Brief foray into 3D printing

[GTRS Fiero]

These are a few presentable failures:


I used different types and colors of filament, different speeds, different settings for heat, quality, layers, etc.

The items in this picture were all printed with a single extruder.

I'll post more images, but over the course of the printing, 6 different printers were used.

[GTRS Fiero]

These are fine for storage, but the bottoms tend to warp, and the sides break.

I kept track of the settings I used for each item, and made note of the settings that resulted in the best results, along with duration of print and filament required.

These take 5-6 hours to print, depending on the software used for the slicer, the filament used, and the printer itself.

[GTRS Fiero]

These are semi-practical.  I printed about 100 of them.  It took about 2 days to print both pieces at once.

[GTRS Fiero]

I printed these with dual extruders, which leaves a lot of residue.  Spearately, I printed one with a single extruder that was better, but it really needs water-soluable supports.

[GTRS Fiero]

These are printed as one piece, but I also printed the individual parts.  The latter was a failure, because the small pieces were disformed.

The whole thing prints in about 4 hours.

[GTRS Fiero]

These were the best of many failed attempts.  About 36 hours each to print.  They're too small, due to the limits of my printer(s).

[GTRS Fiero]

These are supposed to have rotating turrets.  I was never able to accomplish that.

[GTRS Fiero]

I printed one (a 2-day process), then told it to print a copy.  The first was about half again bigger.  The proportions changed.  I didn't even bother to clean up most of the supports or the raft on this one.

[GTRS Fiero]

The frogs are fine, but the Yoda never came out right.  This was the best of 20 attempts.

The android was a waste of filament.

[GTRS Fiero]

I printed 8 or so of these.  One was a failure, due to the printer, but the other 7 were OK.

[GTRS Fiero]

This was for my daughter.  I printed 10 of them.  This was the best.  There was an OK one, and one that warped.  The others were failures.

It's too small for my daughter's head.

[GTRS Fiero]

I printed 2 of each color to use for storage for parts I printed.  There were a number of failures, also.  Each one of these has a glitch on the side.

[GTRS Fiero]

The trees and barrels came out nice.

I also printed some match holders that came out well.  I printed 100 geocache containers.  I have 3 left, plus some failures.

I printed a few 3” milk cartons that came out OK, complete with cap.  A pain to clean the supports, though.

I tried printing several Ford GTs, but they were all failures.

I did successfully print some NUC covers, 2 Nexus Player holders, and some battery covers.

[TopNotch]

When you get good at this, make Fiero parts -- Seat adjuster covers, t-top end caps, and what ever other small plastic parts are needed.

[GTRS Fiero]

Well, I got rid of those printers.  I'd need a better printer.

I wanted to print the Arch, Mt. Rushmore, the plate over the OBD1 connector in the center console, and a few other things.

I don't have the skills to design complex parts, and the 3D scanners aren't very good.

Right now, the sub $2K printers are more suited for printing things for dollhouses.  I think it'd take at least a $5K printer, plus probably another $5K in upgrades, to be able to make consistent, quality results.  Also, the print time required is incredible.  I had a job that took 3 weeks to complete.  Worse, sometimes the filament binds up, or other catastrophes happen to a lengthy print job.