I guess I've always enjoyed a challenge. Since I work on the outskirts of the engineering field, I thought it'd be pretty awesome to build my own Three-Dimensional Printer. The very worst case, I'll fail completely. The very best case, I might be able to print stuff for other people to supplement future projects.
3D Printing is technically called "Additive Manufacturing", as you add material, in very thin layers, to build up a part.
The basic design I chose was from this guys website;
http://www.buildlog.net/blog/2012/01/the-quantum-ord-bot/
I didn't like how small it was, so I made a lot of changes to make it bigger, stronger, faster, and have the ability to print using two different plastics at the same time using two print heads.
Above: The printer getting roughed in.
Above: The printer got some parts painted and some motors installed.
Above: A little better size comparison, as it starts to get wired. It can print, in this configuration 8" x 8" x 14" tall. Eventually it is planned to be able to print 14" x 14" x 14".
Above: The two printer heads, side by side. The tips work just like hot glue guns, except we melt plastic at 450 degrees F instead of glue at 180 degrees F.
Above: More wiring getting dialed in.
Above: Even more wiring getting dialed in, this is the brain of the contraption. I was overwhelmed by the amount of wiring required, as it took several days to get it wired.
Above: Some initial prints I made for someone at work, with a size comparison of some car keys. The printer isn't exactly dialed in at this point, but it's working pretty well. I also indicated how long it too parts to print. They are made of ABS plastic and are extremely strong.
Above: Closeup. I ended up printing over 45 pieces for this person at work. I'm not exactly sure what he's making with them all, but he definitely has a plan. I was also able to convert the work into money as he paid for me service.
Above: I needed to replace the metal rings on some overhead lamps that we have in the kitchen, as the metal rings fit way too loose. So I printed some replacement ones. They fit fantastically after about three minor revisions. That's the beauty of the printer. I can make as many alterations as I want, and reduce a tremendous amount of time and money versus outsourcing something like this.
Above: I'm printing a vase. The girls will get to paint them later.
Above: I printed some parts for work, as well as another vase. The parts for work will potentially save the company $2,000 to $2,500 versus having them machined or formed, and we'll know the parts work the first time. The printers time was about 6 hours for the three aircraft parts, and the cost of the plastic was about $5.oo or $6.oo.
Above: A Close up of the structural airframe part.
Above: A Close up of the vases. They are about 8" tall each.
Above: I printed some stretchy bracelets for the girls.
Above: They liked them for a little bit.
All in all, the project has been a success.
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