3D printing and your tool box

[Spacecataz]

Don't know if this is the right section, but its more related to general tool stuff than welding or fabrication.

I didn't care for the HF badge on my new roller so I decided to make one of my own fevered design and replace it. "RabCo" has been an inside joke between me and my friends for years, so I decided to go that route with the theme. Tried to make the font look as real as possible, like it was an actual brand from the 50's..

3D modeled it in blender and had it printed in HIR plastic at shapeways. Its not finished yet, (much detail work and buffing) and there are some things if I did it again i'd do differently. But overall, I like it.

The point of my rambling is that someone out there might like the idea and do it for their own chest. Total cost was about 20 bucks since I had to buy the paint and brushes, and blender is free.

 

[gdocktor3]

Pretty cool.

 

[Jarhead0408]

That's awesome man. Looks great.

 

[Hagatronics]

How did you get the chrome and black finish?

 

[astroracer]

There is another 3D Printer thread going on here also if you haven't seen it.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=351482
Mark

 

[Spacecataz]

Thanks guys.

How did you get the chrome and black finish?

Tamiya fine primer, then 2 medium coats of Testors gloss black, then used a fine brush with Testors "silver chrome trim". You can lightly wet sand it, and recoat and buff and its surprisingly chrome like. (about to wet sand it and do just that) The badge is 3/16" thick with a 1/16" recess so it wasn't that hard to stay in the lines.

The best way would be to have it printed in shiny metal plastic, then just paint the background around the letters, but the shiny metal plastic is 6x the print cost. There is also the fact that its not as tough or durable as the HIR.

There is another 3D Printer thread going on here also if you haven't seen it.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=351482
Mark

Ohhh I missed that, thank you.

 

[astroracer]

No Problem, Looking thru my post you'll see I used chrome nail polish, right out of the bottle, WITH the nail polish brush... I was quite surprised that it came out as good as it did. The red wagon letters are just red nail polish over the chrome.
Mark

 

[BreeStephany]

I'm in the process of giving my 72" harbor freight box a little bit of a drastic makeover and am getting it organized for quick and easy tool inventory.

My brother has a 3D printer and I am having him print up some snap-on badge inserts to cover the "US General" lettering in the handles. I like you making your brand name and making a badge out of it.

I am in the process of drawing up a few driver bit trays that I am going to have printed up so that I can easily inventory my bits.

3D printing is definitely creating a whole new dimension of potential in the tool world.

 

[SnapOnToolsGreen]

I'd kill to have access to a 3d printer would even pay someone to make a badge for my HF box

 

[Spacecataz]

I'd kill to have access to a 3d printer would even pay someone to make a badge for my HF box

I'm sure someone on here could do it. I'd offer, but i'm not exactly old hand around here and that'd be skirting the for sale rules I'd imagine.

I could do the design for free though. So, just sketch your design and pick your fonts and let me know.

 

[jocww]

Make me one and ill make a donation to you instead of a payment. Hows that? Id like my family crest on my classic 96 that would be sweet!!!

 

[Spacecataz]

Maybe that would be ok then. Send me a PM. I need pictures and the overall dimensions and any fonts you'd like to use to start.

 

[Spacecataz]

No Problem, Looking thru my post you'll see I used chrome nail polish, right out of the bottle, WITH the nail polish brush... I was quite surprised that it came out as good as it did. The red wagon letters are just red nail polish over the chrome.
Mark

Yeah, it looks good. I like the shape too. I wanted to have mine printed in gloss black too, but shapeways refused to let me have the option, so I was forced to use gloss polished white.


Sanded the lettering and recoated. Makes the text pop and look more solid. Even without buffing or clearcoat the chrome is already starting to show reflection. Now I have to sand the edges, all of this is a bit tedious but if I have the box for years and years it's worth it. The last step before buffing/clearcoat will be re edging the lettering with black to cover the oopsies.

 

[gte718p]

I'd kill to have access to a 3d printer would even pay someone to make a badge for my HF box

It is fairly easy to do. There are hundred of people online who will print things out for you. It is becoming relatively cheap. Also most town have a library or a makerspace where you can take your design and print it out.

If you do your design in Fusion 360, it will even automate the process of ordering it for you. Fusion 360 is free. It helps to have a background in CAD as it is not the most user friendly program, but it is also not hard and there are tons of YouTube tutorials.

 

[firworks]

Looks nice! Good idea.

 

[zcbauer89]

That looks really good. Nice work!!!

 

[faiee]

Would love one of these for my box, is the back side flat or does it have locator pins? Would you mind making me one? If so i'll drop you a PM. Thanks very much.

 

[Spacecataz]

It is fairly easy to do. There are hundred of people online who will print things out for you. It is becoming relatively cheap. Also most town have a library or a makerspace where you can take your design and print it out.

If you do your design in Fusion 360, it will even automate the process of ordering it for you. Fusion 360 is free. It helps to have a background in CAD as it is not the most user friendly program, but it is also not hard and there are tons of YouTube tutorials.

This is true, however Fusion 360 has a lot less tutorials than blender, and as someone who has used both, blender is easier to use. (I might be a masochist though) Also shapeways is the #1 online print service in price and output, quality wise.

Looks nice! Good idea.

Thanks!

That looks really good. Nice work!!!

Thanks!

Would love one of these for my box, is the back side flat or does it have locator pins? Would you mind making me one? If so i'll drop you a PM. Thanks very much.

The backside of the HF stock badge is flat so the one I made is flat. I'm going to use 3M badge tape to mount it. Sure, I can give it a go but beware! there is one guy ahead of you.

 

[tvtaurus]

I really dig it. Good work! I've been interested in getting into 3-D printing for a while, but never attempted anything B/c of the cost. Good to know that you can just farm the work out like that for the printing portion.

 

[gte718p]

This is true, however Fusion 360 has a lot less tutorials than blender, and as someone who has used both, blender is easier to use. (I might be a masochist though) Also shapeways is the #1 online print service in price and output, quality wise.

I have not used Blender so I can't speak to it. I come from a mechanical design background so I find the design programs easier then the more artistic programs like 3d studio or Maya. I understand how powerful they are though. The only reason I mentioned F360 is the buying feature is built in and really easy.

I agree Shapeways is good. I don't think they are the cheapest any more. They have become so big and offer such a range of services that they have become bloated. Their prices seem to be going up a lot recently. I tend to shop around, but I can generally get PLA or ABS for a third less then Shapeways.

 

[turfgnome]

GTE you can get a free copy of autocad and use that for 3d printing. I am currently working on trays for my tap and die set. I will have to redo the badges as well.

 

[gte718p]

GTE you can get a free copy of autocad and use that for 3d printing. I am currently working on trays for my tap and die set. I will have to redo the badges as well.

?

All of the programs mentioned are free. Well Fusion 360 and Blender are. 3D Studio and Maya not so much.

 

[turfgnome]

?

All of the programs mentioned are free. Well Fusion 360 and Blender are. 3D Studio and Maya not so much.

With a mechanical background I figured autocad would be easier. I find it easier then all of the others listed, and it is free for non profit use now.

 

[diggerrick]

I'm in the process of giving my 72" harbor freight box a little bit of a drastic makeover and am getting it organized for quick and easy tool inventory.

My brother has a 3D printer and I am having him print up some snap-on badge inserts to cover the "US General" lettering in the handles. I like you making your brand name and making a badge out of it.

I am in the process of drawing up a few driver bit trays that I am going to have printed up so that I can easily inventory my bits.

3D printing is definitely creating a whole new dimension of potential in the tool world.

I very much admire your fab work on your power bank project, but why you put Snap-On badges on your US General tool chest?

 

[BreeStephany]

I very much admire your fab work on your power bank project, but why you put Snap-On badges on your US General tool chest?

I debadged my box shortly after getting it and then had a friend gift me a snap-on rejected badge, so decided to slap it on and then figured if I went that far, might as well 3D print up a few badges as well.