Just fell down another rabbit hole...3D printers
Jeff Haas
Posts: 421
The latest issue of Make has their 3D printer reviews. I didn't know you could get one for about $200!
Before I spend any money, who here has worked with these things? I want a tool, not a project.
Before I spend any money, who here has worked with these things? I want a tool, not a project.
Comments
The Repetier program is a pretty good slicer for a freebie. You definitely need CAD skills if you want to make your own parts or you'll be stuck with what you can download.
I picked one up for $218.00 shipped to my house. The unit supports 150mm x 150mm so it is able to handle some good sized parts.
The design software and slicer software were all free so it was a no brainer. Love designing stuff on the screen just to see it print.
I thought the filament was going to be the expensive part but one roll goes a long way. Choosing a color thou is a problem.
Mike
Their printer of choice is the Mojo, which is several thousand dollars to purchase and everyone complains about the refill cartridge price. Not hobby grade, but fast, strong, super reliable and overall, much cheaper than having a complete machine shop and paying a machinist! These guys call their Mojos "robots" and try to keep them busy 24/7 to pay for themselves, doing their own jobs and printing for hire.
The general consensus is that cheap 3D printing is a BIG rabbit hole, and can consume lots of time. Each printer has its own strengths & weaknesses to play to. A single error in a printing will ruin the whole job, and waste a lot of material, so it makes sense to babysit it through the print. My guys hate PLA since it can melt in a hot car. Styrene/ABS is stronger, more heat resistant, and parts can be bonded with MEK or acetone.
So as with everything else, you get what you pay for. Another interesting factoid is that many of my 3D print pals use their laser cutter more than than printers. More material choice, stronger, faster, nice finish, etc. Good luck in your quest!
Ditto on the laser cutter being my tool of choice. I bought a MakerBot 3D printer and made one part from it that I still use: a drill attachment that I use to screw lenses into lens holders. The MakerBot was fussy to use, and I really didn't have much application for it, so I donated it to the local high school.
By contrast, my laser cutter gets used almost every day. When I bought it, I had no idea what I would use it for; I just knew I wanted one. Now, I couldn't run my business without it.
-Phil
Mike
-Phil
Like everything else, they will get better & cheaper as time goes on. Meantime, do what I do: find someone who has a nice one and trade favors! My buddy was starting his 3D printing business and he came asking me if I had anything I needed designed & printed, to use at a trade show. I gave him my rough handmade prototype and he designed & printed several chassis, which I then assembled & did the electronics. A win-win!
The librarian was really happy that I was making something useful instead of "silly little tchotchkes". I've got a set of OpenBeam extrusions, and found some connectors on Thingiverse that did some useful stuff.
A day later I got an email that the prints were ready. I dropped by to pick them up, they looked good! And the whole thing was free.
Your tax dollars at work!
That sounds like an easy way to get introduced to 3-d printing. There might be other Hacker spaces in your area, but sounds like the CC library is a winner.
Nice little Trikes. is there a reason that they are not powered by the rear wheels?
These look like they would fit a FLiP nicely, but would of course need a motor driver for the servos.
I have a Corvair. I do everything backwards.
Seriously, trikes have vastly superior steering, especially going straight. No one believes me, but they do. One drive motor (or CRservo) and one steering servo.
Just because most people default to differential steering "don't make it right" IMO.
More digging turns up the info that most of the cheap clones are of the Prusia machines, which got Make Magazine’s first place two years in a row. They start at $599.00, so no wonder there are knockoffs for only $169.00...including one from Walmart! Right on top of the Google results.
Joseph Prusia has grown his business from a few people up to 160, and still can’t keep up with the demand. I may break down in a few months and get his newest machine.
I just bought another identical one off ebay for around half normal price and other than a clogged heatbreak it was good as new.
I would like to get one of the Prussa machines this spring.
So far printing a lot of toy train stuff and some models of tower parts for work.
C.W.
Wow, the quality of that thing is horrible.
I echo Phil's comments about a laser cutter. I haven't even scratched the surface of what I can do with my 75 watt Epilog Legend and its 24x36 bed.
But there's an excellent chance you have singed the surface of that 24x36 bed.
I have only done basics, but am learning Fusion 360 so that will really open doors for my ideas.
We also have a 3d printer now and have successfully created a bed of nails fixture using ESD filament that connects to our Flying Probe tester to use it's horsepower.
I used to use various versions of the free stuff out there, and yes, with some tuning and futzing you can get things dialed in to print pretty well. About a year ago I bought Simplify3D on the recommendation from a friend, and I am really glad I did. Same printer, nothing changed as far as hardware adjustments and my prints improved significantly with Simplify3D. It has some very nice features, and it's support material implementation seems to be the best around. It does cost a fair amount, but I feel it is well worth it.
As for which machine, I would avoid the $200 ones. You get what you pay for. The best low cost one is the Prusa I3 Mk3.
Creality CR10 getting rave reviews.....
wonder if its time to jump in?
Dave
I have been watching the Glowforge for a long time now, and this is the first time I have heard any actual user talk about it. Wife and I talked about getting one, but it did not seem to be real.
Jim
They have shipped to most of the US backers, and are about to start on international shipping.
The machine is pretty great. Their software still needs more work, but it works well enough to get the job done in most cases. I am quite happy with it.