Brew Your Own 3d Printer

Steph Dale

Steph Dale

Western Thunderer
Pugs,
Good move with the calibration model. I have test shapes I use with casters to calibrate my patterns to their casting process...
I'll follow up on some of the ideas and links all you guys have been posting, I've a few 3d designs not yet printed.
Steph
 
SimonT

SimonT

Western Thunderer
Steph,
you are more than welcome to try them on the Form 1, only a short stretch of the M4 separates us. I have started to use it as a fast prototyping machine and print the drawing as I develop it.

Simon
 
P

phileakins

Western Thunderer
I noted in the WH Smiths reference library that there is a new build your own partwork for a very snazzy looking 3d printer. 90 parts (the partwork that is) and a total cost in the mid £600s.

I risked the £1.99 for part one with a couple of bits to screw to a pressed steel tray - nicely made and presented.

The web site is at http://3dprinter-collection.com/aboutyour3dprinter.aspx with some well put together videos illustrating the fitting of the first 20 sets of parts. Apparently the supplier will be offering ready built printers in March.

Anyone any thoughts about it - I am severely tempted!

Phil
 
Steph Dale

Steph Dale

Western Thunderer
Phil,
I wouldn't, the resolution is not fit for our purposes. (0.2mm)

Graham,
The drum is the material that's extruded. ABS in this case I think.

Steph
 
Steph Dale

Steph Dale

Western Thunderer
BrushType4 said:
Steph,

Is 0.02mm any good?
Click to expand...
Yerp, I've seen some prints off a machine with 16 micron resolution (so slightly finer than you're suggesting) and that's the sort of value at which the layering in the production of the parts ceases to be noticeable.

Steph
 
SimonT

SimonT

Western Thunderer
If it sounds too good to be true, then it is ......
The printer uses the most basic form of printing technology and is just about suitable for making curtain hooks. Spend the £600 getting one of the many agencies who have the right technology to produce your prints.
Simon
 
Steph Dale

Steph Dale

Western Thunderer
Phil,
Tell us more, please!

I sprung for the TurboCAD 3D training pack last weekend (on offer at the Model Engineers Exhibition) so will be looking at upping my 3D modelling skills over the next 25-50 workstation hours. At the moment I'll be sticking with Simon's recommendation to use 3rd party prints; the high resolution, low utility and high capital cost means it's a complete 'no brainer' for me.

Steph
 
P

phileakins

Western Thunderer
BrushType4 said:
I've just ordered this.....

https://ultimaker.com/download/161/Ultimaker_2_User_Manual_V1.12.pdf

Gulp...
Click to expand...

Having seen the price, gulp is right! - I'd never be able to swing that past the the other half. The part work is do-able, just ..

I've e-mailed the vendor support guys for further information on the resolution to see whether it is possible to change it.

Steph, if the CD you have is "CAD Fundamentals" with a red logo - you will have to learn fluent antipodean to get on with it. I've never got past half way before becoming bored of continually flicking between the CD and TurboCad.

Phil
 
Steph Dale

Steph Dale

Western Thunderer
Phil,
£1900 buys a lot of machine time on a better specified machine; certainly more than I'd need over the projected life of the machine.

Phil,
No it's not, it's a specific TurboCAD 3D training package from IMSI so I'm expecting good things. I had a quick click through the first tutorial on the CD and it looks a very straightforward method of learning. I guess the proof is in the results, so we'll see...

Steph
 
adrian

adrian

Flying Squad
Steph Dale said:
Phil,
£1900 buys a lot of machine time on a better specified machine; certainly more than I'd need over the projected life of the machine.
Click to expand...
Whilst I agree with the sense of this to some extent there's nothing like having the machine to hand to experiment with ideas on. We have a fab lab in Manchester, http://manchesterfablab.manufacturinginstitute.co.uk

So I have free access to 3D printers including the ultimaker 2, laser cutters, vinyl cutters, CNC routers from small PCB ones up to one with a 1.22mx2.44m bed! All it would cost is materials. But although I've been down to sign up for it I have never used any of the machines - it's just the convenience makes it awkward to get down there, also it's the reluctance to experiment when it's someone else machine.

Besides which I'm sure if it doesn't prove suitable Phil could always stick it on eBay and get a good price for it.
 
P

phileakins

Western Thunderer
I've bitten the bullet - although via the local newsy rather than subscribing so that I can bail out without quickly if necessary.

Up to now (issue 4) things are looking pretty good. The parts are very well made and go together without a problem, and the fit of the moving part (only one so far - a slidey thing, you can tell I'm not technical can't you) is extremely good. No 'slop' or wobble at all. Electrical parts start arriving in a couple of weeks so the first module of the build should be motorised and working by the end of March.

To take up Adrian's point - if having built it I don't like it I can always flog it, the publishers of the part work are selling ready made up versions for £100 more than the cost of the kit!

Phil
 
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