Time to do another HIPS experiment, this time with turpentine. Result: I let myself get a bit wordy in the video so it ran a bit long, but Turpentine does seem to dissolve HIPS. I didn’t let it dissolve as long as the last experiment so it didn’t dissolve completely, but it does seem to do the job. However the …
3D printing toys
‘Tis the season. For toys. Hopefully you got some great toys. I took some time this season to try out 3D printing some toys. Of course 3D printers are capable of useful things and that should be stressed. But fun is fun and fun is good. I made 3DKitbash’s launcher and found it… won’t be replacing real toys. It works …
Using HIPS for support
Joseph Chiu, 3D printing buddy of mine and filament supplier, has beat me to the punch on some of the HIPS experimentation. This was going to be experiment 3 for me, using the software tools to make disolvable supports. The latest version of Makerware (2.4.1) seems very well suited to making even the most difficult shape, a sphere, actually work. …
Brick Dice Tower, Final Design
Here is is, the final iteration of my brick dice tower. The door on this one is much bigger than the last version and can comfortably roll several dice. The walls of the door area may be a bit big. I’ve still got to test it out. This print actually had some issues with the PLA getting twisted and pulling, making …
3DHacker Round Up 4
For those new to this blog, I tend to keep my pontificating to a minimum here and instead house those rantings on 3DHacker’s blog where Andrew Mazzotta has graciously given my ramblings a home. It’s been a while since I’ve done this and a lot has happened on 3D Hacker. Andrew has recruted several new bloggers who are making excellent …
3D Printed gun stock
I’ll just come out and say it. I have no problem with 3D printed guns. There are laws, be aware of them, follow them. But besides that it’s just another way for hobbiest to make guns. Very ineffective guns, by the way. But it’s not about efficiency, it’s about he craftsmanship and having fun. And one day I will probably …
Chessbots sold out, long live Chessbots.
Was it the time of year? Was it the price? Either way I am now sold out on pre-printed RoboAction Chessbot Chess Sets. Now the price is back up a bit and I’ve switched to print-on-demand, meaning give me a week or two when you order. In other words there is about zero chance of a Christmas delivery at this …
HIPS experiment 1
Got some HIPS from ToyBuilderLabs.com and I’m starting experiments with it. This is experiment #1 where I just dissolve a printed piece. Keeping it simple, but it was educational. Conclusion: HIPS dissolves completely in d-Limonene, a orange peel extract solution for cleaning that can be slightly harder to get a hold of than, say, acetone. It does dissolve very well …
The next best thing to 3D printing…
…is having someone else print your designs. I love getting pictures and notifications of people printing my designs. And this has been a good week for it. gopedunderground’s nephew is going to love this Chessbot vs Chessbot prime this Christmas. 999dom999 is going to be making some beautiful music. And I think everyone who christnachun knows is going to have a …
I’m getting real tired of jams
I’m nursing a burn on the top of my left index finger that I am reminded of every time I type T, R, G, F, B, or V. And, yes, I hate myself for typing that just now. The reason I have a burnt finger tip is because my left nozzle jammed… again. In the process of unjamming it and …