3D printed (reprap) case for DivMMC EnJOY!?
I'm still investigating the possibilities for a case for the DivMMC EnJOY! interface.
I found out modern 3D printing techniques (SLS, SLA) offer great quality without the costs of creating a mould, and are not that expensive.
I've started to speak about this with several companies, and will visit a 3D printing fair this week nearby, so hope to get some new contacts there.
In the meantime I am thinking of 3D printing the cases with a home 3D printer: something like a reprap setup.
Allthough the finishing of this process is by far the same as professional services, it might be good enough for many, and those cases may get a special 'limited series' status.
So what do you think about it, (home) 3D printed cases for e.g. the DivMMC EnJOY!?
I found out modern 3D printing techniques (SLS, SLA) offer great quality without the costs of creating a mould, and are not that expensive.
I've started to speak about this with several companies, and will visit a 3D printing fair this week nearby, so hope to get some new contacts there.
In the meantime I am thinking of 3D printing the cases with a home 3D printer: something like a reprap setup.
Allthough the finishing of this process is by far the same as professional services, it might be good enough for many, and those cases may get a special 'limited series' status.
So what do you think about it, (home) 3D printed cases for e.g. the DivMMC EnJOY!?
Post edited by bverstee on
Comments
http://forum.defence-force.org/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=1012
Mine was delivered at the weekend, and the finish on it is...ok. It looks cleaner in those pics, but in reality there's diagonal 'scuffing' across it, presumably where the plastic was laid down as its so regular - you can see this in the second pic in the thread.
I'm thinking I might take some fine sandpaper to it, if not to polish it then at least to even it out to a similar finish across the whole thing and to smooth out the steps on the angled sides.
Mainly because some design aspects can't be achieved that way (like small text or embossed details on both sides of a plate).
SLS (Selective laser Sintering) or SLA (Stereolithography) provide much better quality and speed, but can't be done with a relatively cheap FFF machine at home.
But tomorrow I am visiting a 3D Printing fair for home professionals and industry, and I'm certain I will find out all about current developments, available processes and costs, and hopefully some contacts for production in my neighbourhood.
Info about the fair:
http://www.rapidpro.nl/home-en-us/
Also Imre Jakli and a relative are helping me a lot, and I'm in contact with a professional Dutch company already.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-25878078
it should allow for a very nice case to be made
What do you think about the quality?
I visited the 3D printing exhibition yesterday, and learned a lot.
Of course I got some new contacts and ideas, so I will continue to search with that knowledge the next days/weeks.
I will mail people who showed interested in cased the DivMMC EnJOY! interface these questions:
Are you interested in a home 3D printed case (using filament, like above picture)?
If yes, what do you want to spend on it?
If I have the cases manufactured professionally (SLS printing / moulding), what do you want to spend on it then?
First indications of the cost price is about €25.
I wish I could make the cases in decent quality at home, but I don't have the time, nor will I have that in the near future, and I do not yet have any idea how to create 'professional' cases at home (like with a metal mould or something).
In the meantime I upgraded my assembly corner as sales are going more quickly than I can keep up:
My games for the Spectrum: Dingo, The Speccies, The Speccies 2, Vallation, SQIJ.
Twitter: Sokurah
Thanks!
A 3D food printer :o . I'm have my case in chocolate. :lol:
Yes, seen something similar yesterday: a 3D printer printing cookies.
What flavour do you want: white, milk or pure chocolate?
Some background information: this was my first test print with the black PLA, so the printer was not fine tuned for that material. So the quality... I don't wan't to tell anything about it... It should be and could be improved.
I was happy as I had a prototype design and wanted to get it in my hands as soon as possible. :)
I would happily buy a case from you to house mine!
Many thanks! :-)
I will inform some who asked me, but the sexy nude DivMMC EnJOY! interface sold sofar has the standard switches and the leds are soldered to the board directly.
To make it case-ready, the switches should be replaced or two caps should be glued on them, and the leds need to be higher.
Some might want to do that themselves.
http://cpc.farnell.com/kemo-electronic/g01b/case-plastic-black-battery-comp/dp/EN82729?in_merch=Products%20From%20This%20Range
Obviously it needs measuring up first, but you get the idea.
You're free to do that, but I think after this weekend I can order the first cases.
As they're being 3D printed, it won't take much time to arrive.
I'm however not yet sure about quality: these cases will be professionally printed, but the service I'm using does not include polishing.
So I have no idea if the first cases I'll receive will be 'good enough'.
I found more than one manufacturer, so I'll order some first ones at different places.
Expect to the cases to cost about €20; professional 3D printing services are not cheap yet unfortunately (try a service like www.shapeways.com yourself).
Some more details:
- I'm developing the case with Imre from Hungary; he's a great person to work with and we're in contact daily.
- Imre will 3D print the first prototype cases at home to check if the design is ok.
- We'll use black material only for the production version, not white and black painted
- We've reduced material thickness to 1.5mm, as professional 3D printing rates are per material volume used
- I'm also ordering stickers with the rainbow logo for the lower right corner of the case and description of the DIP switches at the right side.
When this first case is ready, I see possibilities for many more projects!
I'm very excited!
Also your working desk looks nice :wink:
PURE MAGIC !!!
I'm very excited too... and I am waiting a cased PlusDlite too :-D
Many thanks Ben for all your work despite your (our) chronical lack of time
I'm sorry, but my Mendelmax somehow can't make nice smooth lower layers (that is the top of the box here).
A more complex version for professional processing with extra details is also planned, but the arrangement and the overall dimensions will be practically the same for that.
Thanks Ben - please put me down for one when they are ready. I am happy to make the modifications to the original DivMMC Enjoy board myself.
The glass of the heated bed is rather scratched so I have to replace it at some time. That probably can improve a little the surface quality. This model is mainly for verification of the design and the dimensions. I didn't expected that the engraved text will be clearly visible for FDM printing, since it is based on overhangs.
LCD what about your printer? Can you fix it and print the DivIDE case?
The latet print is on my facebook page, but I still want to improve the design a bit.
Thank you LCD for the tip with the Hilbert curves. I planned to print a new lower part this evening so I "sliced" it with that setting. It looks smoother. In a closer look one can see the small patterns of the surface. Although it requires a little bit more time to print, but looks much nicer. :)
Ordering the first SLS printed cases today!
The PSU supplied by velleman is too weak to heat up to 70?C but I will retry.
Hilbert curve has the shortest lines, so it is great if there is a problem with making long lines.
Raspberry Pi cases use clear tubed plastic which the light travels along to the top of the case. Saves de-soldering/soldering.
Maybe a thought. :)