Have You considered getting a 3D printer

[Roger ClarkParticipant @rogerclark]

I've got 3, one 220 x 220 x 200mm filament printer plus an Elegoo Mars and Saturn resin printers, all very very useful.

Roger

Edited By Rockingdodge on 11/12/2020 17:17:59

[Rod RenshawParticipant @rodrenshaw28584]

I think what most puts me off getting a 3D printer is the thought that my general lack of IT skills would make it difficult for me to use one effectively.

Rod

[Jeff DaymanParticipant @jeffdayman43397]

Rod, can you do the following:

1. download a pre-designed file set from Thingiverse.com, (file is in stl format)

2. load a slicer program like Cura to your PC (Cura comes free with the printer if you buy a Creality one like Ender 3, not sure if other makers give out a free slicer)

3. follow the online tutorial for the slicer, or a yout ube video on how to use it and open the stl file, position it in Cura, and slice it, generating a g-code the printer can read

4. put the g-code file made by the slicer program on a micro SD memory card

5. Load the memory card to the slot on the Ender 3 controller

6. Select the file with the controller, push start.

If you can do these things and do basic allen wrench assembly on the machine itself, you can run an Ender 3 3D printer.

Myfordboy has some great videos on yout ube also, for both Ender 3 printer and Elegoo resin printers, and others.

Edited By Jeff Dayman on 11/12/2020 17:30:14

[Brian GParticipant @briang]

I suspect in a few years time the question "Have you ever considered getting a 3D printer for your workshop?" will seem as obvious as "Have you ever considered getting a lathe". I suffer episodes of paralysis and mine are ideal for my situation as they mean I can keep modelling or printing when I cannot safely use other tools.

Brian G

[Brian HParticipant @brianh50089]

I have wondered about 3D printing for patterns but might be more interested if the capability to print in metals

was cheaper. Otherwise, I would rather go down the cnc route.

Brian

[Rod RenshawParticipant @rodrenshaw28584]

Jeff

Thanks for the instructions, but most of them mean little or nothing to me. It's probably laziness but I just don't seem to learn effectively about IT matters unless I am actually shown what to do, almost keystroke by keystroke, and then use it frequently.

Regards, Rod

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

Superclean environment is a relative term where Ady1 is concerned

Edited By Ady1 on 11/12/2020 18:43:20

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Myfordboy has some great videos on yout ube also, for both Ender 3 printer and Elegoo resin printers, and others.

’Fraid myfordboy (engine builder on here) promotes these things (gets them delivered FOC long before they are available to the public (for a favourable review?) so that likely contravenes the COP for the forum.

That said his demo (along with others) persuaded me to get the SV01.🙂

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

For me its just another expensive toy that I've no use for.

Martin P

[Dave Smith 14Participant @davesmith14]

I have an Anycubic Photon for 4mm scale work and a Malyan 150 for other stuff the Anycubic cannot do. Martin, my wife said why do we need a buy a tablet a few years ago? She is on her third now! My Malyan is second hand and cost £75 with a truck load of upgrades on it.

Dave

[Robert Atkinson 2Participant @robertatkinson2]

I've thought abouIt it, but having seen the output of professonal machines at work am not convinced by the quality. From listening to others they also seem to be capable of consuming large amounts of time and filament plus a fair bit of money and space.

I'd get more use out of a small CNC mill

Robert G8RPI.

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

I'm waiting for #2 son to buy one!

[Pete RimmerParticipant @peterimmer30576]

Posted by Robert Atkinson 2 on 11/12/2020 22:48:03:

I've thought abouIt it, but having seen the output of professonal machines at work am not convinced by the quality. From listening to others they also seem to be capable of consuming large amounts of time and filament plus a fair bit of money and space.

I'd get more use out of a small CNC mill

Robert G8RPI.

Once you learn the limitations you'll find it easy to work within them and discover that there's a world of stuff you can make which isn't possible to the home machinist. Here's a small sample of stuff I have made:

Cable clips for my computer desk to hold my phone charger leads

Cable clips for my DRO install

Coil bobbin for ignition pickup

Door sliders for metal garden shed

Model intercooler for RC drift car

Coolant drain nozzle for surface grinder table

Square nut with built-in lugs for lathe E-stop button & 1mm pitch thread

New tap handle for the burco boiler at work which you push with your mug instead of pulling the lever with your hand. This was to stop them from removing the hot water boiler from the site canteen as a covid measure back in the spring.

That's just a few examples. It's true, you won't get injection-mould quality but that doesn't make them useless.

P.S. I'd love a small cnc mill too, but you're not getting one of those new in the box ready to go for £200.

[Henry BrownParticipant @henrybrown95529]

A friend keeps looking at them and saying he is going to get one so I haven't bothered! Another friend has one but it's flat out printing his stuff so maybe in the future but where to put it?

[jimmy bParticipant @jimmyb]

I've had 2 Aldi printers for almost 2 years.

I keep a log of the prints (this started as a bit of fun, but can't seem to stop now!), so far the totals on both printers are-

• 1,152 prints
• 3,812 hours
• 7,804 meters of filament (23.4 kg)

in that time, I've used around 10 print mats, 20 bowden tubes/nozzles

 

I have probably had less than 10 prints fail.

Printed things range from workshop items (brackets, tubs, tools etc etc), house items (a surprising amount looking at the log), work items (makes it easier to quote parts when you can hold a physical item.

 

Mine get a check over once a month (oiled, alignment check and dust blown off).

If the wife would let me have another, I would get a dual extruder to add to the fleet.

 

Jim

Edited By jimmy b on 12/12/2020 08:16:48

[Chuck TaperParticipant @chucktaper]

I have a Rostockmax V3. Got it a few years back as much for the build as the use.

Don't use it as much as I should but its a glory to behold in action.

Well worth a quick youTube search if you have nothing better to do.

FC

[HollowpointParticipant @hollowpoint]

I bought an ender 3 pro about 18 months ago. I don't use it that much but when I have found a use for it, it has been invaluable. Pinting small items like electronics enclosures and one-off brackets and mounts has been the main use for me. I certainly couldn't see myself without one now!

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Seems like a good idea, since 3D printing can produce parts that would be difficult or impossible using normal machining methods.

But can't think of an immediate need for one at present. No doubt, once having bone, all sorts of uses would come to mind.

Just need to be finally persuaded!

Howard

[Gordon TarlingParticipant @gordontarling37126]

I'd considered getting one for quite some time before I finally bought a Creality Ender 5 back in the summer. I've been impressed with the print quality from such a low priced printer, but found some tuning was required for better results – takes a little while, but usually worth it. I've also bought a couple of upgrades for it, as well as 3D printed one or two. It hasn't had much rest since I bought it and I'm finding it very useful for my hobbies; being able to now print stuff I never knew I needed previously! I did wonder about the requirement to be familiar with CAD before I bought it, as I've never been terribly au fait with any CAD package, but there's millions of 'things' on various websites that have been well designed by others and it's often easy to adapt or modify those to suit your own requirements. I've also managed to get to partial grips with Tinkercad and been able to draw a few simple parts for myself. Print failures are to be expected now and then, but usually only cost a bit of time and a few feet of filament. – my biggest to date was caused by a power cut around halfway through a 2 day print, so my printer now is powered via an Uninterruptable Power Supply which will run it for about an hour. Overall, well worthwhile getting it!

[Another JohnSParticipant @anotherjohns]

I have one, from 2014 which is not very good. It's been sitting collecting dust for a couple of years now.

At work, I had the use of a Stratasys, but that lab's closed down. Every once in a while I think of picking another one up for home, but… (have CNC metalworking machines and a lack of time for *those*…)

Here's a picture of my Printrbot Simple – laser cut wood, Dremel sanding disks and fishing line for axis drives… Was High Tech at the time!

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Brian G on 11/12/2020 17:39:38:

I suspect in a few years time the question "Have you ever considered getting a 3D printer for your workshop?" will seem as obvious as "Have you ever considered getting a lathe". I suffer episodes of paralysis and mine are ideal for my situation as they mean I can keep modelling or printing when I cannot safely use other tools.

Brian G

I realise that responses may be skewed towards people who have an interest in 3D printing, but despite their still being some people who are sceptical of their value it's clear that they are now a commonplace tool in our workshops.

I suspect it would be fair to say that owning a 3D printer is probably more common in the hobby than owning a mill was thirty or forty years ago.

I must say I am more than a little surprised that none of the regular suppliers to the hobby have decided to stock 'mid range' machines for a price comparable to a small lathe.

Keep voting folks – the picture could change…

Neil

[Roger BestParticipant @rogerbest89007]

I will be looking hard at them when I am sure the heat resistance is where I need it, and that means stability not just melting temperature. I know that materials with 150-170C are out there now so its pretty close.

Off course metal additive manufacture is available but that costs money as the machines are very expensive.

Generally I am waiting for the technology to make live steam, detailed models fast, for example printing a traction engine wheel set in a weekend rather than slaving for weeks. Those awkward little brackets that you can't see from a couple of feet away etc.

[John ShepherdParticipant @johnshepherd38883]

I see my 3D printer as another workshop tool. For those that doubt their usefulness, here is a list of some of the things I have made for the workshop:

1. Brackets for DRO on mill
2. Ring light for mill
3. Rotary laser centre finder
4. Lathe QCTP mount for DTI
5. Tool centre height gauge
6. Case for lathe DRO
7. Dremel bench stand
8. Small screw cut to length jig for Dremel
9. Dremel drum sander attachment
10. Rotary Laser centre finder
11. Cases for test equipment
12. Misc knobs and levers

These are in addition to various things for the home and printing parts for my much modified Prusa style printer.

John

[Andy_CParticipant @andy_c]

John if available I would be interested in whether the STL files are publicly available for 4, 5, 7 and 8.

[Anthony KnightsParticipant @anthonyknights16741]

I have considered getting one, but at the moment I have too many other things to do.

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