Month: April 2017

I’m a drafter and would like to offer my services to anyone who could use it.

I’m not sure if this will be much use to anyone, but I’d be happy to help people model things for 3d printing.My background is all machine shop stuff so not really artsy and I’m most comfortable with autodesk inventor. But I’d be happy to draw stuff, or even help figure out how to model something if you need the help. I’ve been out of work for a while and I want to keep busy so I don’t get rusty. I’m by no means an expert but I used to do it for a living so I don’t think I’m useless either. http://ift.tt/2oSPnjC

Glow Filament – The Museum of Blown Out Nozzles

The abrasiveness of glow-in-the-dark (GITD) filament is common knowledge to some, but a surprise to others.Some sellers offer upfront warnings while others make no mention of the risk. I personally printed a number of GITD objects on my first brass nozzle before I knew I should take precautions.As long as companies fail to mention this, there will be a steady stream of new people who find out the hard way. Predictably, many people on this sub have blown out nozzles without realizing that GITD filament was a risk:Image: Makergear nozzle blown out from printing 700g of GITD. Post: May 4, 2015Image: E3D blown out after 2kg of regular PLA and 750g of GITD. Post: Oct 14, 2015Image: Nozzle blown out after 14 hours ~ 500g of GITD. Post: Nov 29, 2015Image: Nozzle blown out after 6 days of GITD printing. Post: Jul 27, 2016Image: Monoprice nozzle blown out from GITD. Post: Dec 7, 2016Image: Two week old nozzle blown out from GITD. Post: Feb 1, 2017Image: 4-day old Monoprice nozzle blown out from printing GITD. Post: Feb 4, 2017GITD filament contains strontium aluminate powder. This powder provides the desired glow effect, but is significantly harder than a standard brass nozzle. Running GITD filament through a brass nozzle is therefore like running a continuous string of sandpaper through it. Different brands of GITD filament will contain different levels of strontium aluminate, but the better the glow, the more abrasive.The speed of wear will also vary depending on factors like print speed and extrusion volume. This is why some people just widen the nozzle opening while others manage to scrape off the entire tip, rubbing it against the layers below it.The best practice for combating this issue is installing a hardened nozzle. Many options exist on the market, from A2 hardened steel to ruby. Some nozzles offer coatings that make them more abrasion-resistant than standard brass, but still not as resilient as a fully hardened nozzle.If anyone knows of a GITD filament that doesn’t use strontium aluminate, please let us know. I’m not currently aware of such a product offering. If such a filament even exists, I presume it must produce a much dimmer glow. http://ift.tt/2oRxKAT