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The very first thing I did with my printer is go on a repair binge. Modelling a tiny gear in Blender (having done 0 autocad since college) and fixing a little t

The very first thing I did with my printer is go on a repair binge. Modelling a tiny gear in Blender (having done 0 autocad since college) and fixing a little toy felt like my first "hello world" on a C64. Magical. I then had a moment of silence for all of the super-glue messes of my childhood that never fixed anything and a touch of envy for my own kids growing up in what to my 10yo self would seem a Star Trek future.

voltagex_ 10y ago
I've got no CAD skills whatsoever - how would I go about creating a replacement for the back of a remote that's cracked? It's similar to the back of http://www.ebay.com/itm/Panasonic-Remote-Control-EUR644862-CD-Stereo-System-tested-works-/262459882914 http://www.ebay.com/itm/Panasonic-Remote-Control-EUR644862-C... and I suspect the tiny gap at the top is going to be my downfall.
- noonespecial 10y ago
  I fixed 2 remotes with missing battery covers. The secret to getting a good result seemed to be not trying to duplicate exactly what is missing but reimagine the part a little to take advantage of what 3d printing brings. In both cases, I first modeled as best as I could the parts that I had (not the parts I wanted to print) so that I could see the fit. On one remote, I replaced the entire back, not just the battery cover because I just didn't think my printer could create that thin curved shape. This came out awesome. The second, instead of copying the missing cover exactly, I left much plastic that an injection molder would not (ex between the batteries and set my infill to 90% making a very solid, strong part that snapped in nicely. Note: Blender has a learning curve like the side of Everest but there are endless excellent video tutorials available on youtube to get you up to speed, so don't despair when you open it the first time and literally can't even navigate the view with your mouse.
  - mayoff 10y ago
    Instead of Blender for mechanical parts, try OnShape or Fusion 360.
- askvictor 10y ago
  Duck tape. Sometimes a simpler solution is a better one.
  - voltagex_ 10y ago
    Yep, that's the current solution. Replacing the batteries becomes a pain.

voltagex_ 10y ago

I've got no CAD skills whatsoever - how would I go about creating a replacement for the back of a remote that's cracked? It's similar to the back of http://www.ebay.com/itm/Panasonic-Remote-Control-EUR644862-CD-Stereo-System-tested-works-/262459882914 http://www.ebay.com/itm/Panasonic-Remote-Control-EUR644862-C... and I suspect the tiny gap at the top is going to be my downfall.

noonespecial 10y ago
I fixed 2 remotes with missing battery covers. The secret to getting a good result seemed to be not trying to duplicate exactly what is missing but reimagine the part a little to take advantage of what 3d printing brings. In both cases, I first modeled as best as I could the parts that I had (not the parts I wanted to print) so that I could see the fit. On one remote, I replaced the entire back, not just the battery cover because I just didn't think my printer could create that thin curved shape. This came out awesome. The second, instead of copying the missing cover exactly, I left much plastic that an injection molder would not (ex between the batteries and set my infill to 90% making a very solid, strong part that snapped in nicely. Note: Blender has a learning curve like the side of Everest but there are endless excellent video tutorials available on youtube to get you up to speed, so don't despair when you open it the first time and literally can't even navigate the view with your mouse.
- mayoff 10y ago
  Instead of Blender for mechanical parts, try OnShape or Fusion 360.
askvictor 10y ago
Duck tape. Sometimes a simpler solution is a better one.
- voltagex_ 10y ago
  Yep, that's the current solution. Replacing the batteries becomes a pain.