BobL
7th August 2021, 04:54 PM
Recently I purchased a 3D printer and my son, who also helped me set it up, suggested I look on Thingiverse.com for printing things that I could print that would be useful in my workshop. Most of these were first processed using what are called parametric files whereby the dimensions of the piece and subcomponents cane be varied to suit. Then an STL file and a Sliced file must be produced to suit the printer before objects can be printed.
Here's just a selection of what I have printed in the last week or so.
1 small G clamp - printed just for fun - its surprisingly strong
2 bracket/arm for the filament spool for the 3D printer
3 piano hinge - printed as a single print - yes it turns just fine
4 pin hinge
5 Irwin Quick grip replacement pads
6 Qubelock corner pieces
7 MW lathe scroll vice soft jaws.
499089
I have about 30 of these Irwin quick grip clamps and have lost or damaged about half a dozen of the original yellow pads.
The white material is Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) which has a very similar squishiness to the original yellow pads
499090
4" MW lathe chuck soft jaws. Same TPU material as the Irwin clamp pads
499091
Soft jaws for a 4" bench vice. Also TPU.
499092
Dust scoop for SCMS.
This is in a plastic called PLA.
499093
The Qubelock corner connectors are being used to make an enclosure for the 3D printer.
They cost about $2 ea to buy, but 25c ea to make and I need 30 of them for the enclosure frame
It also means I can use less expensive 20mm square Al tubing instead of the 25mm tubing required for the std Qubelock connectors.
Eventually the frames will be covered in 1mm polycabonate and have a hinged door on the front.
499094
It takes a long time (sometimes many hours) to print, especially the bigger, pieces but hey, it doesn't sleep and can run more or less 24/7.
Here's just a selection of what I have printed in the last week or so.
1 small G clamp - printed just for fun - its surprisingly strong
2 bracket/arm for the filament spool for the 3D printer
3 piano hinge - printed as a single print - yes it turns just fine
4 pin hinge
5 Irwin Quick grip replacement pads
6 Qubelock corner pieces
7 MW lathe scroll vice soft jaws.
499089
I have about 30 of these Irwin quick grip clamps and have lost or damaged about half a dozen of the original yellow pads.
The white material is Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) which has a very similar squishiness to the original yellow pads
499090
4" MW lathe chuck soft jaws. Same TPU material as the Irwin clamp pads
499091
Soft jaws for a 4" bench vice. Also TPU.
499092
Dust scoop for SCMS.
This is in a plastic called PLA.
499093
The Qubelock corner connectors are being used to make an enclosure for the 3D printer.
They cost about $2 ea to buy, but 25c ea to make and I need 30 of them for the enclosure frame
It also means I can use less expensive 20mm square Al tubing instead of the 25mm tubing required for the std Qubelock connectors.
Eventually the frames will be covered in 1mm polycabonate and have a hinged door on the front.
499094
It takes a long time (sometimes many hours) to print, especially the bigger, pieces but hey, it doesn't sleep and can run more or less 24/7.