I'm loking at 3D Printers. My son is working on movie special effects, we were talking about a 3D printer and all the cool stuff we could make. These things are awsome. Anyone have any experiance with these?
3D printer
Ranger1
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I built mine from parts available at most hardware stores. Search for "RepRap Prusa Mendel". There is a ton of information online on how to build one, and also how to run/operate one.
I purchased my Nema 23's on eBay as well as the Arduino board to run them. I need to get mine up and running again but I'm out of ABS filament lol.
I purchased my Nema 23's on eBay as well as the Arduino board to run them. I need to get mine up and running again but I'm out of ABS filament lol.
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I don't know too much about them, but one of the ones I keep hearing about is the makerbot. I'm almost positive it uses ABS plastic, which is a huge plus IMO because you can make big things simply my making it in parts and fusing them together with acetone.
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Indeed, they use 1-3mm ABS or PLA plastic filament. You can buy kits of the RepRap design online so all you have to do is assemble, adjust and upload the firmware onto your computer of choice if you don't get an SD reader on the Arduino.
The Makerbot is a good 3D printer, and I've used one myself but it is limited in it's printing size (4"x 4"x 6") IIRC. I do believe they come stock with a heated bed, which is a plus if you're doing larger pieces.
The Makerbot is a good 3D printer, and I've used one myself but it is limited in it's printing size (4"x 4"x 6") IIRC. I do believe they come stock with a heated bed, which is a plus if you're doing larger pieces.
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Like I said, you can make multiple small ABS parts and fuse them together with some acetone. I actually have a bottle of nail polish with acetone and dissolved ABS, so if anything breaks, I can just brush the ABS on and stick the pieces together, and it literally make it one piece. I also have a small medicine bottle full of more dissolved ABS, but in a putty consistency.
The makerbot is a good 3D printer, but it also comes with a relatively high price tag.
If you are have a little bit of technical skill and motivation to spend a good amount of time, I would go with the RepRap option. If your looking for a kit, the Makerfarm kit would be a great choice. You can choose from many different options like color, but also whether or not the kit is complete (so you can self source specific parts if you want). Here is the link: http://www.makerfarm.com/index.php/
Also, about what Masterjuggler said regarding the print material.
The makerbot was originally designed for using pla (polylactic acid) filament while newer models have the capability of printing in abs.
All models of the reprap can print in both filament types, while the abs may require some extras (mainly, a heated build platform) because abs has a tendency to warp when cooling.
If you have any more questions, either post them or feel free to PM me. I'm not an expert, but I will try to help.
-Raultiger
If you are have a little bit of technical skill and motivation to spend a good amount of time, I would go with the RepRap option. If your looking for a kit, the Makerfarm kit would be a great choice. You can choose from many different options like color, but also whether or not the kit is complete (so you can self source specific parts if you want). Here is the link: http://www.makerfarm.com/index.php/
Also, about what Masterjuggler said regarding the print material.
The makerbot was originally designed for using pla (polylactic acid) filament while newer models have the capability of printing in abs.
All models of the reprap can print in both filament types, while the abs may require some extras (mainly, a heated build platform) because abs has a tendency to warp when cooling.
If you have any more questions, either post them or feel free to PM me. I'm not an expert, but I will try to help.
-Raultiger
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HS5 has shapeways make his parts , and they have a buttload of different printers for all the different materials. I'm not sure if they have ABS though, which is very strange.
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I'm almost positive it isn't as strong as cast or cnc'd stainless, but it's still probably stronger than everything else.
It may not be as strong cast of cnc'd stainless but theoretically, it should be fairly similar. The metal is "fused" together (not exactly how it works but the explanation is pretty complex and it depends on the type of printer) and shouldn't really have any weak point created by the layering process. I'm not entirely sure though because i've never tested the material or anything.
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I have never seen cast stainless steel. I actually have never seen cast steel. Steel is iron and carbon. If you melt the steel to cast it you would burn out the carbon and have cast iron. But I am only a Blade-smith . They are doing some amazeing things with steels now. A stainless 3-D Printer would be awsome. Do they come with a 3-D CAD program?
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I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure the printers use some sort of stainless powder and a bonding agent. I remember reading about a printer that prints using some kind of powder and layers of glue, then blows away the powder to give you the finished piece, so maybe this works in a similar way. I didn't look it up though, so don't quote me on this.
There are actually a few ways that these printers can work. I believe one of them does something with lasers to fuse the metal powder layers together, but I'm not entirely sure. I'm much more familiar with with the plastic type printers, especially the extrusion based systems. If your interested in the project (RepRap) visit this website: http://reprap.org/wiki/Main_Page
You wont regret it
Some of the commercial printers do come with their own CAD software but not many that I'm aware of. Many of them, however, do come with their own version of a software (the software that communicates with the printer). They allow you to do some adjustments to the model, but not a whole lot.
For a RepRap (Replicating Rapid prototyper if you were wondering), all of the software and designs for the printer can be found online. This is on purpose because it is an open source project. The main idea is to create a printer that can print as many of its own parts as possible and to spread 3D printing to as many people as possible.
You wont regret it
Some of the commercial printers do come with their own CAD software but not many that I'm aware of. Many of them, however, do come with their own version of a software (the software that communicates with the printer). They allow you to do some adjustments to the model, but not a whole lot.
For a RepRap (Replicating Rapid prototyper if you were wondering), all of the software and designs for the printer can be found online. This is on purpose because it is an open source project. The main idea is to create a printer that can print as many of its own parts as possible and to spread 3D printing to as many people as possible.
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My friend and I just bought one, and should be getting it in a few months. Google "Makibox", it was just $350!!
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