3D printing

[Mike&SallyG]

I bought a cheap 3D printer for something to play with in my retirement. We bought a 2019 Imagine 2500RL in June and have made quite a few upgrades and a few using the printer: a 7-way plug holder, (you can buy one on Amazon but what is the fun in that?), a trim ring for ducting the furnace thru the bedroom sliding door when it is open and an extended opener tool for reaching the roof vent knobs. I fitted the printed opener parts to a 24" long dowel rod. Here are some pictures.

 

[Country Campers]

Very cool. Have fun with new toy making usable items.

Brian

 

[Chiefblueman]

What is considered cheap for a 3d printer?

 

[Mike&SallyG]

You can buy one from Amazon or other 3D printer-dedicated websites, (google search), for under $300. These are usually a kit that requires some assembly which I think is good because you learn about how the printer works. You can find a lot of designs for things that are free to download on the net also. I designed my own parts. To do that, you need some 3D CAD design experience also. There are lots of forums, Youtube videos and free tools. I enjoy designing, printing, modifying, reprinting, etc.

 

[Knightclimber]

Very cool. I would love a printer but can't justify one yet.

 

[jh.xsnrg]

3D printing is a lot of fun, plus you get to have custom parts to suite your specific needs. You never knew you needed a 77 degree adapter for some mounting gizmo until you made one

I have designed a few things for around the house, but also have printed a dimmer plate for the Imagine awning lights, as they are far too bright and attract every insect from neighboring counties. My son also designed us a toothbrush holder that fits behind snugly behind the sink in the bathroom. I added some 3M grip tape to the bottom, and that thing would not slide in an earthquake now.

 

[backtrack2015]

That is really cool. I like what you've done so far. I had a friend two years ago who made a couple of different 3D printers from scratch. He didn't use a kit but used quite a few parts that he had laying around the house (technical hoarder of sorts). He used the final printer to make some functional 3D models for work which helped immensely in getting management to understand a problem we were having. Now that you've reminded me, I may have to get one of these kits. Nice hobby!

 

[Dynamowhum]

My son has several 3d printers. He as a side business and one of the things he makes is diorama parts for military scenes.

 

[DarthMuffin]

Love those prints! Are the files available?

As for printers, I'd recommend something like the Prusa mk3. $750 if you build it yourself from their kit (easy). There are cheaper kits, but print quality is very good and the extra features like auto leveling and removable bed are worth the time savings IMO. You *can* make cheaper kits work and get good results but you'll spend as much time tuning and tinkering and doing little upgrades as you do printing.

 

[DaveMatthewsBand]

Can you make a gun with these printers or does that require a super expensive model?




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[perfpix]

Pretty freakin' cool!

 

[DarthMuffin]

Can you make a gun with these printers or does that require a super expensive model?

There is at least one model, but I wouldn't trust it. The really high end ones might do a better job but by then you're into it for as much or more than a CNC machine would cost, and that would do a way better job.

 

[Mike&SallyG]

Sorry for the delayed response. I changed my email address and forgot to update it in this forum. I would not trust any printer to print something like this, at least not one that anybody could afford for home use. There are metal printers but they use industrial lasers and relatively expensive media. I design and print stuff for the grandkids, RV doo-dads and stuff for my model railroad. That is something I didn't think about when I first started but it has been most of what I am doing this winter.