Hello I posted a similar message some time ago but I think that it was filtered by an anti-spam bot cause it was full of commercial links, so I rewrite it with no links. I want to build a greenhouse so I searched the web about the topic. Greenhouse glazings usually are made of glass, polycarbonate or acrylic, they must let the light pass through but they must retain the heat and they must be lightweight but strong enough. You can measure the performance of a glazing by these parameters: % of light that passes through, R-value and years before the plastic gets ruined by the sun. Polycarbonate panels can be extruded with more than one "wall", that means that air is trapped between two walls so that it can act as a thermal insulator. I found sheets with even 5 or more walls. Using more walls reduce the % of light that passes through but increases the thermal insulation greatly. My questions are: Is it possible or convenient to print a greenhouse with a RepRap? Can I make transparent panels? Can I use some 3d printer techniques to print panels with very high thermal insulation? like printing something with a lot of air trapped in a smart way inside? Will printing my panels be cheaper than buying extruded ones? Why is nobody doing that? Is there some sort of show-stopper that I am not aware of? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?88,44188,44188#msg-44188 Fri, 11 Sep 2026 10:30:29 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?88,44188,45014#msg-45014 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?88,44188,45014#msg-45014 -------------------------------------------------------
> Autarkyboy, let us put it this way: how many cubic
> centimeters of plastic will you be depositing?

I don't know, it is just a brainstorm for now. Why do you ask that? Will it take months of printing time? It's an aspect that I didn't consider.]]> Autarkyboy Let's design something! (I've got an idea ...) Sun, 09 May 2010 06:02:30 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?88,44188,44526#msg-44526 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?88,44188,44526#msg-44526 SebastienBailard Let's design something! (I've got an idea ...) Tue, 04 May 2010 04:33:37 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?88,44188,44524#msg-44524 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?88,44188,44524#msg-44524 VDX Let's design something! (I've got an idea ...) Tue, 04 May 2010 03:35:28 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?88,44188,44282#msg-44282 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?88,44188,44282#msg-44282 -------------------------------------------------------
> You won't be able to print transparent panels on a
> reprap, because the filament deposition process
> can't create a smooth solid piece. And you
> certainly won't be able to print anything as large
> as a greenhouse glass sheet. For certain, it would
> be cheapest to purchase extruded ones.
>
> But you might be able to use a RepRap to make
> joiners and connectors for your panels.

Can't I do anything to print a transparent object? I dunno, sanding it or applying other surface finish treatment.]]> Autarkyboy Let's design something! (I've got an idea ...) Sat, 01 May 2010 08:59:02 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?88,44188,44189#msg-44189 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?88,44188,44189#msg-44189
But you might be able to use a RepRap to make joiners and connectors for your panels.]]> jbayless Let's design something! (I've got an idea ...) Fri, 30 Apr 2010 14:07:18 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?88,44188,44188#msg-44188 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?88,44188,44188#msg-44188
I want to build a greenhouse so I searched the web about the topic.

Greenhouse glazings usually are made of glass, polycarbonate or acrylic, they must let the light pass through but they must retain the heat and they must be lightweight but strong enough.

You can measure the performance of a glazing by these parameters: % of light that passes through, R-value and years before the plastic gets ruined by the sun.

Polycarbonate panels can be extruded with more than one "wall", that means that air is trapped between two walls so that it can act as a thermal insulator. I found sheets with even 5 or more walls.

Using more walls reduce the % of light that passes through but increases the thermal insulation greatly.

My questions are:

Is it possible or convenient to print a greenhouse with a RepRap?

Can I make transparent panels?

Can I use some 3d printer techniques to print panels with very high thermal insulation? like printing something with a lot of air trapped in a smart way inside?

Will printing my panels be cheaper than buying extruded ones?

Why is nobody doing that? Is there some sort of show-stopper that I am not aware of?]]> Autarkyboy Let's design something! (I've got an idea ...) Fri, 30 Apr 2010 13:55:08 -0400