3D printer build log
Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2014 12:21 am
I've caught the 3D printing bug!
My work charged me recently with purchasing a 3D printer, and I ended up getting us a FlashForge Dreamer -- which, by and by, I'm very happy with. $1300 including delivery from China. This machine prints small (say, 30cm x 15cm x 15cm) parts using layers of filament. The whole process is fascinating, and out of it comes a usable and strong 3D object. Given that you can design something in a very simple 3D package, then print it out, I thought I might document my build of my own personal 3D printer, as I've found that they are relatively cheap and easy to build.
I'm going with a machine called a "Mini Kossel". This is a marvel to watch in action;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ag3jeObNf8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o058GAULZt4
The neat thing is that some of the parts required for my home-built printer can be printed on my work's printer so that's what I've done, all in the name of learning how to use the work printer properly. Why waste an opportunity. I've learned a lot about the different materials (generally PLA and ABS) and their characteristcs, the dos and don'ts of printing, and how all of the software works. I thought I'd share all of that here, and show photos of my build in progress as we go along.
Also, I've been on a parts buying frenzy, and will post links and pictures of these as they arrive. Bill of materials so far, with nearly everythign purchased, runs to just under AUS$400, say US$375. That's including shipping! I expect that from here on in, most of the work is just printing things, screwing things together, and adjusting some software parameters.
To start, though, here's a picture of Abraham Lincoln's head that I printed yesterday. Just because I could, but actually was testing large prints and overhangs/scaffolding.
Pretty spooky, huh! I'll go through explaining all the parts, what they do and how they work, where to get them, what software to use, how to draw and design your own 3D stuff in a parametric 3D editor (OpenSCAD), how to get it into a format for printing, where to find prebuilt stuff, and finally how to print. Hopefully at the end, using my very own homebuilt printer!
Hope it's a good ride...
PS: Relevance to mechanical TV; it's a mechanical process, and you can print parts for your TV construction
My work charged me recently with purchasing a 3D printer, and I ended up getting us a FlashForge Dreamer -- which, by and by, I'm very happy with. $1300 including delivery from China. This machine prints small (say, 30cm x 15cm x 15cm) parts using layers of filament. The whole process is fascinating, and out of it comes a usable and strong 3D object. Given that you can design something in a very simple 3D package, then print it out, I thought I might document my build of my own personal 3D printer, as I've found that they are relatively cheap and easy to build.
I'm going with a machine called a "Mini Kossel". This is a marvel to watch in action;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ag3jeObNf8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o058GAULZt4
The neat thing is that some of the parts required for my home-built printer can be printed on my work's printer so that's what I've done, all in the name of learning how to use the work printer properly. Why waste an opportunity. I've learned a lot about the different materials (generally PLA and ABS) and their characteristcs, the dos and don'ts of printing, and how all of the software works. I thought I'd share all of that here, and show photos of my build in progress as we go along.
Also, I've been on a parts buying frenzy, and will post links and pictures of these as they arrive. Bill of materials so far, with nearly everythign purchased, runs to just under AUS$400, say US$375. That's including shipping! I expect that from here on in, most of the work is just printing things, screwing things together, and adjusting some software parameters.
To start, though, here's a picture of Abraham Lincoln's head that I printed yesterday. Just because I could, but actually was testing large prints and overhangs/scaffolding.
Pretty spooky, huh! I'll go through explaining all the parts, what they do and how they work, where to get them, what software to use, how to draw and design your own 3D stuff in a parametric 3D editor (OpenSCAD), how to get it into a format for printing, where to find prebuilt stuff, and finally how to print. Hopefully at the end, using my very own homebuilt printer!
Hope it's a good ride...
PS: Relevance to mechanical TV; it's a mechanical process, and you can print parts for your TV construction