3D printed detector

[Tec]

Over the last few weeks I have been working with my New 3D printer ($1600),
and it really is a technological revolution..
I have managed to make all the parts of a detector that are usually frustrating, in particular the coil.., but also the Clamp for adjusting the Stem, and the arm-rest.

In some cases they may be lighter and better than a commercial detector .

See attached.

As a complete CAD drawing novice, I have downloaded 'Sketch-up' (free) and spent about 2 weeks using it.
Now I feel I can draw and create almost anything.

I am still to field test these parts.

The main drawback of 3D printing is that is is slow. It takes a half a day to print some of these components.
Also, the coil has to be made of 13 separate parts and glued (epoxied) together.

If you have a 3D printer...then feel free to download them.

https://github.com/tctec/SpiMX-Shield-Parts-1

Plastic: PLA , no 'supports' or 'rafts' , Shells = 4, Fill = 20%


Notes:

The top stem and Handle is 25mm PVC pipe
The lower stem is 15mm PVC pipe stiffened with pine dowel glued (Liquid nails or Epoxy) inside.

[6666]

Thats amazing well done.

[Qiaozhi]

I can imagine that 3D printing could easily become an obsession.

Is this a PI detector?

[Sean_Goddard]

WELL DONE. Custom enclosures NO Problem!

[bernte_one]

that was a dream for me the last half year
but it is still expensive
my favourits are the da Vinci from xyz or the prusa i3 xl from jelwek

i think it take a lot of time to print all parts too?

is a complete coil shell cheaper than a prebuild Commercial one if you calculate the material and the power consumption?

[Polymer]

I really like what you have done! Thank you for sharing.
For me 3D printing represents becoming more independent and flexible ...
I have yet to take this jump.

Do you have any idea how well the 3D printing plastics used today hold up to the elements
like UV, salt water, moisture absorbtion etc. ?

[joop]

I can imagine that 3D printing could easily become an obsession.

Is this a PI detector?

This must be TEC's SPI-MX, see http://www.geotech1.com/forums/showt...ses-Arduino%29

[homefire]

Ignorant I am. What type of plastic's do you use?

[6666]

Hi Tec how do you think your 3d machine would go makeing the former for this type of coil ?
http://www.geotech1.com/forums/attac...1&d=1414104068

[6666]

Ignorant I am. What type of plastic's do you use?

From searching they seem to use, ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) thermoplastic,
and PLA (Polylactic acid) is derived from corn and is biodegradable. PLA is not the recommended plastic to print with, as the material starts breaking down after a few months and printed parts are brittle.
The material is very sharp when broken and can be a hazard when removing support material from the printed parts.

[sinclairuser]

for all the chatter about 3d printing, its still only of use for prototyping, i have a makerbot replicator(older model with laser cut plywood case), and for small plastic parts its ok, but for long lifespan parts, its better to use the made part as a pattern, and cast parts from stronger materials.
pla degrades too quickly, and abs is harder to print and noxious too, i have experimented with nylon, but illness cut my experiments short, i have not been in the workshop for months.

[Qiaozhi]

for all the chatter about 3d printing, its still only of use for prototyping,

3D printing used outside of hobby purposes are certainly not only used for prototyping:

The International Space Station is now making 3D-printed tools
British company Mealysis is 3D printing auto parts from ...

Printing the steering wheel | BLOODHOUND SSC

[sinclairuser]

3D printing used outside of hobby purposes are certainly not only used for prototyping:

The International Space Station is now making 3D-printed tools
British company Mealysis is 3D printing auto parts from ...

Printing the steering wheel | BLOODHOUND SSC

exactly, in manufacturing, but in hobby terms i was correct, they will improve and get cheaper and better formulas of printing media will come along.
but in a hobby context, at the moment there are cheaper more useful tools available for hobbyists to build projects at home, IMHO.
no offence intended, tec's detector looks great.

[6666]

Something useful to print
Garrett 5" x 8" (14x20cm) DD search coil cover and an arm cuff
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:359602/#files



http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:324913/#files

[mortician8018]

Awesome job!