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SoliForum - 3D Printing Community → Introductions → Hello from Victoria Australia
Hello I am a mad scientist (my wife's description). I am developing a product for the construction industry of which most of it will be plastic. I need to make prototypes over and over again as each one will be unrecoverable after a test.
I am a little confused about the whole 3d printing process and am hoping to find some clarity on this forum.
Roger.
You're in good hands Roger. Very helpful place from beginner all the way up to expert. Did you purchase a solidoodle or you're just looking for information?
What kind of tolerances do you need to hold on your prototype and what kind of strength do you require, there is more strength in some directions than in others due to the process.
well u can tell how confused i am as i didn't know this forum related to a specific product - the solidoodle. just thought that was what u guys called yourselves 
.
i am actually looking a buyinga prusa as have a distributor here in oz (u can convince me other wise or indicate the pros and cons). i think i like the idea of a bigger table 200x200mm.
i need toloerance of being able to slide/rotate one part inside each other - doesn't matter if it loose. my main concern is the shapes i am printing. one is a tube with a hook on the end so it will be a flat horz surface to print which will fail i suspect. I need some understanding about supporting such bits ie
1. do i add a support structure in my solidworks model
2. or does the cam software detect the overhang itself and automatically add some support plastic
just need enough strength that it does flop of break - that walls on the attached filler are 2mm thick - will that be OK.
not sure my attachment has attached - try again
roger
Slicing software adds the support for if you tick the box.
Strength is largely dependent on the direction you print the object (which way faces the plate). With a high infill (50%+), parts can be extremely strong. I have a small bottle opener that I think could survive a nuclear war.
ah lawsy lets hope it doesn't come to that - although now that you mention it its probably beer-a clock time,
i haven't bought anything yet but have looked at some free slicing software - repsnapper , slic3r, replicatorG - is that the software you mean - can you tell me where such an option is specifically - should be able to load my stl, turn on the switch and and see what support is added as most show the sliced up model.
most of my parts will be boxes or tubes with 2mm walls (can go thicker) - they are sumerged into a liquid - the liquid hardens - they form a void - some of the voids are then filled with another harder.
any strenght required will eventually come from the solidified liquids.'
so imagine i can make a box ok (with base to the flat), will make a lid for that sepeartely (as need to place some things
in the box), am concerned about the tubes moreso.
the whole product is industrial and will not be send in the end so can be made with as many stiffening ribs, etc as needed.
just want to be able to print off 10 or so while I am testing (each product will have 6-7 parts).
worried it is going to take forever to get a 3d printer working ok - seems to be lots of post on problems, etc.
thanks roger
In Slic3r: Print settings > Support Material > Generate Support Material
In Skeinforge: Craft > Raft > Support Cross Hatch
thanks lawsy,
the help on skeinforge seems particularly good at explaining the support structure.
is it possible to 'see' the model after support stuff has been added ie. before it starts printing.
both slicr3r and skeinforge don;t seem to have a 3d view of the model (do they?)
ie. can see the model in repsnapper as attacxhed (don;t know if i can add support stuff)
roger.
The software you want is called Repetier Host. It gives 3D gcode preview and comes with both Skeinforge and Slic3r.
The earlier posts on Ian's blog will be an excellent reference for you:
wow that was great.
so repitier and ponterface are at the same level ie. both look after the slicer programs
the slicer programs are replicator, repsnapper, skeinforge, slic3r which produce g code
is that right
now does all of this work on all smaller type 3d printers ie. solidoodle, prusa, etc
is solidoodle a reprap thing too?
look at this - fantasic thanks lawsy
Reprap means self replicating. As in besides electronics and nuts and bolts, one printer can print the parts for another.
Solidoodle is quite quite this for two reasons:
1. Parts such as the metal case are integral to the design and cannot be printed.
2. Solidoodle have still not released the STLs for the parts that can be printed.
That pic implies you have it all worked out, enjoy a vastly superior software experience!
dear oh dear i think i'm addicted to this stuff - am typing in the middle of the night and early morning in my dressing gown and work boots.
do all repraps have the same electronics or at least the same that will interperet the G code from slicer anysoftware.
i would think g code is generic and so any hardware would interpret it to move the head squirt some plastic etc.
ask this because the software that comes with the machine i am looking at uses ponterface but i really like repetier instead.
roger.
The basic gcode commands for moving the print head, setting temperature, etc are generic. Certain firmware's implement additional commands. For instance, Marlin has M117 for displaying messages on the LCD screen.
Electronics are very similar as they are all based on Arduino. Technically you could buy an Arduino Mega and change the pin allocations in the firmware and wire everything up to suit. RAMPS is essentially this.
Boards like our Sanguinololu are just specially made PCBs to have nice connections for stepper motors, heaters, etc, but still have an Arduino based microcontroller in the middle running the show.
how long do u think it will take to get the kinks out before i can print my models. are mosto f the
problems experience about settings
Without any upgrades or tweaking, assuming there are no broken bits, your parts should come out pretty well immediately.
ok thanks for all your help
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