quality of items I'm a complete newbie to this area, but very excited about the possibilities. I have computer programming skills and also some experience in metal working, and I think it would be fun to build and use a reprap. I'm also considering starting with a makerbot version. my question is about the quality of items that can be made with either system. I've seen in the pictures and youtube videos examples of objects. Many of them appear to be kind of cheesy looking, with rough edges. People have made useful items, like coat hooks and all. But if they look like old broken down plastic, would anyone really hang them on their walls? Are there ways to improve the final finish of made items? Sanding or painting or something? Thanks very much https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,44280,44280#msg-44280 Mon, 14 Sep 2026 23:07:25 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,44280,44561#msg-44561 Re: quality of items https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,44280,44561#msg-44561
Mike]]> rocket_scientist General Tue, 04 May 2010 17:22:35 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,44280,44494#msg-44494 Re: quality of items https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,44280,44494#msg-44494
I make many of my parts at 0.5mm layer spacing, I would go bigger if I could. I can produce a usable part quickly and the quality is good enough for any little project I have. If anything is a little rough a few minutes with a drill or knife usually sorts things out.

I also like the way reprap items look anyhow "Reprap Chic!"]]> martinprice2004 General Mon, 03 May 2010 15:40:17 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,44280,44479#msg-44479 Re: quality of items https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,44280,44479#msg-44479 tesla893 General Mon, 03 May 2010 10:59:41 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,44280,44448#msg-44448 Re: quality of items https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,44280,44448#msg-44448
Check out his blog here:
[hydraraptor.blogspot.com]

Or some of the parts he has for sale -
[forums.reprap.org]

and

[cgi.ebay.co.uk]

All of the reprapped parts do have a fair amount of surface roughness, and I don't think we'll see anything like the sort of surface finish one gets with professional moulded plastics in the near future. On the other hand, reprapped parts are perfectly adequate for what we're using them for. I'm pretty stoked that we can print functional gear trains now - that opens up a lot of opportunities.

Wade]]> Wade General Sun, 02 May 2010 22:40:37 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,44280,44424#msg-44424 Re: quality of items https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,44280,44424#msg-44424
The print quality is the function of many different factors:

-Colored ABS does not generally print as well as natural
-Stepper extruders do better than gear motors
-Skeinforge settings play a HUGE role
-Heated build plates prevent warpage, and failed prints
-High temp extrusion with a fan helps

Think of it this way, CNC cuts can look WONDERFUL, or HORRIBLE, completely depending on who is running the machine, same with CNC extrusion.]]> spacexula General Sun, 02 May 2010 18:12:40 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,44280,44419#msg-44419 Re: quality of items https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,44280,44419#msg-44419 rapper General Sun, 02 May 2010 17:22:27 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,44280,44405#msg-44405 Re: quality of items https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,44280,44405#msg-44405 Forrest Higgs General Sun, 02 May 2010 14:32:09 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,44280,44394#msg-44394 Re: quality of items https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,44280,44394#msg-44394 jbayless General Sun, 02 May 2010 12:39:31 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,44280,44388#msg-44388 Re: quality of items https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,44280,44388#msg-44388 Forrest Higgs General Sun, 02 May 2010 10:59:03 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,44280,44382#msg-44382 Re: quality of items https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,44280,44382#msg-44382
Quote
rapper
Maybe it is premature with the current state

And that after only your 2nd post. 8-)]]> rhmorrison General Sun, 02 May 2010 09:12:41 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,44280,44380#msg-44380 Re: quality of items https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,44280,44380#msg-44380 rapper General Sun, 02 May 2010 08:36:56 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,44280,44284#msg-44284 Re: quality of items https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,44280,44284#msg-44284 blog.erikdebruijn.nl]


Does anybody plan to build an open source Vapour degreasing machine? It could be a great addition to RepRap.]]> Autarkyboy General Sat, 01 May 2010 09:03:04 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,44280,44280#msg-44280 quality of items https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,44280,44280#msg-44280 my question is about the quality of items that can be made with either system. I've seen in the pictures and youtube videos examples of objects. Many of them appear to be kind of cheesy looking, with rough edges. People have made useful items, like coat hooks and all. But if they look like old broken down plastic, would anyone really hang them on their walls? Are there ways to improve the final finish of made items? Sanding or painting or something? Thanks very much]]> rapper General Sat, 01 May 2010 07:19:45 -0400