3D printers

[Andre Germain]

I've been musing getting a 3D printer for quite some time. I researched them yet again until 2 am last night. I've settled on the following models. Anyone has experience with 3D printers? It's to make parts for R/C, telescope, etc.

http://3dprinterhub.com/3d-printer-store/felix-3d-printer.html

http://www.automationtechnologiesinc.com/products-page/3d-printer/ord-bot-hadron-3d-printer-kits

http://www.makergear.com/products/m-series-3d-printers

and this one worries me that it won't live up to expectations;

http://3dprinterhub.com/3d-printer-store/rapidbot-3d-printer.html

Cheers

[Andre Germain]

This gentlemen has made most of the parts for his stabilized camera gymbal for his quad, using both a CNC router and a 3D printer. Later on in video you see how stable the HD image is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAP6q7Yzhb0&feature=youtu.be

Here are the parts he made (save for the carbon fiber ones);

[nitrouspete]

I have seen one work with my own eyes. I have two bicycle chains that where made. They are awesome. I have to find the pictures I took to get you the name. I remember it was an Israeli company. Cost of making the parts are expensive though. It is a good machine for R&D stuff. Used to try before you commit to production of costly machined parts.

[Andrew Fernie]

Andre,

I have been fascinated by these things ever since I heard about them. I am not ready to buy one, but I sure would be interested in buying some time on one occasionally.

Andrew

[Andre Germain]

I've spent a good 12 hours perusing the web, and what I make out of it is that most affordable printers are not very precise. It's actually smarter to use a CNC router for they are more precise and can also cut into wood, plastics and even soft metals. Even better is a CNC mini mill (like the Taig), but they tend to be slow and 3D printing needs speed to deposit the hot plastic onto still warm plastic. Anyway, the mill or router requires an extruder head and a heated bed, but the real trouble comes into getting something compatible for the extruder stepper motor electronics to be stimulated since CNC routers and mills use gcode whereas the 3D printers use STL (spelling). There appears to be a way to translate it. Of course it's right up my alley, but I've spent thousands of hours on my automated telescopes and observatory, and my planes, so putting 100s of hours onto this is just too much, I can't spare the time!

Milling, routing and 3D printing are all useful to me across so many hobbies. I do already own a large gear head mill, but it's not CNC.

Stay tuned.