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3D Printing needed — Parallax Forums

3D Printing needed

dmagnusdmagnus Posts: 271
edited 2014-09-17 06:14 in General Discussion
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 year’s “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 doesn’t 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
1024 x 765 - 60K

Comments

  • Beau SchwabeBeau Schwabe Posts: 6,566
    edited 2014-09-15 16:48
    The big problem is going to be time .... Something that size could take 3+ hours to print, even with a 5% infill
  • GordonMcCombGordonMcComb Posts: 3,366
    edited 2014-09-15 17:12
    It'll cost you more than $10 for either 3D printing or casting, so I'd keep an eye on eBay and snatch them up whenever you find them.

    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.
  • JonnyMacJonnyMac Posts: 9,108
    edited 2014-09-15 17:13
    I agree with RickB. Smooth-On (www.smooth-on.com) as a lot of great videos.

    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.
  • GenetixGenetix Posts: 1,754
    edited 2014-09-15 17:59
    Why not ask a Propeller company for some scrap pieces.
  • varnonvarnon Posts: 184
    edited 2014-09-15 18:41
    I don't think that is a good fit for a hobby fused deposition modeling printer. The overhanging parts of the blades will need to be supported by something during the print, which means a lot of clean up will be needed. If you can make a model, a 3D printing service might be a better fit (e.g. Shapeways, iMaterialise, Sculpteo). The more expensive types of 3D printers that those services often have are not quite as limited by geometry. You can also print with some types of metals. Those services might be more expensive than you would want.

    I agree with the others, generally it is going to be more efficient to find an actual propeller from some other device.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2014-09-15 19:41
    Overhanging or undercut parts are not a problem for a Mojo 3D FDM printer, which prints the main part in ABS, and prints a temporary support structure in a different material which gets dissolved away in a secondary operation. The WaveWash machine contains heated liquid Drano which dissolves the unwanted support material. Minimal clean up work other than rinsing the part. http://www.3dprinterscanada.com/fdm-idea-series-mojo-3d-printer.php
  • jonesjones Posts: 281
    edited 2014-09-15 21:36
    I just did a search for "outboard motor prop" on eBay and there were several cheap props similar to what you show. Get one, "distress" it, make a mold, then you can cast them every year. For that matter, pull the prop off your own or some friend's boat, make a mold, then reinstall the prop. Naturally you'll want to distress the copy...

    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.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2014-09-15 22:59
    I'm guessing that a P8X32A-D40 Prop DIP chip wouldn't bend all that well.

    Different Props for different folks.
  • dmagnusdmagnus Posts: 271
    edited 2014-09-16 15:20
    It'll cost you more than $10 for either 3D printing or casting, so I'd keep an eye on eBay and snatch them up whenever you find them.

    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.

    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.
  • dmagnusdmagnus Posts: 271
    edited 2014-09-16 15:25
    jones wrote: »
    I just did a search for "outboard motor prop" on eBay and there were several cheap props similar to what you show. Get one, "distress" it, make a mold, then you can cast them every year. For that matter, pull the prop off your own or some friend's boat, make a mold, then reinstall the prop. Naturally you'll want to distress the copy...

    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.

    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.
  • dmagnusdmagnus Posts: 271
    edited 2014-09-16 15:28
    You know, that might be a way to get other people interested in the smart kind of props.
  • WBA ConsultingWBA Consulting Posts: 2,934
    edited 2014-09-16 16:47
    JonnyMac wrote: »
    I agree with RickB. Smooth-On (www.smooth-on.com) as a lot of great videos.

    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!
  • W9GFOW9GFO Posts: 4,010
    edited 2014-09-16 18:03
  • prof_brainoprof_braino Posts: 4,313
    edited 2014-09-17 05:21
    erco wrote: »
    I'm guessing that a P8X32A-D40 Prop DIP chip wouldn't bend all that well.

    I vote erco make a P8X32A-D40 Prop DIP bend prop award form members of this forum.
  • dmagnusdmagnus Posts: 271
    edited 2014-09-17 05:24
    W9GFO wrote: »

    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.
  • dmagnusdmagnus Posts: 271
    edited 2014-09-17 05:26
    Yup, a little small. I need something in the 80-100mm dia.
  • GadgetmanGadgetman Posts: 2,436
    edited 2014-09-17 06:14
    By the power of Google!

    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
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