3D Printing - Whats it all about?

Overview
3D printers are for people who like to make things. There are many libraries of designs on the internet (a good example would be Thingiverse.com). Selecting and downloading one of the library designs allows you to make the item out of plastic assuming you have a 3D printer. There are many different types of plastics you can use but the commonest is PLA. It is bio-degradable, reasonably priced and comes in a range of colours. It can be bought from Amazon at approximately £20 for a 1kg reel. The plastic is supplied as a long filament of 1.75mm diameter on a reel. A 1kg reel is enough to make a large number of items depending on their sizes.

If you can't find what you want in one of the libraries, you can design it yourself on your computer instead.

The 3D Printer
I use an "Creality Ender 3 Pro". It cost me about £250. This is probably the most popular hobbyist printer with good capabilities though you can spend as much as you want. The printer has a maximum build volume of X=230mm x Y=230mm x Z=250mm. I find this volume is big enough for most of my projects. The printer has a very flat bed on which the printing occurs. It is heated to 60degC to make the PLA stick to it. After printing, the bed cools and the printed object loses its adhesion so the object can be removed.

How is the printed item formed?
Layer by layer. The print head extrudes molten plastic (at 215degC) in layers (typically 0.2mm). After printing one layer, a second layer is printed on top of the first etc. A 10cm high object would therefore have 500 layers. This can take a while!

I won't go too deep with this description, though if anyone has questions I would be only too glad to answer them (if I can).

Here are a number of things I have printed, though most of my designs are much more technical than these: -


Figure 1 - Bust of Aphrodite (marble PLA).


Figure 2 - Metallic Big Blue Vase (maximum height of printer).


Figure 3 - Metallic Bronze Coloured Vase (interesting shape).


Figure 4 - 3 Small Vases (suitable for single bloom).


Figure 5 - Napkin Holder (Voronoi pattern).


Figure 6 - Metallic Orange Ribbed Vase (on marble coloured base).


Figure 7 - Owl Pencil Holder (marble PLA).


Figure 8 - Metallic Bronze Coloured Spiral Vase (for PLA roses).


Figure 9 - Metallic Bronze Coloured Spiral Vase with PLA Roses.

Enough for now.

Best Regards

Ademission

Stay Safe

 

They are lovely does a printer use a lot of electric?

 

As an antiquarian and antiquities collector/student, I find this sort of thing particularly fascinating! Could have all sorts of uses, like allowing members of the public to handle and closely appreciate extremely realistic replicas of ancient pottery and glass without any risk of damaging the originals! IMHO there is a lot about ancient art that simple viewing fails to convey to the layman!

Nick

 

Do you think pieces could be produced that would be very similar to the originals in terms of weight as well as other qualities, @Ademission? Some pieces (like ancient Roman lamps) can be surprisingly light! On the other hand I have a Greek South Italian votive piece that is a fair bit heavier than one would expect. It all depends on the local clay, I think.

Nick

 

I wasn't sure so I checked on the internet for the average power. Apparently it uses an average of 150watts while it is printing. This includes the heating of the print bed and also the hot end (nozzle). The stepper motors would also be included in the stated power.
It would therefore use 1 unit (kWh) every 7 hours. A print of a vase might take 15hours so 2 units.

Hope this helps

Ademission

 

Hi Nick,
Interesting question. PLA is relatively light when compared to clay for example and normally the prints are like a honeycomb inside as an effort to save material. This is built in to the software that is used to create the gcode for the printer but the density of the honeycomb can be changed through a parameter called infill density. However it may be possible to include lead weights or similar to increase the apparent density.

Ademission

 

I struggle as to what I would actually use a 3D printer for. Although I did "create an account" on Thingiverse.com and CHECKED the "Naughty" option and that gave me some more ideas ... some of them hilarious, but not so much that an Aged Aunt would appreciate them as a mantlepiece adornment ...

I have a friend who collects miniature soldiers, and instead of forking out for them he now just prints the ones he wants. That I get, but I don't have a hobby of that ilk; the Space Station 3D Printed a specialist spanner for a particular requirement ...

... but for me I think I would need something "useful" rather than phallic pull-knobs on all the bathroom light cords

 

Anything of use in the garden or greenhouse?

 

Hello Kristen,
In all honesty, novelty items don't interest me either. Usually, the things I make are out of necessity. If I need something, I design it using CAD and then make it with the 3D printer. Occasionally I use Thingiverse. If I find exactly what I'm looking for I might download and print it but this is probably only 20% of the time. Its surprising how useful the 3D printer can be when something breaks or you need a bracket or a gadget to do a specific job. Often you can have the item in your hand within a few hours or less. It really is limited by your imagination and your design capability.

Regards

Ademission

Stay safe.

 

I've seen some YouTube of a hobby carpenter who 3D printed all sorts of exceptionally creative holders for tools, and adaptors for dust collection, etc.

But i can't think of anything of that ilk that I would need for the garden / shed. Happy to be enlightened

 

Hi NigelJ,
I make stuff as it is needed....

A few items in the Greenhouse: -
1. Door knob
2. Fixing brackets for electrics
+ others


The above photo shows an adaptor. The bronze coloured bolt attaches a wooden plank to the greenhouse and this is where my 3 sets of mains sockets are attached (see below).


Still waiting for new 10ft x 12ft greenhouse to be delivered although base is ready as can be seen in the picture.

In the garden: -
1. Bird feeders (3 different types)
2. Wall brackets to support bird feeders
3. Trellis supports
+ others

Regards

Ademission

 

OH has been tinkering to try to reproduce a door-hinge doodad thingy for a plastic shed. There seem to be a lot of prototypes lying about

 

Hi Kristen,

Yes, I've done a few tool holders.


Regards

Ademission

 

Hi noisette47,

There are many designs for hinges that can be scaled to fit most circumstances without having to design yourself (if you haven't already, take a look at thingiverse.com).

I notice you are in Lot-et-Garonne. Its a lovely part of the world. I had a good holiday near Nerac a few years ago.

Best Regards

Ademission

Stay safe.