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OK so I've been meaning to start this thread for weeks but I wanted to get together some of the stuff I have been doing, so it just didn't happen. This thread is for 3D printing, home or industrial.
I'll start off with my own 3D printer, owned since December last year.
What is it?
It's a CTC machine, essentially a Chinese-built clone of the original Makerbot Replicator with dual extruders. However, where the Replicator cost around $2000 new this only cost ?300 due to being made in China.
I was well aware when buying this that it wouldn't be getting a Replicator and it would be something that I'd have to tinker with, which is fine because I like to tinker anyway. As it turns out, when the machine was built the employees didn't ensure that the X-axis was parallel to the front of the machine before tightening the grub screws for the Y-axis belts, so the whole X-axis was out of whack by a few degrees. This caused one side of the X-axis to reach the end of its run before the other side, and the wrong side for the limit switch. Many bad noises were heard and I had to resort to sticking things on to trigger the switch before I eventually realised what the problem was and rectified it.
As it's based on an early machine it lacks some of the later fixes and enhancements and one issue with this design is the lack of support for the Y-axis drive shafts. The only support is from the bearings at either end, allowing the centre of the shaft to flex and move around and causing inaccuracies in the printing. This was resolved by printing and fitting pillow blocks and bearings as shown in this Thingiverse:
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:232678
The shaft now has much more support.
Another known issue is with the cable for the X-axis stepper motor. Cable management is poor here, especially on this Chinese machine as the cables aren't even held together with tubing. Problems with the cables being stretched and failing are apparently common, so I printed another design from Thingiverse to sort things out. Much like an industrial machine, it uses a chain-link system to move with the Y-axis and protect the cables.
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:195010
Finally before I get to some builds, the print surface. The machine came supplied with blue tape applied to the bed already and I had some 50mm blue tape so I stuck with that. That tape was from a local DIY store and didn't prove to be too good, peeling too easily when the bed was hot. It was also rather expensive, so when looking for a replacement I found that I could buy proper 3M Scotch tape from Amazon and get twice as much for only a little extra money.
Currently I have 3 strips of tape following the X axis and then two strips in the opposite direction to try and prevent the tape lifting as the part tries to warp. I print with a raft so the slight bump in the bed surface aren't a problem and it seems to be working. As an extra measure I also put little pegs on the edges of the bed where the tape is folded under.
What have I printed?
OK so let's get down to business. I'm not going to try and post everything in one go, just bit-by-bit as I go along. I got this machine for experimenting and learning 3D modelling but also to create custom storage solutions. My first project was to design some custom holders for DVD box sets, each designed specifically for one box set. For example, this holder for my Holy Grail 40th box set:
I've also been working on pegboard fittings after buying some steel pegboard sheets, primarily this spool holder which had to be modified.
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1271476
I'll post some more stuff from my previous prints and new things as I print them, if you own or use a 3D printer go ahead and let us know what you're up to with it.
I'll start off with my own 3D printer, owned since December last year.
What is it?
It's a CTC machine, essentially a Chinese-built clone of the original Makerbot Replicator with dual extruders. However, where the Replicator cost around $2000 new this only cost ?300 due to being made in China.
I was well aware when buying this that it wouldn't be getting a Replicator and it would be something that I'd have to tinker with, which is fine because I like to tinker anyway. As it turns out, when the machine was built the employees didn't ensure that the X-axis was parallel to the front of the machine before tightening the grub screws for the Y-axis belts, so the whole X-axis was out of whack by a few degrees. This caused one side of the X-axis to reach the end of its run before the other side, and the wrong side for the limit switch. Many bad noises were heard and I had to resort to sticking things on to trigger the switch before I eventually realised what the problem was and rectified it.
As it's based on an early machine it lacks some of the later fixes and enhancements and one issue with this design is the lack of support for the Y-axis drive shafts. The only support is from the bearings at either end, allowing the centre of the shaft to flex and move around and causing inaccuracies in the printing. This was resolved by printing and fitting pillow blocks and bearings as shown in this Thingiverse:
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:232678
The shaft now has much more support.
Another known issue is with the cable for the X-axis stepper motor. Cable management is poor here, especially on this Chinese machine as the cables aren't even held together with tubing. Problems with the cables being stretched and failing are apparently common, so I printed another design from Thingiverse to sort things out. Much like an industrial machine, it uses a chain-link system to move with the Y-axis and protect the cables.
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:195010
Finally before I get to some builds, the print surface. The machine came supplied with blue tape applied to the bed already and I had some 50mm blue tape so I stuck with that. That tape was from a local DIY store and didn't prove to be too good, peeling too easily when the bed was hot. It was also rather expensive, so when looking for a replacement I found that I could buy proper 3M Scotch tape from Amazon and get twice as much for only a little extra money.
Currently I have 3 strips of tape following the X axis and then two strips in the opposite direction to try and prevent the tape lifting as the part tries to warp. I print with a raft so the slight bump in the bed surface aren't a problem and it seems to be working. As an extra measure I also put little pegs on the edges of the bed where the tape is folded under.
What have I printed?
OK so let's get down to business. I'm not going to try and post everything in one go, just bit-by-bit as I go along. I got this machine for experimenting and learning 3D modelling but also to create custom storage solutions. My first project was to design some custom holders for DVD box sets, each designed specifically for one box set. For example, this holder for my Holy Grail 40th box set:
I've also been working on pegboard fittings after buying some steel pegboard sheets, primarily this spool holder which had to be modified.
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1271476
I'll post some more stuff from my previous prints and new things as I print them, if you own or use a 3D printer go ahead and let us know what you're up to with it.
