Fun project - Guess what I'm doing AH friends?

[rookhawk]

So all the Millenials are miles ahead of us on this 3d printing thing. I had to get one awhile back on impulse when I saw one for $150 (I thought they were still like $1500-$2500) just to play around.

There is literally a drawing in existence to make about anything on the planet via 3D printing.

What do you think I'm making? (Hint: No, I'm not making a BATF regulated item whatsoever nor will I)

 

[nztimb]

For a casting project or to use as printed ???

 

[rookhawk]

As printed @Von Gruff , but I have heard people use 3D print to make molds for casting metal objects. But I’m not casting.

Hint: every gunsmith has one of these.

For a casting project or to use as printed ???

 

[tarbe]

Are you making a Go-No Go gauge?

 

[rookhawk]

Are you making a Go-No Go gauge?

3D printing a no-go gauge would be a no-go plan. You can't get the needed precision in 3D printing for go/no-go types of purposes. But I like the guessing and indeed, every gunsmith has no-go gauges so that was a good guess!

Another hint in picture format. (we're about 1 day into a 3 day printing) It goes extra slow because it has to be 100% filled and quite heavy and durable for this application.

 

[tarbe]

Ah...maybe a bench block!

 

[Bullthrower338]

A drinking problem, every gunsmith must have one of those? Lol

 

[Wyatt Smith]

I’m with @tarbe a bench or vice block.

 

[rookhawk]

Correct!

@tarbe and @Wyatt Smith

I’ll post a finished pic in a day or so and we’ll start the game over with the next tool I’m whipping up.

 

[Ray B]

I have trouble understanding how a 3D printer works. How is it different from a CNC milling machine?

 

[tarbe]

I have trouble understanding how a 3D printer works. How is it different from a CNC milling machine?

Creates by deposition, vs removal.

 

[rookhawk]

I have trouble understanding how a 3D printer works. How is it different from a CNC milling machine?

ray, check out 3D printing videos. I thought they were toys for millennials but they are now quite amazing and practical. There are literally a million patterns out there to print. Carbon fiber and metal infused plastic filament exist too. And the costs are low hundreds, not high thousands these days.

I’ll print done more things and get you to have a look.

 

[sestoppelman]

Space age stuff!! Hard to wrap my noodle around it!

 

[Saul]

Was watching a show on the Science channel the other day where Adam Savage from the Mythbusters was using a 3D printer that deposited fine layers of powdered titanium that were then fused together with a laser. That was quite something!

 

[rookhawk]

Space age stuff!! Hard to wrap my noodle around it!

imagine this. Can you use an inkjet printer? Yes? Could you go online and print 10,000,000 different pictures on your inkjet printer? Yes?

A 3D printer is the same as an ink jet printer that prints pictures of unlimited variation from the internet, only you’re printing objects.

now if you have basic CNC, CAD, or machinist skills you can truly make anything from scratch on a 3D printer rather than printing from the millions of existing prints on the net.

then there is the rapid prototyping, making molds for foundry techniques, and many other applications that are beyond my ability to consider, for example, Black and Decker doesn’t stock repair parts as much anymore, the simply print a part on demand and save on inventory and overruns. Print and ship.

The cool thing is there are 1000s of gunsmith tools available for print online and growing daily. I’m going to make a tool this week that is a $200 specialty gunsmith tool I’d never buy to use once a decade, but to make a plastic one at home for $0.50? Why not.

 

[rookhawk]

First print done:

 

[Ray B]

Can a 3D printer (of reasonable cost, not something Winchester would use) make parts of steel that could be tempered, such as various screws?

 

[rookhawk]

Can a 3D printer (of reasonable cost, not something Winchester would use) make parts of steel that could be tempered, such as various screws?

definitely not. We just broke free from the theoretical to practical with carbon fiber and metal impregnated plastic filament. We are still printing plastics, just stronger plastics.

in ten years you’ll be printing with metal at home for the price you spend today for a decent PC printer.

 

[Ray B]

in ten years you’ll be printing with metal at home for the price you spend today for a decent PC printer.

Only if significant advances are made in geriatric health care and extension of physical and mental faculties.

 

[rookhawk]

So here's the next "name that printed bit of plastic" entry.

Hints as follows. It still requires a bolt and nut from the hardware store. Total cost to produce is about $1.50 and six hours of print time. Surely a $150 one from Brownells is better, but for a tool I use once a decade for 1% of the cost...no brainer for me.