From: djb@invalid.com   
      
   On 01/12/2025 19:58, Bob La Londe wrote:   
   > I think I've been a victim of a constant pummeling of promotion,   
   > ignorant people asking if I 3D print, an onslaught of influencers, and   
   > being weak willed due to an oncoming sniffle.   
   >   
   > I ordered a 3D printer over the weekend.  Now here is the deal.  I   
   > can't think of a single think I "need" to print.  Well, there are a   
   > couple things that I could print FOR the new printer when it arrives,   
   > but if I never ordered it I wouldn't "need" to print those things.   
   >   
   > I've done the math.  For 99.99% of the things I make its cheaper and   
   > faster (time is money) to machine it from raw stock.   
   >   
   > 3D printing is slow.  Its not as good.  It still requires a CAD model   
   > to start. There is one place where it may be a trade off. Using a   
   > slicer on a 3D model is semi automated, and it might be faster than   
   > doing CAM for a 3 or 3+1 milling operation for some jobs... I think.   
   >   
   > There is one area where it might have an edge.  Material price. Hold   
   > on.  Hold on.  I know PLA starts at around $6 per pound on average and   
   > wrought aluminum at about $2-3, but the volumetric difference is huge,   
   > and with good 3D prints there is much less waste & much greater volume   
   > per weight depending on your machining strategy.   
   >   
   > After I get things figured out I'll probably be using much more   
   > expensive filaments.  ASA and carbon fiber reinforced  polymers among   
   > them.  Maybe even some of the metalized filaments.   
   >   
   > I have some logistical problems.   
   >   
   > 1.  I don't really know squat about the basic nuts and bolts of 3D   
   > printing (filament printing).   
   > 2.  I don't have a good clean room (not lab clean room) I want to use   
   > for printing.   
   > 3.  I don't know what I want to print.   
   >   
   > I thought about mimicking some of the work by Print Shoot Repeat, but   
   > I have already machined receivers from metal.  I'm not sure what would   
   > be gained by making a weaker if lighter receiver, and of course it   
   > only works for certain types of receivers where the force is mostly   
   > managed and contained within the upper like a Glock, AR, SR40, etc.   
   >   
   > I did have a customer once tell me to go pound sand once, because I   
   > wouldn't add 3D test prints and multiple iterations to making his   
   > parts for the same price as making his parts.  "Price sounds great.   
   > Now do all this extra work too and you got a deal." Honestly I don't   
   > want that customer anyway.  I don't mind doing more work, but I expect   
   > to get paid for it.   
   >   
   > Some of you guys must have gotten dragged kicking and screaming into   
   > the 3D print world.  Tell me what its better for than subtractive   
   > machining other than a handful of parts that can't easily be machine.   
   >   
   > I do see where injection molding is good for production parts, but   
   > injection molding makes a stronger part in seconds per cycle.  3D   
   > printing escapes me and yet I have fallen victim after a long time   
   > struggling with finding significant advantages.   
   >   
   I bought an FLM 3D printer about 6 years ago and have found it more   
   useful than I thought it would be as it made it much easier to make   
   complex shapes for tools and fixtures where it being in plastic wasn't   
   an issue I just had to up  my 3D modelling skills which are still basic   
   but get the job done. Plenty of vice soft jaws for custom shapes and   
   other guides for the linisher, 3D printed a core for the nozzles in a   
   burner head in PLA and melted it out after the refractory castable had   
   set. A mate prints various items including carburettor gaskets in TPU.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)