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Author Topic: 3D Printers are the future  (Read 20590 times)

DreamThinkBuild

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3D Printers are the future
« on: August 07, 2012, 07:25:10 AM »
Hi All,

Been scrimping and scraping to finally save up for a new tool, a 3D printer, MakerBot Replicator. I've seen the future and it is 3D printing and manufacturing. Being able to take an idea, whip it up in a 3D modeler and several minutes/hours(depending on complexity ) later have a working piece is mind blowing.

The attached picture is a Lego coil bobbin something I've been looking for to do quick tests with different magnet arrangements. The whole process took around one hour and half. This includes sketching the design, taking measurements, building out the model and finally printing. Holding a physical, working model of something you just drew is "Mind blown", as the kids say now a days.

I was worried about accuracy and strength but a few prints put that to rest. The models have good accuracy. I  worked at my brother in laws machine shop where accuracy had to be around +/-.0015" tolerance for some parts. If it was beyond that the part was scrapped and tool heads changed. This doesn't have anywhere near that tolerance (.40mm~.72mm) but it is fine for prototype designs. The strength is just like Lego's, it's ABS plastic and surprisingly strong for it's weak looking appearance. The surface is generally rough but can be smoothed down with acetone, even the large cnc machines will leave tooling marks that have to be cleaned up.

Using these devices would solve one of the biggest problems we face when developing new energy devices, is replication. I may design it from the original inventors and it will never work for me, but if the original designer had a 3D model of the exact specifications he could send it to you, print it out, wire it up and let rip. Now to get back to work.

hoptoad

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Re: 3D Printers are the future
« Reply #1 on: August 07, 2012, 08:02:44 AM »
Hi All,

Been scrimping and scraping to finally save up for a new tool, a 3D printer, MakerBot Replicator. I've seen the future and it is 3D printing and manufacturing. Being able to take an idea, whip it up in a 3D modeler and several minutes/hours(depending on complexity ) later have a working piece is mind blowing.

The attached picture is a Lego coil bobbin something I've been looking for to do quick tests with different magnet arrangements. The whole process took around one hour and half. This includes sketching the design, taking measurements, building out the model and finally printing. Holding a physical, working model of something you just drew is "Mind blown", as the kids say now a days.

I was worried about accuracy and strength but a few prints put that to rest. The models have good accuracy. I  worked at my brother in laws machine shop where accuracy had to be around +/-.0015" tolerance for some parts. If it was beyond that the part was scrapped and tool heads changed. This doesn't have anywhere near that tolerance (.40mm~.72mm) but it is fine for prototype designs. The strength is just like Lego's, it's ABS plastic and surprisingly strong for it's weak looking appearance. The surface is generally rough but can be smoothed down with acetone, even the large cnc machines will leave tooling marks that have to be cleaned up.

Using these devices would solve one of the biggest problems we face when developing new energy devices, is replication. I may design it from the original inventors and it will never work for me, but if the original designer had a 3D model of the exact specifications he could send it to you, print it out, wire it up and let rip. Now to get back to work.

Great stuff! What a fantastic convenience for so many manufacturing possibilities.
We really do live in an age of amazing creativity.! Your own creativity, is a good example.

Cheers

lancaIV

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Re: 3D Printers are the future
« Reply #2 on: August 07, 2012, 09:42:53 AM »
You are all right.
And for MEMS-devices is here also a "factory-in-a-box" outlook:
http://blog.makezine.com/2012/02/22/building-a-robotic-bee-with-mems-3d-printing/
http://www.i-micronews.com/news/Printing-3D-Silicon-Micro-Nanostructures,9232.html

actually the price for such a 3D printer (list price !) 48.000US$,
too much for an individual,but affordable for a 3D-Prototyping-Printing-Service-Company .
http://www.sonoplot.com

In ten years probably between 500-5000US$ , work velocity and accuracy-dependant.

broli

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Re: 3D Printers are the future
« Reply #3 on: August 07, 2012, 11:55:55 AM »
I'm also following the developments of 3d printers quite closely. In fact one very interesting one in particular is the Makibox. It's still being developed and you can even check out the progress here; http://makibox.com/. Which is also a good example of open development.

What makes the Makibox standout compared to printers like the Makerbot is price, it will be on sale for only $350 including worldwide shipping! And probably another outstanding fact is that it uses plastic pellets instead of plastic wire filament. The former is much more common and you can even make your own out of waste plastic.

lancaIV

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Re: 3D Printers are the future
« Reply #4 on: August 07, 2012, 12:31:58 PM »
B.O.S. : build-operate-sell  the product capacity
               http://www.shapeways.com/
http://cnc-prototyping.com/?gclid=CKW80d-b1rECFYQKfAod23UA-w

To become this technology faster and cheaper to market we have to accelerate the development ,global !
Each of us has his special skills vulgo talents !

broli's link : the Makibox with at first 3-axis-xyz-coordination-table ,
                                                          later f.e. as 4-/5-axis -printer.

                     The head from the droplets/nano-bubles-ink-printer like this

                     http://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?DB=EPODOC&II=16&ND=3&adjacent=true&locale=en_EP&FT=D&date=19991116&CC=US&NR=5984444A&KC=A    2004 expired: open source

                     and working  together with f.e. the open source RepRap-community.   
                     a commercial RepRap version
                     http://reprappro.com/Mendel?gclid=CKSA14iW1rECFYzbfAodFQ4A2Q

                     Working out the     
                                                  "3D-Printer-parts"-3D-Printer
                     to give then all regions and localities on earth the possibility to resolve local development barriers
                     of each kind;
                     "head"-quartered in universities,high schools,secondary/basic schools and
                     for the elder  community centers.
                     Free-share 3D CAD,CNC,CIM,CAM software
                      and a free 3 D CAD files library f.e.   http://www.solidcomponents.com/
                     
                     MEMS-printing   
 http://www.kth.se/en/ees/omskolan/organisation/avdelningar/mst/research/3d-mems/3d-printing-of-silicon-micro-and-nanostructures-1.319921

                     http://www.digitaladdis.com/sk/Lithography_Pyrolysis_OrganicMEMS_Kassegne_MEMSLab.pdf
« Last Edit: August 07, 2012, 09:31:35 PM by lancaIV »

DreamThinkBuild

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Re: 3D Printers are the future
« Reply #5 on: August 11, 2012, 05:39:50 AM »
Hi All,

@Hoptoad,

Thanks for the comment.  ;)

I think with the way the economy is going we have to start learning to manufacture our own goods. From gardening to manufacturing at home.

@IancaIV,

It is amazing how small they are going with this technology and also how big. They have "contour crafting" which will allow full size buildings to be constructed on site from a 3D floorplan.

http://blog.ponoko.com/2012/02/27/3d-printed-buildings-on-the-moon/

Fablabs and hackerspaces are other places that allow access to manufacturing tools, 3D printers, laser cutters and other machines. Check around in your area they might have one near you.

@Broli,

Thanks for the makibot link. I'm keeping an eye on different 3D printers they are still kind of expensive and evolving. It seems like each year the print resolution and material gets better. It would be great to be able to take all the waste plastic and just regrind it down and use it in your printer to make more stuff. That would greatly reduce the need for relying on a single source distributor of printing material.

I've done some more tests with the printer and you can make mold forms. I printed a mold form for a leaky garden hose washer and molded it with shore 2 medical grade silicone(nontoxic), came out great. No more leaks and don't have to run to the store to buy some more washers.

broli

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Re: 3D Printers are the future
« Reply #6 on: January 06, 2013, 11:15:57 AM »
3d printers are getting more affordable and new/better/cheaper ones always keep popping up.

I want to mention the makibox: http://makibox.com/details/product/A6-HT

It's a small 3d printer which uses a few clever ideas to eliminate some of the disadvantages typical to 3d printers. However it's still being developed but it's very close to be beta tested and shipped afterwards. You can follow their open development on their main website. Makible are also one of the few to address the plastic recycling issue, this is quite big in itself meaning you never have to throw away scrap plastic or failed parts but you could just recycle them back into filament.

Then there's this newly launched kickstarter project, the RoBo3d: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1682938109/robo-3d-printer?ref=live

This is another affordable 3d printer with a larger printing volume than the makibox. However the extra abs kit, with heated bed, costs a little more. But this is still nearly 1/3-1/4 the cost of more popular 3d printers like the Replicator 2, Cube 3d printer or the Up! printer.

I myself ordered a Makibox and can't wait on its arrival.

DreamThinkBuild

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Re: 3D Printers are the future
« Reply #7 on: January 07, 2013, 07:31:02 AM »
Hi Broli,

Congratulations on your 3D printer.  8)

The Makibot sounds pretty cool. I like the way you don't need to use Kapton tape for the build platform. Have to show some prints when you get it up and running. It looks like they are still working on the plastic recycling have to keep an eye on that.

The RoBo3D sounds like a great printer too. The build volume is really nice.

It's amazing how fast these printers have evolved and lowered in price.

I attached some simple functions I wrote in Octave that might save you some time or anyone else. I also have a quick Excel sheet with formulas for the arc and box calc.

The first time I tried printing round holes for bolts the diameter was always too small. Finally found out after a couple prints of trial and error that you have to take into account the nozzle diameter (.40mm on the maker bot, the Maki bot looks the same unless you go with the .3mm or .5mm nozzle). Think of a thick magic marker drawing a circle, the width of the marker will overlap the center line on either side. Same with square holes if you want magnets to fit snug into the design.

Once that was solved I was able to make things fit exact. The attached motor mount is one example, everything fits snug and the screw holes are exact diameter.

DreamThinkBuild

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Re: 3D Printers are the future
« Reply #8 on: January 25, 2013, 05:09:07 AM »
Hi All,

I just seen this 3D printer survey with a chance of winning a printer of your choice up to $2500.

It seems they are some kind of marketing research company so read terms carefully if you do enter, see how they use your information. I also didn't see any privacy policy.

I did not enter since I already own a printer.

The link is here:
http://www.big-3dp-survey.com/index.php

Dam

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Re: 3D Printers are the future
« Reply #9 on: January 26, 2013, 12:03:14 AM »
Ehm, this link is a bit outdated: the prizes have been drawn February 2012...


DreamThinkBuild

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Re: 3D Printers are the future
« Reply #10 on: January 28, 2013, 03:34:53 PM »
Hi Dam,

February 24th, 2013 according to their site.

Quote
Prize entries in the form of completed online surveys will be accepted up to 23:59 (GMT) on the 24th February 2013.

DreamThinkBuild

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Re: 3D Printers are the future
« Reply #11 on: January 30, 2013, 06:33:33 AM »
Hi All,

Just bringing this to attention.

There is another contest with a chance to win a Makerbot Replicator 2X printer.

The rules require writing a program for their Makerbot customizer.

March 8th, 2013 is the deadline.

Info/rules:
http://www.makerbot.com/blog/2013/01/23/win-a-makerbot-replicator-2x-experimental-3d-printer/

lancaIV

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Re: 3D Printers are the future
« Reply #12 on: January 31, 2019, 10:32:43 AM »