The printer used is an up! 3d mini.
It comes with all its own drivers and pretty much programs itself. All you need to do is load the file into its CAM program and let it convert your CAD file into a full program. ( much like any CNC process these days)
I use auto desk to design my parts as I can get it for free, but even if I had to pay it is still a very good program to use.
The plastic used is abs although you can print with pla, but it biodegrades very quickly. And as such as the same properties as anything made from the same material.
Strength wise really does depend on the design and how you print it. I wouldn't really want to use it for any structural parts but for this application and a few others like low stress supports and clips, cable tidies that sort of thing it is perfect.
This is the first thing I have ever 3d printed, and as such is not perfect. A few more test bits and getting the machine set will take a little bit of time, but could quickly start producing bits for people if there was the demand for it.
Chris.
Cheers for that.
I guess like anything, the first one is a learning experience, yeah, I've had lots and lots of those! I actually see these 3D printers as the Bee's Knee's for one off's and any small production type runs you'd possibly be better off having them done outside, they could work from your 3D Prototype though! I say this mainly because I noted that your awesome gauge pod took around 9 hours, I could also be talking out of my hat here too! Never having driven a 3D Printer. I'll look that printer up.
These have come on to our local market in the last few months
http://www.jaycar.co...w.asp?ID=TL4020
while tempting, I think I'd prefer a non kit based one, I feel this is only an entry level type printer - with all the limiting frustrations that come with it!
Cool that one can use ABS, that is a reasonable and fairly stable material, I guess you could also get a few colours too?
I don't have (Autodesk) AutoCAD as the price to buy it here is out of this world (around $5 to 8K!), I use TurboCAD, which I'm told works much the same as AutoCAD, was only about 250 bucks! Done me well for the past 8 or 9 years! It can save files in the native AutoCAD format as well as opening them (most of the time!), I'm happy with it, but then again, I don't know anything else.
Thanks heaps for sharing.