So, a 3D printer is on its way.....

[ChileanTaco]

Now that's neat, I wonder how that will work. If it has to heat the steel, it seems like it would be fuel intensive. (Electric, gas, lpg, ect)

I've read about this as (online) stores where you can get parts printed also offer printing in metal, even precious metal. (Hadn't ordered any yet as so far there was no part being so important for me that I really want it, and just for "playing around" it's too expensive for me.)

One method I could imagine: Printing with a material that needs to be heated afterwards to get the carrier material out. There is e.g. a method for shaping metal parts from a "clay", usually used for beginner's jewelry or sculpting courses to make something that is really made from metal, even silver or gold, but won't require "working with metal". Can be shaped similar to clay at room temperature (and allows for easy correction until satisfied with the result), then gets fired and what remains is the metal at exactly the same shape. However, because of the required temperature nothing for doing it at home, unless being able to afford that oven/ kiln, too (baking oven won't do it). Sturdy enough for everyday use (keychain, wedding ring...); just not enough for such as machine parts.

What I've found are indeed methods similar to that, or working with a device that is a special metal 3D printer that works with metal powder and a laser for fusing it.
So, over all, that process can't be done with (only using) your normal 3D printer.

 

[xp29]

Two piece prototype. I have a solid single piece setup and ready to print
View attachment 99153 View attachment 99154

View attachment 99155

Man that's neat.

 

[BPSabelhaus]

The one piece I designed yesterday installed vs the prototype. Prototype was two pieces screwed together and I had to do a lot of cutting and filing to make the lock for the stock grab.
The final one is all one piece with the notch expanded at the bottom and printed laying down on the rail. Original was printed vertical. Laying it flat actually allowed a more accurate print of the top connection which fits soo much better than the original print. New one took a small amount of filing from the support structure, but otherwise was perfect

 

[xp29]

View attachment 99171
The one piece I designed yesterday installed vs the prototype. Prototype was two pieces screwed together and I had to do a lot of cutting and filing to make the lock for the stock grab.
The final one is all one piece with the notch expanded at the bottom and printed laying down on the rail. Original was printed vertical. Laying it flat actually allowed a more accurate print of the top connection which fits soo much better than the original print. New one took a small amount of filing from the support structure, but otherwise was perfect

It's all still mind boggling to me lol, seems you have a very good handle on it though. Cool stuff for sure.

 

[BPSabelhaus]

It's all still mind boggling to me lol, seems you have a very good handle on it though. Cool stuff for sure.

The hardest part this time was apparently saving my work lol.
Had to redo pretty much everything minus cutting up the original lol Went fast the second time though.

 

[xp29]

The hardest part this time was apparently saving my work lol.
Had to redo pretty much everything minus cutting up the original lol Went fast the second time though.

I guess it's like anything else, the more you do it tge better you are at it I couldn't even turn it on lmao

 

[BPSabelhaus]

I guess it's like anything else, the more you do it tge better you are at it I couldn't even turn it on lmao

Trying various 3d scanning apps to try and scan an aquarium part. The free trials have between 5 and 25 attempts allowed. The one with 5 I couldn't even get a decent enough scan to take a pic of. The other one I got two scans to load. One I might be able to use with a lot of cutting and even then it didn't capture the bottom. The first one is it trying to combine the top and bottom as a 3d image. I'm going out on a limb and saying for now it's a gimmick for making silly pictures and videos but not for duplicating an object. You really need lidar to do it right.

 

[BPSabelhaus]

Well, decided to do so good old fashioned preeeecision measuring and made an 83mm by 7mm ring using the Bambu software. Printing that out now to see how it fits into the main body then will try building up the rest of the shapes and see if I can just make it myself Or at least a functional version. Just have to load in the right shape, set the dimensions I want in my then it loads that shape in. From there I can add another shape into that part and either attach it or remove it. So to make a ring I import an 83 x83 x 7 cylinder then attach an 80x80x anything larger than 7 I usually go 100 just to make the cut obvious. Then you mesh the pieces together and choose if you want to add or subtract the shape.

And hopefully in about 20 minutes I'll have a tada reveal. This only took a few minutes to render the initial ring. The next two layers should also be rings, so just a matter of measuring. The top should be easy, it's a flat cylinder lol same with the holes. But those angles are what is going to be fun. I'm thinking a double cone to create a hollow cone then cut the top off. The slats might be really easy with just long cubes cutting two sides at once, or a royal pain lol

Like. A. Glove.

 

[xp29]

Well, decided to do so good old fashioned preeeecision measuring and made an 83mm by 7mm ring using the Bambu software. Printing that out now to see how it fits into the main body then will try building up the rest of the shapes and see if I can just make it myself Or at least a functional version. Just have to load in the right shape, set the dimensions I want in my then it loads that shape in. From there I can add another shape into that part and either attach it or remove it. So to make a ring I import an 83 x83 x 7 cylinder then attach an 80x80x anything larger than 7 I usually go 100 just to make the cut obvious. Then you mesh the pieces together and choose if you want to add or subtract the shape.
View attachment 99206
View attachment 99207 View attachment 99208
And hopefully in about 20 minutes I'll have a tada reveal. This only took a few minutes to render the initial ring. The next two layers should also be rings, so just a matter of measuring. The top should be easy, it's a flat cylinder lol same with the holes. But those angles are what is going to be fun. I'm thinking a double cone to create a hollow cone then cut the top off. The slats might be really easy with just long cubes cutting two sides at once, or a royal pain lol

Like. A. Glove.
View attachment 99209

I can't even try to pretend I understand but to me it looks you do

 

[BPSabelhaus]

Got a little further. Top is filled in, holes set. Just need to add in some more air slats.
Getting that hollow dome good enough was tough, but it's done

 

[xp29]

View attachment 99210 View attachment 99211
Got a little further. Top is filled in, holes set. Just need to add in some more air slats.
Getting that hollow dome good enough was tough, but it's done

Looks professional to me

 

[BPSabelhaus]

The model isn't happy adding more missing pieces. I'll figure it out, but printing a test model to see how it otherwise fits.

Fit is perfect Now to finish the model and print in a fun color. I actually have a small amount of almost the right color, but not enough.

 

[xp29]

The model isn't happy adding more missing pieces. I'll figure it out, but printing a test model to see how it otherwise fits.
View attachment 99233
View attachment 99234
Fit is perfect Now to finish the model and print in a fun color. I actually have a small amount of almost the right color, but not enough.

I wouldn't know it isn't store bought if you hadn't been posting about it.