These 1/8″ NPT grease fitting is my most downloaded model on GrabCad
( 2,100 downloads as of 4/23/2019 )
Most downloaded
Metal Plating 3D Printed Parts
Metal plating adds strength and protection for 3D plastic parts. Repliform can plate in with a variety of metals with some amazing results.
Convert your 3D Printer into a laser cutter
Jake’s Workshop converts his 3D printer (A Prusa I3) into a laser cutter…well…laser engraver unless you want the most expensive pair of scissors ever invented. It uses a 500w laser for AliExpress. Laser, driver and safety googles are currently selling for $34.
3D Printing for industrial strength parts
Maybe you are under the impression that affordable 3D printers can only be used to produce cheap little plastic parts. Maybe you should think again. 3D printers can easily create shapes for investment castings. The plastic is coated with a ceramic material. After multiple layers are applied, the plastic is burned out in an oven leaving a void that can be filled with metal. The ceramic makes a good finish and the technique can be used with steel, aluminum, stainless steel and many more materials.
Investment casting at PPCP
There is even a special filament called PolyCast. It’s easy to print with the same settings as PLA. What makes it special is the limited ash left behind when it is burned out of the ceramic shell. YouTube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4–fiBGMIpc
In my own experience: Several years ago, I reversed engineered a brass impeller that provided lube oil to a large generator-turbine unit in a power plant. The pump was printed and sent to Pennsylvania Precision Cast Parts. They added the venting and gating to the part, and the cast the part in stainless steel. It was a complicated shaped that can be done lost wax, but 3D printing made the job easier and much cheaper. After casting, the outside diameter and boring were machined ,and a keyway was added. The impeller was balanced and there were a few other trade secrets added.
The process saved time and money and the impeller has been running without issues for over a decade.
Remember this then next time someone asks, so what can you make with your 3D printer.
Polycast is available at Amazon
For more information:
3D Printing and Investment Casting Make a Perfect Fabrication Team; 3DPrint.com
Why are I-Beams shaped like an I
You can save yourself some plastic if you know the theory behind the I-Beam and the Real Engineering channel on YouTube explains why I beams are shaped like they are. It explains the second moment of area (sometimes refered to as the moment area of inertia).
The strongest material
Do you have a part that you are thinking about printing, but your are worried about the strength? MatterHackers has done some unscientific comparitive testing for you. You don’t need to be an engineer to understand the test. They printed some parts and tried to break them. Check it out.
link: http://www.matterhackers.com/news/filament-strength-testing
Furniture Arrangement
An engineer has used his 3D printing skills to model his future apartment. He printed the walls, floor and furniture so that he could try on different arrangements on is 1:25 scale model.
3D Modeling in Blender for 3D Printing
If you are familiar with modeling in Blender and are interetsted in 3D printing, then Sculpteo.com has an overview for you. It starts with the 3D Printing add-on, discusses some common mistakes and explains a simple model of a cat
ABS Juice, Glue and Slurry
MatterHackers has an DIY piece on how to mix and use ABS solutions: Use the ABS Juice for better bonding to the print surface, ABS Glue is a better alternative to super glue and hide those seams with ABS Slurry.
Update 4/24/2019 (WARNING): I got a part so stuck to the table that I damaged the coating on my Prusa I3 MK2 table.
Link: http://www.matterhackers.com/news/how-to-make-abs-juice-glue-and-slurry
Simmer3D 