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+--- Thread: ER32 Collet Chuck for Proxxon PD 400 (/thread-308.html)
RE: ER32 Collet Chuck for Proxxon PD 400 - Rickabilly - 06-25-2012
Actually Steve and Ed you can print up a 3d printer on a 3d printer, it's called the RepRep project, "Self REPlicating, RAPid prototype" an open source project being overseen by the University of Bristol,
http://www.reprap.org/wiki/RepRap and http://www.reprapcentral.com/vmchk.html
And yes there are metal based printing systems, where finely ground metals are sintered (welded) together using lasers to create 3d items right there on your desk, immediately putting machinists in danger of becoming obselete
but in truth we have been obselete since CNC came along
this technology makes fabricators and foundries obselete.The saving grace is that the processes are still way too expensive and the resulting materials are often not as strong as when traditionally manufactured, but, it won't be long. It will probably always be slower than mass production casting and moulding so the revolution is real but hopefully not an "extinction event"
The RepRap folks even envisage a day when electronic circuits will be printed out in one piece from a single machine right there at home, so enabling the manufacture of an Ipod or mobile phone after purchasing just the raw materials and design file, all of a sudden though huge questions such as waranty issues, maintenance, problem solving, etc pop up.
The first step in home 3d printing is "build your own" devices and most commonly this means an ABS plastic cord fed machine that can make most things you need out of plastic, ABS is the plastic used to make lego bricks, so pretty versatile stuff, I used to use a contractor to do rapid prototyping for me about 7 years ago and he had a commercial ABS cord machine, so it's not really new technology, but the resolution isn't terrific and there are definate drawbacks, one of the biggies is the price of commercial machines and the lack of 3d computing power for amateurs, and I suppose that the products don't have the "Gloss" that we expect from even the most basic consumer goods,
so anytime you hear about rapid prototyping, stereo lithography, additive machining, sintered powder machine assembly, and other similar terms, you are hearing about actual, machines available today, at a price!
Best regards
Rick
RE: ER32 Collet Chuck for Proxxon PD 400 - Wongster - 06-25-2012
Hello Rick,
Mine is called a Portabee, a deviation from Printrbot, designed by Romscraj. It's a very small printer suitable for my already limited space before the arrival of the Wabeco F1200 mill. I bought the kit from shop.sgtooling.com. The kit contains the printed parts, hardware, and electronics to build the printer. I just put them together. The kit is inexpensive, at USD 480. I did a local pick up, so no shipping cost involved. I've some pics up on my site's blog at http://www.wongstersproduction.com.
The print quality is not the usual you would expect from products made in plastic. There is no smooth surface except the base, which is printed to a heated bed. Used appropriately, the layers become part of your design. But don't expect smooth and glossy surfaces. There are others out there which give really fine resolution using laser and powder as well and resin. Search YouTube for some example. These cost so much more.
For an idea of what can be printed, check out thingiverse.com.
I am still in the midst of aligning and calibrating the printer. More new vocabulary to learn. Can be daunt confusing. But if you just want some fun, you can just download something interesting at thingiverse and print away. That was what I did till now. OT is really addictive.
I'll be printing out the printable parts of the Portabee for a regular reader of my blog. He has been following my blog from over the previous service provider. I'll only commence printing when I get the printer properly calibrated. Otherwise, you'll read of his frustration during installation... Lolz...
One thing about my little Portabee, each part can take a seriously long time to print. Take the owl statutes shown on my blog, each took me 3.5 hours to print.
Let me know if you have any questions. I'll try to answer them as much as I can. Only 3 weeks' old in printing...
Regards,
Wong
RE: ER32 Collet Chuck for Proxxon PD 400 - ETC57 - 06-25-2012
Very cool Wong,
I've been looking at printers for about 8 or 9 months now.
I'd be interested in updates from time to time about your adventures with yours.
Jerry.
RE: ER32 Collet Chuck for Proxxon PD 400 - Wongster - 06-25-2012
Sure Jerry. I will.
Regards,
Wong