Actually made something useful with my 3D printer.

[Downeaster]

Not exactly a novel idea, but got REAL tired of pawing through my little pile of Torx sockets. Plenty of Horror Fright options for storing 1/4 and 3/8 drive sockets, but none that fit the available space in the drawer they live in and if I move them I'll be a couple of years remembering which drawer they're in.

Two snags: Not entirely sure they'll fit standing vertically and it's raining mountain lions and St. Bernards out there so not about to slog down and check.

Also, my Creality printer, which has been essentially trouble free, is slower than molasses in January. That little tray is 124x75 mm and took nearly 5 hours to print. I see Bambu has a hobby printer that's supposed to be the cat's ass, gonna start saving my pocket change...

 

[cra-z1]

Hope you dont need to baby sit it for 5 hours. I was going to say you could sell them but at 5 hours a tray probably not!

 

[grouchie77]

I'd thought about milling something like this out of billet aluminum but got lazy.

 

[Downeaster]

Hope you dont need to baby sit it for 5 hours. I was going to say you could sell them but at 5 hours a tray probably not!

No, thankfully it's hit print and go do something else until it's finished. That little Abominable Snowman I did for the truck took 6+ hours!

My printer (A Creality Ender 3) is pretty old and was low end then. I'm looking into a faster printer as there are some things I'd like to print but would take 12 hours or more with my machine.

 

[JesseeS]

I’m about to pull the trigger on a Bambu a1. Heard it’s set and forget. Also, if you have windows and want to learn or know fusion 360, there’s a free plugin called gridfinity. You can 3d print a square grid, then there is a template basically what you just made with the corresponding grid on the bottom and you can make it so you can put torx or whatever your heart desires and it will lock into the grid

 

[Downeaster]

The Bambu is at the top of my list as well.

 

[grouchie77]

...fusion 360, there’s a free plugin called gridfinity.

I'm going to look this up sometime when I get bored. Normally I just use the parameters tab for a lotta stuff but this sounds interesting.

 

[grouchie77]

Also, what is the purpose of what appears to be a small tray? Is it in fact, just what it appears to be?

 

[Downeaster]

Also, what is the purpose of what appears to be a small tray? Is it in fact, just what it appears to be?

Well, the idea was that I'd put 1/4 drive extension(s) and U-joints and such in the tray. However, I failed to account for the height of the 3/8 drive sockets and it won't fit in the drawer.

I did a Mark II with the sockets laying at an angle that has some promise but needs tweaking. Pockets for the 3/8ths need to be a shade narrower, and about 10mm longer.

I got into the settings and speeded up the print head speed from 50mm/sec to 150mm/sec and still wound up with a 4.5 hour print time due to the extra thickness required.

I'll probably print the Mark III tomorrow.

 

[grouchie77]

This Gridfinity thing is pretty neat. Going to have to dabble with it some more when I get a free moment.

 

[Jim]

I see Bambu has a hobby printer that's supposed to be the cat's ass, gonna start saving my pocket change...

Psst... hey DE, Christmas present to myself. Parts are slowly dribblin' in. The printer itself won't be 'till the end of the year.

It's the P1S model..

Also ordered the AMS auto feed system. Supposedly it'll switch spools on the fly so you can make multi colored prints.

 

[Downeaster]

Woooooooooo....fancy!

I'm happy with my A1, waaaaaay faster than the old Creality. It'll do me for the foreseeable future.

 

[Jim]

Wow, didn't know you picked up a Bambu A1.

Only reason I sprung for the P1S is it was about 50% off.

 

[Downeaster]

Huh. I didn't mention that? I'm usually right on top of bragging about my new toys!

I've had it for about 6 months now. Really pleased with it. It can do multicolor prints with an attachment but that's not something I've seen a need for so far. Anything involving color gets painted.

3D printed this and my daughter painted it and added the ground cover.

 

[Signal]

You two get some cf nylon and you off to the races when it comes to making useful stuff. Enjoy your new tools.

I recently bought some 3D resin printed replica wing mirror mounts. Genuine items are not available, so a pair were scanned and printed.
I am painting them now and will post photos of the finished items here.

My printer is a Ender 3 and I have learnt a lot , mostly about being patient.
A printer, scanner and filament dryer will soon become mainstream workshop tools if they are not already.
I almost took the plunge last year but chickened out at the price, why did you go for the Bamboo over other offerings.

 

[Jim]

why did you go for the Bamboo over other offerings.

Some reading, watching vids. Mainly though, it was from watching SuperFastMatt on Youtube. Aside from Matt being hilarious, he builds race cars and oddball cars, rides bikes... in every episode he uses and raves about his Bambu.

Short an' sweet.... he convinced me.

 

[Signal]

I have watched him as well. Not for a while thou he was using an Ender 3 when I last looked must follow up soon.

Edit: I watched Making for Motorsport not Superfast Matt.

 

[Downeaster]

Pretty much the same as Jim. Initial thought was a newer Creality Ender, but research illuminated the speed, adaptability and affordability of the Bambu. I'm happy with that decision.