Maker's Muse Community
3D Printed gear destroyer - in progress!
Hey all!
Several years back I made a video testing the strength of 3D printed gears - but that test was done using a static load and rightfully critiqued as an unrealistic representation of how the gears would wear in actual use. I've been working hard since to develop a method of testing 3D printed gears in a repeatable way, and I'm almost ready with the machine above.
This test setup uses a large brushless motor running off an O drive for precise rotational speed and torque - driving a DC motor which is being used as a generator to provide load. The power is burnt off as heat by the huge variable resistor above, and I'm hoping I can use it to figure out how all kinds of printed gears behave. I'm not great with code, and have been struggling with programming the O drive unit, but once that's resolved I should be able to start breaking some gears!
If there's any kind of test you'd like to see performed, let me know below! I'll start with materials, but could easily branch out to print settings, tooth profile or more. It should be fun :)
Thanks for being a part of the Maker's Muse community!
Angus ~ Maker's Muse
CAD on a Chromebook test
Hey all!
I'm all about empowering creativity through technology - and I believe that CAD design is a really powerful tool for achieving that. Many years ago you needed a very powerful and expensive computer to run expensive CAD software, but is that still the case? nope! In fact, you can learn industry level CAD skills on a shoestring budget.
I recently discovered that OnShape (cloud based CAD) works on a Chromebook, so I bought the cheapest one I could find and challenged myself to design a basic combat robot chassis with it using their free, public plan. This timelapse is the proof, with kitty shenanigans thrown in for good measure :) I was a bit rusty with OnShape but it got the job done. I printed it out in TPU on the Prusa CORE One. Full video exploring this concept coming soon.
Happy printing!
Angus
The slicing side of things is still tricky as there are no native apps, I used the new prusa cloud slicer "Prusa EasyPrint", very limited options but fairly quick. I DID try installing a linux version of Prusaslicer, but it was far too slow to be useable sadly.
PBT Pro antweight robot test - unexpected results!
Hey all,
I came across an unusual filament recently - "PBT Pro" by CC3D, and shared that it seemed to be remarkably tough. Naturally, I decided to build a combat robot using it, to see just how tough it really was.
This is the first test of that bot!
"Death Ray" has a large undercutting blade, and in testing I put it up against old frames printed in PLA+, 64D TPU and the new PBT Pro filaments. The results were... unexpected. TPU remains the best option for durable combat robot frames, but I'll keep testing unusual filaments as they come past my radar.
Full video will be released here sometimes soon, then on the YouTube channel at a later date. Watch this space :)
Thanks for being a part of the Maker's Muse community. Let me know if you have any questions or comments!
Angus ~ Maker's Muse
I've just received some Durapro PC/PBT from Extrudr.
280-290C, hotbed @ 110C, 1.2g/cm3 - its certainly tough (much tougher than PETG in the same part), and you need serious equipment to handle the temperatures (Prusa XL handles it fine). We'll need someone (CNC Kitchen?) to do some notch testing!
Nice! The PC would definitely bring the toughness up but yeah, that heat bed requirement is pretty high! I've got a similar roll on its way for further testing. Stephan is definitely the guy for the job, I'll send him a message.
Experiments with PBT filament
Hey all!
I'm currently testing a filament I'd never heard of before - PBT. It's pretty interesting, so I wanted to share my findings!
I came across this listing from CC3D on Amazon and liked the sound of it so ordered a roll. This is the Australian Amazon product page. It claims to be "PBT and glass fiber composite with special polymerization modification." It has a unique feel, flexible but more rigid than 64DTPU, without any elasticity.
However, what excites me is how tough it is. I printed out a sample and smashed it with a sharp hammer, drilled it, cut it and couldn't get it to crack or delaminate!
All of this while being perfectly printable on the Bambu A1 Mini with really clean results. To test it, I've designed a new ant weight combat robot which I'll be competing with next month. I'm hopeful that it'll be a new durable filament to add to the list - one that doesn't need expensive hardware, a heated chamber or drying (at least not yet)!
If you've used it before, what were your experiences? My printing profile used Bambu PETG settings, with printing temperature changed to 235.
That's all for now, just wanted to share in case it could be a useful addition for your projects. Thanks for being part of the Maker's Muse community!
Angus ~ Maker's Muse
And you apparently purchased the last spool down under! 😂
Gonna look for it here in the States.
Found it! $25/kg. Pretty good price.
Thanks for the heads up, Angus
When I clicked on your Amazon Aus link yesterday, it showed unavailable. 🤷🏻♂️
Anyway, Amazon US had it in stock and I should get it tomorrow along a spool of the Polymaker PC-PBT.
I’ll be testing them out in the next week.
Nothing as exciting as your combots though.
Just some practical cable clips I designed for this Broadway theater show I’m currently working on.
Mechanism Visualiser - in progress!
Hey all!
I've always found old mechanisms to be incredibly interesting, and have 3D printed many in the past. The biggest problem with many of them however is visualizing their output in a meaningful manner. You can simulate it in CAD, but I wondered if a physical device could do it instead. A month later, we have this!
The mechanism visualiser has a roller with glow-in-the-dark film which reacts to a UV led placed at the output of the mechanism being tested. Its movements are plotted as the conveyor moves, and I can't wait to see what strange and interesting patterns we can create with it! I'm testing it with a Scotch Yoke first, which produces a perfect sinusoidal path. I'll be creating a range of mechanisms to mount to it for testing this year (and would love to hear about any you'd like to see tested).
While the general concept is quite simple, this project really did kick my butt...! I rediscovered my "love" for arduino coding, how to wire up stepper drivers (they don't like 12V into VCC), and all sorts of mechanical nonsense involved in making a functional conveyor belt.
Thank you so much for being part of the Maker's Muse community! Full build video coming soon.
Angus ~ Maker's Muse
Is that gizmo you're holding Lego? Looks like part of a cog set I had when I was a kid😀
Lego technic and 3D printing parts for Lego is life 😉!
We will have to read up on this topic before we can recommend anything.
Nate and Keegan
Back from Open Sauce 2024, join me live.
Hey all!
I'm back from my US trip to Open Sauce 2024, a massive event for makers and creators created by William Osman and his team. It was an incredible weekend where I got to meet so many talented people creating all kinds of projects.
I'll be going live at 10AM AEST tomorrow, and you can find the link to the stream here https://www.youtube.com/live/z1JhzSA8ww8?si=Ui8TVvFUCAmNSjDA
I couldn't have done it without your generous support. Seriously, thank you. If you have any questions about the event, please let me know below and I will endeavor to answer them for you!
I've got a ton of projects and reviews in the works, so stay tuned!
Angus ~ Maker's Muse
I tried pulling all the strings I could to go this year, but sadly it didn't happen. But things are looking good for next year!
It's a crazy event, I highly recommend it! So many cool projects and people and so big you can't possibly see it all.
Sovol SV08 First Look
Testing out the Sovol SV08! Let me know in the comments if there's any models you'd like printed on it, and any questions you may have.
Thanks for being part of the Maker's Muse community!
Angus
SV08 is now listed at $769 USD including enclosure and Touchscreen upgrade, or $549 USD in the basic open form. Interesting point regarding the rubbing parts at the back.
I'd be interested in whether the Klipper version is native or some sort of custom Klipper like the Sovol screen for SV06/Plus
With the upgrades it's about $200 USD cheaper than the Troodon 2.0 Pro (which runs Klipper and has a Stealthburner and Tap). Even if you haven't touched the Troodon I'd be keen to hear what your thoughts are between the two. I'm looking at buying a Core XY around August.
How to CAD a Maker coin using free software (new tutorial series)
Hey all!
I recently compared 9 different free CAD programs (several of which you brought my attention to!) and found that, although there's no perfect solution, many are actually quite capable.
I've put together a new video course on how to model a Maker coin in several of the more powerful offerings, and it's free to community members here . (let me know if you have any issues with access)
There are tutorials for Onshape and Autodesk Fusion so far, with many more to come!
In case you missed it, you can watch the full CAD comparison video here.
Happy printing!
Angus ~ Maker's Muse
I was a bit disappointed that you didn't include OpenSCAD in your review. Admittedly, OpenSCAD can be daunting, but with the BOSL2 Library you can make a coin in 25 lines of code. Both OpenSCAD and the BOSL2 library are 100% free and open source. No big corporation can ever change the rules with a new EULA in a routine update.
include
include
$fn = 144;
function cpd(r) = r (4/3) tan(180/8); // Control pt distance for quarter round.
r1 = 25; // Major radius of the coin
r2= 5; // radius of the edge
cz = 1; // center z
body = bezpath_curve(flatten([
bez_begin([0, -r2], RIGHT, 10),
bez_tang ([r1-r2,-r2], 0, cpd(r2)),
bez_tang ([r1,0], 90, cpd(r2)),
bez_tang ([r1-r2, r2], 180, cpd(r2)),
bez_end([0,cz], RIGHT, 12),
]));
diff(){
rotate_sweep(body,360);
zrot_copies(n = 8, r = r1 + r2 -1)
tag("remove") cyl(h = r2*2, r = 8);
tag("remove") text3d("OS", font = "Arial:bold", size = 14, h = r2, anchor = CENTER+BOT, atype = "ycenter");
}
Testing my cockatoos... again!
Hey all!
I've been having fun challenging the local cockatoos once again with a brand new puzzle. This design is all about rotation - where the wild birds need to twist a knob in order to release seeds from a hopper. I initially designed a handle which I thought they might use, but as usual the birds had different plans!
I've got a lot of footage to sort through so far, but for now please enjoy Edweena figuring out the new puzzle. It only took her a few minutes to realise that ripping it apart wasn't going to work, and twisting the knob was the way to go.
And don't worry, Popeye also makes an appearance :)
If you've got any suggestions on how you'd like to see these birds tested in future please do let me know!
Angus ~ Maker's Muse
I've been highly discouraging the white cockatoos from my place seeing as the back deck is wood and with the amount that drop by they would destroy it in a few minutes. My Kookaburra now instantly pops down to see me on the back deck when I go outside but I don't know how he would go with a puzzle.
Good plan! They wrecked our balcony pretty quickly but it just so happens it lead us to discover a huge rot issue that needed it to be entirely replaced anyway... It's taken a bit of training to keep the flock away (no food comes out if they descend) but I've found really good ways to get rid of them are plushies and spray bottles.
Your kooka friend is adorable! He might do ok with a foraging puzzle like the ones for dogs.
Bambu Lab's new 3D Printer is coming... What would you like me to test?
Hey all!
It's been a hot minute, thanks for sticking around as I've gotten things back on track. I'm putting the final touches on my tests of a new 3D Printer from Bambu and would love to hear what you guys want covered. Sadly I can't share any specifics YET but it's going to be pretty interesting. It's not what I expected that's for sure.
If you have a favorite STL file feel free to direct me to it or drop it below and I'll try print as many as possible for ya! (not too large please)
Happy printing!
Angus
( Print below designed by IK3D! They do cool stuff - https://cults3d.com/en/users/IK3D/3d-models )
perhaps Angus this is too big, but it is a kind of tolerance test - tighter tolerance than the one initially published by Gearfinity. It was too tight to turn on my X1C.
Nice! Clock gears should have less wear, but the backlash will be much more important.