What I was doing while I was "out"!

parabolic

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So as you may or may not know - or care, I took an unwanted break in Dec of '10 until around feb of this year. Due to some personal, and some financial reasons. I sold off about 60% of my collection - some of my grails - but well, Ill get back to that story later.
After a while I wanted to try something new, but still technical. I looked into 3D printing. I found Makerbots, Ultimachines, and RepRaps. The first 2 are pre assembled units for about $2500. The 3rd is an open source design that can be built <$800 in most cases. Powered by and Arduino, this can "print" all kinds of objects from ABS and PLA plastics.
There is more info on it (if your interested in it) so I don't have to go into it here... at reprap.org
Nevertheless, the reason this is in the general section (unless a mod deems it move it), is because of the question of what arcade related items can I make with this? The criteria is it needs to have side as a flat base, and no bridges into nowhere. it can print holes vertically, and horizontally.
Just another "hobby" im into, and hope (soon) to be putting it to use in some kind of form in the Video game hobby - im now back into.
So any thoughts or ideas im up for - Just Let me know!
heres a couple pics - and a short vid of what im printing at the time of this write up.
1a62c964.jpg
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CLICK TO SEE VIDEO
 
Very cool! Glad you're back!

First 2 quick thoughts:

Non arcade related: I don't know if you play a lot of board games but there are board game designers that could use this service (pieces, mintatures and such). I don't know your ability to mass produce but usually game designers make ~12 mock-ups first to play test and generate interest before going into production. You might want to peruse a site called boardgamegeek.com to get more info.

Second: How accurately can you reproduce pinball playfield objects? Also, do you have any arcade related ideas for wall art or game toppers?
 
Very cool! Glad you're back!


Second: How accurately can you reproduce pinball playfield objects? Also, do you have any arcade related ideas for wall art or game toppers?

Im looking into that for my current project (thread coming soon!)

this is still at the "constantly adjust" phase. Im always tweaking to gt the resolution better. still a work in progress, but - check this out.
BTW - the color was just what I had - not a preference - LOL!
e6eb0557.jpg
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Im looking into that for my current project (thread coming soon!)

this is still at the "constantly adjust" phase. Im always tweaking to gt the resolution better. still a work in progress, but - check this out.
BTW - the color was just what I had - not a preference - LOL!
e6eb0557.jpg
4e97fa95.jpg

Wow! So what pinball would that go on?!? :)
 
Very cool... I picked up a MakerGear Prusa kit about 6 months ago, but haven't really had time to get it all calibrated and stuff (or clean up the wiring ;) ). It does print, but especially the Z axis needs more tweaking. I just got a piece of high temp glass a couple weeks ago for the print surface, so when I get some free time I'll go back and finish the Z calibration.

Here it is as it sits right now:
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DogP
 

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nice! glad to see another member with a printer! get that calibrated!
Im using just a piece of picture frame glass from hobby lobby they cut to 20cm squared. Its worked great for the last year. currently im printing out parts for a Mendel Max. Same design, just alot more robust. I'm hoping to minimize the imperfections and tighten up the prints.
 
Are you taking orders? Id love to order a 3d model of Satan from the SH sideart in red. Is that possible? If so, are these models paintable (highlight and shading, etc)?
 
Yeah... I was a little worried about the glass breaking from the heated bed (I had seen some people have theirs break), so I picked up some firebox glass from here: http://www.sciplus.com/singleItem.cfm/terms/16283 ... really cheap, though a little bit thicker than I'd like. I had a local glass place cut it for $5.

DogP
 
Phet,
Not quite yet. Unfortunately my mechanical skills are alot better than my design skills. The "lovely" shot glass I pictured was a download from thingiverse.com . Its kinda a depository for peoples designs that can be downloaded.

Basically its this. I can take most any 3d file (.max for instance), and convert it into an .stl file for printing. As far as drawing them - Im not really a good 3d artist.
Now with that being said, If you have a 3D rendering of the satans head I can give it it shot.
As far as painting, yes! Im printing in ABS - same thing as models. so definitely paintable and sandable.

If theres anyone out there with 3D rendering skills, maybe we can come up with a service for the masses! LOL!
Jeff
 
As far as painting, yes! Im printing in ABS - same thing as models. so definitely paintable and sandable.

Is there a good way to smooth the rough edges from the discrete print layers? That's the only thing that's always bothered me. I know acetone kinda melts ABS, but I don't know that you can just spray a print with acetone and have the lines disappear. Does sanding work?

This is what I'd like to know more about: http://www.shapeways.com/materials/white_glaze ... the vapor smoothing process: http://www.shapeways.com/blog/archi...ing-process-for-our-White-Glaze-material.html . That just looks so great, but I haven't really seen anything like it become popular (though I haven't really been looking).

DogP
 
so, Im all done printing my "lower Z motor mount". This is what the video I posted at the beginning of this thread had become.
took 156 minutes and 35 seconds.
im sure I could have sped it up, but I can wait for precision!
ee49561e.jpg

DogP
The plastic is easy to smooth out - a rag and some acetone -
This is my wedding band - Im a mechanic for a living, so this eliminates the risk of shock, and getting it off if something happens. Best part is if I break it I can just print another one. My wife wears one as well. Thank god shes not one of those women all into gold and glass - I mean diamonds! LOL! She rather wear something I created. Plus I can print them in any color to match outfits! LOL!
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The visible layers reminds of the days of old dot matrix printers.

Yeah,
Thats the first thing I thought of as well when I first did a print. But - much like the evolution of the printer - im sure it will improve over time.
Its kinda awesome though - being able to draw something virtually on the computer and in a matter of time - have that physical object in your hand!
Kinda Star Trek like!!
Im just hoping to be able to apply it to this hobby as well.
 
Damnit... I wish I had the exact dimensions or skills to make a CAD drawing of the piece I need to finish my FunHouse project (small plastic linkage piece that connects Rudy's jaw to the motor and sector gear assembly). You could probably whip one out in about 10 minutes.

And I'm sort of jealous. I think I might want to try making of of these rigs myself. Would be cool to take one of the CAD drawings of our units from work and use it to make a scale plastic miniature. :D
 
Damnit... I wish I had the exact dimensions or skills to make a CAD drawing of the piece I need to finish my FunHouse project (small plastic linkage piece that connects Rudy's jaw to the motor and sector gear assembly). You could probably whip one out in about 10 minutes.

And I'm sort of jealous. I think I might want to try making of of these rigs myself. Would be cool to take one of the CAD drawings of our units from work and use it to make a scale plastic miniature. :D

Linkage I can do!
I made some rotor linkage for a buddys rc copter.
i use a digital mic on a mm scale to get all mine. Do you have a pic of the broken one? or is it missing?
id be up to try that - if I had some dimensions of course!
 
Linkage I can do!
I made some rotor linkage for a buddys rc copter.
i use a digital mic on a mm scale to get all mine. Do you have a pic of the broken one? or is it missing?
id be up to try that - if I had some dimensions of course!

Yeah, mine is missing. :(

Anybody got a working FunHouse pin they could take that piece out of to get some dimensions? (IE length, width, hole sizes, and hole-to-hole spacing)

Maybe I should start a thread in the pinball section later and x-ref this thread. Someone might be willing to help out (hell I'd pay a 'finder's fee' just for a loan on the part in addition to whatever you're looking for for the piece... I've got $3500-something into this resto and this one little piece is going to prevent me from completing it.).

If I can't get anything else going on this I may try you again once I get back to the states. I could maybe guesstimate the dimensions accurately enough to get something that works, or rig something up with SS scrap and use it to gauge the dimensions.
 
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