3D Printing Parts

Probably the best tool ever invented.
I'm hopelessly addicted.

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Spent a lot of time looking into it. I know there are many basement startups designing all forms of 3D printers. Prices range from generally from $400 to all the way up to $20000 for a "desktop"printer (depending on technology - Extrusion, Granular, Light polymerised).

The extrusion printing is likely the most practical ( i think for rc type application ), as its one of the least expensive with readily available consumables (ABS and PLA), but light polymerised to date has the best finish - its also the most expensive starting at around 3500 for a desktop model. The biggest challange with the extrusion type from what I have learned is that overhung or "bridged" areas of your model tend to suffer if you don't have adequate supporting structures put in by the program you are using to build your models.

I was thinking about getting one but I don't know if the plastic is up to the task? do you find it strong enough? I haven't got my hands on any samples of printed PLA or ABS to know or test. I also wonder if there are any issues with the layers delaminating under tension or torque. I think some day I will have to get one to try out.

 

I am really looking forward for this one formlabs.com. Just want a little more infos on the resin !

 

For the last couple of weeks we are looking at the different 3D-printing systems.....and the resin based stereolithographic 3D system looks the most promising so far (in our case fine details are important)...the drawback is the (still) pretty high price of the resin.

Here are a few of the links I have collected over the last few weeks:


http://www.curbellplastics.com/prototyping-tooling/sla-resins.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22992164

http://utwired.engr.utexas.edu/lff/...rchive/pubs/Manuscripts/1993/1993-02-Pang.pdf

http://www.laserrepro.com/materials/

http://www.protocam.com/html/materials-sla.html

http://hackaday.com/2012/04/05/3d-printer-with-insane-accuracy-uses-a-dlp-projector/

http://fabbaloo.com/blog/2012/6/22/another-open-source-resin-3d-printer-sedgwick.html#.UP0xa2emU7I

http://3dprinter.wikidot.com/photoactive-resins

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:19185

http://hackaday.com/2012/05/10/and-so-the-deluge-of-resin-based-3d-printers-begins/

http://blog.makezine.com/2012/10/05/3d-printed-optics-using-clear-resin/

http://www.protomed.net/products/stereolithography.html

http://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=1556377



Chris

 

My son and I have been heavily involved with the 3D Printing movement for the past 3 years. Built some home built RepRaps and a hand full of MakerBot Cupcakes. Presently have two highly modified Cupcakes and a Replicator 1XL. My son is thinking about printing some quad parts.

 

What do you guys think of this printer?
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1682938109/robo-3d-printer

 

Make magazine did a 3D Printer Shootout in their November Issue. If you are seriously thinking about getting into 3D printing, you should get a copy and read it. Like I said, we are really into it but, like building and flying a Quad, it does take a lot of tweaking and is not for the faint of heart. We have found that for printing with ABS, we need an enclosed print chamber to get consistent, reliable results so I would probably not recommend the Robo printer.

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JohnA136,

whats your take on the formlabs approach ? I cant figure what i should think of the resin and if it will be really strong enough to be used in a functional sense when it comes to copter.

Thanks

Boris

 

Boris, it looks interesting but we really only have hands on experience with fused filament printing at this time.

 

Thanks i am really tempted to get one lets see !

 

Boris as a previous owner of an architectural model making company I can say that the rasin aproach provides high detail and ease of use but the material degrades over time especially in sunlight. zcorp systems used to be the best but lately a cheap ultimaker is my choice of printer.

 

Okay thanks ! I was dealing with the zcorp printers here in vienna and its okay for doing the zenmuse mods for the GH3 to fit in, but I wouldn't want to use the parts on anything structural were there is a wear and tear or any force. To what can i compare the ABS prints would i be able to use them as a boom clamp for example ?

Boris

 

and John when you say highly modified to what extend. I just don't have the time for another hobby I just want to load in the STL and print !

 

I think the vibration will destroy the plastic. My Zenmuse mount works like a charm though.

http://www.multirotorforums.com/sho...igher-retracts-with-some-Ultimaker-assistance

 

Also if you are not in a hurry http://www.shapeways.com/ can print anything your heart desires.

 

If any of you are looking to experiment with 3D printing, look for a local hacker space in your area. We have two different ones here in Baltimore, and both have 3D printers. I've been experimenting myself and it's loads of fun. So far I've printed an enclosure for my OpenPilot CC board and some 25mm boom clamps. So far so good, but I'm still learning for sure.

 

okay just tried shape ways ! But i want a machine next to me. Gonna make a decision between a ultimaker replikator and formlabs till the end of the weekend !

 

there are actually guys doing boom clamps hmmmmm

http://www.shapeways.com/model/659957/motor-mount-clamp-16mm.html?li=productBox-search