Have You considered getting a 3D printer

[John ShepherdParticipant @johnshepherd38883]

Andy C

I have sent you a PM

[BazParticipant @baz89810]

I would most probably purchase one if the well known model engineering suppliers stocked them and they were reviewed in one of the magazines. I purchased Alibre Atom 3D purely because of the articles in MEW a couple of years ago, I am struggling a bit but only because I spent many years on 2d Autocad and have to learn a totally new way of doing things. My next purchase though must be some version of 3D CAM, no point in having the CAD if I cannot get the G code for the mill, perhaps then thoughts will turn to the 3D printer.

[Martin King 2Participant @martinking2]

Andy C, I have done a QCTP Dial Gauge holder, search it on EBay just to have a look then private message me for the file if suitable.

[David NobleParticipant @davidnoble71990]

Just supposing, I was to show an interest in a printer, not that I do at the moment! which would you recommend?

David

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Posted by David Noble on 13/12/2020 17:25:19:

Just supposing, I was to show an interest in a printer, not that I do at the moment! which would you recommend?

David

The Creality Ender something (whatever number they are now up to) is probably the most popular at the cheap end of the market.

I would recommend the Sovol SVO1 – but only because that is the one I bought (after very careful consideration, mind).

My recommendation is already well out of date, as these things move on at a pace, and may not be suitable for what you would need.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Roger Best on 12/12/2020 14:55:18:

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.

Heat resistance is never going to be particularly good with fused filament deposition as by definition it uses thermoplastics.

Neil

[EmgeeParticipant @emgee]

Anyone printed a connection box with lid to fit on a NEMA23 stepper to allow connection to the incoming 4 core cable ?

Emgee

[Ex contributorParticipant @mgnbuk]

Anyone printed a connection box with lid to fit on a NEMA23 stepper to allow connection to the incoming 4 core cable ?

I have printed one from Thingiverse – if you search "Nema 23" there are several, though most seem to be designed to take a 4 pole circular connector. I intend to print an adapter to change the connector hole to an M12 or M16 conduit thread to use a cable gland – don't like using un-necessary connectors if I can avoid it.

Nigel B.

[Jeff DaymanParticipant @jeffdayman43397]

Hi Neil, about 3D printing by FDM and heat resistant materials: for several years Stratasys and other firms have offered service bureau printing of both Ultem PEI and PEEK polymers. I had some valve parts for a steam sterilizer made in 2011 in Ultem in my day job, and they withstood the heat OK but were a bit porous. A recent article about the various machines is below. The technology exists and is actively being developed.

https://www.3dnatives.com/en/ranking-3d-printers-peek-ultem020520184/#!

Parts FDM'd in both these resins can operate at over 100 deg C. The nozzle temps on some machines reach 470 deg C for PEEK.Just to be clear, these are multi million dollar commercial machines, and 3D printed parts in these materials are far more expensive than regular service polymers like PLA,ABS,etc. As far as I know no one is offering a home type low cost machine to 3D print Ultem or PEEK in the home shop. They may, someday.

Edited By Jeff Dayman on 14/12/2020 12:31:05

[Henry BrownParticipant @henrybrown95529]

Just bought one! Creality Ender 3 Pro @ £152.20 Banggood – UK based so free 3 day delivery…

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

That NZ spaceship operation print their own rocket engines

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

If I buy one, out of curiosity, and get some sort of a hang of using it, it will most probably become one of those devices that one wonders "How did I manage for so long without it"?

But, presently cannot think of a need / use for one!

Printing shims to set tool heights, perhaps?

Howard

Edited By Howard Lewis on 14/12/2020 15:08:45

[David NobleParticipant @davidnoble71990]

Posted by not done it yet on 13/12/2020 18:28:49:

Posted by David Noble on 13/12/2020 17:25:19:

Just supposing, I was to show an interest in a printer, not that I do at the moment! which would you recommend?

David

The Creality Ender something (whatever number they are now up to) is probably the most popular at the cheap end of the market.

I would recommend the Sovol SVO1 – but only because that is the one I bought (after very careful consideration, mind).

My recommendation is already well out of date, as these things move on at a pace, and may not be suitable for what you would need.

Thank you NDIY

David

[Ronald MorrisonParticipant @ronaldmorrison29248]

Posted by Howard Lewis on 14/12/2020 15:08:03:

If I buy one, out of curiosity, and get some sort of a hang of using it, it will most probably become one of those devices that one wonders "How did I manage for so long without it"?

But, presently cannot think of a need / use for one!

Printing shims to set tool heights, perhaps?

Howard

Edited By Howard Lewis on 14/12/2020 15:08:45

Two thoughts on this question.

1. Do you have CAD experience so you can design a product you would like but can't buy? I use FreeCAD to design and Cura slicer to generate the gcode the 3D printer understands. Both of those programs are free if the budget is of consideration.

2. Have you ever wasted a few hours on Thingiverse to see what other people have designed and made the design freely available. There are practical items and whimsical items and educational items there.

I have designed and printed a few items to repair things around the house. Have you ever tried to search for the plastic end caps on an ironing board foot? I made one of those that had gone missing. I printed change gears for my mini lathe. I made new feet for my folding beach chair so they wouldn't sink into the sand. Whatever you can think of that will fit within the printing envelope can be 3D printed. Now think of the limitations of the material. Not everything that can be 3D printed should be. Got a design in mind but don't want to waste the time and metal only to find out that it won't work or isn't practical? Design and set it up on the printer, start the job and walk away. That printer works the same whether you are watching it or not (unless something goes wrong and the print can't complete but then it stops when it thinks the job is done).

[jaCK HobsonParticipant @jackhobson50760]

Posted by David Noble on 13/12/2020 17:25:19:

Just supposing, I was to show an interest in a printer, not that I do at the moment! which would you recommend?

David

For cheap, Creality.

Ender 3 is dirt cheap, will get you going, easy to tweak and upgrade but can give good results as std

Ender 3 v2 has useful upgrades – build plate, quiet motors, easy to update firmware, better power supply, better adjusters.

For least hassle, Prusa

Prusa use their printers to make their own dog food, or something. Everything is tweaked for reliability including great support for different slicer settings for different combinations of filament, nozzle etc

Prusa mini if you are OK with the print size limitation. Much cheaper than the std prusa. Just as reliable.

[Steve PaveyParticipant @stevepavey65865]

I’ve just got an Ender3 v2, which seems to be very good so far – certainly easy to put together and set up. I did manage to drive the nozzle into the bed at one point while levelling it, but fortunately it’s mounted on springs so I got away with it. The first print went much better than I dared to hope for – a bearing holder for the top of the z axis, and I even found a new bearing the correct size to fit it. The only real problem I’ve had so far is loading the filament – I found it a struggle to persuade it to go down the tube for some reason.

[Bob RodgersonParticipant @bobrodgerson97362]

Creaity Ender 3 Pro is the one I bought as a Christmas present to myself. If you can draw using any of the 3Dv drawing programmes you can make it own this machine. It worked straight out of the box (After building it up) and has not disappointed me in the slightest. There are a million and one free drawings out there that can be turned into a 3-d solid.

[Ronald MorrisonParticipant @ronaldmorrison29248]

Posted by Steve Pavey on 07/01/2021 22:10:55:

I’ve just got an Ender3 v2, which seems to be very good so far – certainly easy to put together and set up. I did manage to drive the nozzle into the bed at one point while levelling it, but fortunately it’s mounted on springs so I got away with it. The first print went much better than I dared to hope for – a bearing holder for the top of the z axis, and I even found a new bearing the correct size to fit it. The only real problem I’ve had so far is loading the filament – I found it a struggle to persuade it to go down the tube for some reason.

I've found it easiest to just remove the nut holding the tube to the feed mechanism and get it started into the tube, the thread the nut back where it belongs. Once started you can just release the feed and push the filament down the tube.

[RobinParticipant @robin]

I have the ancient UP Plus 2, an all-steel affair that can be moved around whilst printing without upset.

Favourite prints are my litter picker, featuring a double-sided rack, and the catch which holds the kitchen door open.

[Clive FarrarParticipant @clivefarrar90441]

I go in fits and starts with mine. I have got through 4kg of material so for so done a fair bit with it , Ender 3 V1.

have done all the common mods and it works very well for me. I have 3 pages of own design work on tinkercad and find it very useful for creating odd bits that you can not get hold of , and yes lots of stuff from Thingi@@@@ but you do have to choose carefully as there is some rubbish.

Little RC parts, new knob for crepe maker, special bobbin end for SHMBO ! , oil drums for model boat, bee hive gates, pop bottle bird feeder , wasp trap etc

So yes they can be useful, but mine did sit idle for 6 months until the current set of projects came along .

For the money its a good indoor hobby in these cold confined times.

Regards Clive

[Henry BrownParticipant @henrybrown95529]

Posted by Ronald Morrison on 08/01/2021 00:23:06:

I've found it easiest to just remove the nut holding the tube to the feed mechanism and get it started into the tube, the thread the nut back where it belongs. Once started you can just release the feed and push the filament down the tube.

Ronald, I'm a newbie to this as well, I find that it's best use the direction of curve of the filament and also cut the filament at a sharp angle helps no end. Mines an Ender 3 Pro.

Bob R, I did the same and I'm quietly getting my head around Fusion 360. My first prints were a set of holders for my Multifix tool holders, design on Thingiverse, since then I printed adjusters for the X and Y belts amongt other things. My attempts at a tool tip holder to go on the board with the Multifix worked out ok as well…

I did have a problem with loose screws on the preassembled X axis cross bar causing the setting of the bed to be a nightmare, this was compounded by loose adjusting screws under the heated bed. It took it all apart and put some slightly longer screws in the X axis cross bar as there was a bit of unused thread and Loctited the adjusting screws under the bed, I also change the rubbish springs for a set from ebay (from I_jest-you_not, andylaw1974@hotmail.co.uk) which has now made it much easier to set up and stabalised the bed.

Lots of frustrating fun, a steep learning curve indeed!

[IanTParticipant @iant]

Posted by David Noble on 14/12/2020 16:49:24:

Posted by not done it yet on 13/12/2020 18:28:49:

Posted by David Noble on 13/12/2020 17:25:19:

Just supposing, I was to show an interest in a printer, not that I do at the moment! which would you recommend?

David

The Creality Ender something (whatever number they are now up to) is probably the most popular at the cheap end of the market. I would recommend the Sovol SVO1 – but only because that is the one I bought (after very careful consideration, mind).

My recommendation is already well out of date, as these things move on at a pace, and may not be suitable for what you would need

I purchased a Sovol S01 too David, about a year ago now and I'm very happy with it. I did some research at the time and the Solvol came with a number of 'features' as standard – that were "add-on" (additional cost) accessories on other 3D printers.

From memory they were a better quality PSU, tempered glass bed plate, uprated bed springs & adjusters, a powered filament feed on the head (e.g. not Bowden feed), twin Z-axis leadscrews (and steppers) – all virtually pre-built (very little assembly required) and not much more in cost than more basic printers from other vendors.

As NDIY says, everything moves apace these days and there will be newer models around now but I would certainly recommend a Sovol S01 or anything with a similar spec (e.g. Creality CR6).

Regards,

IanT

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Knowing NOTHING of CAD, it sounds like there would be two learning curves, CAD and then the 3D printer (Once a decision had been made on which CAD package, and then the printer to buy )

I would need a TOTAL idiots guide to both.

Howard

[Martin 100Participant @martin100]

Built a reprap Mendel sometime in 2010, finally replaced with a prusa i3 mk3 around two years ago.

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by Howard Lewis on 09/01/2021 14:36:56:

Knowing NOTHING of CAD, it sounds like there would be two learning curves, CAD and then the 3D printer (Once a decision had been made on which CAD package, and then the printer to buy )

I would need a TOTAL idiots guide to both.

Howard

I was surprised how easy the printing part is. I have a Creality3 Pro, which automates most of the hard stuff. Most recent hobby printers remove a lot of fiddling.

Put it together, levelled the bed, loaded plastic filament, plugged in a memory card, selected the test file and that was pretty much it. Considerably easier to drive than a lathe or milling machine where you can't just follow the instructions.

3D CAD is the hard part and I suspect downright difficult for anyone who has spent a lifetime working with 2D drawings. Difficult to describe but as well as learning a complicated software package it's also necessary to approach design from a different perspective. Unlearning 2D is really difficult, but not impossible.

Dave

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