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Have you tried bolting a dremel or router to your RepRap? Can you engrave and drill PCBs? Or cut wood, or ... steel? (Or do you have a commercial mill or CNC router?)
Re: Any suggestions for which CNC MILL to buy? - 7 years ago
If this is your first foray into machining / milling you would probably be better buying a ready made (small) mill and converting it to CNC or even one of the small collage cnc mills and converting it to run with your own hardware / software (Mach 3 + PC is the most common). That gives a shallower learning curve IMHO and you will likely end up with a better machine. My first go at 3D printing wby SimonRafferty - CNC Routers, Mills, and Hybrid RepRapping
Re: Open source CNC Plasma cutting table? - 7 years ago
Prior to my current line of work, I ran a little fab-shop. Both this and my 3D Printer were transformative in terms of what I could tackle. The plasma didn't entirely replace laser cutting - but being able to have cut parts within 15 mins is great. It's also changed the economics of many projects, too expensive if they have to be laser cut. Siby SimonRafferty - CNC Routers, Mills, and Hybrid RepRapping
Re: Open source CNC Plasma cutting table? - 7 years ago
There's mine - if you're interested! Quite a few people in Europe & the US have built one so far. Mine gets used, probably as often as my printer! Being able to incorporate metal parts into 3D printed assemblies has been invaluable. Happy to answer questions as required. Siby SimonRafferty - CNC Routers, Mills, and Hybrid RepRapping
BFB 3000 Twin Head Printer on eBay - 11 years ago
Just in case it's of interest to anyone here: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190886561869?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1586.l2649 Siby SimonRafferty - For Sale
Re: Impossible idea - 13 years ago
Im always interested to see how people solve problems! Maybe next you could turn your attention to a robot shirt ironing machine? Siby SimonRafferty - Robots!
Re: Impossible idea - 13 years ago
I thought of a way to achieve this! If you make a set of clippers connected to a vacuum cleaner such that the hair is sucked towards the clippers, then use a semi-circular track for the clippers such that they can orbit your head. The track can also be rotated in an arc such that it can 'scan' a hemisphere. Then the clippers need to be able to move in and out towards ones head. Then you justby SimonRafferty - Robots!
Re: [UK] Complete, built Mendel - ready to print! - 13 years ago
£520 would be fine - and I'll throw in the delivery for free (within mainland UK). I'll also throw in some filament and spares. email me at simon.rafferty (at) x-eng.co.uk if you want to go ahead. Siby SimonRafferty - For Sale
Re: [UK] Complete, built Mendel - ready to print! - 13 years ago
Nope! It's still sat on the desk next to the new printer and not been touched since April - Sadly. I don't know what built Mendels sell for these days - but I'd be happy with that minus the cost of the latest generation of electronics as an offer. That will make getting it up & running much easier rather than trying to find legacy software for a Gen 3 system. Siby SimonRafferty - For Sale
Re: [UK] Complete, built Mendel - ready to print! - 13 years ago
If you feel like making another offer after you have saved up a little - I would be receptive! New machine turns up in three weeks and I'll need the space on my desk! Siby SimonRafferty - For Sale
Re: [UK] Complete, built Mendel - ready to print! - 13 years ago
That sold for nearly $1500 - or a little over £800. I might not be expecting quite that much - but £400 is on the low side. Siby SimonRafferty - For Sale
Re: [UK] Complete, built Mendel - ready to print! - 13 years ago
An offer which will make both of us happy! You can work out roughly what it would cost to build. Siby SimonRafferty - For Sale
Re: [UK] Complete, built Mendel - ready to print! - 13 years ago
West Sussex, 8 miles from Gatwick Airport to be precise! Siby SimonRafferty - For Sale
[UK] Complete, built Mendel - ready to print! - 13 years ago
I built a Mendel last year using a kit of parts printed by Adrian B on the first Mendel. It was built using all Stainless nuts, bolts, washers & studding. It's using Makerbot V3 Electronics and thick sheet parts laser cut from Polycarbonate. It has Adrians Geared Extruder with a PTFE lined PEEK barrel and Resistor based heater all designed to be easily dismantled. I'm running a 0.5mm nozzlby SimonRafferty - For Sale
Re: BFB 3000 & New User & Help needed - 13 years ago
Are the BFB 3000 printers any good? I'm looking at buying a 3D printer for my company and it is definitely a contender if on nothing more than cost. The other options is one of the HP low end printers. I've not managed to find much real world experience of the printers - most 'reviews' just cut & paste the text from BFB's brochure! Siby SimonRafferty - General
Re: Engine heater pads for heated bed? - 13 years ago
Second response from the company: The 60 watt, BH60CSA-240 can reach 90°C without a heat sink. So, £26 + £5 p&p and capable of heating to 90°C - sounds almost ideal! Since they appear to be made in Canada - I dare say they will be even cheaper in the US than here in the UK. Siby SimonRafferty - Reprappers
Re: Engine heater pads for heated bed? - 13 years ago
This is the reply from the company: Simon, thank you for visiting our web site and requesting pricing on a Flexible Heating Pad 240 volts. We agree the BH60CSA 240 volt, 60 watt CSA/CE approved heater is a better choice than our engine oil heaters as they require a large heat sink (the oil in the sump) otherwise they burn out. Battery Warmers. Our Battery Warmers are of similar design as the eby SimonRafferty - Reprappers
Engine heater pads for heated bed? - 13 years ago
I've come across these: http://www.engineheaters.co.uk/, in particular their Battery heater - and wondered what you think about using them as a bed heater? They are available in 12v, 110v and 230v. I have no idea what max temperature they reach - so they might require thermostatic control. I've asked the company for more info which I'll reproduce here. Siby SimonRafferty - Reprappers
Re: Selective Thermal Sintering using DLP and instense, non-laser light source - 13 years ago
I quite like the DLP idea! Even if you cannot fuse a whole layer at a time it might be viable to scan the DLP head as you might a laser - but much faster - and scroll the image across the DLP as it moves. Even better might be a line of mirrors with one of the Infra Red heat lamp tubes which moves over the surface. On it's return trip, it could spread out the next layer of powder. Why don't yoby SimonRafferty - General
Firmware Confusion - Help! - 13 years ago
I built a Mendel in Spring 2010 - and had it up and running reasonably. Only reasonably because I was having Extruder problems but it was essentially printing. Over the summer, work became busy and I'd not touched it until the Christmas break. I had lost the laptop which had the original version of the firmware (which I was using with the Host software) - but I can't remember which versions.by SimonRafferty - General
Re: Extruder melt-back woes! - 14 years ago
What about Mapp Gas? It will go to about 2000 deg on it's own or nearly 3000 with Oxygen. We've almost given up using Acetylene except for cutting. Mapp is much lower cost for heating and forming applications. Siby SimonRafferty - General
Re: Crazy Extruder Nozzle Idea - 14 years ago
The issue with most machinable ceramics is they are designed to be good thermal conductors. There are exceptions - but they are even harder to find! Maybe we need a few old tiles off the Space Shuttle? Siby SimonRafferty - General
Re: Extruder melt-back woes! - 14 years ago
Well, that was another failure! This time, the plastic melted OK and the transition from solid to liquid was only over about 5mm - but it appeared that the friction between ABS and PEEK is too high and it jams. After dismantling, there was no leakage between the PEEK and heater barrel - but the last 5mm of the PEEK bore was jammed solid to the extent that I had to put it on the Lathe & driby SimonRafferty - General
Re: Extruder melt-back woes! - 14 years ago
rocket_scientist Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I am also thinking of making simple glass nozzles > to sell to people who do not have an oxy-acetylene > torch and diamond glass grinder. Actually, all you need is a Propane/Butane Blow Torch and a carborundum knife-sharpening block. Siby SimonRafferty - General
Re: Extruder melt-back woes! - 14 years ago
j> Make sure you have a good thermal contact between > the bobbin and the tube, then! Good point! I had figured on assembling it with a little heat sink compound. The Thermistor is attached to the bobbin so it at least will not overheat. Even if the rest of the hot end lags behind by a few degrees, it's not the end of the world. Has anyone tried using Diesel engine Glow-plugs (heater pby SimonRafferty - General
Re: Extruder melt-back woes! - 14 years ago
The easiest option on a glass nozzle is just to heat up the wide end and stub it into a flat thing - which causes the end to flare a little. Pass the glass tube through a lump of PTFE or whatever such that the flare stops it pushing through. Siby SimonRafferty - General
Re: Crazy Extruder Nozzle Idea - 14 years ago
Luer-Loc needles are a great idea! Tricky to make the internal thread and tapered tube it attaches to - but if you could, I think they would be a good solution! Siby SimonRafferty - General
Re: Extruder melt-back woes! - 14 years ago
I've followed the advice of Nophead and the rest of you and made this: And disassembled: The barrel is made from PEEK (Thanks Craig!) with a M20 x 2.5mm pitch thread cut in the outside - good, deep thread for extra grip. It has a 3mm bore hole through the middle. The pointy end sticks into a conical recess in the next part to form a gas-tight seal when one is screwed into the other. That paby SimonRafferty - General
Re: Hello All New Build NOOB!! 
- 14 years ago
Fuzzy Wrote: > When I have my reprap functioning in a suitable > manor then I will print off 5 full sets of parts > and give them away (excluding postage). Very admirable! Adrian said he was going to alternate between selling on eBay with a buy now price of £60 or so, and listing the parts as an auction - which generally go for £500 or more. My guess is, however that you would neverby SimonRafferty - United Kingdom RepRap User Group
Re: Crazy Extruder Nozzle Idea - 14 years ago
I'll have a look! I lost the actual extruder head when my Land Rover caught fire (nothing to do with the extruder - more to do with the exhaust on a V8 glowing cherry red!). I'm bound to have the original sketches though. Siby SimonRafferty - General
Re: Extruder melt-back woes! - 14 years ago
Thanks Chaps. Would there be mileage in making the PTFE / PEEK screw into a female thread on the barrel - then the PTFE expanding will tighten the seal. Also, a larger diameter gives a deeper thread - less likely to strip? Siby SimonRafferty - General