Avid readers, alas, we have reached a turning point. I have a new location for my blog and from now on I will be posting there. Please keep reading, and commenting! Here is the address:
www.makeandplay.de
I look forward to your continued interest!
Steve
Thursday, 18 December 2014
Monday, 15 December 2014
Whatever have you been doing?
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| Filament all over the house, when will there be a standardized storage solution? |
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| Storage solution. Just some shelves I put up with a friend. |
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| The Berlin i3, still going strong! Look what we've made: |
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| Baby nut and screw. |
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| Horse in two halves, a little warp on the flat surfaces made glueing imperfect, the tail is imperfect like a real Horse's tail, and one leg broke off just to perfect the circle of imperfection. |
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| Two cars, one all in one print (right)... |
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| The other with black Flex TPC tyres. Vrooom! |
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| Black feather earrings by Vivenda, also in black Flex TPC |
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| Here they are again in Taulmann T-Glase orion blue :D |
Monday, 1 December 2014
Stocking up
So there are still plenty of steps to go before I become the veritable 3D printing master, the Reprapper par excellence. But bit by bit I can see myself getting there.
I achieve balance through daily bed levelling.
I achieve inner warmth by tweaking the temperature settings depending on which kind of PLA I use.
I achieve inner calm through active cooling.
I'm not yet so advanced that I can look at an object and know exactly how I'd splice the G-code.
And I cannot script a beautiful vase whose surface maps my favourite equation.
These things will hopefully come in time however. Perhaps around the same time I figure out how to recharge my camera so I can show you what I've been making. For now you'll just have to make do with my monologues.
Fare well dear reader, until next time.
I achieve balance through daily bed levelling.
I achieve inner warmth by tweaking the temperature settings depending on which kind of PLA I use.
I achieve inner calm through active cooling.
I'm not yet so advanced that I can look at an object and know exactly how I'd splice the G-code.
And I cannot script a beautiful vase whose surface maps my favourite equation.
These things will hopefully come in time however. Perhaps around the same time I figure out how to recharge my camera so I can show you what I've been making. For now you'll just have to make do with my monologues.
Fare well dear reader, until next time.
Sunday, 23 November 2014
Tomorrow morning
Making a 3D printer as you can imagine consists of a lot of screwing and glueing, a lot of joking and jiggery pokery, and general fun learning as a group. The day was about exchange, collaboration, and learning as much as you can about innovation. 'Glorified Lego' is one way to describe the build process itself, and yes following lots of instructions, slotting a smooth rod in here, plugging these cables there - especially when all the soldering has already been done for you. (Thanks Bram)
There I am with the power supply unit, screwing flange nuts onto threaded rods, and enjoying it a lot by the looks of things!
Now is the best part, now I get to take this baby home and print to my heart's content. I am going to be very busy in the coming weeks! All my dreams have pretty much come true - all I wanted to do in the first place was build a 3D printer that worked really well. I have come a long way.
I now have two functioning printers at home, both of which I can use to improve the other - or repair the other, providing they don't break down at the same time. Thats why I need a third printer. The old Huxley will come back to life. I have a modular extruder from Germanreprap GmbH to put on it and wild ideas to customize the printed parts just so that they look special, but still function well.
She still needs a board of course after I burnt out the last Melzi, so I shall have to get another. Ramps is the most widely used for single extruder printers - Bishop (the i3 Berlin) has a RUMBA, especially developed for multiple extruders. The Foldarap will have to be fitted with an add-on board before I can use a second extruder. That should be nice and easy...
Time is of the essence though dear readers, and there are only a limited number of hours in the day to print. I will update you with pictures of all the christmas presents I print for my family as and when they are realized. Keep printing!
There I am with the power supply unit, screwing flange nuts onto threaded rods, and enjoying it a lot by the looks of things!
I suppose you get the idea.
As much fun as it was for me being surrounded by Tork screws though,
I can't imagine anyone really wanting me to describe each and every step of the way -
and besides, Morris already has: https://github.com/open3dengineering/i3_Berlin/wiki
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| Double E3D extruders for printing in two materials :D |
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| Our workspace for the weekend |
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| Just some old antiques lying around :D |
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| Puttting the finishing touches to the frame. |
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| The end. I stare solemnly into the soul of my new companion. |
Now is the best part, now I get to take this baby home and print to my heart's content. I am going to be very busy in the coming weeks! All my dreams have pretty much come true - all I wanted to do in the first place was build a 3D printer that worked really well. I have come a long way.
I now have two functioning printers at home, both of which I can use to improve the other - or repair the other, providing they don't break down at the same time. Thats why I need a third printer. The old Huxley will come back to life. I have a modular extruder from Germanreprap GmbH to put on it and wild ideas to customize the printed parts just so that they look special, but still function well.
She still needs a board of course after I burnt out the last Melzi, so I shall have to get another. Ramps is the most widely used for single extruder printers - Bishop (the i3 Berlin) has a RUMBA, especially developed for multiple extruders. The Foldarap will have to be fitted with an add-on board before I can use a second extruder. That should be nice and easy...
Time is of the essence though dear readers, and there are only a limited number of hours in the day to print. I will update you with pictures of all the christmas presents I print for my family as and when they are realized. Keep printing!
Tuesday, 18 November 2014
The best 3D printer I ever built
Hey everyone! I've been a bit busy lately so I haven't posted in a while, but that's a good thing, it means I have something to show you. Lots of photos!
And not just any old photos! I was lucky enough to be a part of a workshop this weekend where I built a Berlin i3, an exceptionally robust and versatile printer, like all those well honed products you see in advertising, but not too good to be true.
The Fab Lab has been here for a while and it is where you go if you want to use machines like laser cutters and CNC machines. The makers here know what they're doing and I was very excited to check the place out and see what happens behind their brick walls.
Yep this was pretty much a religious experience for me. If there's anywhere you want to go to be astounded by what can be made by people and not corporations in this day and age, its a Fab Lab. There were some really nice prints there, as you can see, and this is just a small selection from their collection.
Building the machine was quite an odyssey and for that reason I think I'll stretch it out to two posts, one now and one tomorrow morning. Here's a couple more photos to get you a taste for the workshop, the venue and the excitement that I felt the entire time.
The End.
Stop.
And not just any old photos! I was lucky enough to be a part of a workshop this weekend where I built a Berlin i3, an exceptionally robust and versatile printer, like all those well honed products you see in advertising, but not too good to be true.
The Fab Lab has been here for a while and it is where you go if you want to use machines like laser cutters and CNC machines. The makers here know what they're doing and I was very excited to check the place out and see what happens behind their brick walls.
Yep this was pretty much a religious experience for me. If there's anywhere you want to go to be astounded by what can be made by people and not corporations in this day and age, its a Fab Lab. There were some really nice prints there, as you can see, and this is just a small selection from their collection.
Building the machine was quite an odyssey and for that reason I think I'll stretch it out to two posts, one now and one tomorrow morning. Here's a couple more photos to get you a taste for the workshop, the venue and the excitement that I felt the entire time.
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| The lowdown |
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| The toolkit |
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| The warning |
Stop.
Wednesday, 5 November 2014
Real Portability
And the Foldarap fits nice and snug inside with enough room for the padding in between. I'm looking forward to the first on-site print I get to do. If anyone needs anything, let me know!
My 3D hub will be operational soon, so you'll be hearing about it. It will only be operational for a short while though because with me flying off to Vietnam and all, I won't be able to be there to do the prints. I might be able to work something out though so we will have to wait and see.
As for right now, I think I'm going to take the 3d printer for a walk - even if just onto the balcony - see you upon my return!
Tuesday, 4 November 2014
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