Anyone got experience with this? I've had parts scanned, modified and printed very successfully, but it's expensive! I'm thinking of getting software to do the manipulation, but using pros to scan and print.
A little bit but I'm just doing this as a hobby at home. I've got a creality ender 3 pro. I've made frame plugs for my KTM but not much else at the moment. I design parts using blender and slice it with Cura. I control the printer using octoprint and have replaced the firmware by using klipper on a raspberry pi. All of the information to do all this is on the net but the upshot is that I've got a 3d printer that I'm very happy with for about £200 ish. I'm planning on making some offroad flexible mirrors for the ktm and various other bits and pieces. It's one of those things that I don't think is ready for everyone, you need to be happy digging about at a technical level to get it all working.
Its something I'd like to get into, I'm into loads of other things such as RC cars and airsoft so 3D printing would really be helpful. I'd like to introduce the kids to this sort of tech to get them interested , plus it would help signing it off with the wife!
We bought a cheapo version that didn't work that well, worst still I have no creative skill, however did manage the inevitable 3D willy with obligatory pubes.
I think we will have to learn this stuff, but I'm not relishing it. I hate IT. You are obviously are well up to speed.
I used Manchester Metrology for my parts. They have literally millions worth of scanners and printers. But not cheap, though they were very kind to me.
I do quite a bit of this. You can buy a surprisingly capable machine for very little money (~£120). My advice would be to not buy something large, most of the parts I make would fit on the smallest of machines. As you increase size the print time increases exponentially. when you think about it it makes sense, if you double the size of an item the volume increases by 8 times. For example a pair of mirror blanks will take about 40 minutes. I printed a small centre console for my Caterham though (about 20cm x 20cm x 22cm) and that took 22 hours to print on quite a quick setting. Print times aren't that important though as you only need to watch it for a few minutes at the start. Mine has paid for itself many times over and I'd certainly buy another if it broke (which you wouldn't have to as replacement parts are standardised components and cost sod all). I would suggest becoming acquainted with Freecad, Designspark Mechanical and Cura. They're all free and provide all the CAD capabilities you're likely to need (and a hell of a lot more).
I'm pretty sure that more user friendly solutions are available. My job is in computers though so I just went for the cheapest route happy to dig in. It's only like picking up a new skill like using a milling machine or lathe. I've no idea where to start but a few youtube videos can side step years of experience
I will disagree there, there is no substitute for experience when it comes to machining. Noises, methods, how material cuts, tool selection, cutting data, what you can get away with, etc etc can’t be taught on YouTube. They take years of knowledge and trial and error to master. You can pick the basics up, sure, and you can learn cad but, writing a program is the easy part; it’s everything else that goes with it to make it work that’s the hard part
Apologies, I was joking. I'd love to learn how to use these machines and definitely don't think you can pick up off youtube. Will have to attend night school or find someone to teach me at some point. If you haven't seen this guy's videos, he's inspiring the hell out of me at the moment... https://www.youtube.com/user/millyardviper/videos
No apology necessary Love his work, Allen churns some cracking machines out. if you like machining search titans of cnc on YouTube (typical American) but does a lot for basic cnc training and some cool videos. happy to help if you want to pick it up, industry is crying out for more skill - It’s that bad I’m considered pretty good
woohoo the finance director (wifey) has signed off the Purchase order for a 3d printer, literally frothing! Researching and the Creality ender 3 pro seems to be highly rated in the price bracket @dern any issues or recommendations from your purchase? Also should I get hands on with the software first or dive straight with the purchase and start experimenting?
Am watching this closely. Wife has mentioned getting one, she does craft stuff, but I was holdinh off due to costs when I last looked in to it.
The reason I mucked about with the software was that with octoprint and klipper the printer ran faster with more control and more quietly. Also octoprint has a web interface which you can use to upload your print files so you don't have to muck about putting the files on an sd card. Finally it also significantly improved the ability of the firmware to handle thermal runaway to prevent fires. I even went to the lengths of putting a relay in the power supply that cut the power when the nozzle got to a certain temperature. If that seems like a lot of stuff to do then you're right but meant I could just leave the thing printing overnight if I wanted without worrying about if it would set the house on fire or keep everyone awake with the noise. There's a ton of stuff on youtube but this guy's videos are excellent... ...and what I recommend is to watch that. If your reaction to that video is 'f*ck that' and/or don't have an arduino then just run the printer as is but don't leave it running unattended. If that doesn't matter to you just press on, you can always this stuff later if you want. This is mine printing off a bit for the ktm. It's quieter and faster than stock and will switch itself off if it gets too hot. A stock one will print the same parts though... The pro comes with a glass bed that you should definitely use as the standard one isn't that flat. Learning to do the bed levelling shouldn't be skipped as it's essential for a good print. Here's the first vaguely useful this I designed and built. This is a frame plug for my ktm 1190 adventure. Designed in blender, sliced in cura and then printed... Have fun.
Thanks for the detailed write up! From the review the Ender pro looks to be the one to go for Gonna have a muck around on the software to see if I can actually design anything, last time I used vaguely anything like this was autocad and some CFD sims but that was like 20 years ago!
By the way, if you don't want to start of designing stuff then there's probably something on here that you could try first... https://www.thingiverse.com/ Software choices... https://all3dp.com/1/best-free-3d-printing-software-3d-printer-program/
Going to wait out for the ender 3 v2, see how it impact the prices for the previous and whether it is cheaper to buy a Pro and upgrade. Just thought of a idea for when I get a 3D printer, redesigned tail plastics to incorporate a hidden compartment in the tail. Conveniently hide valuables from thieves and Power commanders from insurance!
Decided to use Blender as the the design tool, manly because is it free and my Mac is a bit older and Blender provide older versions. Only took me about two days to start designing simple parts, very steep learning curve but loads of resources online.
