16 replies to this topic

[Btoon84]

I just made a friend who happens to have a 3D printer!!! and i'm dying to get a slingshot outta that thing! I just have to get a design into STL format. A type of file used by 3D printers. There is some serious potential with this thing. The machine can be built by anyone. (Well mostly anyone) What's cool is that the designs are all "open source". Makerbot Industries has the Thing O Matic as it is commonly called, basically takes whatever image you give it and prints it out using a thermoplastic extruder across a variable axis. Picture it being made layer by layer stacked up until the image is what you intended. And the material used is ABS plastic. The same stuff legos are made with! This machine actually prints it's own parts. pretty cool.





This website shows how you can build your own, or purchase one. It also answers all the questions you could have about it that are beyond this little post.


http://wiki.makerbot...ly-instructions

Has anyone used google sketchup for a 3D model of a slingshot? I just downloaded it and have been playing around with it. Seems to have some potential once i get used to the program. Anyone have any other good free CAD programs to mention. Need to get a slingshot design into STL format...


THANKS and Have a good one

Attached Files

•  mg_3856.jpg   134.68K   2 downloads

[flippinout]

I use these quite a bit for prototyping ideas. My dad holds the very first patent for this technology and it has come a looooong way in the last 20 years. The technology is getting easier to use and very cost effective.

Cool stuff for certain

[Btoon84]

Thats so funny you say that nathan, i was just about to foward you the link to that because i thought it was right up your alley! weird.

[Charles]

By all means, give it a try and let us know how it works out. I am very curious.

Cheers ...... Charles

[orcrender]

Maker Bot has a new model out that will do 2 colors with 2 printheads. It costs around $1700 dollars. There are some sci-fi modeling clubs that have bought the older version for the club to use. Now instead of buying several model kits for parts they design and print.

[Btoon84]

very cool orcrender, some interesting possibilities here.

[orcrender]

I have seen one that lays down layers of a binding agent that is then covered over with metal powder and repeated just like the Maker Bot. After the printing they showed the item going into an oven or furnance. When they came out they werefused metal. This was on a Modern Marvels show I think.

[Hrawk]

Btoon84, on 02 February 2012 - 10:03 AM, said:

Has anyone used google sketchup for a 3D model of a slingshot? I just downloaded it and have been playing around with it. Seems to have some potential once i get used to the program. Anyone have any other good free CAD programs to mention. Need to get a slingshot design into STL format...

If you draw your slingshot in Sketch Up, I can convert to an .STL file for you.

[Btoon84]

oh cool hrawk thanks. i'm going to try and learn how to draw it up tonight. hopefully i can get one on sketchup soon. (pass the sketchup please: )

[Hrawk]

Shoot me a PM with your email address, I'll turn my Dragon design into an STL for you so you have something to play with.

[Btoon84]

well thats nice of ya. PM sent buddy.

[Hrawk]

Got it bloke, I've emailed you through an STL version of my Dragon slingshot.

Have fun and get pics !

[Bill Hays]

This is very interesting.
I have actually been looking into this (casually) for a very specific purpose.... handedness.
If I were to make a slingshot that fits the left hand hold style specifically, and have it absolutely perfect to my way of thinking... it would be nice to know if I can simply scan the image in of the left hand hold piece and simply reverse the image to get a right hand hold model... I haven't found a place that says it can be done this way... and that's what's really held me back in purchasing a 3D printer unit.

[Hrawk]

Bill Hays, on 02 February 2012 - 04:55 PM, said:

This is very interesting.
I have actually been looking into this (casually) for a very specific purpose.... handedness.
If I were to make a slingshot that fits the left hand hold style specifically, and have it absolutely perfect to my way of thinking... it would be nice to know if I can simply scan the image in of the left hand hold piece and simply reverse the image to get a right hand hold model... I haven't found a place that says it can be done this way... and that's what's really held me back in purchasing a 3D printer unit.

Hey Bill,

Once you have the image in 3D, this is a single mouse click, using the mirror function.

[Bill Hays]

Well that would be perfect then for making masters for casting then.... the one's I've been using lately are actually high end presentation type pieces and all that's really required is a plastic piece that can hold the form in the sand.

[Hrawk]

Be sure to check out the end results from these printers before handing out hard earned cash. You might be very unimpressed with the finish quality. Sometimes they need so much finishing work, it would be easier to start with a lump of wood.

Edited by Hrawk, 24 March 2012 - 07:52 PM.

[Btoon84]

agreed hrawk. sometimes they just don't print well. but i have seen impressive results from units that are fine tuned.