Home based 3d printing

[BandOGuy]

I have not got the pig pen built yet, so in the short term I am keeping the pigs at Gnats place.



But here is a test shot of the barn.  I printed the roof yesterday, took just over 4 hours.  Needs a little redesign before I print it again, but it will work for me.  I also need to plan the foundation differently to allow for inserting a floor...should have thought of that.

What kind of "pigs" are you keeping at 'Gnat's place?

[Vilius]

Kent,

After reading your blog post I am making an assumption that M3D is not there yet. Is it correct? Do you think they will ever get there?

Vilius

[nvrr49]

I posted a link to my review of sorts to the M3D yesterday.  I have had it for months.  I also demonstrated one at the Amherst show clear back in January.  They are shipping units within a week of order now.  Here again is the link to the blog on the M3D: http://nvrr49.blogspot.com/2015/09/m3d-printer-1-test-prints.html

[Vilius]

Kent,

I read your review. I should have expressed myself better. "Are they there yet" was about the quality of printing. It is hard to compare printouts because they are made of different color material but it seems M3D fails to print properly even a drum. You have mentioned that they keep upgrading their software and printouts are getting better. Do you think it is all in software and they eventually will make things right? Or is there some physical limitation that they will never be able to overcome. Thanks.

Vilius

[nvrr49]

The M3D, in my opinion, does not print to the quality of the best FDM printers, but it is supplied plug-n-play, and is $350. I personally see no reason, and I have some maker geek friends that would agree, that with a few tweeks in the software that it can't perform to the same level as any FDM printer with a non-heated print bed. A heated print bed make printing in ABS much easier, so most of what I will use is PLA when using the M3D, but again, as I said in my blog, that is why I invested in it. The Afinia I used for almost three years is optimized for printing ABS.
I will be posting more about the M3D, as I get time, and I will be experimenting with more filaments, particularly the PLA's that are infused with wood, brass, iron, etc. There is also a carbon fiber filament, but I can't think of a model railroad use where I need that strength, and besides, it is really expensive.


Here are some shelves I printed on the M3D. 

More on the piano store diorama, including design details on the pianos that were printed at Shapeways can be seen at this link [size=78%]http://nvrr49.blogspot.com/2015/09/pianos-ho-scale-3d-printed-at.html[/size]

[nvrr49]

I have printed some HO scale concrete blocks on the M3D printer, this is something I could not do on my Afinia printer, as the walls are thinner than allowed by the Afinia software.  More details and pictures can be see at http://nvrr49.blogspot.com/2015/10/m3d-printer-3-concrete-blocks-in-ho.html]http://nvrr49.blogspot.com/2015/10/m3d-printer-3-concrete-blocks-in-ho.html

[nvrr49]

Gas station I designed and 3d printed.  Construction and design details can be viewed at http://nvrr49.blogspot.com/2016/11/gulf-gas-station-ho-scale-3d-printed.html

[ACL1504]

Kent,

Wow, that is really nicely designed and built. Amazing how far our hobby has come with all the technology advancements.

Thanks for sharing and again, great job.

Tom