What should I make with my 3D printer?

What should I make with my 3D printer?

Author
Discussion

JW027

Original Poster:

407 posts

139 months

Sunday 7th September 2014
quotequote all
Hi guys so I have just received my 3D printer and need something to make. It's an SLA with layer heights of down to 25 microns so very high quality. It's a small bed at 125x165mm but good for a lot of things.

Any ideas on what I could print?!

Adrian W

13,848 posts

227 months

Sunday 7th September 2014
quotequote all
JW027 said:
Hi guys so I have just received my 3D printer and need something to make. It's an SLA with layer heights of down to 25 microns so very high quality. It's a small bed at 125x165mm but good for a lot of things.

Any ideas on what I could print?!
Try a working clock

Blu3R

2,362 posts

198 months

Sunday 7th September 2014
quotequote all
The build volume is the problem on all desktop printers at the moment. I've been looking into the possibility of printing rear light clusters but can't find anyone with a machine big enough that doesn't want ridiculous money for their work. Even with a large production run the cost is outrageous.

stevegto3

428 posts

136 months

Monday 8th September 2014
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Jed - how about a redesign of the crappy ford escort interior light?

Steve

Adrian W

13,848 posts

227 months

Monday 8th September 2014
quotequote all
Blu3R said:
The build volume is the problem on all desktop printers at the moment. I've been looking into the possibility of printing rear light clusters but can't find anyone with a machine big enough that doesn't want ridiculous money for their work. Even with a large production run the cost is outrageous.
What is a ridiculous amount of money? resin casting or vacuum forming are going to be much cheaper as they both use soft tools. one of the automotive lighting projects I am involved in is a low volume sports car, the tooling costs for the rear lights were in excess of £500k

mgbond

6,749 posts

231 months

Monday 8th September 2014
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Rear wing feet, wheel centre caps. Fake bolts for the 3R wheels.

Bondy

JW027

Original Poster:

407 posts

139 months

Monday 8th September 2014
quotequote all
All good suggestions!

One key area which isn't fully exploited in my opinion is the finishing of parts I.e chroming. I could easily knock up wheel bolts if anyone knows the head sizes. I don't have those on my car to measure etc I could make rear wing mounts but would need to put a layer of rubber to the underside and the parts are ridged.

Build size is also an issue! Big platforms cost big money. I'd much rather have a smaller platform an very high quality!

V1DL3R

560 posts

128 months

Monday 8th September 2014
quotequote all
Blu3R said:
The build volume is the problem on all desktop printers at the moment. I've been looking into the possibility of printing rear light clusters but can't find anyone with a machine big enough that doesn't want ridiculous money for their work. Even with a large production run the cost is outrageous.
Have you considered making the design and then cutting it into 3/4/5 pieces? You can then epoxy the bits together to make the final design. I have found that most abs 3 prints need a sander run over them to get a completely smooth finish although I can't comment on sls.

Blu3R

2,362 posts

198 months

Tuesday 9th September 2014
quotequote all
Adrian W said:
Blu3R said:
The build volume is the problem on all desktop printers at the moment. I've been looking into the possibility of printing rear light clusters but can't find anyone with a machine big enough that doesn't want ridiculous money for their work. Even with a large production run the cost is outrageous.
What is a ridiculous amount of money? resin casting or vacuum forming are going to be much cheaper as they both use soft tools. one of the automotive lighting projects I am involved in is a low volume sports car, the tooling costs for the rear lights were in excess of £500k
I can't remember what the final figure was but it worked out something like £450 a pair.

Adrian W

13,848 posts

227 months

Tuesday 9th September 2014
quotequote all
Blu3R said:
I can't remember what the final figure was but it worked out something like £450 a pair.
when the Marcos Afterburners were available they were more than that.

JW027

Original Poster:

407 posts

139 months

Tuesday 9th September 2014
quotequote all
Adrian W said:
Try a working clock
This is on my list but I don't have time to commit to the actual calculations and modelling of a clock at the moment. I'd love to do a watch/clock but I really think the materials would have to be metal for the movement.

Adrian W

13,848 posts

227 months

Tuesday 9th September 2014
quotequote all
JW027 said:
Adrian W said:
Try a working clock
This is on my list but I don't have time to commit to the actual calculations and modelling of a clock at the moment. I'd love to do a watch/clock but I really think the materials would have to be metal for the movement.
I have seen a clock printed and working, straight from the printer, the only human intervention was to add a spring.

AMG Merc

11,954 posts

252 months

Tuesday 9th September 2014
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Stephen Hawking like question: If you printed another printer from the first would it be like in-breeding e.g.: the printed one would come out with the equivalent of two ears on one side and no nose? scratchchin

JW027

Original Poster:

407 posts

139 months

Tuesday 9th September 2014
quotequote all
I'm not sure how to answer that?!

Blu3R

2,362 posts

198 months

Tuesday 9th September 2014
quotequote all
Adrian W said:
Blu3R said:
I can't remember what the final figure was but it worked out something like £450 a pair.
when the Marcos Afterburners were available they were more than that.
Yes but the Marcos ones came with lamps installed. This price was for two pieces of ABS so you'd then need to spend upwards of £150 on the LED lamp units.

GC1

908 posts

179 months

Tuesday 9th September 2014
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When the LED's first came out they were a fortune,but now some cheaper versions are available you might be able build them using the original lights for around £350 ish....see mine.




TrackMonkey

10 posts

118 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
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Hi, I work for a company that has many 3D printers using various technology and materials. If you have a file I can take a look and give an estimate of cost if you like?

Im interested in changing the rear lights on mine ;-)


TrackMonkey

10 posts

118 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
Hi, I work for a company that has many 3D printers using various technology and materials. If you have a file I can take a look and give an estimate of cost if you like?

Im interested in changing the rear lights on mine ;-)


sjc

13,880 posts

269 months

Thursday 11th September 2014
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GC1 said:
When the LED's first came out they were a fortune,but now some cheaper versions are available you might be able build them using the original lights for around £350 ish....see mine.



Although I've never quite seen the problem with the original lights,I really like that and I'd be up for a set.

Adrian W

13,848 posts

227 months

Thursday 11th September 2014
quotequote all
those lights look like they are straight from the Perei Catalogue, to be legal you will need to have a Red reflector somewhere

http://www.perei.co.uk/products?page=shop.product_...