Re:3D Printer Fun (and Santa Claus :-)

Hi

> Do you have any pictures of your printer setup, it's basicly what I
> want to build.

Unfortunately not - that was in the days before I owned a digital camera,
and I hardly ever used the SLR inside :-)
I was trying to remember how the lower tray was attached to the system - as
I remember, it utilised the paper roller system - extended down to the edge
of an aluminium sheet which held the container (the shet acted like the
sheet of paper). The bottom of the container was lifted by a small stepper
(this is the Z axis). It all fitted quite neatly underneath as I recollect
(the HP printer was like a big bridge).
It was all very agricultural - you could do the loading of each layer by
hand really without all the Z axis issues.

>Chris has some usefull links for UV-curing binder wich
> is probally the best way to go.

That's fine as long as you have a UV source (not an inexpensive item). I've
used UV cures here in the semiconductor industry - they work extremely well
but you do need a very high power lamp attached to a lightpipe (if you want
it to go off at a decent rate). We use a dispenser and light source by
Loctite (their UV adhesive as well).

>How did the flour work, I was
> planning on using that too.

Seemed fine as long as there wasn't any "bits" in it. I used to filter it
through an old fan filter. The sugar solution certainly made it set. You
should give this a try using a small syringe, you'll be quite surprised at
the result.

> Perhaps there are better solutions Z-corp
> uses two types one is a starch/cellulose material and the other is a
> plaster type of material.
> The plaster material is stronger. For the layer building they use a
> rolling cillinder, it looks pretty nice, if you apply some pressure
> it becomes probally better.

Ah yes, a roller - never thought of that at the time - I used a plastic
scraper :-)

I had a look for a couple of the parts I made, I found them in a poly bag -
at least I assume they were the parts , there was a brown lump stuck inside
one corner :-))

Have fun - it'll make a good Christmas project for the kids - add some
flavouring to the sugar solution, and you can make edible CNC parts - good
recycling idea there :-) Not sure what the recipe is for gingerbread, but
I'm sure there must be a financial opportunity somewhere :-)

Neil

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Neil D. Gillies Tel: +44 (0)1383-823489
iGull Technologies Fax: +44 (0)8707-059481
11 River View Mobile: +44 (0)771-4330793
Dalgety Bay, Fife neil@...
Scotland KY11 9YE http://www.igull.co.uk
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