3D Printers for Workshops

[oldloder]

Yes, thank you both for the info ... that is far more economical than I would have expected!

[DeZZar]

Just thought I would update this thread with a few recent uses of the workshop 3D printer....


Complex port shapes to fit up inside bracing etc in a small speaker...


Routing template for an insert panel. This is probably one of the most frequent uses.


This one is another template print, but in this case just for tracing the shape - its a quick print of only a couple of layers to give just enough to trace around.


Handles and knobs - these ones used for a project where the bolts are frequently removed and replaced by hand

[DeZZar]

This is a little tweeter holder. Designed to take two of them face to face for breaking in or holding them up whilst soldering onto the tabs



Joining rings for joining two pieces of pipe together.


Even used it recently to prototype some custom speaker feet - trying out a few different shapes/sizes.

[silverD]

I just picked up an Ender 3 Pro for a $100 from Micro Center. They are offering a $100 off coupon to new customers.

[3rutu5]

350 AUD that is Mine was around 290 from banggood as well, with free shipping .

[jmb]

Hi SilverD, wondering where you found the coupon for the $100 off? Thanks and Happy Holidays, Jay

[silverD]

I think the coupon expired on the 22nd.https://www.microcenter.com/site/con...3dprinter.aspx

[3rutu5]

i have an E3, FLSUN QQS Pro (delta) and a new edition Tevo Little Monster. I've been using mine mainly for audio projects and the occasional router template, but as of last night printing parts for printer upgrades like heavy duty spool holders etc. Been a fun little hobby and honestly the could involved to run them hasnt been that noticable on my quarterly electricity bill. Filament costs arent bad either as a kilo cost anywhere from 20-30 AUD for the day to day PLA plus.

you get some projects like My booze tooth speaker project took about 20 hours to print and around 150g of filament and others like the phantom clone that burnt through almost 2kgs and around 100hours for print time. The one i have in my head (CAD) at the moment will likely double that.

I do like that trimmer router you have, my generic plastic one broke and i havent used it since, did you have to use PETG or ABS on that one?

DeZZar not sure if you've gone down the Ender Extender rabbit hole yet last DIY version i saw made me consider buying some 2040 extrusions 1m long and going for a print volume of 900mm high .... still might have a crack as the ender isnt my daily driver.

[DeZZar]

Oh wow! No I hadn't seen the ender extender stuff - that's some serious build volume. I haven't need to go that big with anything yet - I'd want to have the ability to easily exchange rolls or something added to the ender first!

[DeZZar]

I do like that trimmer router you have, my generic plastic one broke and i havent used it since, did you have to use PETG or ABS on that one?

Yeah for this I started with the generic plastic one and re-drew it in sketchup and added a vacuum port etc.

Its printed in just plain PLA - but where the bolt tightens to clamp the router that area is printed in solid PLA - the rest is I think around 30% infill.


I also printed this little LED flashlight holder thing...



...and glued it to the side so now I have a flashlight so I can see the bit when I'm using it on my circle cutting jig...

[aarond]

I'll keep my input on the shorter side.

Ender 3 is practically unbeatable to get started in 3D printing ($200ish). When I first started looking at printers I'd assumed I go with an Ender 3. I ended up with an Ender 5 plus ($500ish). It does have some additional features of the 3 series but I mainly wanted the extra capacity. E3 is 250x250mm, 5 plus is 350x350mm.

I hated Google Sketchup and quickly gave up. Fusion 360 is waaaay better and works much more similarly to other common CAD options.

[3rutu5]

interesting, i was thinking either a E5 or CR10 and ended up going a delta printer. Looking forward to trying to get the Little Monster going with a 340x500 print volume. AutoCAD for me and had a copy of F360, but didnt give it much chance as i use the other for a job.

[a4eaudio]

I know dezzar started the thread but I hope others will post their projects too. This thread is pretty useful and the use of 3d printers is growing fast.

I just got an Ender 5 pro Friday with glass plate and Auto bed leveler. Still in box until later this week. I have used SketchUp exclusively for mocking up woodworking but have been watching Fusion 360 tutorials on YouTube for the last week.

[augerpro]

Anyone with an Ender 3, I highly recommend getting this right from the beginning: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 The stock plastic one WILL crack.

[DeZZar]

I second that. I upgraded mine to an all metal extruder (you have to reconfigure your feed rates but it's pretty straightforward) and it performs so much better than the stock one.