3D Printer project

[Normsthename]

I went to the NEC Classic car show a few weeks ago, and there was a Company that could print 3D plastic parts out on a 3D Printer.
I have been very interested in the technology for quite a while, so I have decided to build my own 3D Printer
Here is a video showing the print quality that is possible with a homemade machine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5QxvlylxUQ&feature=related

Over the Christmas holiday I sourced all the parts required, I am now just waiting for the Stepper motors to arrive tomorrow
Hopefully I will have the machine up and running over the weekend for its first test prints!
I am building it as a project, but I am not 100% sure what I will use it for when built!
So if anyone has any ideas what I can use the machine for, I am all ears

Andy

 

[rtbcomp]

You can use it to print the parts for another 3D printer!

 

[Normsthename]

You can use it to print the parts for another 3D printer!

That will be its first job, I have a friend who wants to build one!

Andy

 

[the snooper]

make and sell custom made chess sets, key rings amongst other things

 

[chunkolini]

Read The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson.
Set in the not too distant future, written just before 3D printers became a reality.
The future is arriving.
In the book they are called 'matter compilers' and assemble things molecule by molecule.

 

[rkde]

Have to say they are great, I have one and I have used it to make plastic mould for sheet metal pressings, foam injection moulds and plastic parts. I use it for work so went for the bfb 3000 and I find its best with pla

for small sheet metal I make a 2 park mould and then use my 10t press and put them together.

 

[Shox Dr]

Have to say they are great, I have one and I have used it to make plastic mould for sheet metal pressings, foam injection moulds and plastic parts. I use it for work so went for the bfb 3000 and I find its best with pla

for small sheet metal I make a 2 park mould and then use my 10t press and put them together.

That sound really interesting. Can you elaborate (with pics)

 

[Normsthename]

The bfb 3000 is a ready made 3D printer

http://www.bitsfrombytes.com/content/bfb-3000-0

The technology is exactly the same as a homebuilt RepRap 3D printer that I am building, with the exception they have better bearings like Linear bearings and lead screws etc.
My homebuilt 3D printer is slightly modified with Linear bearings fitted to improve speed / accuracy etc
It has cost me £499.98 in total, which is a good £600 cheaper than a commercial one.
I reckon I could have built it for under £300 if I had made a lot of the parts myself, but I was impatient
I now have all the parts and I will start finishing the machine tomorrow ready for the smoke test

Andy

 

[oz.]

Looks like it could save you a lot of time in making casting parts. Rather than hand carving something with he chances of it going wrong just 3Dprint, clean, into the sand, pour metal...

 

[Burf86]

Maybe a bit late now but check out: www.reprapcentral.com

 

[Luke]

The reprap project is cool, I've been following it for a while.

It'll be good to see some video of this one when it's up and running!

 

[woodie]

The Reprap machines are good for the price, but for quality you can not beat the Objet machines......

 

[Shox Dr]

Went to the gadget show last Friday, had a good long chat with a Company showing there. forget the name. Interesting, very interesting. But limited in object size, for instance 100mmsq for ABS

 

[Dev]

Some of the stuff those objet machines can produces blows me away. I look forward to the day you will be able to go to your local 3d printers and select whatever you want from their vastcatalogue of stuff...

 

[rkde]

I will give you some advice as to the updates I have had to do to my bfb3000, I have popped to tescos and purchased the cheapest thermostatic heater, then I have an off the shelf digital temp gauge and enclosed the whole thing to keep the heat in the chamber. I can now print things correctly.

The main issues seams to be abs layer distortion so by adding a heat element and control in the box I can now print large items in abs rather than pla

 

[Shox Dr]

Rkde. I asked the guy at The Gadget show, why they didn't heat the cabinets he said it was still under Patent.

 

[Monster966]

I've been doing this stuff for a living (the last 20 years!) & it's all a bit far away from being able to pop down your local 3d print shop for anything with any real quality. Don't get me wrong it's great fun & if you aim your design at how the processes work you can do some really funky things. All of the various machines have their own pros & cons with both process requirements & material issues, very much a horses for courses kind of thing. Have a look at our website.

www.oglemodels.com

 

[Shox Dr]

You lucky sod. Those Laser Sintering machines are Ace.

 

[Monster966]

They're ok Like I said all of the different processes have drawbacks including SLS. Unfortunately I don't actually get to play with any of it much, work turnaround is expected to be so quick the whole business has become all about stress, you know, designers leaves it to the last minute to do something & then expects it to be made & perfectly finished in multiple colours over night & then bleats when you tell him it'll cost extra, hey ho such is life I guess.

 

[Shox Dr]

Sounds like a familiar story throughout industry these days. So glad I work for myself