Newbie: bedsize & other printing basics

Thank you

Yes I understand being smaller then the 6x6x6 build but I meant can you lay out down the middle say a 7" rod diagonal and have it print that way? Since the center of the 6x6 table is 8.48" long? (a^2+b^2=c^2 thing)

Yes I hear yeah on the print in place assembly. Maybe once I get better to try it but then brings up another point. For general tolerance  does the printer provide good enough clearances for snug fits (assuming correct design) like for making RC car gears or an iphone case that snaps around the iphone. Are they actually usable and not totally slip shod?

As for finish yes you would have to prep the surface but if you find the right process it is ABS and it can be painted as such? Like painting car ABS ground effects

Impressive Ian! I had suggested months ago in other venues that a tumbler solution might work. I am glad you have gotten good results. Last I checked on the vapor bath was the somewhat "melty" yoda head you came up with. I'm a little concerned the vapor bath route could be dangerous for some users, but the results were pretty nice.

I have printed a self designed roller bearing with support on "everywhere" in skeinforge, it took some digging and cleaning to get all the support material off but it works just fine. 

The other comment about embedding items into your print should work, there is a pause function in pronterface but you'd have to make sure it's totally below the surface of the head for the next pass so the extruder tip doesn't bump whatever you're inserting.  I think it would be very tricky to get this to work and you'd have to be hovering over the print and ready. 

As an aside for the finishing aspect, I purchased and tried a hobby airbrush sandblaster kit which didn't touch the ridges, but I'm convinced with more air pressure this would be a much faster alternative to tumble deburring.  I just have to convince Ian to do the experimenting.. haha

Welcome to the community though, look forward to seeing what you come up with.

I printed a bearing with inner and outer races using the default software (Pronterface and Skeinforge) as a once piece unit. You have to turn on support layers in Skeinforge when printing. After the print is finished, the support layers are easily peeled off and the bearing does roll. It is not the smoothest rolling bearing but it does function. I would recommend a small sanding tool on the bearings because not all of them are perfectly round. All in all, it is possible to produce an obeject like this and make it functional. I am attaching a picture.

I'm interested  in the blasting as well.  Rotary tumbling is pretty rough, and no good for anything remotely delicate.  Vibratory would be better (Shapeways does this) and would only be about a $160 investment.  If more air pressure works better, then it might be worth buying a blaster to try out.  I would the gun, compressor and media to start   I wouldn't want to spend too much on equipment to try out, but if I go too cheap I might end up with something that doesn't work while somethine more expensive might have.

I figure I would start out in the backyard.  If it works, it would be worth spending the $120 for a blast cabinet.  However the thing I like about a vibratory tumbler is there would be no skill involved in getting an even finish.  Time and randomness takes care of that.  That is also why I like acetone vapor over brushing, washing, or dipping.  The process provides the consistency.  The other methods always left brush strokes, drips, etc.

one of my friend use this tumbler to clean firearms bullets. ( http://www.cabelas.ca//store/?ID=2700&section=1187 )
i give him an ABS piece to test it. i will tell you tomorrow if it's a good idea ... for 100$ at home (89$ +tax +shipping) it will be a good choice.
it use corn cob media. it's like sand , so it's good for details printing (and you can buy it in pet shop for lizard home for half the price... )

Corn cob and walnuts is used to remove surface rust and put some shine on.  I don't think it will be enough to remove the amount of plastic needed to flatten the layer lines, it will probably just add some gloss to it.  I would be interested in seeing what that tumbler does with some harder, more abrasive media.