3D Printing Is Go
So last week, I gave 3d printing a first go. Today, I started a second batch, and could finally assemble the pieces I printed last time.
First up, a refresher on the latest design. As you might be able to see, the chassis now consists of what will be 3d-printed plastic pars reinforced with aluminum tubes. These will connect the bearing houses that will eventually be made from milled Delrin, but for now they are 3d printed as well.
So first step was cutting the pipes. Here they are, enough to support the entire chassis, I hope.
The next step was to turn an axel as I have changed the axel design a bit since last time I made one. There wasn’t any aluminum stock with reasonable dimensions so I chose brass instead.
You have got to love brass. I truly understand why machinists prefer brass. While aluminum is like working with a 2-year-old who you knwo will throw a tantrum any minute, brass is like an old friend. You say “bro?”, it says “bro!”.
So here is the final axel right before I cut it down to length.
Finally, it was time to put everything together. It is clear to me that I will never become a true fan of 3d-printing, because the pieces just don’t have the same elegance as milling, but for rapid prototyping, they really do the job.
The middle piece just needs an opto-breaker and a motor and it is done…. Well not quite. The axel needs a threaded hole to put a lock screw in. That is what I will do next week 😀
Finally, a check on the 3d-printer that was making the sidewalls for the chassis. All good!
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