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Things I would like to 3D print

jmtd.net

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Re: Things I would like to 3D print

#11

Post by WrtCdEvrydy »

doctoboggan wrote: post #10
axegon_ wrote: post #5

I got a 3D printer earlier this year for no other reason that it was on sale. I cannot even begin to describe how much fun I've been having with it. Funny enough, I've had to print some of the things on the list. I have a pile of ~10 keyboard legs right next to me on the shelf, they often take a hit when I'm angry at something.

Years ago I owned and worked with tons of different FDM printers. They were always needing a height calibration or nozzle unclogging or something else. Does yours seem to work reliably? Honestly I got to the point where I just thought FDM would never be a reliable tech but I would love it if I was wrong. If yours is reliable, can you tell me what brand it is?

It depends on your guidelines for reliability.

Some people have claimed to have run thousands of hours on their Prusa machines, as they are built for reliability above all.

Re: Things I would like to 3D print

#12

Post by Normal_gaussian »

For the first one I'd recommend doing it without the printer using thick wire and a plastic dip. It will be significantly stronger and (as a result) have much fewer design constraints.

3D printer + minor woodworking + paint/sealant knowledge just kills when it comes to diy. Though I would recommend usinh a 3D printing service, maintaining a prnter can be pot luck with respect to time consumption, and services offer way more choice.

Re: Things I would like to 3D print

#14

Post by axegon_ »

doctoboggan wrote: post #10
axegon_ wrote: post #5

I got a 3D printer earlier this year for no other reason that it was on sale. I cannot even begin to describe how much fun I've been having with it. Funny enough, I've had to print some of the things on the list. I have a pile of ~10 keyboard legs right next to me on the shelf, they often take a hit when I'm angry at something.

Years ago I owned and worked with tons of different FDM printers. They were always needing a height calibration or nozzle unclogging or something else. Does yours seem to work reliably? Honestly I got to the point where I just thought FDM would never be a reliable tech but I would love it if I was wrong. If yours is reliable, can you tell me what brand it is?

Mine is resin based(elegoo mars pro). The parts are nowhere nearly as strong as pla for instance and the build size is significantly smaller but the amount of detail you can get is astonishing plus there is no time penalty for complex parts, unlike filament based ones. The bonus with elegoo's readings is that they have practically no smell to them whatsoever. I do plan on getting a filament based printer at some point though for larger parts. Namely Creality 3DPrintMill. Got a ton of ideas around robots, plans and drones so we'll see how that goes.

Re: Things I would like to 3D print

#15

Post by _def »

demeyer1 wrote: post #3

Good list! Couple thoughts - if you are using some of these items with kids (the replacement part example) it's worth considering the types and materials of the filament you are using. Some are safer than others, depending on the application. If you are using for food storage, there are ways to take otherwise unsafe materials and make them safer for storing edible/consumable materials. If there is something out there…

Thangs is super useful, as you can search by geometry. Sort of like a reverse image search. Works really well and is just amazing to me.

Re: Things I would like to 3D print

#18

Post by LeonM »

an1sotropy wrote: post #13

Can anyone 3D print a spark plug? Spark plugs are interesting examples of ubiquitous and essential objects with a particular combination of mechanical and electrical requirements.

I started writing the comment with "I highly doubt it", but as I was writing, I think it is a very interesting question. And it might be possible.

Like you said, spark plugs require high-heat and high electrical insulation properties. Hence why spark plugs are made out of ceramics (or glass) and metal.

Spark plugs also have a heat rating, which indicates how well the plug is able to extract heat from the tip. If the heat extracting properties of the plug aren't just right, a modern turbocharged engine will not run properly.

Lastly, with the power output of modern coil-on-plug designs, the electric arcs will eat away the electrode quite quickly. That is why spark plugs have a coating on the electrodes to increase longevity.

3D-printing of ceramics is possible, though I do not know how the properties of ceramic polymer filaments hold up. The metal parts will require high resolution (the threads, the spark gap).

So yeah, it might be possible to 3D-print a spark plug, but it will require expensive machines (metal printing, ceramics printing) and the resulting plug will be orders of magnitude more expensive as a traditionally created spark plug. It will also not last as long.

Re: Things I would like to 3D print

#19

Post by sydd »

FYI a 3D printer is super affordable nowadays. Heres a quick guide for home usage:

FDM printers: They use a spool of plastic as filament which is heated and layed down layer by layer in a small string, are the cheapest, safest, have a large print volume. On the downside they often break down (e.g. the filament gets jammed) and have a coarse resolution (the smallest details are around 0.1mm). Most popular ones are the Ender series from Creality and Prusa printes. Prices are from $150, filament is from $17/kg.

SLA printers: They use a liquid (called resin) the hardens (cures) under UV light, they print a whole layer at once. They are capable of printing super fine details, are less prone to breakdown (they just have 1 motor vs 4 or more in FDM). On the downside the resin they use is a very toxic material, you need to vent its air outside and always use protective gear. Also the print needs to be washed and cured after printing and they have a smaller build volume (iPad mini/iPad screen size) than FDM. You can get one from $250. Check out r/PrintedMinis on Reddit to see what they are capable of.

I suggest getting a FDM printer as the first one unless you really need the fine details, e.g. for printing miniature figures.

Re: Things I would like to 3D print

#20

Post by pasabagi »

LeonM wrote: post #18
an1sotropy wrote: post #13

Can anyone 3D print a spark plug? Spark plugs are interesting examples of ubiquitous and essential objects with a particular combination of mechanical and electrical requirements.

I started writing the comment with "I highly doubt it", but as I was writing, I think it is a very interesting question. And it might be possible. Like you said, spark plugs require high-heat and high electrical insulation properties. Hence why spark plugs are made out of ceramics (or glass) and metal. Spark plugs also have a heat rating, which indicates how well the plug is able to extract heat from the tip. If the…

I think 3D printing the spark plug itself would be the wrong approach. You could get a better result by designing and printing a jig for making spark plugs - perhaps a couple of pieces? So like, one extruder for making ceramic tubes, then a lathe for working the ceramic while it's still soft?

My own messing around with a 3d printer has generally confirmed it's an amazing tool for making jigs of all kinds, but the actual prints aren't usually that useful in and of themselves.

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