3D Printing in the Home Workshop

[Colin HeseltineParticipant @colinheseltine48622]

There have been a number of articles recently in the magazine where someone has designed and printed a useful work object/tool/whatever.

Is there anyway, assuming designers are happy, to have the .stl files etc. held in a repository where others could access them.  They could then either use as is or modify to their own needs. As an occasional and not very good CAD user (Alibre Atom) I would certainly find this useful.

Colin

 

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

There are several already posted by Neil, added at the time an article is published.

https://www.model-engineer.co.uk/category/news/

However asking for STL files is not ideal as many CAD packaged do not open them (All versions of Alibre can’t) and they are therefore not easily modified. Far better to use .STP files.

[FulmenParticipant @fulmen]

The simplest approach would probably be to utilize an existing repository like Thingiverse. Just add a suitable #tag so others can find it.

And I agree that stl’s aren’t great for modifications, F360 also struggles with them. I don’t understand why it must import it as a hollow surface *whatever* that needs to be converted into a solid when a slicer handles them without any issues.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I will echo Fulmen’s comment – the easiest way to share STLs for free is to use Thingiverse, which simplifies adding additional files such as STP or CAD files as well as images and supplementary information.

The downside is that Thingiverse has been bought by a commercial competitor who seem to have made it very difficult to do a google search of the site. Thingiverse’s own search is not brilliant – a tip is to include some good tags when you upload anything.

[jaCK HobsonParticipant @jackhobson50760]

Thiniverse went downhill in my opinion so i moved to Printables (Prusa) which was OK even if you were not a Prusa printer user. But then I got a Bambu so now Makerworld… which is Bambu biased.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

STLs aren’t machine or manufacturer specific so it doesn’t matter what site they come from – most STLs I search for are pretty obscure, so I tend to search using Google (Fahrpanzer anyone?) and see what I can turn up. I also put some STLs on CGTrader.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

There are also some sites dedicated to particular models. eg joining the Gaugeone3Dcircle at Groups.io forums gets you through to their growing range of models in G1.
G3 and larger scales have people producing designs which can sometimes be scaled.

[Gerard O’TooleParticipant @gerardotoole60348]

i haven’t tried the other sites mentioned but I too have uploaded a few files to Thingiverse.  Mostly motorcycle related.

Maybe it would be an idea to have a dedicated thread here to allow us  post links to the files . after posting to Thingiverse or other sites ?

 

[Gerard O’Toole]

On Gerard O’Toole Said:

i haven’t tried the other sites mentioned but I too have uploaded a few files to Thingiverse.  Mostly motorcycle related.

Maybe it would be an idea to have a dedicated thread here to allow us  post links to the files . after posting to Thingiverse or other sites ?

 

I’ve set up a new thread under the 3D printing heading.

[Neil Wyatt]

On Neil Wyatt Said:

On Gerard O’Toole Said:

i haven’t tried the other sites mentioned but I too have uploaded a few files to Thingiverse.  Mostly motorcycle related.

Maybe it would be an idea to have a dedicated thread here to allow us  post links to the files . after posting to Thingiverse or other sites ?

 

I’ve set up a new thread under the 3D printing heading.

Great, . I will sort out some of my links and post something tomorrow. Although  most mould be motorcycle related and might be of limited interest.

[David George 1Participant @davidgeorge1]

I have done some 3D printing of parts for my Drummond M Type lathe. a crosslide handwheel and a screw cutting indicator body and gear.

They are all orange but look better when opainted machine grey.  The spindle is steel and engraved on my dividing head.

 

The center of the handle was reamed to suit the leadscrew diamiter  and the diamiter of the boss was machined to fit the dial but no other machining.

David

 

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