3D Printing

**Ian Smith** · 13th April 2013, 08:26 PM

Firstly I know the following will sound like a sales pitch, but it isn't - I have no affiliation with anyone, and I have no interest in selling anything to anyone.

So, having got that squared away....How many of you have dabbled in the relatively new sphere of 3D printing?
I have recently acquired such a beast and I am blown away by the possibilities, and from that point of view it's not a such a long bow to draw to suggest that it may have more than just a little to do with woodworking.

If you can draw an object in Sketchup or other CAD software, then you can probably reproduce it on a 3D printer...... handles for those little files and chisels, specialized pieces for shelving, knobs, small hinges, latches, plaques, templates, gauges..etc. You really do have manufacturing at your fingertips.
Sure, there are limitations and most machines currently available are limited to object that will fit inside a 150 mm cube and the mechanical strength of the printed article is similar to that of Lego as the process use the same type of plastic (ABS). The process is so simple and yet fascinating to watch and is very akin to a CNC machine operating a hot melt glue gun, so instead of removing material the machine is laying it down.

As a for instance, I have the old style, 30+ years, Wunderlich aluminium sliding windows in my place and a couple of the latches have failed so I thought it would be a useful first project to try to learn a bit about Sketchup and produce something practical at the same time.

The accuracy and finish of the output is outstanding..not so my photography.

I'm happy to share my experiences with anyone.

Ian

**RETIRED** · 13th April 2013, 08:47 PM

Yep, fascinating things to watch.

**Sebastiaan56** · 16th April 2013, 09:01 AM

There was a great piece on RN By Design recently on building a settlement on the moon using moondust and 3D printers. I think this technology is going to revolutionise building.

Is your unit power hungry? What polymers can it use?

**Mr Brush** · 16th April 2013, 09:38 AM

For anyone interested in 3D printing, the May issue of TechLife magazine has a lot of articles - reviews of machines, materials that can be printed, etc.

https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/tech...529369358?mt=8

I only had a browse through the paper magazine at the newsagent, but looked like lots of useful information for anyone starting out.

Personally, I was amazed at how low the prices for basic 3D printers have gone......very tempting to have a dabble

**Ian Smith** · 16th April 2013, 10:45 AM

Originally Posted by Sebastiaan56

.Is your unit power hungry? What polymers can it use?

Seb,
It uses a HP (Hewlett Packard) branded power brick rated at 19v, 9.5A and 180W, so I'm not sure whether you think that that's power hungry or not.
You have to take into account the time taken to print an object.
That window latch in my first post took, from memory, about 30 minutes to produce.
The biggest users of power would be the extrusion head and base heater

The unit is capable of using both ABS and PLA 1.75mm filaments. I've only used ABS so far and don't see a need, at this point, to change.

ABS , BTW, is the stuff that all those Airfix models are made from, so it can be glued with acetone or MEK. In fact, the strength and finish of a print can be improved by brushing or dipping (quickly), or suspension in the vapour of either of these. The attached shot is of a Ducted Fan impeller after a quick dip in acetone

The Unit I bought, BTW, was the UP Plus. So, not exactly the cheapest but I did a fair bit of research and, based on the "buy once, buy right" theory, it seemed a good option

Ian

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