3D Printer and 3D CAD

[8ntruck 7,275]

I am considering the purchase of of a Prusa 3D printer and Fusion 360 3D CAD software.

 

For those of you out there using 3D CAD and 3D printers, what are you using and what king of advice can you offer.

 

Before I retired 2 years ago, I was using Solid Works for CAD and a Fusion 3 3D printer, so these are kind of my benchmark.

[tom2p 2,394]

My kid (youngest) has a 3D printer

 

He has a Creality Ender 5 Pro

He uses Solid Works software

 

 

If he had to do it again - he would purchase the Prusa ... he said the Prusa is a top quality printer 

 

Edited December 14, 2020 by tom2p

[tom2p 2,394]

15 minutes ago, tom2p said:

My kid (youngest) has a 3D printer

 

He has a Creality Ender 5 Pro

He uses Solid Works software

 

 

If he had to do it again - he would purchase the Prusa ... he said the Prusa is a top quality printer 

 

 

He modified and upgraded the Creality Ender 5 Pro significantly - with some of the upgrades including parts and attachments  he designed and printed with the printer 

Some of the upgrades :

 

Upgraded “hotend” to mosquito hotend by slice engineering to print high temperature plastics

Re-designed printhead for use with mosquito hotend in a “bowden” tube configuration for use with a “BL-Touch” (auto-bed leveling probe) as well as a 4040 Fan duct for part cooling

 

E3D V6 plated copper nozzle w/ .4mm inner diameter

 

Upgraded heated bed to a silicone heater (same dimensions as stock) 

 

Upgraded build plate to machined 6000 series aluminum, as well as a “whambam” magnetic base.

(permits use of magnetic build plate with a spring steel base ;  spring steel plate with a PEI coating over tradition glass

 

Installed thrust bearing for the z-axis

 

Reflashed firmware with modified version 

Upgraded power supply to official Meanwell 350W 24V, so all external devices (parts cooling fan, hotend fan, enclosure fan, enclosure temp sensor, and raspberry pi) can be run off of the printers power supply using two 3A buck converters to step-down the voltage to be usable

Setup raspberry pi to so the printer can run remotely off of “octoprint” to be monitored while printing via camera

 

(files can be uploaded and commands can be sent to the printer remotely as well)

 

External touchscreen to control octoprint interface 

 

Added acrylic enclosure with LED lights and temperature sensor ; lights are powered by a separate mean well 12V power supply (to reduce load from printer’s psu)

 

Edited December 14, 2020 by tom2p

[tom2p 2,394]

 

 

Edited December 14, 2020 by tom2p

[Pullstart 63,661]

@tom2p

 

 

[Pullstart 63,661]

I was told yesterday that they can 3D print powdered metal now to recreate steel objects!  One object of topic was “shower head” mufflers on the old RJ’s and whatnot.

[ebinmaine 69,897]

2 hours ago, pullstart said:

@tom2p

 

 

 

 

This is about where I am with 3D printing but the science behind it and the results that can be had are absolutely fascinating and approaching infinite. 

[tom2p 2,394]

1 hour ago, pullstart said:

@tom2p

 

 

lol - get any of this - me ?

 

heck no !

 

 

like many kids this kid has been fascinated with *things* - and construction / manufacture and transformation of things - since a very early age - especially mechanical things 

one year for Christmas at around 4-6 years old (?) he asked for vice grips and bungee cords 

one of his favorite shows since an early age was/is How It Is Made 

 

if I dropped him off at your place you might struggle to get rid of him 

 

[tom2p 2,394]

7 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

 

 

This is about where I am with 3D printing but the science behind it and the results that can be had are absolutely fascinating and approaching infinite. 

me also  lol

 

but EB - you (and your better half / shop foreman) are young at heart ... big kids in grown up attire 

 

Edited December 14, 2020 by tom2p

[pacer 3,175]

This is typical of my grandsons creations - its a THREE stage! His chute deployment wasnt so successful and had a rather nasty 'touch down' Geez, if I were only 30-40 years younger, I think I could get into this...........

 

[SylvanLakeWH 26,703]

Very cool!!! 

 

Did the NSA pick up his launch on their monitors? 

[pacer 3,175]

23 minutes ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

Did the NSA pick up his launch

 

He did ..... discretly, talk to a couple sheriffs deputies and with him being pretty much out in the boonies and not even close to an airport, he went ahead. The chute deployment wasnt the only glitch, the nose cone didnt separate either. He guessed it only made something around 1500-2000 feet. Hes already back at the "drawing board" (CAD program) for the next launch.

 

At the height if the Covid mess he designed and printed a mask for him & family ---- every body wanted one. Ended up making and donating several hundred for the firemen, EMTs, police, etc. He started a 'go fund me' to help with expenses and that was quite succesful which allowed him to make so many.

Edited December 14, 2020 by pacer

[Handy Don 13,131]

3 hours ago, pullstart said:

I was told yesterday that they can 3D print powdered metal now to recreate steel objects!  One object of topic was “shower head” mufflers on the old RJ’s and whatnot.

NASA recently sent a 3D printer to the ISS so they can experiment with fabbing parts instead of waiting for replacements to be delivered (FedEx hasn't put the ISS on their route map yet).

[8ntruck 7,275]

5 hours ago, pullstart said:

@tom2p

 

 

 

Yup.  I got most of it.  What I didn't get, I can make a good guess at.

[8ntruck 7,275]

2 hours ago, pacer said:

This is typical of my grandsons creations - its a THREE stage! His chute deployment wasnt so successful and had a rather nasty 'touch down' Geez, if I were only 30-40 years younger, I think I could get into this...........

 

 

How deep did he have to dig to recover the pieces?

[Tractorhead 9,066]

Use Rhino 3D for Painting and sketching and Repetier Host with Cura Engine for slicing on my selfmade „Prusa type“ Printer for Printing.

Rhino, because i like it and i know difference between painted parts and reality on repetier is exact 0.76 correct. Factor.

That Factor i had fixed implemented in Repetier Host what means all i draw is printed 1:1.

Before i tried Google sketchup, but the correctur factor differs on each slicing process.

As Firmware i use Marlin with lot‘s of changes.

 

Max dimension is 380x380 x280mm i can use, but mirrorplate restricts them to 300 by 300mm and most parts are mostly smaller.

 

 

Lots of 3 D printed Parts in my Prusa, all are made of PLA.

This Printer still works now since 2 Years without any thermal Problems or troubles.

Sometimes 3 or 4 Day‘s jobs are still done without problems.

 

 

Printbed is a heated mirror, what sticks very great if preheated to 68 degC and PLA loosened itself at below 40 deg.C.

So Parts can be picked without any force.

 

I don‘t work with ABS or with higher temp material, because it‘s stinks too much and i use mine just for Rapid Prototyping things 

like Coil winders or i.eg. Quadcopters, they mostly had a very short lifetime on highspeed flights with video Googles thru forrest... 😎

 

 

The left one was a high speed test with 214 Km/h in result....

but it had just a lifetime of 5 min before it trashed on a Tree, what jumps to it quickly.    😂

 

 

I mostly print with high speed and lower quality, because i like fast results.

 

  

 

I make several coils with different inner diameters different wires and different windings to find the perfect fit and the perfect windings

on the Tecumseh H66

 

 

So i fixed or better rebuild my Charging Coil’s also for the 656 Wheelhorse to bring the Charging option back in Service.

 

 

I use only PLA while in Rooms printing, because of nice Smell like a warm pancake and the lower Temps.

When i had too much rests of PLA i make sometimes colormixing Toy‘s.

Some things are out of thingiverse, some are self constructed, depending on.

Most are Nice to look or great to play with.

 

 

Some toy‘s are still in work, some are just a optical gadgets but the most works.

Even my 3D Printer was 60% built by my first one, what is now retired.

 

There are a lot of 3 D printers on the market, from cheap to high end and from Trash to „whow“ Machines.

The Prusa is a good choice for starting, Joseph has improved his last machine much, 

so in my opinion it‘s a fantastic way to Start because you pay what you get or vice versa.

 

A enclosure is highly recommended for each 3 D Printer to get quick better results without Warping

and avoids dust from the Hardware.

The biggest must in my experiences, is a well feeded Airstream in the enclosure for best results.

Any free Airstream can trash your printresult very quick.

 

 

 

[JCM 9,940]

I don't know @pullstart , I may have to join Green tractor talk forum, these WH guys are waaaaayyyy above my IQ  level.

[Tractorhead 9,066]

7 minutes ago, JCM said:

I don't know @pullstart , I may have to join Green tractor talk forum, these WH guys are waaaaayyyy above my IQ  level.

 

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrggggghhhhhhhh

[8ntruck 7,275]

2 hours ago, Handy Don said:

NASA recently sent a 3D printer to the ISS so they can experiment with fabbing parts instead of waiting for replacements to be delivered (FedEx hasn't put the ISS on their route map yet).

 

Metal 3D printing has been coming of age over the last few years.  It is still very expensive both to start up and to run.  There are a few metal production parts being 3D printed.  It is possible to print in many metals.  Some of the 3D printed metal parts cannot be made with any other method due to the part's geometry.

 

Before I retired, I was talking with our CAD software supplier about metal 3D printing.  I was thinking about having some coining details for my dies 3D printed.  The advantage would be having the coin tool to net shape after printing.  The only finishing needed would be polishing.  The 3D printed price didn't compare favorably with conventionally machined.

[Handy Don 13,131]

1 hour ago, 8ntruck said:

 

Metal 3D printing has been coming of age over the last few years.  It is still very expensive both to start up and to run.  There are a few metal production parts being 3D printed.  It is possible to print in many metals.  Some of the 3D printed metal parts cannot be made with any other method due to the part's geometry.

 

Before I retired, I was talking with our CAD software supplier about metal 3D printing.  I was thinking about having some coining details for my dies 3D printed.  The advantage would be having the coin tool to net shape after printing.  The only finishing needed would be polishing.  The 3D printed price didn't compare favorably with conventionally machined.

At the start of my career in software, CAD was barely a term. I designed and wrote code for extremely efficient ways to represent close approximations of physical objects in a database (back when storage was incredibly expensive -- $2,000 for 80mb, two month's salary for me). Then did the same for detecting interferences (i.e. touching or overlaps) between those objects. We were building power plants (nuclear and oil-fired) and needed a faster way to make sure piping didn't get routed though concrete walls and electric trays didn't cross through walkways and so forth. All this was before software algorithms were patentable or else I'd be a wealthy fellow today! I'm so impressed at the rapid development of the technology that has let it be used for so many things, from @Tractorhead's coil cores to research for creating replacement bodily organs. Stay tuned.

[WHNJ701 4,165]

I use cad almost every day, land desk top, civil 3d.  Yes the technology is great but 2/3 of the program barely get used.  They over complicated alot of the program

[8ntruck 7,275]

57 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

At the start of my career in software, CAD was barely a term. I designed and wrote code for extremely efficient ways to represent close approximations of physical objects in a database (back when storage was incredibly expensive -- $2,000 for 80mb, two month's salary for me). Then did the same for detecting interferences (i.e. touching or overlaps) between those objects. We were building power plants (nuclear and oil-fired) and needed a faster way to make sure piping didn't get routed though concrete walls and electric trays didn't cross through walkways and so forth. All this was before software algorithms were patentable or else I'd be a wealthy fellow today! I'm so impressed at the rapid development of the technology that has let it be used for so many things, from @Tractorhead's coil cores to research for creating replacement bodily organs. Stay tuned.

 

Yup.  When I started my career, all of our design work (product, tooling, and plant) was done on paper.  As a rookie engineer, I spent a number of hours out in the plant confirming that pipes, conduits, and wireways were really where the drawings said they were.  Lots were not.

 

One of the first computers I worked with was  Perry PDP8.  It spoke to the world through a teletype console and punched paper tape.  It was so slow, you could watch the lights over the bit switches blink as the code ran.

[Handy Don 13,131]

26 minutes ago, 8ntruck said:

 

Yup.  When I started my career, all of our design work (product, tooling, and plant) was done on paper.  As a rookie engineer, I spent a number of hours out in the plant confirming that pipes, conduits, and wireways were really where the drawings said they were.  Lots were not.

 

One of the first computers I worked with was  Perry PDP8.  It spoke to the world through a teletype console and punched paper tape.  It was so slow, you could watch the lights over the bit switches blink as the code ran.

Nice to hear of our similar experiences. I was a rookie Assistant Engineer at the time--my first job out of college. Didn't know any better so just went ahead and did stuff. You were one of the guys I was trying to help after seeing what you were up against on a plant site visit! Another gadget I programmed was a digitizer that let us do takeoffs from blueprints to capture the designed objects since the canonical work was still all from the drafting department. As you know well, it only takes finding a few "uh-ohs" during construction to blow the budget and/or schedule. We wanted to find the problems before that. (BTW, our little department was funded via an allocation from the "saves" we generated--we ran for two years on finding one error in a 24" diameter, high pressure, 1,000º steam pipe before it was fabricated). The biggest number of saves came from correcting the placements of concrete penetrations for piping and electrical before the pours!

[8ntruck 7,275]

2 hours ago, Handy Don said:

Nice to hear of our similar experiences. I was a rookie Assistant Engineer at the time--my first job out of college. Didn't know any better so just went ahead and did stuff. You were one of the guys I was trying to help after seeing what you were up against on a plant site visit! Another gadget I programmed was a digitizer that let us do takeoffs from blueprints to capture the designed objects since the canonical work was still all from the drafting department. As you know well, it only takes finding a few "uh-ohs" during construction to blow the budget and/or schedule. We wanted to find the problems before that. (BTW, our little department was funded via an allocation from the "saves" we generated--we ran for two years on finding one error in a 24" diameter, high pressure, 1,000º steam pipe before it was fabricated). The biggest number of saves came from correcting the placements of concrete penetrations for piping and electrical before the pours!

 

When I was chasing pipes I was a squadee - a fresh out of college engineer that got rotated through different departments until we got a permanent assignment.  I ended up in product engineering doing stress analysis with finite element analysis.  That part of my career is another group of stories about advancements in computer science and how we did things in the 'good old days'.

[8ntruck 7,275]

I downloaded FreeCAD today.  At first pass, it looks like it has the capability to do what I want to do.  Now, all I need to do is to sit down and make friends with it.  Shouldn't be too bad, as all  CAD systems need the same data entered to create things.  Each system has its own syntax, order, and rhythm for entering the data. 

 

I've pretty much settled on an Original Prusa kit - I don't remember the rest of the model number.  Probably won't get around to ordering that until March or April next year.