What do you use your SmartRap for mainly?

I just wondered what all you guys use your SmartRaps for.
The reason I ask the question is because on Wednesday(s) I go to the local Mens' Shed where all us local guys get together to do and learn something, and last week I was asked what are these printers good for.
I was able to show them a number of things I have printed out and also tell them of things I have made for my workshop and my vehicle as well. I always find something that needs to be printed, but that is me.

It would be interesting to me at least to see what all you guys are doing with them. I know that most of us are making new parts for our designs and trying new ideas, but there must be more going on than that.

This might open up a few more ideas for us to follow and put our SmartRaps to better use or more use.

---

[regpye.com.au]
"Experience is the mother of all knowledge." --Leonardo da Vinci

Like you, I have used mine to make custom parts for things around the house. I have made a mount for an outdoor wireless temperature sensor and mount for high water alarm sensor for the sump pump. The belt tensioners in the video I did. I have also printed out some custom grips. Working on a set for one of my home made knives that will have shock cord incorporated into the design. In other words, I use my printer for whatever I might need a plastic part for. Oh, and there is always the "fun" stuff, like the little frogs and the clock I am working on.

Mark

---

From FreeCAD To The Real World- Demo video using FreeCAD and featuring the Smartrap 3D Printer

Just to be honest, my wife says that I use my "Toy" to make more toys. I had made custom keychains for her friends at work that she thought was nice, but the one that impressed her most is the bathroom sink knob busted, and I printed a replacement that worked. Mainly though I've made parts for more printers, or to upgrade my printers. I printed a carriage assembly for a laser build, but I'm not sure if I'm going to use it or some of the makerslide parts I have.

Down the pipe for me, is I'm building a T-Bucket, and I plan to use some very old 3" Bakelite gauges in it. I plan to pull out the internals and print a holder for a stepper mechanism/ control board to fit in the old gauges. I'll also make some custom mounts for some under dash items. That's what I like about 3d printers, you need a one off item, then design it and print it. So far, I've managed to get away with using OpenSCAD since I know a little programming, and grasp how it does things, but FreeCAD is where I need to be heading. Other items for the toolshed for me is a CNC Foam cutter. I play with R/C Planes and stuff, but also want to make a one off roof for the T-Bucket. I'm sure my printers are going to help in making that too. I don't know if ive mentioned it yet, but I also have a Shapeoko, and I've used the printer make tool/bit holders for it so far. Honestly, if your a tinkerer, a 3d printer is your best friend. Endless possibilities...

If were talking about future plans... Once I get a 5 gal. foundry built, I'll use the 3D printer to make "Lost PLA" investment castings for aluminum parts. Humm.... A cast aluminium Smartrap.

Mark

---

From FreeCAD To The Real World- Demo video using FreeCAD and featuring the Smartrap 3D Printer

Quote
markstephen
If were talking about future plans... Once I get a 5 gal. foundry built, I'll use the 3D printer to make "Lost PLA" investment castings for aluminum parts. Humm.... A cast aluminium Smartrap.

Mark

I have a foundry and have done a few lost wax parts and want to give PLA a go too later.
I used investment plaster with the wax method, added the risers to the part and cast a solid block of plaster around the lot. Heated the plaster until it was almost red, wax was now gone, and then poured in molten aluminium. This method you can only do once because the plug (wax/PLA part) is destroyed leaving the shape in the plaster.
I have also used sand box methods as well and made wooden parts to copy.These too could be printed with a SmartRap instead of using wood. This is also a good way to make things, but not as smooth a surface as plaster moulds.(Australian spelling)

My furnace I made from a large gas cylinder. The inside is lined with a mixture of Portland cement, vermiculite, fire clay and some sand.. At the bottom of the furnace is a hole to allow any spillage to escape. Near the bottom on the side of the cylinder is a hole about 65mm (nearly 3") and through that a metal tube is inserted that has the inner end reduced to form a reduction and a fan at the other end.
Through the centre (Australian spelling) of that tube there is a copper fuel line, only 6mm diameter and flattened at the end to form a rough nozzle for the fuel to get out.
I use gravity feed that consists of a plastic carboy filled with diesel. A fan from a computer 80mm diameter was used for the airflow, but I ended up using a better fan with more power and controlled by a speed controller that I made. (important to be able to control the fan speed) There are many things to learn about the casting process, so I will leave you to explore for yourselves. Very interesting and enjoyable. Be safe though and wear the correct clothing and a face mask while doing it, there is some danger in the processes.

Another thing I have done recently is vacuum forming. I needed to make some postage cases for my hotends to protect them while sending through the mail.
The shape gives the form its strength, but I used 0.7mm thick PVC clear to form the shape and it is super strong. The vacuum box is a simple one made from MDF and drilled with many holes on the top side. I use a vacuum cleaner for the vacuum and I use a toaster oven for heating the plastic.
The former patterns I made with my SmartRap, I designed them the same shape as the hotends but with straight sides so that the form could be removed after being made. They came out excellent and only take a few minutes to make. This has opened up a new area for me because now I can make shapes of anything that I want to vacuum form and make it the same day. Maybe some racing car bodies for slot cars or maybe RC aircraft canopies or even robot body parts, the mind boggles at the possibilities.

At present, I am making parts for a laser engraver on my SmartRap, the parts are almost all finished and the frame has been put together too. Not sure how many more parts will be needed, but I know that if any changes are needed I can print out some more parts and change the design as I go. The main frame is 800mm x 600mm Ordered the laser head last night, hope it doesn't get seized by Customs, it cost about $200.
I guess I should take some photos and put up here for you guys if you are interested?

I am also wondering how we can get our wives to be involved with our 3D printing adventures? If we can get them on side we have it won ha..ha.. This is an important issue for me, because I know that the guys at the Mens' Shed will face these problems too, and if we can work out a work-around we will all be better off. Ideas anyone?

---

[regpye.com.au]
"Experience is the mother of all knowledge." --Leonardo da Vinci

Photos? YES!

Luckily, I have a pretty understanding wife...

I made my wife a pen holder with her name for her desk. Now she is starting to see the capabilities other than my own stuff.

Quote
madmike8
Photos? YES!

Luckily, I have a pretty understanding wife...

I will take some photos today, which would you like to see?

Yes I am pretty lucky too, my wife is understanding as well. But that takes me back a few years ago when I first started building my very first 3D Printer.
My first one took about 3 months to build, because I knew nothing about them and had no-one to follow. I just saw a few things on the Internet and had to work out the rest myself.
While I was building it I received a lot of scornful remarks, "You are wasting your time", It will never work", "What will you use it for" and so on. The day I had it finished I tried it out (movements only) to see if it did actually work. I said nothing because I still needed to learn how to slice and make things. It didn't take too long to learn the basics, and I did a test print on my own in a quiet place so I wasn't disturbed and ridiculed if it didn't work. BUT it did work, and I got my wife and a neighbour (Australian spelling) who had been the same as my wife "What are they good for?" type of person, and when they saw it actually working they went kind of quiet ha..ha.. Now both of them are finding things for me to make or fix for them ha..ha.. broken clothes hangers, parts for cars, missing knobs, brackets and so on and on..... Good isn't it? ha..ha..

---

[regpye.com.au]
"Experience is the mother of all knowledge." --Leonardo da Vinci

Quote
duranza
I made my wife a pen holder with her name for her desk. Now she is starting to see the capabilities other than my own stuff.

That was a very good idea.
These are the sort of things we need to be doing I think. Get them on-side and we will have a better life. I have actually made up some parts for a 3D printer in pink ha..ha.. My idea was to make a printer for my wife and try and get her involved too. Maybe I am wasting my time with that because it is not just the printer needed, it is the design process and using it too, so unless she has a great interest in it, it will only collect dust.

---

[regpye.com.au]
"Experience is the mother of all knowledge." --Leonardo da Vinci

My smartrap got appreciation from my wife when I printed and replaced a shower knob which was broken for about 5 years. It was the best thing that came out of the printer yet, she says.

Just like you guys, I'm a tinkerer so a 3d printer is a necessity for me to make or replace parts. I haven't gone full blown like some of you though. Focusing on small things for now. Mainly toys for my son, action figures for my nephews, broken things around the house, case for some electronic projects like the motion sensor light. Like I said, small stuff for now

Oh, can I squeeze in an out of topic question? I'm wondering what's the best way to get my smartrap through the airport in case I wanted to take it with me.

Quote
MelT
My smartrap got appreciation from my wife when I printed and replaced a shower knob which was broken for about 5 years. It was the best thing that came out of the printer yet, she says.

Just like you guys, I'm a tinkerer so a 3d printer is a necessity for me to make or replace parts. I haven't gone full blown like some of you though. Focusing on small things for now. Mainly toys for my son, action figures for my nephews, broken things around the house, case for some electronic projects like the motion sensor light. Like I said, small stuff for now

Oh, can I squeeze in an out of topic question? I'm wondering what's the best way to get my smartrap through the airport in case I wanted to take it with me.

I needed to get some small potting boxes for encapsulating my small electronic parts in resin to make them water proof. Couldn't find what I really wanted and the sizes that were available were pretty expensive too, so I made my own using a single wall box of the shape and size that I needed using my 3D printer. I will never buy a box for that purpose again, I will make my own as needed. When I think back, there are so many things I have used the machine for that I have forgotten, I don't know how I would get on now without it.

Maybe the best way would be to ask at the Airport and see what rulings they have on that. I know I had to travel interstate once and take some tools with me for setting up a guys laser machine that he had bought from China, and when I got to the airport they refused me boarding with the case of tools. I had to re-buy tools when I got to Sydney, leaving my other tools in storage at Adelaide airport.

---

[regpye.com.au]
"Experience is the mother of all knowledge." --Leonardo da Vinci

Mostly I have been tinkering in order to learn about all of this, but I have managed to pull together a few key chains, a wall bracket to hold my wireless headphones, a few cookie cutters, but my "best" yet was an adapter to fit a camera to the finderscope on my father's telescope. Once I get a better grasp of modeling I am sure there will be many more things down the line.

Quote
madmike8
Photos? YES!

Luckily, I have a pretty understanding wife...

OK, I have taken some photos and some are still to come as I finish off some of the builds.

First the vacuum forming.
This is what I used the SmartRap for, it is a former for making the shape to be formed for the packaging of my hotends. The packaging has recesses for the hotend, a M6 nut, a length of spare PTFE and underneath it holds the thermistor and the Wades adapter plate. The pattern was designed to fit the hotend part and then printed using PLA. I made a few parts all the same so I could make at least 3 parts at the same time when forming.



Here is the PVC film in a simple MDF frame to hold it while heating in a small oven. Takes about 2 minutes to get up to temperature and the PVC goes soft and then I put the frame over the vacuum former with the vacuum cleaner sucking the air out of the box that the formers are sitting on. The shape of the PVC takes place almost immediately.



Here are some of the parts made and ready to use.


Second the foundry gear that I use.

Here is the gravity feed for the diesel that I use in the furnace. Just a simple carboy with the diesel in and a tap to control the flow. The stand was pinched from one of my work lights that I have.



A few shots of the furnace that I built from a disused gas bottle found at the tip.
The lid is heavy, so I made a foot pedal to lift the weight and the lid can swing to one side in order to get to the inside.
The fan I replaced with a blower and a speed controller.










This is what I used for sand casting. It is a box made in two pieces that fit together and lock in the same place so that a pattern can be placed inside and when the pattern is removed the top and bottom parts will fit exactly together again in the same place.



The melting pots I made from stainless steel tube and TIG welded a stainless steel bottom to the tube. Added some brackets to be able to hook a lifter on for pouring and added a pouring lip at the top of the tube.



My Laser engraver that I am making now.

Not a lot to see at this early stage, but I have designed the X and Y axis parts and also the X carriage that will carry the laser head.
The frame has been made and later I will take more photos of this project as it comes together.
Without my 3D printer I would have difficulty making many of these parts.







And finally some laser cut parts for a LCD controller that I mentioned earlier.
These I can make in about 10 minutes compared to 4 hours for the yellow one shown in the photo below.
The black one is a laser cut MDF case, glued together with PVA glue and has a back to it as well.

---

[regpye.com.au]
"Experience is the mother of all knowledge." --Leonardo da Vinci

You do very nice work Regpye. Thanks for the photos. I might ask for assistance in the future on the vacuum former. Too much on my plate right now, but definitely on a future make list. I think the foundry is a bit beyond me... Maybe if I need something, I can talk you or Mark into helping me out... I have done something similar with pewter in the past though...

Quote
madmike8
You do very nice work Regpye. Thanks for the photos. I might ask for assistance in the future on the vacuum former. Too much on my plate right now, but definitely on a future make list. I think the foundry is a bit beyond me... Maybe if I need something, I can talk you or Mark into helping me out... I have done something similar with pewter in the past though...

Thanks for that comment.
No problems about helping you out.
Vacuum forming is very easy and cheap to setup and you get almost instant results first time that are very rewarding.

---

[regpye.com.au]
"Experience is the mother of all knowledge." --Leonardo da Vinci

Wow! Are you planning to take over the whole 3D printer business?