Author Topic: 3D Printer, parts by mail? (Read 6617 times)

Admin · « **on:** June 15, 2007, 08:20:42 AM »

Anyone recommend a place to get some parts printed in 3D?

Jon recommended Xardas already, but I want to shop around a bit more . . . I need something made soon.

In other news, Im seriously considering buying a 3D printer for work sometime this summer . . .

bobbylox · « **Reply #1 on:** June 15, 2007, 12:07:39 PM »

http://www.ems-usa.com/Services.html

there are also more 3d printing services listed in the fab@home wiki: www.fabathome.org

Steve Joblin · « **Reply #2 on:** June 15, 2007, 03:39:59 PM »

www.bigbluesaw.com

Admin · « **Reply #3 on:** July 05, 2007, 10:55:18 AM »

Since I really prefer ABS, and couldn't find any other companies, I decided to just go with Xardas.

btw, bigbluesaw is not a 3D printing company

(they do water jet cutting)

paulstreats · « **Reply #4 on:** July 08, 2007, 06:49:59 AM »

http://www.desktopfactory.com offer a cheap 3d desktop printer at around $4900 unfortunately it looks like it can only make small 5" size models, but i am wanting one myself so this is probably the one i will go for when ive saved up enough.

robotvisionary · « **Reply #5 on:** July 08, 2007, 07:28:50 AM »

Well here in Puerto Rico there is a company that can cheap you parts over the internet and i know the boss.
www.egiworks.com

The have 2 metal forming machines, 1 plastic printer. But you have to design things in solidworks. I think you have one edition. What they do is that you sent a copy of your product, you have to sent only the measurements and the do it again in solidworks over there and ship your order. I know a lot about this because i went to a camp on product designing and manufacturing and they told me all that. There location is In a city called Caguas. If any help.

If any more info you might need send me a PM.

Admin · « **Reply #6 on:** August 23, 2007, 01:21:26 PM »

For those interested in buying a 3D printer for cheap, this is a mailing list I found that is good for buying second hand printers:
http://rapid.lpt.fi/rp-ml/

I would like to report that Im happy with the services from Xardas. They were really quick, the parts came out great, and the guy was really helpful.

In other news, my boss asked me to buy this because she had some extra pocket change:
http://www.dimensionprinting.com/printers/printing-productspecs1200series.shtml

Finally, my own 3D printer!!!!

Rebelgium · « **Reply #7 on:** September 12, 2007, 06:46:47 AM »

omg Just imagine what you can do with your own 3D printer...

A self designed robot arm, that perfectly suits your need. Made out of 3 limbs and a custom clamp on top of it to finish it off
And this arm sits on top of a octapod, all custom designed legs made out of multiple parts...

drooolll

Admin · « **Reply #8 on:** September 12, 2007, 07:02:32 AM »

I forgot to post this . . .

So I got a quotation from DimensionPrinting . . . its amazing how they can turn a $21,900 list price on their website to $44,230 . . . worse than a car dealership . . . would you like wheels to go with your car? an extra $2k please . . .

So I emailed them back and asked why they dont list all these required extras on their site . . . and the guy wrote "you need to keep in mind that we have competitors too - and we don't want to put everything right out there for them."

Well in the spirit of supporting the robotics community, I would like to encourage fair market competition by posting the real cost of their product.

Given this price surprise . . . Im putting off getting it for now

Rebelgium · « **Reply #9 on:** September 12, 2007, 03:20:44 PM »

oohh bummer

Sorry for rubbing it in with my previous post

HDL_CinC_Dragon · « **Reply #10 on:** September 12, 2007, 05:09:17 PM »

wow what a load of bull... Sorry to hear that Jason $:-\$

Admin · « **Reply #11 on:** September 13, 2007, 04:39:54 AM »

Quote

Jason

who? my name is John

I think that all 3D printer companies are like this . . . I had two reps come down from http://www.3dsystems.com/
They printed out some of my parts as a demo, and told me how beautiful they came out. I look at the parts, and they were seriously warped and one broke in my boss's hand . . . 'special price just for you!' they told me . . . I bet the salesman had snake oil in his pocket

Rebelgium · « **Reply #12 on:** September 13, 2007, 05:50:54 AM »

Quote

who? my name is John

I think that all 3D printer companies are like this . . . I had two reps come down from http://www.3dsystems.com/
They printed out some of my parts as a demo, and told me how beautiful they came out. I look at the parts, and they were seriously warped and one broke in my boss's hand . . . 'special price just for you!' they told me . . . I bet the salesman had snake oil in his pocket

Atleast he's got the first letter right

And I read somewhere that your boss is a women, so those parts must have been pretty crappy if they broke in her hand :/
Maybe they honestly meant the parts were really good, and they just have a cheaper printer and cheaper plastic. So they aren't used to the quality you are used to.... ?

JonHylands · « **Reply #13 on:** September 13, 2007, 08:08:22 AM »

No, the problem is the 3dsystems printers fuse powder to make parts, as opposed to the Dimension printers, which basically lay down a bead of liquid ABS which hardens. The ABS printers produce parts that are much stronger - its basically similar to the difference between cast aluminum and extruded aluminum.

- Jon

Admin · « **Reply #14 on:** September 13, 2007, 08:35:58 AM »

Yea, that brittleness is why the 3Dsystems parts broke. This is why I like ABS much more . . .

But they were all significantly warped in shape too. My parts were thin (.4 cm), and apparently they use an oven to melt the wax support material off, causing the warp.

I was just disappointed they didnt know this, or even check if the parts were actually correct . . .

HDL_CinC_Dragon · « **Reply #15 on:** September 13, 2007, 05:05:56 PM »

Quote from: Admin on September 13, 2007, 04:39:54 AM

Quote
Jason
who? my name is John

... ****! Sorry John! lol, Jason is the guy I do web meetings with every now and then >_<

amakusa · « **Reply #16 on:** September 30, 2007, 11:40:27 AM »

try fabathome.org free plans for a 3d printer you can build yourself!

JonHylands · « **Reply #17 on:** September 30, 2007, 12:22:31 PM »

Check out my current printed project, where I did the full chest of BrainBot using a 3D printer (in ABS):

- Jon

annoyin_kid · « **Reply #18 on:** October 01, 2007, 01:43:09 PM »

Quote from: JonHylands on September 30, 2007, 12:22:31 PM

Check out my current printed project, where I did the full chest of BrainBot using a 3D printer (in ABS):

- Jon

hey jon ya know those AX12 servos that you used. do you really need the 12kg.cm of torque? if no then whats the minimum torque that you would suggest? also how many servos did you use just to make the legs and just the hands?

JonHylands · « **Reply #19 on:** October 01, 2007, 05:58:37 PM »

Each arm has three servos - one inside the chest as a shoulder rotator, a shoulder pitch servo, and an elbow.

Each leg has six - hip pitch, roll, and yaw, a knee, and ankle pitch and roll.

It also has a 2 DOF head (pitch and yaw), for a grand total of 20 servos.

You need all that torque, especially if you're adding more weight to the chest/head.

- Jon

garriwilson · « **Reply #20 on:** October 03, 2007, 10:26:46 PM »

What is a 3D printer?

JonHylands · « **Reply #21 on:** October 04, 2007, 04:56:31 AM »

Type in 3D printer to google, the first hit is wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_printing

The one I'm using specifically is one of these:

http://www.dimensionprinting.com/

- Jon

News:

Author Topic: 3D Printer, parts by mail? (Read 6617 times)

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