3D Printer ideas

+1

Pop an advert on eBay and start churning out these covers in the UK at £10 a throw and you will pay for your printer in a few months! :encouragement:

Richard

I made a Raymarine part.....https://www.tinkercad.com/things/lc5GlGrCuIy

Took me about 2 hours to design and was one of the first things I made (so was a bit slow!) and then about 3 hours to print. Quality is fantastic, not as good as the original, but perfectly acceptable, the problem with these bits, and making covers is you can't get the filament in Raymarine grey...or any grey for that matter, so this part is white/cream....not sure on the UV stability either?
 
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I made a Raymarine part.....https://www.tinkercad.com/things/lc5GlGrCuIy

Took me about 2 hours to design and was one of the first things I made (so was a bit slow!) and then about 3 hours to print. Quality is fantastic, not as good as the original, but perfectly acceptable, the problem with these bits, and making covers is you can't get the filament in Raymarine grey...or any grey for that matter, so this part is white/cream....not sure on the UV stability either?

Very nice. Presumably a bezel rather than a cover but very similar. I don't think buyers would be that bothered about the colour and, if they were, they could easily paint it with grey plastic paint which would also help the UV resistance I imagine.

Richard
 
I'd love a few storage boxes that are shaped like my cabin cupboards - that is, flat one the inner side where the door is and curved like my hull on the outer side. Of course each of my cupboards would need a differently shaped box.

Last I checked, 3D printing anything larger than a thumb was prohibitively expensive though and my friends hobby 3D printer made really wobbly things that could barely support their own weight.
 
I'd love a few storage boxes that are shaped like my cabin cupboards - that is, flat one the inner side where the door is and curved like my hull on the outer side. Of course each of my cupboards would need a differently shaped box.

Last I checked, 3D printing anything larger than a thumb was prohibitively expensive though and my friends hobby 3D printer made really wobbly things that could barely support their own weight.

what size do you need? Maximum Build Volume (WxDxH) on my machine
15 x 20 x 20 cm
 
quite fancy building my own CNC router, and my own CNC Laser Engraver. None of which I have any use for!

Oh Shiny shoe please think again :) I am lucky to have my own very large CNC router .......so far for my boat I've made

Engine footprint template
Engraved address plate for my cradle
Bracket for anchor well power socket
Oval mirror including engraved boats name
Lens for the infamous open bottomed deck light
Blackout hatch covers
Sink covers
Engraved battery plate
Coolant bypass restrictor
Battery Strap plates
cooker cover
Heads worktop
Galley worktop
New Windows
New sliding hatches
Engraved coasters
Speaker templates
Perforated baking trays
Solid oak tiller
Custom Glass holder
Battery Box
Heating duct extension
Cockpit floor Grating
Washboards
Dinghy Step
Liferaft Holder
Instrument Covers
Mobile phone holder
Mastclimber
Fire extinguisher Brackets
Replacement cabin trim
Reinforced V Berth boards

Trust me if you have a boat then you have a use for a CNC router :cool:

jr
 
I am in the same situation as the OP - I would love to buy one of these but really struggling to think of enough possible uses to justify it.

My particular concern is whether the plastic is strong/rigid enough for many applications
 
I am in the same situation as the OP - I would love to buy one of these but really struggling to think of enough possible uses to justify it.

My particular concern is whether the plastic is strong/rigid enough for many applications

I've seen 3D printed items which looked and felt exactly the same as the conventional molded product. I've also seen terrible 3D prints in which the plastic filament temperature or something is so badly controlled that you can pull the item into separate pieces. I guess it's a matter of practice with the particular printer.

Richard
 
I want one for Xmas, but which one? I don't know much about them but I think I want capacity to use PLA or ABS but only one at a time, minimum size 150mm each way. But I want it to be able to form useable shapes when I get the hang of it. Any recommendations (<£500)?
Derek
 
I want one for Xmas, but which one? I don't know much about them but I think I want capacity to use PLA or ABS but only one at a time, minimum size 150mm each way. But I want it to be able to form useable shapes when I get the hang of it. Any recommendations (<£500)?
Derek

I've heard good things about the XYZprinting Da Vinchi

Personally I would take time to visit a good trade show and have a good look at what's available.
You've miised them all this year, but if you can hang on until late next year, the TCT show at the NEC has most of these printers on show, with parts to look at and there are always plenty of users around to talk to.
 
Oh Shiny shoe please think again :) I am lucky to have my own very large CNC router .......so far for my boat I've made

...

Trust me if you have a boat then you have a use for a CNC router :cool:
Sorry what I meant was...
I can't justify a CNC Router for three reasons:
* Space
* Immediate need for an individual item that I can't get anywhere off the shelf
* I'd love it to do all 3 (router, printer and laser etcher) in one machine, preferably with ability to take 8x4 Ply sheets! I don't ask for much...

Of course as soon as I need something I could rout ... ... I need it now and so go buy something that will do the job even if its not as refined as I might make my own.

Really I need a workshop first!
 
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