Practical uses for 3d printer

[mopar4u]

The engineer in me wants to dip my toes in the consumer 3d printer market. Thinking of getting this one.

Creality Ender 3 Pro 3D Printer with Removable Build Surface Plate and UL Certified Meanwell Power Supply Printing Size 8.66x8.66x9.84in / 220x220x250mm https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GYRQVYV/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I have a few things id like to make. Anyone used a 3d printer to make tools, jigs, fixtures, replacement parts or items for the garage? What about for the house?

 

[wayout]

I 3D print and think it is a worthwhile addition.
Filament choices are much better than they used to be. Some are very tough and durable.
I am working on making forming dies for my shop press, yes, the plastic is that strong!
Another interesting use is to make casting forms similar to a lost wax process. Very detailed castings are possible.
Print the item in your printer, set it in a container and pour a plaster like mix around it, heat the form above the plastic melting stage and let it drain out then pour molten aluminum in.
There is a learning curve to it but you sound like you are willing to put in the effort.

 

[vavet]

DO IT!
The more you use it, the more ideas you'll have for how to use it. Need a replacement part for that weird animated Xmas ornament? If you can draw it, you can 3d print it.
What kind of engineer are you? Do you have access to SolidWorks or similar modeling programs? That will help.

I'm in the middle of building the V1 Engineering MPCNC (mostly printed CNC router). If I didn't have a 3D printer, I'd have to buy all those parts. The cost of those is a big chunk of a decent 3d printer, like the Creality you linked. FWIW, I have a Creality Ender3 V2.

Start looking through thingiverse.com to see all the things people have created. Some are just fun little knick-knacks while other things are practical. I 3D printed a replacement spring clip for the leg of my B&D workmate. The design was already on Thingiverse.

 

[niget2002]

I use mine quite a bit.

I use it a lot for making mounts and enclosures for electronics projects.

I also use it to rapid prototype an object that I'll later make out of wood or steel. It might take longer to print the part than it is to make the final component, but depending on the material, it is usually cheaper. Plus, I can have it printing a part overnight. Test the next morning. Make adjustments and start the new print before I go to work.

 

[HPRifleman]

I'm also curious as to answers to this question.

Most (maybe all) consumer 3D printers appear to be FDM technology. This makes some pretty course parts that are resolution limited by filament/nozzle diameter. The material also tends be a bit brittle which also limits its usefulness.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

I've printed a few things. For the garage I printed a custom escutcheon plate for a vent pipe going through my ribbed ceiling.
BTW: Creating the 3-D model is the hard part.
There are sites where you can download many models that others have created. thingiverse is one of the popular sites.

 

[ArcReactorKC]

I'm also curious as to answers to this question.

Most (maybe all) consumer 3D printers appear to be FDM technology. This makes some pretty course parts that are resolution limited by filament/nozzle diameter. The material also tends be a bit brittle which also limits its usefulness.

There are many consumer level resin printers on the market now

 

[Innovate1]

For drawing up the 3d models Fusion 360 is free for hobby use. I haven't used it for 3d printing but they added that capability quite a while ago. I have used it for 3d milled parts. Very nice program that has CAD and CAM.

 

[boom10ful]

I've been using mine to print out small tools such as a hex wrench handle and a Cummins coolant line removal tool. Using a Prusa Mini+ and love it!

 

[gregs]

I bought an Ender 5 a few months ago and love it.I have made a lot of useful tools and repair parts. So far everything I have printed has come off thingieverse or some other site. I wish I knew CAD so I could create my own parts. I have looked at onshape and tinkercad and hope to find some time to teach myself to use one of these. I like the fact that you dont have to have a super computer since most of the number crunching happens on there servers. Not looking to design crazy stuff, but more repair parts and items. Whats cool to me is to go out in the shop and start a print while I work on another project and hours later its a finished piece.

 

[e36jon]

Pankl is a top tier supplier to the motorsports world and they use a ton of 3D printing for machining jigs. Many of the motorsports places are similar since they will often only be making a few of any component, but to high levels of precision. Might inspire someone here to think differently about how to approach a project.

 

[4 FN 27]

Do it. I have been coming up with all kinds of things to make...I'll be printing over the weekend.

MakerBot Replicator.

 

[JackOfDiamonds]

3D printer is now a required shop tool for me. When the 3D printer isn't working, getting it fixed is a relatively high priority. Even my wife asks me when I'm going to get it working, because she usually wants things.

 

[Bodj Built]

I bought one thinking I would find things to print. I have literally never had a need for it and it kinda just sits. I find that most people using them make little chachkis (toys and trinkets) they find online. I wish I could find more to do with it.

 

[Grimpala]

Do it. I have been coming up with all kinds of things to make...I'll be printing over the weekend.

MakerBot Replicator.

You have any more pics of this setup?

 

[Steve from Socal]

Just fired up a Prusa for the test run, it has tons of applications for me.

From lost wax type molds to fixtures and, proto/replacement parts. The more I see of the capabilities the more useful it becomes.

Steve

 

[bdbecker]

Here's a thread you might find interesting:

The Everything 3D Printer Thread

So lilscorpion's Tooling (Re)Organization thread drifted off topic a few times with discussions on 3D printers so we'll start a thread here as a clearinghouse for all things 3D printing. Feel free to post your questions, comments, suggestions, tips, printers, projects, etc.

www.garagejournal.com

 

[ArcReactorKC]

I bought one thinking I would find things to print. I have literally never had a need for it and it kinda just sits. I find that most people using them make little chachkis (toys and trinkets) they find online. I wish I could find more to do with it.

It takes imagination. I'm sitting in a cubicle right now and can count 5 usable prints within 5 feet of me. From the hooks that hold my headphones and my jacket. To the 3d printed ring on my finger (non-conductive) I can almost usually find a reason to print something. At home I have printed lightswitch locks so the timers don't get out of sync because nobody remembers which switch is which. The broom and mop hangers are printed. All of the AR's have printed parts on them. The list is endless.

 

[Bodj Built]

It takes imagination. I'm sitting in a cubicle right now and can count 5 usable prints within 5 feet of me. From the hooks that hold my headphones and my jacket. To the 3d printed ring on my finger (non-conductive) I can almost usually find a reason to print something. At home I have printed lightswitch locks so the timers don't get out of sync because nobody remembers which switch is which. The broom and mop hangers are printed. All of the AR's have printed parts on them. The list is endless.

For sure, I just can't think of things to print. I have a plasma table that I use almost daily and have tons of uses for it, but I just can't think of stuff to print

 

[yugami]

The material also tends be a bit brittle which also limits its usefulness.

I printed a manifold for flood coolant on a mill and metal forming dies on an Ender, not sure what you mean.

 

[yugami]

For sure, I just can't think of things to print. I have a plasma table that I use almost daily and have tons of uses for it, but I just can't think of stuff to print

Custom tool holders (vertical wrench organizers that snap together) and organizers for my medicine cabinet (custom spacings to fit my stuff in my drawers and cabinets instead of generic things). Its really about understanding the material is stronger than you think if you're dialed in OK and branching out.

 

[Jim_No_Garage]

When you have a hammer, everything looks like a nail!

I got my Ender 3 V2 in January and have printed a bunch of little things - I have been limited by the size of the print bed.

3D Printer Accessories:
* Articulated arm to aim the Octoprint Camera (Thingiverse)
* Rollers for the filament reels while printing (Thingiverse)
* Clips to hold Ikea totes air tight for filament storage (Thingiverse)

Little things to repair things:
* A replacement tape reel holder for a desktop 3M tape dispenser
* A pair of hinge bushings for a reclining chair picked up at the curb
* Replacement feet for a reel to reel printer (Thingiverse)

Storage solutions:
* A stand to hold rolls of TP in the bathroom
* A tray to hold the HF Pick set (Thingiverse)
* A tray to hold my Cree light in the nightstand
* A tray to hold socket adapters in my toolbox
* A tray to hold spark plug sockets with embossed sizes
* A tray/box to hold my 1/4" ratchets

I use Fusion 360 with the personal license. My daughter was the ranking "Most filament used" student at Montclair State University for 3 semesters running.

Cheers

Jim

 

[banjopete]

I've had one for some time, also an ender 3 and it's been great to have. Like @niget2002 and @vavet I've also used my 3d printer to make a cnc router and the cnc want was the main reason I purchased the 3d printer. I built up two versions of the lowrider 2 and loved all of it.

I've used mine to make forms for silicone moulds, all sorts of hooks and brackets, golf club set holders, car parts and on and on.

Some filaments can be brittle like pla, some can be much less so like petg or abs. For the relative cheapness of these printers now they're a ton of fun to have, and mine has enabled me to try lots of things and small plastic unobtainable bits are no longer hard to replace or expensive.

 

[manwithtools]

Take a look at FlashForge Creator Pro or Pro 2. Very small learning curve, dual extruders and pretty affordable. Works out of the box, no need to print parts to make it better (other then filament reel holders )

 

[4 FN 27]

You have any more pics of this setup?

I can take some. What are you looking for specifically?

 

[Max78]

FDM printers are very powerful with a TON of applications as well as material choice.
PLA
PETG
ABS
Nylon
Carbon Fiber
TPU (flexible materials)
There are SEVERAL hundred more material types. They all need adjustments to print successfully.

All of the materials are going to off-gas as you print them, keep the printer in a well ventilated location in a separate room from people.

Resolution of an FDM printer can be quite good. More than enough for general use as well as prototyping. At work we have 4 Stratasys FDM printers and a Objet30 resin printer. Resin is a nightmare to change, is way limited in material choices, expires, and is crazy expensive ($600 for 1kg)

I have the Ender 3 at home and it is great for PLA and that about it, minor modification and it prints TPU beautifully! You can print some different materials but you should really replace the hot end before you do so you don't melt your PTFE tube that the material moves through.

If you are looking for a super easy turn key solution that just works out of the box Creality might not be the first choice. I have 4 friends and myself that all have Ender 3 and Ender 3 pro printers. Only one if the printers worked good out of the box, all but one needed moderate adjustments to get good quality parts, and one refuses to make any good parts. Most of the issues have been extrusion issues. Right out of the box I needed to adjust my E-steps for the extruder as it was WAY off causing blobbing. Creality is a great printer, but its a very hobby grade printer for sure.

Makerbot, Stratasys, Ultimaker if they are anywhere neer the budget.

 

[loganb]

I Love the 3d printer for 2 specific types of things

• Items with curves or complex shapes that are time consuming to do manually
• Things I want to make multiples of

There is a time investment on the CAD work for all your own designs that for some basic things isn't worth the time in my book, but for items with curves or for things that I want to make iterations of I love the printer...just need less life getting in the way so I can use it more.

 

[TractorJeff]

Neighbor has an old one (maybe 10 years?). Anyways, he broke the Hand Throttle on his Tree Limb Saw. He CAD(?) the part and printed a replacement. He admitted time wise it would have been cheaper to buy a replacement but where is the Fun in that?

 

[1redTA]

SolidWorks has been fun to learn, just need to model something more often to remember certain functions

 

[Viper98912]

It's a fun toy to have. Printing something right now actually on my Prusa MK3S+. I used it a lot, then it sat for a long time, now I've fired it up again. There's just a bunch of fun and neat things you can do with it.

If you are a person who already has a small CNC or is really good with a manually operated mill, then you'll probably find less uses for it as your skills and abilities on that equipment will match what you can with a printer, and a CNC will give you better finish results. But you'll also find that those better finishes cost you a lot more money in raw stock than just printing it....

 

[ddawg16]

My son has the Ender 3....That ***** almost never stops.

Once you have it.....you start to think of cool things to make.

This is one of many variations of Ikea tables used to make an enclosure for the printer

https://all3dp.com/2/ikea-3d-printer-enclosure-tutorial/

As soon as the printer is freed up, I want to make some drill bit holders and a bracket for spray cans. I'm thinking of using some super magnets to hold a spray paint can.....the 3d part would just be a 'cup' to align the can.

 

[HPRifleman]

I printed a manifold for flood coolant on a mill and metal forming dies on an Ender, not sure what you mean.

I've used a couple of different FDM machines and they both had material that would shatter under some circumstances. It just didn't have the toughness and energy absorption for good prototyping. But they were certainly handy for iterating multiple designs quickly. Much faster than having a local machine shop do it. You can get creative with part design by modeling the printed part to accept a hex nut or washer for more robust attachment or engagement surfaces. As long as you know the limitations of the machine and the material, they do have their advantages.

The Polyjet machine I've been using at work for the last few years has so many more material options than FDM. Parts that are clear, parts that have rubber qualities, parts that can withstand some loading, very good surface finish. These are still pricey for a home application but you can find older ones that can be justified by those wanting the greater design flexibility.

 

[californiamilleghia]

There are usually "Cheat Sheets" on the internet that will have all the shortcuts for a program ,

I find it best to look at google images and search "cheat sheet" photoshop or whatever program you are learning.......

 

[Grimpala]

I can take some. What are you looking for specifically?

I'm not sure, from what I can see it looks like a pretty nifty extension/wobble storage setup.

 

[redidbull]

I use https://www.tinkercad.com/ for designing. Very simple to use. Jim

 

[yugami]

I've used a couple of different FDM machines and they both had material that would shatter under some circumstances.

There are A LOT of different filaments on the market with more and more specialized blends every month. I've printed everything from PLA to ABS to Polycarbonate (both pure and blended) along with many variants of carbon fiber added.

Pick your filament for the purpose not because its what's loaded in the machine.

 

[4 FN 27]

I'm not sure, from what I can see it looks like a pretty nifty extension/wobble storage setup.

Gotcha...I thought you meant the printer.

I am always looking for a better way to skin the cat...this so far is the best solution to keep Universals from rolling around or flipping from side to side on a Socket Rack once they get a little loose.

I'll see what I can do tomorrow night...I have Range Duty all day tomorrow.

 

[p00p]

what tool/software do you all use for replicating/altering a physical part to then turn into the file needed to print?

I've really wanted to grab a 3d printer, but it'd be pretty useless unless I can scan some physical parts to later customize into what I would then 3D print.

 

[speed bump]

what tool/software do you all use for replicating/altering a physical part to then turn into the file needed to print?

I've really wanted to grab a 3d printer, but it'd be pretty useless unless I can scan some physical parts to later customize into what I would then 3D print.

Fusion 360, model what I want, send it to Cura to create the Gcode and off you go.

 

[niget2002]

Most recently I've been designing DIN mounts for some electronics I want to mount in an enclosure.