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rugjenkins · 06-12-2018, 09:40 PM

I need to get a 3D printer! Awesome work.

Chuck · 06-13-2018, 07:11 AM

what do you suppose it would cost to pay someone to print out something like this? Is that a service that is generally available?

Zeppelinium · 06-14-2018, 05:21 AM

It literally took about 15 minutes to design the parts using Google Sketchup. Printing parts of this size is another matter, depending on how nice you want the surface and how strong. At the settings I used it took about 2 hours for each piece, so for these small windows (~7x18") it took 8 hours.

Typical prints have a bed of 200x280mm or 300x300mm. To print a trim ring for a wing window you need 300x400mm (or print the ring in more than 4 pieces).

There are quite a few 3D printing services and possibly a local hobbyist who would be interested. The plastic filament is not expensive. I would guess that it cost about $1 in material to make all 4 pieces.

Google "maker space" and see if you have a local group. In Denver it's called DenHack and here in Colorado Springs it's the Pikes Peak Maker Space, for example.

I suggest you start a thread for "3D Parts" and see if there's a lot of interest. The moderators might even be persuaded to add a technical forum.

Zep

Zeppelinium · 06-14-2018, 05:30 AM

By the way, some very good 3D printers are available for under $400. I like the Tevo kits (I have a Black Widow and a Tarantula, but it seems like the Tornado might be the best one currently), but there are several competitors.

The difference in price for a completely assembled and ready to go printer is pretty staggering. The Lulzbot printers are excellent and I use them at our local maker space, but at $2400-ish I think you really need to be committed before you dive in at that level.

Most of the software is free. Fusion 360 has the feel of an engineering 3D CAD program and is free to hobbyists. As I said, I use Google Sketchup (which has a $700 paid version), which is more of a drawing program, but if you use the ruler to establish your own grids you can achieve very precise models. Sketchup has the advantage of being very quick to learn and has lots of community support/addons, which provide a lot of power (for example, internal threads).

Zep