3D Printing Experiences

[lpdsn]

I've a few small plastic parts that I need replacing. I've been keeping my eyes open for three or four years but have found none. It strikes me that they would be ideal candidates for being replaced by parts made on a 3D printer.

I realise that there are 3D printers on the market, but the volume I need wouldn't even really start to justify the cost.

Has anybody used a professional 3D printing service? Any experiences to pass on? Any recommendations?

 

[mrming]

I have a MakerBot at work which is fun but difficult to set up and requires loads of fiddling to get a good print.

Although I haven't used them, Shapeways have a good reputation, and providing you can model the parts they can print then in a variety of materials:

http://www.shapeways.com/materials

They're not cheap though!

 

[prof pat pending]

I'm afraid that nothing in the 3D printing world is cheap having said that, if you are looking for a bepoke design that's quite complicated, then it could be cheaper getting it printed than moulded or machined (depending on size)
Material choice will depend very much on the application, a lot of the materials around are not particularly UV stable, but that can be sorted with paint or a coating.

I do this for a living, but also outsource to various companies when the need arises.
What are you looking for?

Before it can be printed you'll need a CAD file (design) is this something you can do, or will you also require this as a service?

 

[TonyBuckley]

I am sure I read that PC World were to launch an in store 3d printing service. And by in store, I mean in store - not sending away a design.

But a quick google has returned no useful info.

For the type of thing you said 'few small plastic parts', sounds ideal.

If you can do the design on some of the free CAD programs - I suspect quite a learning curve - but even then I would guess it would take a few 'prints' to get it right.

I can't wait to get my hands on a 3d printer myself - how long until there is one in most homes? I never dreamt of owning a colour laser printer and now have several.

I browse this site every now and again... http://www.thingiverse.com/

 

[CreakyDecks]

Unfortunately 3D printing is not quite what the BBC would have us believe! First of all you need to create a CAD model, which isn't easy if you have no experience. Then you have to accept that what comes out of the 3D printer isn't the same as what would come out of an injection moulding machine for example. It might look similar, if a bit rough, but structurally it is nowhere near as strong, especially not in the "z" direction. The technology is best used for what its original name suggests, rapid prototyping, before making the finished article in metal or moulding it using the prototype as a mould pattern. I've seen impressive results at work where the 3D printed item has been used to create a flexible mould and then articles have been cast in hard strong plastics. It then becomes worth the effort of creating the CAD file because many items can be made using the same mould.

 

[prof pat pending]

Not all of that is strictly true I'm afraid.

Yes, you need a CAD file to start, and that isn't something you can pick up at home in 5 minutes.
There are however a number of sites where people post their designs for free download, or to be purchased at a reasonable rate. You never know, you may find what you are looking for
There are also a number of forums where people will help if asked nicely

The BBC and alike have hyped the recent development of personal 3D printers as the latest technology and the future on manufacturing, however some of us have been doing this on a production scale making real parts for a couple of decades. Yes the personal printers make parts that are a bit rough, and the mechanical properties in Z are pretty poor, this also applies to some of the high end production machines that make parts that will pull apart like a slinky spring in tension through Z. However, there are also machines that can produce plastic parts with 95% of the performance of an injection moulded part (using the same material) if used correctly.
Formula 1 teams do this on a daily basis and Boeing have been putting parts on fighter aircraft for years, neither would do this if it was too expensive or the parts were not fit for purpose.

There are also machines that can make parts directly from metal, steels, titanium even gold.
Then there are machines that can mimic ABS and rubber in one part. Note I say mimic, these are not the same as the real materials, but are perfectly usable in the right application.
Then you get onto wax and chocolate, but even these have their place.

 

[CreakyDecks]

Not all of that is strictly true I'm afraid.
Formula 1 teams do this on a daily basis and Boeing have been putting parts on fighter aircraft for years, neither would do this if it was too expensive or the parts were not fit for purpose.

I suspect that what a Formula 1 team or a fighter plane manufacturer regards as too expensive is probably not the same as most of us. I don't think sintered titanium is within the reach of mere mortals!
Rapid prototyping machines are impressive bits of kit. I am just trying to say that they are not (yet) what the BBC keep claiming. I am sure they will be within ten years!

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

go to: www.3ders.org

 

[prof pat pending]

The parts made by Boeing are sold to the customer, they still haggle price. If it was cheaper to make them another way they would
As for the F1 teams, it's not the bottomless pit of money that people think it is

Price is relative, if you want a one off part that has a relativly high degree of complexity it is going to cost you however you have it made

 

[lpdsn]

Thanks everyone. Sounds like the technology isn't as consumer friendly as I thought. I might be able to get access to a CAD package and help from an experienced user. And the part is very simple - it's a tag to pull down a roller blind - I need about a dozen of them.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Sketchup is free and this lot will print your designs for a good price. The method they use gives a matt white finish which is nearly as strong as a molded part.

http://www.3dprint-uk.co.uk/

Thanks everyone. Sounds like the technology isn't as consumer friendly as I thought. I might be able to get access to a CAD package and help from an experienced user. And the part is very simple - it's a tag to pull down a roller blind - I need about a dozen of them.

 

[prof pat pending]

Sketchup is free and this lot will print your designs for a good price. The method they use gives a matt white finish which is nearly as strong as a molded part.

http://www.3dprint-uk.co.uk/

That's not a bad price...SLS makes the best plastic parts IMHO

If you don't like white, it takes paint really well as the surface is porous.
It is quite difficult to sand a smooth finish on though.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

...it takes paint really well as the surface is porous.

It takes paint a bit too well. It keeps on slurping the stuff up, coat after coat.

 

[prof pat pending]

That's a good sign that they haven’t got their machine parameters quite right...all too common with service providers unfortunately

A good primer will sort that out, go straight on with colour and it will take a lot

Or paint a bit of superglue on the surface first. It also makes it easier to sand smooth.
Do it in a well-ventilated area though

 

[lpdsn]

Sketchup is free and this lot will print your designs for a good price. The method they use gives a matt white finish which is nearly as strong as a molded part.

http://www.3dprint-uk.co.uk/

Thanks. Much appreciated.

I've down loaded Sketchup and will play with it next week when back from the boat.