So, I did a thing...

[Darkwind]

Trump's "no taxes on O/T" is paying dividends for me.

Some of you know that I have a 3D printer. Picked it up last Nov. so I could do some modeling of the Enterprise. That project is going well, but the wife thinks we can do a little something/something for pocket money at some of the flea markets and shows.

However, painting these figurines is a royal pain in the ass.

Step in Snapmaker. Specifically, the U1 model, which now has four colors, each color dedicated to a print extruder. For those who aren't into the rabbit hole of 3D printing, the biggest problem with multi-color printing is the waste. Each time a color change is required, the extruder will go to a poop chute, retract the current filament, then insert the next color, then purge the extruder until the old color is completely purged.

Now, the Snapmaker U1 has a dedicated extruder per color, and the printer swaps extruder heads. Cuts 95% of the poop from the print.

So, a week ago, I pulled the trigger on this printer.

Tonight is My first test print.

 

[toobfreak]

Some of you know that I have a 3D printer. Picked it up last Nov. so I could do some modeling of the Enterprise.

OK, I'd like to hear more on this modelling of the Enterprise.

 

[White 6]

Trump's "no taxes on O/T" is paying dividends for me.

Some of you know that I have a 3D printer. Picked it up last Nov. so I could do some modeling of the Enterprise. That project is going well, but the wife thinks we can do a little something/something for pocket money at some of the flea markets and shows.

However, painting these figurines is a royal pain in the ass.

Step in Snapmaker. Specifically, the U1 model, which now has four colors, each color dedicated to a print extruder. For those who aren't into the rabbit hole of 3D printing, the biggest problem with multi-color printing is the waste. Each time a color change is required, the extruder will go to a poop chute, retract the current filament, then insert the next color, then purge the extruder until the old color is completely purged.

Now, the Snapmaker U1 has a dedicated extruder per color, and the printer swaps extruder heads. Cuts 95% of the poop from the print.

So, a week ago, I pulled the trigger on this printer.

Tonight is My first test print.

Pretty cool. Have you ever figured the raw material cost of one bird figurine, like that one, not counting the printer itself? How long did it take the printer to do that?

 

[Darkwind]

OK, I'd like to hear more on this modelling of the Enterprise.

Well, I'm still working out the lighting for the model. I want to use some cool white light LED strips inside the Primary and secondary hulls for the Enterprise A, Refit. I pretty much have everything printed. Now it's just a matter of finding the time to do the tedious work and to get the Aztec pattern ordered. Likely its going to be November before its done.

 

[Darkwind]

Pretty cool. Have you ever figured the raw material cost of one bird figurine, like that one, not counting the printer itself? How long did it take the printer to do that?

That print was 2h 39m.

But that was at least 3, maybe 400 color changes. On My P1S, that would have taken 10 hours easily and cost me about 100g of filament waste.

This print cost Me the waste of calibrating the flows of the filaments. So, nearly zero poop and the only real waste is the Prime Tower. I have an image, but give Me a moment to move it from My phone to my computer.

 

[toobfreak]

Well, I'm still working out the lighting for the model. I want to use some cool white light LED strips inside the Primary and secondary hulls for the Enterprise A, Refit. I pretty much have everything printed. Now it's just a matter of finding the time to do the tedious work and to get the Aztec pattern ordered. Likely its going to be November before its done.

A have a 39" model of the Enterprise. Been trying to get started on it for years. Very detailed. If I build it, I want every button on every bridge console lit. They sell a kit which comes with most all the lights one needs, but I think I'll add just a few more.

 

[Darkwind]

Final product.

 

[Darkwind]

A have a 39" model of the Enterprise. Been trying to get started on it for years. Very detailed. If I build it, I want every button on every bridge console lit. They sell a kit which comes with most all the lights one needs, but I think I'll add just a few more.

I'd love to see it when you finish it.

My last attempt at an arbitrium kind of sucked, so I'm going back to that drawing board.

 

[White 6]

Final product.

Wow! 2h 39m.
So, it is not like you could set it up and start before going to bed and wake up next morning with a tray full of those little dragon figurines ready for the flea market.

Can you 3d scan/copy small objects, or do you have to buy or create each 3d image programming?

 

[Darkwind]

Wow! 2h 39m.
So, it is not like you could set it up and start before going to bed and wake up next morning with a tray full of those little dragon figurines ready for the flea market.

Can you 3d scan/copy small objects, or do you have to buy or create each 3d image programming?

Well, I could populate the entire plate with these little dragons, and I don't think it would add much more than another couple of hours. So, I could get maybe a dozen of them in a 4-hour timeframe.

AS for scanning small objects. They do make a 3D scanner, and if you learn how to use it, you can then print real-world objects you've scanned. I don't own a scanner, though.

If you're into instant gratification, then 3D printing is the wrong occupation. lol

 

[White 6]

Well, I could populate the entire plate with these little dragons, and I don't think it would add much more than another couple of hours. So, I could get maybe a dozen of them in a 4-hour timeframe.

AS for scanning small objects. They do make a 3D scanner, and if you learn how to use it, you can then print real-world objects you've scanned. I don't own a scanner, though.

If you're into instant gratification, then 3D printing is the wrong occupation. lol

Nah, not an instant gratification guy. Just a retired business major, rolling your wife's flea market idea around. Intricate hobbies are cool. Intricate hobbies that can cover their own expenses or maybe even produce ROI, while one enjoys the hobby are even better.

Thanks for sharing!