8 ms·

How did you get the case built ? 3D printer ?

by roadbeats 6y ago

StavrosK 6y ago
Yes! I love my 3D printer, it has the highest ROI of anything I've ever bought, and I've bought a bidet.
- dceddia 6y ago
  Cool! What sorts of things have you 3D printed that give it such a high ROI? I've got one too and it's fun to tinker with and I've printed a couple useful things, but not a lot of useful things. I'm always curious what people do with theirs, especially when they say they use it all the time!
  - StavrosK 6y ago
    Once you learn to design (which is pretty easy), it changes your life. You can get custom-built components tailored exactly to your problem in minutes. Computer cables being rowdy? Design a hook in five minutes, done. The other day I designed and printed a custom mobile phone holder for my laptop so I can use my phone as an HD webcam with DroidCam. Cat opens the door at night? Print a small doorstop and that problem is solved. A lot of problems just go away when you realize you can make custom components for them.
    - dceddia 6y ago
      I love this mindset. I definitely think this way about software, and more recently, about things I can make out of wood. Plastic or machined parts have always felt out of reach so I'm not in the habit of believing I can fix things that way yet. I think it'll take some practice to get that idea to sink in. Thanks!
      - StavrosK 6y ago
        > I definitely think this way about software, and more recently, about things I can make out of wood. Yes, exactly. Though, I have to say, going from software to hardware was quite magical: You can suddenly affect the physical world, which is amazing. Plus, if you already know software, adding hardware to the mix rounds you out very well, and opens up a large array of things you can make. > Plastic or machined parts have always felt out of reach so I'm not in the habit of believing I can fix things that way yet. I very strongly recommend designing a few things in OnShape or FreeCAD or SoveSpace and getting a 3D printer once you get the hang of that (it shouldn't take you very long at all, maybe a few evenings). Machined parts I find pretty hard, but then again I also found plastic things impossible before getting a printer and they turned out to be quite easy.
        ingend88 6y ago
        What 3D printer do you have, in market for one..? Love your simple project and how you went about building it!!
        StavrosK 6y ago
        Thanks! I have a Wanhao Duplicator i3, but it's a few years old now. The good thing about 3D printers is that they're so simple they just won't get obsolete, since they're 99% software. I think the current recommendation is either an Ender 3 (for a budget one) or an Ender 5 Pro (if you can afford something a bit better). I would recommend the 5, it looks much sturdier. You might want to eventually add a BLTouch so it automatically levels, and you definitely definitely want to get the "silent" package (it really is entirely silent), the normal one makes way too much noise.
        roadbeats 6y ago
        Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and suggestions here. What do you use for designing?
        StavrosK 6y ago
  - outworlder 6y ago
    Not OP but most of my savings have been on time, rather than money. It did save some money. * When installing a portable AC, I noticed that the included window kit didn't extend far enough. Similarly, another window was small, and the window kit would have to be sawed off. They retail for approximately $50 for a piece of plastic. Printer cost me $150. Plastic costs were under $10. Thats close to 2/3 of the printer price right there. * One of the air conditioners came with a broken caster(bought online). Store didn't help. I could return the entire unit, but I would have to endure a heat wave without one. So I just printed an adaptor to use with some other furniture casters I had laying around. Designing was quick, so in a couple of hours I had my issue fixed. * Printed a Raspberry Pi case. A few more bucks. * My mom is starting a business and she needed some tools (really, they are guide pieces, ridiculously simple but you need relatively precise measurements). Some people would either purchase them (double digit dollars for one) or create crappy versions using cardboard. I designed and printed those for her and saved almost a hundred bucks, for something that almost looks like it came from a store. Plus I can further customize to her needs. * Printed a stand for my soldering iron. It's a DS-80p so it is tiny, the 'normal' stands are incredibly bulky. Printed a version I found on Thingiverse. While at it, why not print a nice case for it too, right? * Wanted to use the macbook upright, in clamshell mode. I could buy some stand, costing $20 and up. I didn't need anything fancy, so I just printed one. For about one tenth of the price of the cheapest option I could find. I got it in the same day even. * Due to COVID, printed a bunch of face shields. * Holders for a variety of things. Then there are some pure convenience: * Bike reflector holder piece broke. I wanted to go out to ride. Printing a replacement took less time than going to the store and back. Debatable if money was saved but not having to leave the house (or wait for a package) was certainly nice. Doubly so after COVID. * I wanted some desk grommets of a specific size (and length). Checked Amazon, they were either overpriced or came in larger quantities than I need and I would end up with an assortment of surplus pieces. Whatever, Thingiverse, fired up the printer, off I go. I even customized for the exact thickness of the desk. * Decided it would be cool if my Steam controller rested upright on a desk. Absent-mindedly queued a job remotely to the printer. Estimated costs around $1. I could go on and on for a day. But it's not a matter of seeing what I or others have printed and going "Oh I need that". It's about what it brings to the table. The bottom line is this. Assuming you have: * Some time to learn the basics of a CAD tool (any tool). You most likely don't need anything too complex. Most useful objects have simple shapes, you just need the ability to adapt them to your situation. You can get pretty far with downloading models online - sometimes I get surprised of what niche objects you can find. But often you can't find some specific thing you are looking for (the AC examples above) and you need to design. * Some time (and patience) to learn the basics of 3D printing and to do some troubleshooting when things go wrong. There's all sorts of communities that can help but you still need the basics. Then what you end up with is the ability to just conjure up stuff when you need a problem fixed. Anything. Maybe you need to hang something, maybe something moves and it shouldn't. Or maybe it doesn't but should (I've used skate rollers with 3d printed pieces, works great). Maybe some tiny plastic piece broke and the manufacturer is charging an arm and a leg to replace. You can just find it (if you are lucky or if it is a common thing) or you can design it yourself. This also allows you to come up with a bunch of DIY projects as this thread shows. If it is made out of plastic and fits in the build plate, odds are you can make it, unless it requires a more exotic plastic.
  - linsomniac 6y ago
    I was asked this same question in a HN comment a week ago or so. A few days later I was filling the coffee grinder and again annoyed that it'll hold most but not all of a 12oz bag of coffee... Then I realized I could easily design and print an extension to the hopper to hold more. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4733166 https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4733166 If you want to get into 3D printing, it's hard to beat the Creality CR-6 SE at $400. Or if you want to take more of a journey, a Creality Ender 3 Pro at $200, and upgrade the motherboard, extruder, and add a bed leveler. I did the latter, and it is a great little printer. Reminds me of back when I was a teen and doing car modding.
    - dceddia 6y ago
      I have an old Folgertech based on the Prusa i3 design. I think it's a bit wonky compared to the newer designs but it seems to work ok. I've been upgrading parts the last few weeks, like adding a BLTouch for bed leveling and proper leadscrews instead of the threaded rods it came with. So far I've spent more time printing parts for the printer than anything else, haha. Funny you mention the coffee hopper, I tried designing and printing a new wider holder for my Aeropress! It came out a good size and shape but the walls weren't thick enough, and the whole cylinder detached when I tried to take it off the bed. Gotta get back into Blender and make some changes before I reprint it.
      - linsomniac 6y ago
        Funny you should mention Aeropress. Years ago, before I had a printer, my girlfriend gave me her old aeropress, but had lost the cap. So I 3d printed one at the makerspace (our makerspace was full of Lulzbot printers, because they are just down the road from us). It worked great maybe 10 or 15 times, until it violently failed during the press. Let me tell you, that makes an amazing mess! Luckily it was at the breakroom at the office. ;-D The bltouch upgrade took me something like 30 hours to get the software right (because I had no idea how it looked when it worked, everyone seems to cut that out of their videos). But since then, that has really made printing trouble-free. I have almost no print failures since that.

How did you get the case built ? 3D printer ?

StavrosK 6y ago

Yes! I love my 3D printer, it has the highest ROI of anything I've ever bought, and I've bought a bidet.

dceddia 6y ago
Cool! What sorts of things have you 3D printed that give it such a high ROI? I've got one too and it's fun to tinker with and I've printed a couple useful things, but not a lot of useful things. I'm always curious what people do with theirs, especially when they say they use it all the time!
- StavrosK 6y ago
  Once you learn to design (which is pretty easy), it changes your life. You can get custom-built components tailored exactly to your problem in minutes. Computer cables being rowdy? Design a hook in five minutes, done. The other day I designed and printed a custom mobile phone holder for my laptop so I can use my phone as an HD webcam with DroidCam. Cat opens the door at night? Print a small doorstop and that problem is solved. A lot of problems just go away when you realize you can make custom components for them.
  - dceddia 6y ago
    I love this mindset. I definitely think this way about software, and more recently, about things I can make out of wood. Plastic or machined parts have always felt out of reach so I'm not in the habit of believing I can fix things that way yet. I think it'll take some practice to get that idea to sink in. Thanks!
    - StavrosK 6y ago
      > I definitely think this way about software, and more recently, about things I can make out of wood. Yes, exactly. Though, I have to say, going from software to hardware was quite magical: You can suddenly affect the physical world, which is amazing. Plus, if you already know software, adding hardware to the mix rounds you out very well, and opens up a large array of things you can make. > Plastic or machined parts have always felt out of reach so I'm not in the habit of believing I can fix things that way yet. I very strongly recommend designing a few things in OnShape or FreeCAD or SoveSpace and getting a 3D printer once you get the hang of that (it shouldn't take you very long at all, maybe a few evenings). Machined parts I find pretty hard, but then again I also found plastic things impossible before getting a printer and they turned out to be quite easy.
      - ingend88 6y ago
        What 3D printer do you have, in market for one..? Love your simple project and how you went about building it!!
        StavrosK 6y ago
        Thanks! I have a Wanhao Duplicator i3, but it's a few years old now. The good thing about 3D printers is that they're so simple they just won't get obsolete, since they're 99% software. I think the current recommendation is either an Ender 3 (for a budget one) or an Ender 5 Pro (if you can afford something a bit better). I would recommend the 5, it looks much sturdier. You might want to eventually add a BLTouch so it automatically levels, and you definitely definitely want to get the "silent" package (it really is entirely silent), the normal one makes way too much noise.
        roadbeats 6y ago
        Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and suggestions here. What do you use for designing?
        StavrosK 6y ago
- outworlder 6y ago
  Not OP but most of my savings have been on time, rather than money. It did save some money. * When installing a portable AC, I noticed that the included window kit didn't extend far enough. Similarly, another window was small, and the window kit would have to be sawed off. They retail for approximately $50 for a piece of plastic. Printer cost me $150. Plastic costs were under $10. Thats close to 2/3 of the printer price right there. * One of the air conditioners came with a broken caster(bought online). Store didn't help. I could return the entire unit, but I would have to endure a heat wave without one. So I just printed an adaptor to use with some other furniture casters I had laying around. Designing was quick, so in a couple of hours I had my issue fixed. * Printed a Raspberry Pi case. A few more bucks. * My mom is starting a business and she needed some tools (really, they are guide pieces, ridiculously simple but you need relatively precise measurements). Some people would either purchase them (double digit dollars for one) or create crappy versions using cardboard. I designed and printed those for her and saved almost a hundred bucks, for something that almost looks like it came from a store. Plus I can further customize to her needs. * Printed a stand for my soldering iron. It's a DS-80p so it is tiny, the 'normal' stands are incredibly bulky. Printed a version I found on Thingiverse. While at it, why not print a nice case for it too, right? * Wanted to use the macbook upright, in clamshell mode. I could buy some stand, costing $20 and up. I didn't need anything fancy, so I just printed one. For about one tenth of the price of the cheapest option I could find. I got it in the same day even. * Due to COVID, printed a bunch of face shields. * Holders for a variety of things. Then there are some pure convenience: * Bike reflector holder piece broke. I wanted to go out to ride. Printing a replacement took less time than going to the store and back. Debatable if money was saved but not having to leave the house (or wait for a package) was certainly nice. Doubly so after COVID. * I wanted some desk grommets of a specific size (and length). Checked Amazon, they were either overpriced or came in larger quantities than I need and I would end up with an assortment of surplus pieces. Whatever, Thingiverse, fired up the printer, off I go. I even customized for the exact thickness of the desk. * Decided it would be cool if my Steam controller rested upright on a desk. Absent-mindedly queued a job remotely to the printer. Estimated costs around $1. I could go on and on for a day. But it's not a matter of seeing what I or others have printed and going "Oh I need that". It's about what it brings to the table. The bottom line is this. Assuming you have: * Some time to learn the basics of a CAD tool (any tool). You most likely don't need anything too complex. Most useful objects have simple shapes, you just need the ability to adapt them to your situation. You can get pretty far with downloading models online - sometimes I get surprised of what niche objects you can find. But often you can't find some specific thing you are looking for (the AC examples above) and you need to design. * Some time (and patience) to learn the basics of 3D printing and to do some troubleshooting when things go wrong. There's all sorts of communities that can help but you still need the basics. Then what you end up with is the ability to just conjure up stuff when you need a problem fixed. Anything. Maybe you need to hang something, maybe something moves and it shouldn't. Or maybe it doesn't but should (I've used skate rollers with 3d printed pieces, works great). Maybe some tiny plastic piece broke and the manufacturer is charging an arm and a leg to replace. You can just find it (if you are lucky or if it is a common thing) or you can design it yourself. This also allows you to come up with a bunch of DIY projects as this thread shows. If it is made out of plastic and fits in the build plate, odds are you can make it, unless it requires a more exotic plastic.
- linsomniac 6y ago
  I was asked this same question in a HN comment a week ago or so. A few days later I was filling the coffee grinder and again annoyed that it'll hold most but not all of a 12oz bag of coffee... Then I realized I could easily design and print an extension to the hopper to hold more. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4733166 https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4733166 If you want to get into 3D printing, it's hard to beat the Creality CR-6 SE at $400. Or if you want to take more of a journey, a Creality Ender 3 Pro at $200, and upgrade the motherboard, extruder, and add a bed leveler. I did the latter, and it is a great little printer. Reminds me of back when I was a teen and doing car modding.
  - dceddia 6y ago
    I have an old Folgertech based on the Prusa i3 design. I think it's a bit wonky compared to the newer designs but it seems to work ok. I've been upgrading parts the last few weeks, like adding a BLTouch for bed leveling and proper leadscrews instead of the threaded rods it came with. So far I've spent more time printing parts for the printer than anything else, haha. Funny you mention the coffee hopper, I tried designing and printing a new wider holder for my Aeropress! It came out a good size and shape but the walls weren't thick enough, and the whole cylinder detached when I tried to take it off the bed. Gotta get back into Blender and make some changes before I reprint it.
    - linsomniac 6y ago
      Funny you should mention Aeropress. Years ago, before I had a printer, my girlfriend gave me her old aeropress, but had lost the cap. So I 3d printed one at the makerspace (our makerspace was full of Lulzbot printers, because they are just down the road from us). It worked great maybe 10 or 15 times, until it violently failed during the press. Let me tell you, that makes an amazing mess! Luckily it was at the breakroom at the office. ;-D The bltouch upgrade took me something like 30 hours to get the software right (because I had no idea how it looked when it worked, everyone seems to cut that out of their videos). But since then, that has really made printing trouble-free. I have almost no print failures since that.