I started this project earlier this year and only now have been able to start producing it. I've had my 3D printer for a week it's awesome. I've started cleanup on the parts but I plan on smoothing them out more with a vapor bath. Update 12/9/12 Since using new software to slice and print with the results I'm now getting are so much better that I've been reprinting everything I had begun to work with.
Woah! You have your own printer! this is amazing! when will you print you DOTM-Trailer? ^^ And Holy Jesus: You could Print your ver yown Leader Blackout and Bonecrusher!!!!!
Man, these affordable home 3D printers are a HUGE boon for this hobby. Lots of talented folks, like BH here, can apply their skills to make stuff we'd never see from Takara/Hasbro or even the 3rd-party places. How long do you think it will take to finish? Please keep us up to date, WIP pics are always cool to see.
Nice!! was the printer / material expensive? I mean, like how the trailer you wanted to do for DOTM leader prime was just way too expensive... how much would it cost you in materials printing something similar yourself?
I got a Solidoodle 2. Kind of a pain, they've been so backlogged with production that the very DAY I received my printer they announced the Solidoodle 3 with an 8" cube build envelope. Mine prints up to 6". The DOTM trailer will be after this. The DOTM trailer is so massive that I had to put it on hold. The PRID trailer, while not small, is definitely helping me prepare for the other trailer. Leader Blackout and Bonecrusher would be SWEET. Problem is I would have to design them for printing which has taken me a LOT of time. I imagine I will get faster by having a printer now but still, it will only get so fast. When I model I create the parts to assemble as I go. My goal has been to make sure parts can be resin cast in case I ever get to that stage. I found that with this type of printer though I've had to break some of those piece down because they would never print right. For example the little round bobs above will need to be glued to the back of the wheel hub. I had to separate them otherwise the inside of the hub wouldn't have been flat to lay on the printer. I've been looking forward to this day for quite some time. I never took to the use of styrene because I wanted to just output a piece I designed digitally. Now there is no lack of hand process (sanding, finishing, assembly) but I don't have to individually make tires or left/right symmetrical pieces. I'm not sure how long it will take but at the rate I've been going I expect to have most parts printed by this weekend. Thanks! I love seeing WIP pics too. The printer has a base price of $500. I got the Expert Model that has a heated build platform, acrylic door and cover for an added $100. I just saw the Expert model is now an additional $200. Filament is not expensive but not uber cheap either, and prices vary a bit depending on where you buy from. I got a 2-lb. roll of white from Solidoodle for $43. I recently purchase 1-lb. rolls from an online source for $18.50 each. Then Makerbot sells filament from $48-55 for 2-lb. rolls. This seems a little pricey but they match Pantone colors. I still plan on doing the DOTM trailer. I'm not sure how much in filament it will cost. I'll have to weigh it in the end to see. Same with the PRID trailer. Time printing is more of a clincher than filament cost. Thanks for looking guys! Onward and upward!
You and me both! Nope. This trailer would be nearly $200 to print in WSF on Shapeways. The DOTM trailer was clocking in around $400-500. That's why I moved forward to get the printer. If all goes well I do plan on offering the trailer directly. I just need to get everything printed and assembled before moving forward with that. I would LOVE to mold and do resin casts but I'm just not there financially this year. Casting would enable me to make one master print set. That's where I want to go and that's why I design the parts to be cast in a two part mold. Now if I've actually designed the parts correctly for that, we'll see. Thanks mate!
Ok, as long as it's available one way or the other But if you wanted to, could you download the design to Shapeways even if you never ordered it from them? Then other people could order it in case you didn't get around to casting the parts, or in case they're impatient
It would still cost hundreds of dollars on shapeways ^ Really happy you have your printer. I know nothing about them, or have any computer modeling skills, but I want one now
Well I can make this available through Shapeways, but as UltraMagnus2008 said it will be expensive. I can't think of anyone that's willing to pay $200 for an accessory to a $20 figure. I guarantee I won't be able to cast this project, perhaps future projects. It's really awesome, but hard to justify if you don't find a purpose for it. New printed undercarriage piece. A bit of sanding done. I've also used a really cheap set of drill bits to clean out holes. The printing leaves a little to be desired but I don't mind working with my hands. I designed the thin attachments to hide screws that hold this piece to the trailer bed. So far so good.
Thanks guys! Nothing exciting tonight. I printed out the panels for the left side. I'm sending half of the left side to print overnight.
I wouldn't be able to afford it, but I've seen plenty of people spend boat loads on other TFs and accessories. So if it doesn't cost you anything to put it on Shapeways, it may be worth a shot! Maybe even split up the design into different parts. I've got a model trailer that I could perhaps customize with certain parts here and there...
It doesn't cost to put anything on Shapeways. I do like to get samples of everything I offer first so that I can verify they print correctly. This I wouldn't be able to test. An interesting thought. I would entertain this if there were a community selected trailer that could be nicely customized. I'm backlogged on projects now though. Hopefully I can sell a few trailers and then I have the Insecticon and a few other things that aren't small orders I'd like to tackle. In other words, "I have my country's 500th anniversary to plan, my wedding to arrange, my wife to murder, and Guilder to frame for it... I'm swamped." I finally have the left side printed. Had to be done in twain to fit on my printer. I'm very pleased! Still much cleanup to be done.
Your stuff is coming out alot smoother then I've seen off other printers, looking good! This thread is more of a curiousity for me, I'll never get this trailer. But I'm all in for the Dotm version. I had to slap myself the other day, started brainstorming how to make one then I remembered you're making one, eventually, and I stopped.
Yeah I have been extremely impressed with this printer. Granted, this is the first 3D printer I've touched too. As much as I'm enjoying this project I want to focus again on the DOTM trailer. To be honest this trailer is a test for the DOTM trailer. I figured if I can pull this off I can do the DOTM trailer too.