3D Printing

[StinkyPete]

I have just come across Matt's Hub  https://mattshub.com/  an Aussie who is selling PLA filament with a tolerance of 0.02mm  (Industry standard seems to be 0.05mm) for $35 per kilo.   I am going to give some a go, as it's about half the price of top quality Prusa filament, but with a similar tollerance spec.

[Biggles]

On this subject, a friend bought a pair of under mirror mounts for his ST13.  They are very similar to the MCL ones I have, but they were 3D printed.  The lights he mounted are not the little single element ones, nor the heavy Jaycar 7 element ones.  They are in-beween 5 element jobbies.  The mounts lasted about 300 km before they snapped off just below the attachment point (not at the angle, which is where I would have expected them to fail).  The wires saved the lights.  I told him to send them back for a replacement with a lot more material at the stress points.  I have no idea what wire was used in the printer, and the mate would know even less than me.

[StinkyPete]

Because it is laid down in strands and layers, 3D printed plastic items wont have the strength of injection moulded plastic.  The orientationof the layers will have an impact on strength (think of it like the grain in wood), and while annealing can add to the strength, it won't be as strong as injection moulded.   I would not have hung lights from 3d printed brackets.

[StinkyPete]

I have been experimenting with printing RAM Balls
Ignore the bright green colour as they were test prints using some "End of Roll" PETG filament.   There is an 8mm hole down the centre into which I have fixed a stainless steel rod with epoxy for extra strength.   I reckon I'm onto something here, but it's a shame I am not using any RAM balls on my bike,

[ruSTynutz]

They look really good, Pete! 

Now, who's gonna be the guinea pig...

[StinkyPete]

They look really good, Pete! 

Now, who's gonna be the guinea pig...

After we lost some chooks, I've been monitoring foxes down the back of our place with a trail cam, and will try the middle black one with the static camera.    However I recognize that a mount on a moving bike whole is subject to a whole lot more stress.

I'm happy to post a free one to anybody who wants to try one out.

[Brock]

I wonder if they were printed sideways, the sheer strength would be better. At the moment, I think they would snap on the stem.

[StinkyPete]

I wonder if they were printed sideways, the sheer strength would be better. At the moment, I think they would snap on the stem.

I don't think so, as there is an 8mm stainless shaft fixed in from top to bottom.

I could also do one like the picture below, again with the metal shaft from top to bottom, and with a metal thread sticking out the bottom to suit whatever it needs to be screwed into.

[StinkyPete]

I have a drawer that contains a huge tangle of USB Cables for various devices and functions.   It needed tidying up, so I'm printing cable reels to hold the individual cables.   Simply pull the ends to unfurl them, and wind them up again when I have finished using them.



I'm currerntly experimenting with a couple of different designs for best strenght and durability.

[ruSTynutz]

Great idea, Pete! 

[StinkyPete]

We have recently noticed that a family of little people have moved into our front garden, and have set up home in the shade of a gum tree and next to a bird bath.   The are not doing any harm so we'll leave them to settle in.   The local toddlers who are going for walks with their Mums seem to take a great interest in what they are up to, as they tend their little flower garden and keep their front yard neat and tidy.

[Brock]

My Father ( bless his soul ) was convinced he had little people living under his bed, and they would sit on top of the shower curtain rail when he went for a shower..

[ruSTynutz]

We have recently noticed that a family of little people have moved into our front garden, and have set up home in the shade of a gum tree and next to a bird bath.   The are not doing any harm so we'll leave them to settle in.   The local toddlers who are going for walks with their Mums seem to take a great interest in what they are up to, as they tend their little flower garden and keep their front yard neat and tidy.

Cute! 

Oh, and that response is for your little family, not you, Pete! 

[CallMeSteve]

My Father ( bless his soul ) was convinced he had little people living under his bed, and they would sit on top of the shower curtain rail when he went for a shower..

My dear ol’ Dad had them in his roof. He never acknowledged that they were ‘little’, but they seemed to live up there comfortably without bumping their heads or falling through the gyprock. He used to get rather annoyed by their noisy parties at night and the fact that they paid no rent.

[StinkyPete]

The above idea didn't work out very well, so I've simply 3D printed some tags that get attached to my collection of USB cables and which identify what they are for.