3D Printing needed
dmagnus
Posts: 271
The boating organization I belong to has an annual award called The Bent Prop Award. This is given to the boater who has had the most humorous boating incident in the past boating season. Actually, it can also be totally made up by another member who wants to get the boater. Year before last I got the award so I had to come up with the plaque to present to last years winner. I bought a small, bronze three bladed prop on eBay for $10, bent a couple of blades and mounted it on a nice, walnut plaque with a brass nameplate. It was so well received that now the club wants to make up a whole bunch of them so all we have to do is get them engraved each year. Trouble is, this prop was a one-off deal.
Now I notice that a bunch of the forum members have 3D printers. I was thinking that this is a perfect project for 3D printing. The prop is about 4 in diameter (I can provide a picture), three blades with a hub that I drilled and tapped for a 1/4-20 screw to hold it on the plaque. Pitch doesnt matter and it would be great if it could be distressed.
I am curious as to what a small quantity run (5) would cost, as well as maybe a run of 10 or so. Picture attached.
Anybody interested?
Don
Now I notice that a bunch of the forum members have 3D printers. I was thinking that this is a perfect project for 3D printing. The prop is about 4 in diameter (I can provide a picture), three blades with a hub that I drilled and tapped for a 1/4-20 screw to hold it on the plaque. Pitch doesnt matter and it would be great if it could be distressed.
I am curious as to what a small quantity run (5) would cost, as well as maybe a run of 10 or so. Picture attached.
Anybody interested?
Don
Comments
https://www.google.com/search?num=50&newwindow=1&site=&source=hp&q=urethane+model+casting&oq=urethane+model+casting&gs_l=hp.12...2079.23258.0.26013.26.24.1.1.1.0.308.3733.0j10j8j1.19.0....0...1c.1.53.hp..7.19.3399.WluJtxlQUmc
That said, I can't believe these aren't standard pre-cast parts for the awards biz. Ask around you may find a local outfit that can make these awards for you, or at least sell the propeller. It'll be plastic, not metal.
That said to the above 'that said,' a lot of clubs switch these kinds of "novelty" awards from one recipient to another, each year. As in, this isn't the award you proudly display, but you accept it in the same good spirit it was given. So you only need one. Since you've given this one out, you'll either need to get that old salt to give it back next year, or from next year on give the award upon the understanding that the trophy is surrendered the following year for the next esteemed recipient.
Another Rick known to forum members -- Rick Galinson -- for his Propeller-powered mini-gun, built a scale jet engine for a client. He 3D printed one blade, "body-shopped" it, and then made a silicon mold so that he could make several duplicates in resin. It was a beautiful piece of work.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-Desk-Mute-USB-Cooler-Cooling-Fan-for-Notebook-Laptop-Personal-Computer-PC-/201152230830?pt=US_Laptop_Cooling_Pads&hash=item2ed59b75ae
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-Desk-Mute-USB-Cooler-Cooling-Fan-for-Notebook-Laptop-Personal-Computer-PC-/271554556661?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item3f39e9b2f5
I agree with the others, generally it is going to be more efficient to find an actual propeller from some other device.
Or just find a shop that does outboard repair, especially on the smaller outboards. They probably can sell you a cheap used prop. Or when someone comes in to have a dinged prop replaced, ask the shop to keep it for you.
Different Props for different folks.
I hear you. I'll probably look into casting them as mentioned by RickB. This is the award that the recipient gets. The "traveling trophy" is a gawd awful huge thing that has been going since the early 70's. It has a real 19" brass boat propeller on it that has seen serious damage - the first recipient's prop.
Thanks. Real props are way too big for these purposes. We're looking for something 3 or 4" in diameter max. And it has to look like a boat prop. I tried electric trolling motor props and they are also too big. I'm leaning toward the cast plastic from a mold of the one I bought. Of course, I'll keep looking on eBay, etc. for one like I got originally.
Edit: Heck, I've got a few outboards sitting out in the hangar, but even the 1.5 horse is a little too big.
JonnyMac, Thanks for the link! Their Mold Max 60 product actually fits a need I currently have and I was unaware that I could buy material to make a solution myself (very high temp molded support jig). I was looking at a machined option in the neighborhood of $400. A gallon of the Mold Max 60 for $108 will allow me to make 10 times more than I need, so effectively $10 versus $400. Thanks!
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0095p?FVPROFIL=&FVSEARCH=boat+prop&search=Go
I vote erco make a P8X32A-D40 Prop DIP bend prop award form members of this forum.
Thanks, Yup, saw those. That's the problem, the model boat props are way too small to make a nice plaque with and the smallest outboard or trolling motor props are a little too big. That's why that 3" one I found on eBay last year was perfect. Trouble is, it's a one-off. I can get that one from the recipient and make a mold from it and use plastic or something to make up a bunch of them.
http://www.model-dockyard.com/acatalog/Raboesch_Four_Blade_Propellers__147_Type_.html
(They're a bit more expensive, though, at the $40 mark for 100mm)
Lots of other props on that site, too.
And here's a shiny, brass 3bladed 80mm propeller:
http://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/acatalog/rivabo_535081.html