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Randomly wondering why they went for 3d steel printing for something that looks like it can be carved much more easily by a very simple 2-axis CNC, since it has

by SamBam 6y ago

Randomly wondering why they went for 3d steel printing for something that looks like it can be carved much more easily by a very simple 2-axis CNC, since it has no overhangs or anything.

jakear 6y ago
I believe that would not be able to get clean inner corners, though I could be wrong.
- SamBam 6y ago
  That's a good point, I wasn't thinking of that.
- winkeltripel 6y ago
  I think it can switch drill bits to make fine-passes, and sanding/deburring. I could also be wrong, but I'm lazy enough to want that automated, so CNC probably does it.
  - throwanem 6y ago
    Deep pockets with fine corners are very tricky to machine, since it's hard to make an end mill that's all of long, narrow, and tough enough not to break. I'm sure it's possible, but it would be expensive, and that's before we even talk about the complex tool paths and consequent setup overhead that'd be involved. (And that's assuming there's nothing so deep it'd require EDM, in which case don't even bother asking, you won't be able to afford it.) There's no mechanical reason why these parts need a fine surface finish anyway, since they're just display pieces. So it makes sense IMO to just do everything via Shapeways, since they already have support for a "white-label" manufacturing service that should make the whole process very easy. (Hero Forge uses this, for example. It's not true white label since they do mention the partnership, but it may as well be; once you finish designing a model, you pay for the print through the Hero Forge site and a month later you get a box in the mail from Shapeways.) That said, it looks like Github just gives you a .stl file to do what you like with; the prestige piece in steel looks to be just a one-off for the originator of the software they're using to do the "skylines" feature in the first place. In theory, I guess you could take that STL into Fusion 360 or something and turn it into CNC tool paths, and then you'd just need to find a CNC-equipped job shop that'll turn it into a paperweight for you. (Good luck! And don't expect it to be cheap...) It's a shame the feature can't seem to see private repository contributions; most of the code I work on daily is hosted in private repos on a Github org, but those commits don't show up here, and that makes for a pretty sad result given that I barely touched any of my personal public repos last year. Nice soundtrack, though!
    - victorp13 6y ago
      Found in the Skyline FAQ that you can turn on anonymously sharing private repo contributions: https://docs.github.com/en/github/setting-up-and-managing-your-github-profile/publicizing-or-hiding-your-private-contributions-on-your-profile https://docs.github.com/en/github/setting-up-and-managing-yo...
    - throwanem 6y ago
      Related: I finally remembered enough of this to look it up successfully! While it's quite old - as I recall, I first saw it posted, in classic photocopier-samizdat style, on a wall of my grandfather's machine shop, when I was a tiny child and he nearing retirement age - I feel it may have new relevance, in these exciting days of computer-aided design and machining, and so post it here for the benefit of all and sundry. "The Designer" - Author unknown. The designer sat at his drafting board A wealth of knowledge in his head was stored Of what can be done on a radial drill Or a turret lathe or a vertical mill. But above all things a knack he had Of driving gentle machinists mad. So he mused as he thoughtfully scratched his bean "Just how can I make this thing hard to machine?" If I make this body perfectly straight The job had ought to come out first rate But it'd be so easy to turn and to bore That it never would make a machinist sore. So I'll put a compound taper there And a couple of angles to make them swear And brass would serve for this little gear But its too damned easy to work, I fear. So just to make the machinist squeal I'll make him mill it from tungsten steel And I'll put these holes that hold the cap Down underneath where they can't be tapped. Now if they can make this it'll just be by luck Cause it can't be held by dog or by chuck And it can't be planed and it can't be ground So I feel my design is unusually sound. And he shouted in glee, "Success at last! This goddam thing can't even be cast."
martinwoodward 6y ago
We are using Shapeways.com to turn them into metal for us and it was the option they had. Haven't tried getting it CNC'd but thinking we might need to change the model up a bit to allow the tool to get into some of the gaps that are possible. If anyone wants to try with a CNC machine then love to know what the results are like
- deanclatworthy 6y ago
  Why is it so hard to find companies that you give an STL file, choose material, tweak some settings, pay and give address? First thing I see on shapeways is get a quote, which means I have to go into a sales funnel by signing up and waste time instead of actually printing a 3d model.
  - martinwoodward 6y ago
    I was able to create an account with Shapeways, upload a model and print out a single copy paying on my credit card without talking to a person.
  - ReverseCold 6y ago
    because 3D printing arbitrary geometry, especially with arbitrary materials is Really Hard a human has to look at how it's printed- two very similar shapes might take vastly different times to print and require different amounts of support material, etc.
  - jakearmitage 6y ago
    Because they could get in trouble for restricted stuff? e.g Guns
  - wildpeaks 6y ago
    I used it several times and despite the name, "Get a quote" is merely a preview webapp to upload the model and see how much it would cost in each material (and directly add to cart when you're happy with the result), no talking to sales involved. They run more tests on the model after you order (to make sure it's physically possible to print it), but even then, never had to talk to anyone.

by SamBam 6y ago

Randomly wondering why they went for 3d steel printing for something that looks like it can be carved much more easily by a very simple 2-axis CNC, since it has no overhangs or anything.

jakear 6y ago

I believe that would not be able to get clean inner corners, though I could be wrong.

SamBam 6y ago
That's a good point, I wasn't thinking of that.
winkeltripel 6y ago
I think it can switch drill bits to make fine-passes, and sanding/deburring. I could also be wrong, but I'm lazy enough to want that automated, so CNC probably does it.
- throwanem 6y ago
  Deep pockets with fine corners are very tricky to machine, since it's hard to make an end mill that's all of long, narrow, and tough enough not to break. I'm sure it's possible, but it would be expensive, and that's before we even talk about the complex tool paths and consequent setup overhead that'd be involved. (And that's assuming there's nothing so deep it'd require EDM, in which case don't even bother asking, you won't be able to afford it.) There's no mechanical reason why these parts need a fine surface finish anyway, since they're just display pieces. So it makes sense IMO to just do everything via Shapeways, since they already have support for a "white-label" manufacturing service that should make the whole process very easy. (Hero Forge uses this, for example. It's not true white label since they do mention the partnership, but it may as well be; once you finish designing a model, you pay for the print through the Hero Forge site and a month later you get a box in the mail from Shapeways.) That said, it looks like Github just gives you a .stl file to do what you like with; the prestige piece in steel looks to be just a one-off for the originator of the software they're using to do the "skylines" feature in the first place. In theory, I guess you could take that STL into Fusion 360 or something and turn it into CNC tool paths, and then you'd just need to find a CNC-equipped job shop that'll turn it into a paperweight for you. (Good luck! And don't expect it to be cheap...) It's a shame the feature can't seem to see private repository contributions; most of the code I work on daily is hosted in private repos on a Github org, but those commits don't show up here, and that makes for a pretty sad result given that I barely touched any of my personal public repos last year. Nice soundtrack, though!
  - victorp13 6y ago
    Found in the Skyline FAQ that you can turn on anonymously sharing private repo contributions: https://docs.github.com/en/github/setting-up-and-managing-your-github-profile/publicizing-or-hiding-your-private-contributions-on-your-profile https://docs.github.com/en/github/setting-up-and-managing-yo...
  - throwanem 6y ago
    Related: I finally remembered enough of this to look it up successfully! While it's quite old - as I recall, I first saw it posted, in classic photocopier-samizdat style, on a wall of my grandfather's machine shop, when I was a tiny child and he nearing retirement age - I feel it may have new relevance, in these exciting days of computer-aided design and machining, and so post it here for the benefit of all and sundry. "The Designer" - Author unknown. The designer sat at his drafting board A wealth of knowledge in his head was stored Of what can be done on a radial drill Or a turret lathe or a vertical mill. But above all things a knack he had Of driving gentle machinists mad. So he mused as he thoughtfully scratched his bean "Just how can I make this thing hard to machine?" If I make this body perfectly straight The job had ought to come out first rate But it'd be so easy to turn and to bore That it never would make a machinist sore. So I'll put a compound taper there And a couple of angles to make them swear And brass would serve for this little gear But its too damned easy to work, I fear. So just to make the machinist squeal I'll make him mill it from tungsten steel And I'll put these holes that hold the cap Down underneath where they can't be tapped. Now if they can make this it'll just be by luck Cause it can't be held by dog or by chuck And it can't be planed and it can't be ground So I feel my design is unusually sound. And he shouted in glee, "Success at last! This goddam thing can't even be cast."

martinwoodward 6y ago

We are using Shapeways.com to turn them into metal for us and it was the option they had. Haven't tried getting it CNC'd but thinking we might need to change the model up a bit to allow the tool to get into some of the gaps that are possible. If anyone wants to try with a CNC machine then love to know what the results are like

deanclatworthy 6y ago
Why is it so hard to find companies that you give an STL file, choose material, tweak some settings, pay and give address? First thing I see on shapeways is get a quote, which means I have to go into a sales funnel by signing up and waste time instead of actually printing a 3d model.
- martinwoodward 6y ago
  I was able to create an account with Shapeways, upload a model and print out a single copy paying on my credit card without talking to a person.
- ReverseCold 6y ago
  because 3D printing arbitrary geometry, especially with arbitrary materials is Really Hard a human has to look at how it's printed- two very similar shapes might take vastly different times to print and require different amounts of support material, etc.
- jakearmitage 6y ago
  Because they could get in trouble for restricted stuff? e.g Guns
- wildpeaks 6y ago
  I used it several times and despite the name, "Get a quote" is merely a preview webapp to upload the model and see how much it would cost in each material (and directly add to cart when you're happy with the result), no talking to sales involved. They run more tests on the model after you order (to make sure it's physically possible to print it), but even then, never had to talk to anyone.