How many people 3D print stuff for their helis?

[jolyboy]

Like the title says, how many people 3D print stuff for their helis? The reason I ask is I just bought a 3D printer and hope to make some helis

Cheers

[badfrog]

Sounds interesting... What printer did you get? A friend of mine in the dental lab biz has one... I would love to play with it some time...


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[tbird187]

What kind of material can these printers cut?

[jolyboy]

Hey sorry for the late reply. I got an Ultimaker - here is the DD tail I made for my 450 with it:

And the 3D printer software with the layers ready to print:


tbird - It doesnt "cut" material, thats what CNC routers do. 3D printers like mine deposit hot plastic layer by layer. It can do most thermoplastics, but PLA and ABS are the most common. Commercial 3D printers can print metals like titanium

[fastflyer20]

Looks good.

How is the strength compared to molded parts?

[jolyboy]

I'd say about 80% of the strength, I always try to over-engineer my parts a little. Its excellent for parts like brackets and mounts, but bad to use it for mechanical parts like rotor parts etc. That said I regularly hear of people 3D printing main gears with success.

[Flynz4me]

Count me as one! I have a Titan from stratasys and print 100% of my designs before making any chips or waterjetting any CF.

[eRaptor]

Hey, that is a very nice part. I am surprised at the quality.

What software are you using?

[jolyboy]

Thanks I use cura because It combines all the steps into one package

[badfrog]

Joliboy,
What is the ballpark cost to get set up to print parts?


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[eRaptor]

Jolyboy,

Thanks for the reply. Does Cura allow you to create the 3D model in the first place, or do you use another software to generate the model and the STL files?

[jolyboy]

No, cura slices the 3d model for the printer. Use software like sketchup to make your model , and send it across to cura for printing

[eder0022]

I have access to a dimension 3d printer at my university and have ben brainstorming a few ideas of some things i wouldn't mind printing. It has the ability to print 8x8x12 i believe. If anyone has any ideas let me know.

-Stephen

[jdfelosi]

so far the only thing i've printed are stab's and fin's, although, i built a 3axis table from solid extruded aluminium, and made it so i could put different "heads" or "tools" on it, most of the time, i have a 3/4 hp porter cable router on it for cutting small aluminum stuff and CF, i have succesfully copied my frame sides tho, i cut them out of 2.0mm CF sheet from http://dragonplate.com/ecart/product...ID=3768&cID=71 not cost effective, but was more for a proof of concept, i have taken several hard, really hard hits, and have only one stress crack and its on a corner and not a hole, overall that stuff is way harder than stock and better for my "learning curve" lol

[jdfelosi]

Originally Posted by badfrog

Joliboy,
What is the ballpark cost to get set up to print parts?


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cheapest i've seen a "decent" 3dprinter put together for was around $300 USD, i would upgrade a few things and spend around $375ish and have a way better machine that your not gonna have to "tweak" for a month just to get it to print a cup or something, stick with widely used electronics and the frame doesn't matter a whole lot, one key thing is don't skimp on the guide rods "shiny" and go with ballscrews or acme rod instead of plain threaded rod.

Google Prusa Mendel Max, you can change the y-axis setup on that type of build and use it for more than 3d printing, since the frame is so rigid, it has the ability to hold a small router or dremel type tool and do light cutting/milling.

[satgod]

I have a few things i've made for my heli's, quad and planes
some of them I have posted to thingaverse.com and some I have not

[distructor]

I've made brackets for mounting electronics, sats and antennas. For scratch built park-flier airplanes, I make a lot more.

[Assocracer]

I used to run a Dimension machine and two Fortus 400 machines. We printed everything in ABS plastic. We used them to print the patterns for some of our cast parts. Cost A LOT less than having a pattern made by a pattern shop. Those machines could make completely usable parts. Strong enough to be used as blade grips on a 450 size or smaller heli. Wish I still had access to them.

[HSBallina]

I've got a Prusa I3. Been printing some quad parts, but nothing for the helis yet. Currently building this: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:629338

[distructor]

I've not printed anything major but find 3d printing useful for small things like tailrod guides, antenna guides, and other non-precision fittings.