it moves up one layer, and does it again, but slightly different.
until you get an object.
It is not very reliable. Too soon for the technology. Another year or two and youll be able to leave it all night with a good chance of a successful print.
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11 Replies
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reliable or not… it’s just so cool!!!
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I recon the big application will be to make masters for casting.. the notion that these will be household appliances to "make" things is pretty far fetched.
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Rodney that has been the way up til now, for more than 30 years.
The push now is to make things without going through production at all. These cable guides work perfectly well, and they are really strong. ABS is a standup engineering plastic . Actually just to make this even cooler Hugh, you can program how dense the item is. It draws a complete shell, as thick as you want it, and it honeycombs the middle, so you save on plastic and get a really strong shape. These ones were done at 15% fill and they clip together and are impossible to separate without a screwdriver to lever them apart.
This proves the technology, Rodney, but the machine was made at too cheap a price and it is not properly tested. -
that’s awesome Simon!!
I have an idea for an item I’d like to make but have been put of by high costs to make an initial mould for the prototype, I reckon I could give you a little proto to knock up so I could test the idea fully, paid of course!!
Hugh
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Hugh I’m not your guy for two reasons.
1. I live at the other end of the world from you. Everything would have an extra cost
2. Being a newcomer to the machine, everything would take me ten times as long as anyone else. Consequently, I would charge you either full time, and rip you off, or charge you what someone who knew what they were doing would charge you, in which case I am on a very low wage.
Doesnt work for either of us.😀 😕 😥 🙄
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Somewhere in this alternative geeky universe is someone who lives in his parents basement near you, and would love a challenge.
http://www.thingiverse.com/ -
Lol, fair play Simon- it’s only ickle but not to worry!!
need to be top secret so can’t go giving it to just anyone!
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You can get it printed quite inexpensively here:-
http://www.shapeways.comBut you would need to provide your own 3d file for them to print from
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thanks Phill, I’ll take a look!
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The materials used to construct the models are extremely limited , to be really useful as a "general" replicator , it would have to replicate in mixed media with different mnfgring processes. IT *is* a great toy to play with tho , got a few pals that have em and seen some great stuff, no real commercial value as of yet tho.
Perhaps a few years in the future?
I’m sure you getting into the cutting edge right now will pay dividends … -
Hmmm, how long before we be can do a proposal, get approval, and output built up letters at the click of a button….
No more routing letters, waiting for fabricators to make the returns, said fabricators not coming to work / coming to work with a hangover (babelaas for Rodney and the rest of us in the civilised world… 🙂 etc etc. Not to mention re-cutting spoils….
This is a technology that will find easy acceptance in our trade. We as sign blokes are a group who (mostly) embraces technology, and push it forward with our demand. When I started out 20 years ago, I had "what if" dreams about printing on vinyl in a cost effective manner that does NOT involve darkrooms, screens, pressure washers and chemicals….
Producing 500 full colour contour cut decals today takes 2 hours…..20 years ago, including the time to have dies made up, it was a 3 week process….
Well done Simon, for making something useful on your "toy" !
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