3D-Printing - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: mamalala
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 11, 2016, 03:41:22 am
content: I'm wondering...Can we have a section dedicated to 3D printing here? I mean, we have renewables, thermal imaging... 3D printing is a thing, actually, so why not having a sub section on this forum for it?Greetings,Chris

author: ElektroQuark
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 11, 2016, 10:09:51 am
content: Very interested here.

author: Galenbo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2016, 04:59:42 pm
content: Why only concentrate on CNC additive manufacturing, when several CNC manufacturing techniques coexist, and all have their place in the industry?

author: Fred27
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 12, 2016, 08:24:43 pm
content: I agree with Galenbo. If you're going to have a section it might as well be a bit broader and encompass various CNC techniques. Let's be honest there are plenty of specific places for CNC and 3D printing anyway.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 12, 2016, 10:56:34 pm
content: No real objections from me.Moved this thread to general chat to get more comments.

author: Morgoroth
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2016, 11:03:39 pm
content: what about CNC and 3D models for PCBs ?, must be something to say in that matter specifically, PCB routing, boxes, supports, best practices, etc etc... and not much to see on youtube

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 13, 2016, 02:34:17 am
content: "CNC - 3D printing, milling and more"

author: ElektroQuark
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 13, 2016, 07:56:29 am
content: Mechanical forum?

author: george graves
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2016, 08:09:24 am
content: Can we have a political/religious sub-forum too? A place for people that like to talk(argue) about such? It works well for another forum I'm on. All the people that are into that, can get their fill there - rather then dumping it into EE topics.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 13, 2016, 08:20:32 am
content: Indeed. The difficulty in sub-boards is defining the area of interest so that it is distinct, big enough to be busy but small enough to not get lost in.My vote is for CNC level. That covers a lot of similar technology.Quote from: Brumby on February 13, 2016, 02:34:17 am

author: manzini
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2016, 12:28:58 pm
content: Another vote for 3D additive / CNC section: DIY, brands/products, services & experiences.maybe into o a little cross with the current PCB section but including enclosures and accessories.

author: Artlav
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2016, 03:29:20 pm
content: +1 for the section.Name... Something to the effect of "DIY automated manufacturing (CNC, 3D printing, etc)", perhaps?

author: chris_leyson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2016, 04:33:19 pm
content: I prefer CNC subractive manufacturing, old school. Good 3D printers can do sintered metals, a wide range of plastics but that is professional printers. Home and hobby printers that essentially dribble hot snot everywhere are a waste of time and money.

author: chris_leyson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2016, 04:50:33 pm
content: As for the religious sub forum it's just not going to work is it, just be a bunch of narrow minded bigots posting bull shit, same as the free energy stupid uneducated posters who can't think, period. Does this forum really want a bunch of stupid bigots posting bull shgit. NO.

author: Morgoroth
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2016, 05:09:44 pm
content: Quote from: Artlav on February 13, 2016, 03:29:20 pmI always wanted to know if there is a difference using ball screws and belts, in terms of repeatability, and if worth to buy ball screws for precise milling, given the price...

author: rrinker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2016, 05:54:38 pm
content: Too many sub boards makes a moderator nightmare - someone posts in the wrong section, it gets missed, which results in the inevitable dozen followup posts of "this is the wrong section, you moron"Though I do wholly support a 3D printing subsection - maybe encompassing related things rather than being absolutely 3D printers only - like laser cutters and the such, all of which have applications in and of electronics design.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 14, 2016, 10:22:33 pm
content: Quote from: EdoNork on February 13, 2016, 07:56:29 amThat's an excellent scope for all the mechanical aspects, including 3D printing, and yet it has an engineering connotation.I read the forums using the list of all new posts but have a dedicated forum is in a sense and invitation or a permission to discuss that topic.

author: ChunkyPastaSauce
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 27, 2016, 04:29:16 am
content: I'd love to see a mechanical section, a mechatronics section, or a general manufacturing section. I'm actually a ME by degree and work, but enjoy electronics too. I'm sure a lot of others as well. And really like the intersections between fields... lots of interesting stuff happens

author: AlessandroAU
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 28, 2016, 10:40:27 pm
content: Quote from: chris_leyson on February 13, 2016, 04:33:19 pmI don't know what you consider to be acceptable quality but these are the results I get from my hobby printer. I think it's quite acceptable, Most of the parts printed are mechanical upgrades for the printer itself.

author: ANTALIFE
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 29, 2016, 01:39:20 am
content: Quote from: chris_leyson on February 13, 2016, 04:33:19 pmWow there grampa, don't get too cranky. I have a 12" Prusa i3v printer and have to say it's one of the best investments I've ever made. But different strokes for different folks I guess...Quote from: AlessandroAU on February 28, 2016, 10:40:27 pmLooking good, that's about where my quality hangs. I've seen some super impressive prints on /r/3dprinting but the amount of time you would need to spend on calibrations just seems too much for me in terms of investment vs return.

author: Galenbo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 29, 2016, 08:06:45 am
content: Quote from: ANTALIFE on February 29, 2016, 01:39:20 amWhat's the sellable non-artistical non-decoration-only usable product you produced with it?

author: sarepairman2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 29, 2016, 08:25:26 am
content: i want a forum where we can spam relentlessly. why? because chan image boards are fucking stupid and i enjoy spamming real forums.

author: NilByMouth
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 29, 2016, 08:41:48 am
content: Quote from: Galenbo on February 29, 2016, 08:06:45 amI printed feet for my vintage oscilloscope (http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1336064). I also printed a small electronics enclosure, which I can mod by adding holes of exactly the right dimensions without having to pay hundreds of pounds for the punches (e.g. BNC sockets).

author: Galenbo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 29, 2016, 08:52:47 am
content: Quote from: NilByMouth on February 29, 2016, 08:41:48 amHmm, plastic replicas of an existing elastomer massproduct, and a thermoplastic electronics enclosure that gives a solution for who refuses to buy a drill.I don't doubt you had fun with it, transferring the model in the software etcetera, but it still fully complies to the description I gave.Try to produce a product outside the description, and you WILL be forced to get into that "Wow there grampa, don't get too cranky" range of computerised manufacuring methods.

author: Philfreeze
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 29, 2016, 09:35:06 am
content: Quote from: Galenbo on February 29, 2016, 08:52:47 amMaybe the " thermoplastic electronics enclosure" (btw. this sounds really fancy) he wanted isn't produced in the same size. Should he buy a block of wood/plastic/alluminium and make the case from this block? This would take a lot of experience and equipment to do it right.As for me, I printed multiple replacement parts for old gameboys, consoles and other electronic cases for free. This was done in a repair shop financed by the local university.Everything worked perfect as long as you are able to use sandpaper and aceton to smooth things out really nicely.

author: NilByMouth
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 29, 2016, 10:08:38 am
content: Quote from: Galenbo on February 29, 2016, 08:52:47 amAn existing elastomer massproduct that is no longer manufactured and extremely scarce, yes. A bit silly to pay multiple tens of dollars for a parts mule just to get the feet off it.I have a perfectly serviceable drill. Please tell me where I can buy a bit that makes holes with flats to prevent the BNC connectors from spinning.

author: ANTALIFE
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 29, 2016, 10:23:34 am
content: Quote from: Galenbo on February 29, 2016, 08:06:45 amhttp://antdiy.blogspot.com.au/along with a bunch of enclosures and various fittings for LED lights and curtains. As I said different strokes for different folks, I can see where a CNC/subtractive manufacturing would be better (especially in mass production). But calling a hobby tier 3D printer "waste of money" is just wrongAlso how quickly/economically can you prototype an enclosure/product with a CNC/subtractive manufacturing?

author: Philfreeze
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 29, 2016, 11:17:36 am
content: Quote from: Artlav on February 13, 2016, 03:29:20 pm+ 1 for the section and the name. Maybe leave out the automated and make it a bit more general like that?

author: NilByMouth
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 29, 2016, 11:29:50 am
content: Quote from: Philfreeze on February 29, 2016, 11:17:36 amIt sounds like the CNC aficionados would want their own section, so they don't have to sully themselves with us lowly 3D printer, snot dribbling hobbyists.

author: aargee
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 29, 2016, 11:45:56 am
content: 3D tools section.That also does/does not describe the members.I've just printed replacement tap (faucet) knobs for our cisterns. The originals have gotten brittle and fell apart (15 years old). Can't buy knobs that fit as replacements, you have to buy a whole new assembly, of course with a different style of knob fitting.So then you have to go around and replace all the taps -or- you learn Sketchup in a morning and produce a model that fits nicely with your printer.SHMBO is just not happy with the colours I've chosen for each knob.

author: Philfreeze
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 29, 2016, 11:47:32 am
content: Quote from: NilByMouth on February 29, 2016, 11:29:50 amThey would probably like that but I think it is better if they have to share a section with the 3d printer pleb.There will also be other guys like the pick-and-place folk.

author: Galenbo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 01, 2016, 09:02:24 am
content: Quote from: Philfreeze on February 29, 2016, 09:35:06 amYou are wrong, and forgot a part of the description. Look yourself at the results and the costs, and see if it's sellable. That's what I was talking about. Don't bend it into something else.Nobody cares witch 3Dprinter an enduser buys (consumes), nobody cares witch existing or selfmade design file is transferred. Nobody cares what the enduser "does" with the printed part.The result is always the same: the owner had "fun", just like watching a movie. And there it stops.For production and business the -10K "printers" are completely useless, and that's why the "Wow there grampa, don't get too cranky" screamers are plain stupid.Quote from: ANTALIFE on February 29, 2016, 10:23:34 amThe same mistake here. Don't bend it from "sellable" to "prototype generation"And don't generalise prototype. Are you talking about a dimensional demo, working part, witch material, specs?These days, even the unfunctional prototypes in this area are made with stereolithography.

author: Philfreeze
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 01, 2016, 09:41:56 am
content: Quote from: Galenbo on March 01, 2016, 09:02:24 amBut that is the entire point of the small 3D printers. Prototyping.You can prototype almost all the mechanical things with a 3d-printer and don't tell me the sub 10k printers are only used because 3d-printing is fun. If a hobbiest wants an enclosure or some different mechanical parts which can be made with plastic why should he not use a sub 10k 3d printer?It takes him a lot more time to make the part the classical way.And who says that everything must be sellable?Made I just want to make some testing gear for another product, a prototype, a demo or something else. If I want to make something sellable I am not gonna produce it by myself anyway because there are people who can do it cheaper and better than I can.Btw. I can't see anybody who said that it would be feasable for large scale production. Of course a small 3d printer isn't feasable for that. However, if you need 10 special enclosures why would you not use a 3D printer?

author: ANTALIFE
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 01, 2016, 10:31:34 am
content: Quote from: Galenbo on March 01, 2016, 09:02:24 amHoly moly gramps why does the 3D printing item have to be sellable in the first place? All the items I make are not designed with sellability in mind, just function.When I'm talking about prototypes I mean the very first revision of a product, you know that one that is very likely to change in the future to fix the small error here or there. Machining these with a CNC can get quite costly if you want rapid prototyping, but yes if you want a sturdy item then this is the way to go.And sure SLA printers would be better for prototyping items that require a higher detail, but these are still quite pricey for small time users like me.I'm not sure what your beef with 3D printing is mate...

author: Galenbo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 01, 2016, 02:24:15 pm
content: Quote from: Philfreeze on March 01, 2016, 09:41:56 amDon't drag it into the extreme. And don't reverse the logic to score "some" point.Quote from: ANTALIFE on March 01, 2016, 10:31:34 amShow me the company that uses such a 0.7K printer for that like you have.Quote from: ANTALIFE on March 01, 2016, 10:31:34 amDon't make the false assumption that I would have "beef" with 3D printing. Don't try to polarise it his way.I just can't stand dilettantes that only saw too many art videos about it, and without ever having been close to the other CNC machines, see it a the new-fancy-cheap-super solution to replace everything.Those machines have their place in the industry, between every other manual/computerised additive/subtractive manufacturing solution.

author: Philfreeze
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 01, 2016, 02:42:23 pm
content: Quote from: Galenbo on March 01, 2016, 02:24:15 pmNow I can agree with you.3D-Printing isn't the one true method but it has its place.(btw. I think most of us still have other tools/machines too. E.g. I have a cnc-mill, a beefy drill and my 3d-printer for the mechanical stuff)

author: Galenbo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 01, 2016, 02:52:13 pm
content: Indeed, glad you also see it that way.And most products need multiple machines to get manufactured, even the prototypes.

author: ANTALIFE
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 01, 2016, 08:31:26 pm
content: Quote from: Galenbo on March 01, 2016, 02:24:15 pmSure, Valve software has a few FDM printers they used to prototype the steam controller, they also use SLA printers for the finer detail prototypes. A few of the places I've applied for had sub-1k FDM printers for this purpose as well. There sort of prototypes are the ones that are used to get the form of the product right, for stress testing yes a better material would be needed so would be made with a CNC.I guess I am one of those "dilettantes" who has never used a CNC before. But having seen what sort of investment it requires in terms of space/money/noise, I decided to go with an option that is better for me. Also I have never said that 3D printing would be the "be all end all" of manufacturing,

author: bernie
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2016, 11:06:23 am
content: +1 , be good to have a section on this. Keep on meaning to extent my 3D printer with a milling bit.

author: Mechanical Menace
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2016, 11:42:39 am
content: Quote from: bernie on March 02, 2016, 11:06:23 amYou'll probably need to stiffen up the frame a lot and not expect to do any more than light engraving.

author: Galenbo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2016, 07:38:19 am
content: Quote from: Mechanical Menace on March 02, 2016, 11:42:39 amFor other than engraving, automated greasing is needed, even a manual milling machine that didn't need that before a CNC conversion.

author: Galenbo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 19, 2016, 11:34:08 am
content: Quote from: ANTALIFE on March 01, 2016, 08:31:26 pmInteresting. Do they combine self-printing with outsourcing? Maybe for bigger parts, or other materials?Some additive manufacturers give excellent service, in some cases the prototype was delivered faster than their customer could make it himself.A big plus to owning such basic printer as a company, is that the employees who outsource it later, train themselves in all the exceptions, specs, little difficulties.In fact, we all know these machines are no 3D-printers, but 2.5D-printers.

author: ChunkyPastaSauce
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 19, 2016, 07:08:27 pm
content: I do prototype work for a number of companies. 3D printers are definitely used... a lot. Mostly high end machines... the lower end machines aimed at the home market, not so much. Too much fiddling and not dimensionally accurate (there are couple recent exceptions in the $2,000-$10,000 range, basically none for machines older than 2014.... execs at the big 3D companies are probably terrified about the future).For prototypes, they're great. You can test the functionality of a concept, without worrying about manufacturing limitations (design a part to be compatible for conventional machining can sometimes be a time sink). They are often faster/cheaper too. The quality of some machines are good enough to pass for a production part (but vast majority you can tell, not because it's 'bad' but because 3d printed parts have a signature surface finish depending on the process used. High quality machines setup for quality, rather than speed, are good at masking it)Also sometimes used for creating certain types of low cost molds, you can do volume parts that way

author: SnipTheCat
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 19, 2016, 08:09:49 pm
content: Quote from: chris_leyson on February 13, 2016, 04:33:19 pmThat's what I used to think, for me 3d printers were "horrible expensive toys" to print, very slowly, expensive low quality vases or other useless stuff (that's more or less what I saw at every demo of 3D printers here in Thailand)...Then last year I bought a cheap DIY kit, mostly for the fun of building it and to see what was all that hype about 3D printing, I didn't have any high expectation, but then I then realized I had been totally wrong... It's a very useful tool, it can produce very decent, if not top quality pieces, the strength of the printed pieces is pretty impressive. It's now become more than a hobby but a passion, I have since then customized the printer (mechanical, electronics and firmware)I would love to have a 3D printing (& CNC, ..) section in this forum, it could also be split in sub sections such as electronics, mechanical and printing (or general)

author: ADC-1995
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2016, 04:34:09 am
content: I agree that an area should be created for CNC, 3D printing, milling, (PCB/xcarver, etc). The technology has become so abundant that adding it to this forum would be a plus. I was doing a little research on the naming convention for these types of technologies and I came across a term called "Additive Manufacturing" (AM).Wiki mentions it under 3D printing and here where it is defined very nicely and it includes tech that hasn't been brought up here yet such as SLA, FDM, MJM, and SLS.http://additivemanufacturing.com/basics/"Additive Manufacturing (AM) is an appropriate name to describe the technologies that build 3D objects by adding layer-upon-layer of material, whether the material is plastic, metal, concrete or one day…..human tissue. "Human tissue... Is anyone doing this at home yet!

author: jeremy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2016, 05:06:32 am
content: +1 for a CNC section. Doesn't need to be milling or 3d printing necessarily. I think that if someone wanted to ask about the electronics and control systems behind awaterjet cake cutterorpancake cnc, of course they should be welcome!

author: DTJ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2016, 05:52:51 am
content: +1I'm another one who would like to have a CNC board added.It could included all CNC - milling/routing/3D printing etc

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 20, 2016, 09:55:08 am
content: Quote from: jeremy on March 20, 2016, 05:06:32 am... or chocolate printing