Re: 3d printer news

1b. Re: 3d printer news
Posted by: "afogassa" afogassa@... afogassa
Date: Wed Apr 9, 2008 4:38 pm ((PDT))

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, Ron Ginger <ronginger@...>
wrote:

> >
> > >The parts Resolution depends on the powder you're using, dental
>
>> > > plaster works best.there is a magic binder that I mix with the
>> > > plaster to hold it togheter, and I'm using just water on the
>>

printer

>> > > cartridge.
>> > >
>>
> >
> > Are you willing to say what this 'magic' stuff is? For me thats
>

the

> > whole issue, the mechanics to spread powder and the movement of a
>

print

> > head are pretty simple, but unless you can figure out the magic
>

powder

> > its all useless.
> >
> > ron ginger
> >
>

All that I can tell is that it comes from Colombia, it's white
and you can eat it if you want.

[That would explain why that plaster's so &$#$@$%! expensive, when you buy it from Z-corp...]

WOAAAA hold on, it's not what you
think :)

It's maltodextrin, I just mix about 10 to 15% to Plaster.
too much and it makes a big mess, glues everything,including the
rails ,print head , feeding bin etc.....
also, if you add too much of it, the plaster starts to curl when
printed,and the parts will look like a surf board.
it works very well at 600 dpi, but i guess it depends on the
printer head, some have bigger ink drops then others.
I'm happy with lexmark,it has a big black ink cartridge (30ML)so I
can print a Porsche model that's about 5x5x2 inches and a layer
thickness of 0.004" and still have ink left for another part before
refill it.

[Dextrin has been used for a long time to strengthen plaster, although it sounds like you're using more than is typically recommended. I'm not sure what's in dental plaster that makes it special; could it be just regular plaster of Paris put up in small cans? Or is something added? I'm used to buying plaster in 100 lb bags; those are still a lot cheaper than the little buckets of "magic powder" that Z-corp supplies. Do you infuse your models with anything, like wax, epoxy, or CA?]

Andrew Werby
www.computersculpture.com








[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]