3D printers and Multi Rotor

ctbon

ctbon

Member
I think there are great potential uses for 3D printers in building and maintaining our crafts.

Does anyone have one? What are you using it for?

From custom parts to replacement parts, I think at some point a 3D printer will be essential for the DIY hobbyist. Any thoughts on this?
 

M

maxrr

New Member
We have a Makebot Cupcake at our hackerspace in Sydney, there's bound to be one in your area.
So far I haven't used it for copter parts, but things like clamps to hold boom arms or motor mount should print fine and would be more the strong enough.
 

R

RTRyder

Merlin of Multirotors
ctbon said:
I think there are great potential uses for 3D printers in building and maintaining our crafts.

Does anyone have one? What are you using it for?

From custom parts to replacement parts, I think at some point a 3D printer will be essential for the DIY hobbyist. Any thoughts on this?
Click to expand...

I don't have one but I have access to one, or more accurately I have access to the owner of one who will make things for me, I wouldn't even know where to begin to use it. I think its going to be a few more years before the price drops and market matures enough for them to be fairly common, not mention you really need to know how to work with 3D modeling software to be able to do anything with one and that can be a fairly steep learning curve for the average hobbyist.

For now I use a more traditional method of making the odd bit for a multi, heli, RC car, etc. There's a 7 x 12 metal lathe next to a mini mill out in the garage with a stock of Delrin and 6061 alloy to make things out of, it's come in quite handy at times. The downside is that its strictly manual operation, no CNC here, so everything tends to be a one off, not easily or quickly reproduced. It is pretty cool to take a chunk of metal or plastic and make a part though, sometimes its the only way to get what you need for an off the wall application!

Ken
 



J

jes1111

Active Member
The MakerBot stuff is cute, but not really up to the job in terms of accuracy, surface finish and materials choices. "Proper" 3D printers run $10K and upwards (a long way upwards!). You'd need to be printing a lot of parts yourself to justify home ownership - chances are you'd be much better off using a service bureau like www.shapeways.com - good prices, some good materials choices, etc. (I'm guessing this is where Ed went for his parts.) But as Ken said, the biggest hurdle (whether you own a machine or use a bureau) is mastering the 3D software and also many of the engineering principles that come into play (like tolerances, estimating torsional stiffness, etc.) It's taken me the best part of six months to become proficient on SolidWorks.
 

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