OP
Tooling (Re)Organization
- Thread starter lilscorpion
- Start date
Bessy
Well-known member
Scorpion, I could have sworn you had a 3D printer, or did that conversation end at the idea phase? Very glad to see you're back with lots of posts!
Your socket organization has me wanting to fill in the missing spots on my Hansen trays now, for very much the same reason you mentioned!
Cheers,
B.
Your socket organization has me wanting to fill in the missing spots on my Hansen trays now, for very much the same reason you mentioned!
Cheers,
B.
OP
lilscorpion
Well-known member
Early on in the 3D printing thread I had ordered a kit and my son and I started assembling it. As it went together we ran into some alignment issues and lost interest mid build. For years we never got back to it…it got purged unfinished at some point during Covid. The lesson learned was the kit wasn’t a good idea. Should have ordered one that came ready to go. It was printing I wanted to learn/do not another build/fab/problem solving project. Someday maybe a Prusa i3 style.
Bessy
Well-known member
Makes sense! I was sure you had purchased one. I got my first printer last February as an early birthday present to myself, then a second just before Christmas to step up my gift giving game. It's certainly not a cheap hobby (cheaper than a mill, though) I'm pretty well set up now, just have to keep finding the time to continue learning Fusion.
Keep up the detailed posts, this is definitely one of my favourite threads!
Cheers,
Bob Heine
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Matt, your thread is inspirational but also intimidating. I'm retired from a desk jockey job and my fabricating skills are limited to point-and-shoot MIG or TIG welding metal scraps. My garage and shop are full to the brim and every time I tackle an organizing project I think of yours. I don't dream of a machine shop in my life but I really love seeing what you do with yours. I am rarely speechless but the things you have done have that effect on me.
PugetDude
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Another "glad you're back! "
OP
lilscorpion
Well-known member
Now that you have experience with multiple machines, (or are they both the same?), can you recommend a turnkey solution? A small part of me thinks I don’t have patience or time but I also am inspired by what can be made with them. Like some have mentioned, maybe even much if what I’ve done with metal without any negative impact to functionality.
Thank you. I’m still a desk jockey so I might just be walking in familiar footsteps to you. Still have some years left and jealous you beat me there.
Also, If you can Tig, I have much respect. I’ve done very little but am practicing a lot.
glad to be back, thanks!
56vette461
Well-known member
I have found that the responses on GJ are far more enjoyable and informative than FB or ?? I have picked up some great project ideas or methods of working a project that you can not find outside a journal type format. I have several forum sites I visit regularly and I almost always learn something useful. And more importantly, the friendships that develop are unique because of the focus of the material whether it is wood, metals, painting or restoration.The shop truly is THE project - totally! Thanks for the feedback.
You’re completely right. Thank a for pointing it out. The view was too self-centered. Apologize for that AND it also makes me so happy to think about it that way!
Hmmm…also very insightful. I myself went away for 6 months. All the while I was away o only posted on social media because (drumroll) it was more accessible, it’s faster, the posts are briefer and less “journal-like”, etc.
I too have realized that FB Groups kinda **** for a variety of reasons. The primary one is it doesn’t feel like a community. It’s more like a peanut gallery. Random person asking you why you’d bother doing something instead of something else. Instagram is a little less like that but more random. Hash-tag away and you still gave no idea who will end up seeing your post.
See now I’m thinking I got it all wrong.
patlun
Well-known member
I have been following your thread for some years and learned lots of things. A reason that I have not been commenting is that have nothing to add to your knowledge in my own eyes. But I am impressed of your knowledge and you will to share that knowledge in a pedagogical way. Thank you!
I get home a new 3D printer yesterday, a Tronxy X5SA 400 with two extruders. It is a kit that I will build and modify this year. This will be my fourth printer. My recommendation if you will use your printer to learn printing is to buy a Prusa, they are really nice machines that normally just works.
Why I have four printers? Mostly so I can have them set up using different material (PLA, PETG) with different nozzle sizes.
I get home a new 3D printer yesterday, a Tronxy X5SA 400 with two extruders. It is a kit that I will build and modify this year. This will be my fourth printer. My recommendation if you will use your printer to learn printing is to buy a Prusa, they are really nice machines that normally just works.
Why I have four printers? Mostly so I can have them set up using different material (PLA, PETG) with different nozzle sizes.
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Bessy
Well-known member
Matt,
I run both an Ender 5 plus and an Ender 3v2, mostly for the simple fact that the community is large. If money isn't an option, Prusa has some fantastic machines, both as kits and basically ready to go, but you're still going to have to deal with fine tuning to get them printing optimally. It's still very much a hobby for tinkerers.
I can't speak to Prusa's QC, but the two Ender machines I have we're both good and square, and other than bed levelling and z-offset tuning they were trouble free to set up. At the risk of going off topic in this thread (again) The smaller bed of the E3v2 was much easier to level/tram than the 5+. I'm not sure if that was experience driven or if the smaller footprint made it that much easier, but that was my experience. Of course the working footprint can limiting for some, so take that into account for what you plan to use it for.
The 5+ has a 350*350*400 build volume which is massive and suits my needs perfectly (for now). I bought the 3v2 however because I wanted something quiet that could be left in the loft where there is heat, and not drive the wife crazy (50% achievement there because I still drive the wife crazy with filament spools and plastics tools in the livingroom). Just wait until I put the silent board in the 5+ and she'll really have my head.
I run both an Ender 5 plus and an Ender 3v2, mostly for the simple fact that the community is large. If money isn't an option, Prusa has some fantastic machines, both as kits and basically ready to go, but you're still going to have to deal with fine tuning to get them printing optimally. It's still very much a hobby for tinkerers.
I can't speak to Prusa's QC, but the two Ender machines I have we're both good and square, and other than bed levelling and z-offset tuning they were trouble free to set up. At the risk of going off topic in this thread (again) The smaller bed of the E3v2 was much easier to level/tram than the 5+. I'm not sure if that was experience driven or if the smaller footprint made it that much easier, but that was my experience. Of course the working footprint can limiting for some, so take that into account for what you plan to use it for.
The 5+ has a 350*350*400 build volume which is massive and suits my needs perfectly (for now). I bought the 3v2 however because I wanted something quiet that could be left in the loft where there is heat, and not drive the wife crazy (50% achievement there because I still drive the wife crazy with filament spools and plastics tools in the livingroom). Just wait until I put the silent board in the 5+ and she'll really have my head.
slodat
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Without question I recommend an ASSEMBLED Prusa i3 direct from Prusa. I've had mine over two years. Nothing but perfect parts.. No tweaking, tuning or other fiddling required
These just came off the printer. 4x6x3” tall.
These just came off the printer. 4x6x3” tall.
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Cruzan80
Well-known member
While it takes a bit of a different workflow to set-up, I still highly recommend the Flashforge Creator Pro, especially for one-off printing. Comes assembled, only initial modification is a shim to allow a glass plate for printing, and fully enclosed so ABS is good right off the bat.
The only real "changes" that need to be made are finding the profile for Cura, and setting it up to export .x3g files, which is an old form of G-code. The ones shipping now have Sailfish already installed.
The only real "changes" that need to be made are finding the profile for Cura, and setting it up to export .x3g files, which is an old form of G-code. The ones shipping now have Sailfish already installed.
OP
lilscorpion
Well-known member
Thanks for the recommendations guys. I’m gonna look into them and, in parallel, figure out how to sell the purchase if a printer to the wife after pitching one I never used recently.
OP
lilscorpion
Well-known member
Shiny! Custom bin sizes would be amazing. May be justification enough.Without question I recommend an ASSEMBLED Prusa i3 direct from Prusa. I've had mine over two years. Nothing but perfect parts.. No tweaking, tuning or other fiddling required
These just came off the printer. 4x6x3” tall.
OP
lilscorpion
Well-known member
Absolutely agree, and more personal. No question.
cycle61
Well-known member
The custom bins are great. Mine has been cranking them out intermittently for several weeks now. Prusa as well, but I bought the kit so I would fully understand how the machine works. Total assembly time was ~8 hours over a couple nights and several beers.
slodat
ALLIANCE MEMBER
And bourbon?
OP
lilscorpion
Well-known member
Festool systainer, I can relate. Curious, how many failures do you end up with? Failure = bin lost because the print process screwed up somehow.The custom bins are great. Mine has been cranking them out intermittently for several weeks now. Prusa as well, but I bought the kit so I would fully understand how the machine works. Total assembly time was ~8 hours over a couple nights and several beers.
Cruzan80
Well-known member
While not cycle61, I can say that once I have everything tuned in, almost the only way I have failures is due to filament tangles. Occasionally, it will be mis-wound, and go underneath itself, not allowing it to feed properly. But I would say that is under 5% of the prints, if that.
OP
lilscorpion
Well-known member
Doing a little utube surfing and stumbled across this idea which utilizes plastic fence post material for drawer organizers. It would be super easy with minimal tools and likely inexpensive as well.
OP
lilscorpion
Well-known member
I actually am curious about printing some of the things I’ve machined now. I can probably lynatill machine them faster but filament has to be cheaper than aluminum and carbide end mills.
cycle61
Well-known member
No failures. The only issue I've ever had with it was using my roommate's crusty old filament that sat out for two years.
Now I just need some shop time to actually dial this in, knowing I can make a systainer compatible bin of any size from 25x25 up to the whole damn tray with a couple clicks and a days patience.
Now I just need some shop time to actually dial this in, knowing I can make a systainer compatible bin of any size from 25x25 up to the whole damn tray with a couple clicks and a days patience.
OP
lilscorpion
Well-known member
That’s sweet.
Strouty
Well-known member
#Drawganizing
OP
lilscorpion
Well-known member
And with a straight face too! Lol
Strouty
Well-known member
I think technically it should have been Drawerganizing, but I shortened it. His setup is pretty slick, I would have about 3.5 years making enough for my drawers though.
That would be great!
Both a mill and lathe are right up there at the top of the list. I dont have the money, time to learn or space at the moment though. I can only imagine how much it would increase my capabilities. Getting the Langmuir CNC plasma table has been game changing. I can only imagine what a mill and lathe would do.
OP
lilscorpion
Well-known member
I miss my CNC plasma. It truly was game changing. Never really liked how it cut aluminum but I also didn’t try hard to dial aluminum in.That would be great!
Both a mill and lathe are right up there at the top of the list. I dont have the money, time to learn or space at the moment though. I can only imagine how much it would increase my capabilities. Getting the Langmuir CNC plasma table has been game changing. I can only imagine what a mill and lathe would do.
each machine has a thing it shines at. I’ve found a CNC mill to be more game changing than a CNC lathe. That may be why I’ve not tried really hard to get a CNC lathe…most basic parts/ops are fairly repeatable on a lathe. Anyway…it’s when you have all your machines CNC that everything becomes possible. Someday.
OP
lilscorpion
Well-known member
Because you gotta lotta drawers.
slodat
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Matt - the Gotek floppy emulator is nearly free (compared to the control upgrade) at $30 and works quite well. It would get you part of the way there in short order.
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OP
lilscorpion
Well-known member
Well that’s freakin neat
slodat
ALLIANCE MEMBER
GOTEK Floppy Emulator
I've been using the GOTEK USB Floppy Emulator Simulator since the beginning of 2013 and they have never let me down. I haven't encountered a single glitch, bug or issue and can highly recommend them....
www.philscomputerlab.com
Also, I'm sure the Centroid post for Fusion will puke out g code that your machine can run.
OP
lilscorpion
Well-known member
Working on putting together a multi-part post to catch everyone up in my Son’s jeep build. Last we left off, we’d completed the drivetrain, suspension, and interior upgrades. Wheelbase is 100”, the track width is 79”, and it had probably less than 100 hp at a mile high. 
Next upgrade has to be some more horsepower. There’s really only a few ways to get more umph out if this armor plated 2-seater on tons: could put in a bigger motor, put Andrew on a cleanse, or turn to forced induction. Since I think there’s a near 80% chance I’ll be building another Jeep in the future, think being able to bolt something on would be ideal so forced induction it is.
We started researching various methods and found that there aren’t really any kits available anymore for the 4.0l. Banks used to sell a turbo kit but eliminated it when they had problems with the 2004 and earlier ECM tunes.
This is our first foray in forced induction so even pictures of kits no longer available provided opportunities to learn. During our research we ran into a guy who had a supercharged 4.0l made by Boosted Technologies. He was nice enough to let me drive it and I was more than a little underwhelmed at how it performed so it wasn’t tough to rule it out.
We ended up going with a shop out if Arizona that claimed they could help. Instead of bashing them, I’m going to take the high road and just say it was a complete Fn disaster. We never even got all our parts, they shipped us used parts, the overall kit was ghetto-garbage hodgepodge of shady tree back woods BS. Needless to say, Andrew and I ended up sourcing or fabricating most of our own parts.
Andrew was able to find a shop and parts dealer close to us where we were able to get the right parts to complete the build. Blow off valve, air/water intercooler, charge pipes, silicone boots, etc. and we were able to get after it.
As part of the project we installed headers and gave all exhaust parts a cerakote finish to keep consistent with the “Midas” theme (black/yellow). The stuff is amazingly easy to apply but is nasty smelling stuff. Like dizzy with only a sniff nasty.
We were able to refresh the down pipe by sand blasting. It’s not stainless but will do for now with and with a little modifications, it fit fine. The up-pipe didn’t work so we made our own.
Next upgrade has to be some more horsepower. There’s really only a few ways to get more umph out if this armor plated 2-seater on tons: could put in a bigger motor, put Andrew on a cleanse, or turn to forced induction. Since I think there’s a near 80% chance I’ll be building another Jeep in the future, think being able to bolt something on would be ideal so forced induction it is.
We started researching various methods and found that there aren’t really any kits available anymore for the 4.0l. Banks used to sell a turbo kit but eliminated it when they had problems with the 2004 and earlier ECM tunes.
This is our first foray in forced induction so even pictures of kits no longer available provided opportunities to learn. During our research we ran into a guy who had a supercharged 4.0l made by Boosted Technologies. He was nice enough to let me drive it and I was more than a little underwhelmed at how it performed so it wasn’t tough to rule it out.
We ended up going with a shop out if Arizona that claimed they could help. Instead of bashing them, I’m going to take the high road and just say it was a complete Fn disaster. We never even got all our parts, they shipped us used parts, the overall kit was ghetto-garbage hodgepodge of shady tree back woods BS. Needless to say, Andrew and I ended up sourcing or fabricating most of our own parts.
Andrew was able to find a shop and parts dealer close to us where we were able to get the right parts to complete the build. Blow off valve, air/water intercooler, charge pipes, silicone boots, etc. and we were able to get after it.
As part of the project we installed headers and gave all exhaust parts a cerakote finish to keep consistent with the “Midas” theme (black/yellow). The stuff is amazingly easy to apply but is nasty smelling stuff. Like dizzy with only a sniff nasty.
We were able to refresh the down pipe by sand blasting. It’s not stainless but will do for now with and with a little modifications, it fit fine. The up-pipe didn’t work so we made our own.
Attachments
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OP
lilscorpion
Well-known member
Dumb question - where do I get a fusion post? Back when I bough the upgrade you had to pay for it…like thousandsGOTEK Floppy Emulator
I've been using the GOTEK USB Floppy Emulator Simulator since the beginning of 2013 and they have never let me down. I haven't encountered a single glitch, bug or issue and can highly recommend them....www.philscomputerlab.com
Also, I'm sure the Centroid post for Fusion will puke out g code that your machine can run.
slodat
ALLIANCE MEMBER
There's a Centroid post built in to Fusion 360. There's another made by swissi that's excellent that has some CNC12 features, but you don't have to use the CNC12 specific stuff.
OP
lilscorpion
Well-known member
Huh, so I probably had it all along. I gotta spend some time with fusion 360. For a guy who uses CNC all the time I’m kinda a CAD dummy.
OP
lilscorpion
Well-known member
On a wrangler if this era, you gotta remove the intake to install headers. This isn’t a great pic but it does illustrate well how freakin ugly it is bare cast.
Since it’s off, might as well give it some powder coat lovin too.
Looks great right? It’s supposed to be a semi-satin black but it didn’t flatten out like it was supposed to. This was a learning moment for me…gotta test every batch that gets sent to you to make sure it’s right before applying it. We probably should have re-done ir but I really didn’t have a way to strip the coating off. It’s too big to fit in the 5 gallon bucket of chemical and it would take literally forever to sand blast off so we let it ride.
the turbo is a T3 with an integrated
Andrew got it disassembled and masked so it could be coated as well.
Most of this work was done by him. At this point I didn’t need to supervise him anymore. I’d only help when he needed an extra set of hands (like figuring out how to get the intake into the oven).
I came out at lunch to this hanging on the cooking rack.
Since it’s off, might as well give it some powder coat lovin too.
Looks great right? It’s supposed to be a semi-satin black but it didn’t flatten out like it was supposed to. This was a learning moment for me…gotta test every batch that gets sent to you to make sure it’s right before applying it. We probably should have re-done ir but I really didn’t have a way to strip the coating off. It’s too big to fit in the 5 gallon bucket of chemical and it would take literally forever to sand blast off so we let it ride.
the turbo is a T3 with an integrated
Andrew got it disassembled and masked so it could be coated as well.
Most of this work was done by him. At this point I didn’t need to supervise him anymore. I’d only help when he needed an extra set of hands (like figuring out how to get the intake into the oven).
I came out at lunch to this hanging on the cooking rack.
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OP
lilscorpion
Well-known member
Found these hilarious pics of me cerakoting the exhaust parts in the driveway smack dab in the middle of an HOA goverened community. I didn’t want to spray that nasty stuff in the garage so I used a ladder and a 3’ long piece of tubing with an eye bolt in the end of it as a paint rack in the driveway. Good stuff
gearhead1960
ALLIANCE MEMBER
My thinking on the intake is with the shinier finish, it might shed dirt and grime easier and look better after cleaning.
OP
lilscorpion
Well-known member
You’re right, it probably will. It really does look good just know it’s not how it’s supposed to look. If I’d not posted it here, no one would know.