Anyone on here purchased a 3D printer yet? I’ve seen a vast amount of things one could make with such a device. Curious if anyone has one, which model(s), and any pros/cons things to look at or consider etc.
I bought one about 3 years ago. Made a few things, then it lost it's appeal. I've only used it twice to print things I actually use on a normal basis: a cabinet handle for the garage and a stand to hold a bunch of different leather tools. After that, it was just printing little knick-knacks. I thought I'd enjoy the process of 3D designing my own items, but I learned that I tire easily from it! It just sit on the edge of my office desk and rarely gets used. There a bunch of really talented 3D designers out there that upload some free files though. You can look at https://www.thingiverse.com/
Oh, and I printed out some Star Wars cookie cutter templates for my brother and his wife!
Oh, and I printed out some Star Wars cookie cutter templates for my brother and his wife!
A guy in Texas told me some Libraries there have 3D printers you can use. He'd never used one, but I assume the user would have to pay for materials.
No idea if OK does this, but it might be worth looking into if you just need a few items.
No idea if OK does this, but it might be worth looking into if you just need a few items.
They have their uses, to me its more of plastic parts that are obsolete if you get the design and program it you could print replacement parts you can't buy anymore or design and sell all kinds of things.
I had one, sold it to a friend, but never got paid of course. So still kinda own one. I had the monoprice maker select 3. made some cool stuff, it is or will be a hobby as you have to put plenty of time into them to get them to print well/perfect the prints.
This reminds me of my tiller...I need to go pick it up.
As for 3D printers go, I've had the itch for one too. I just know that I don't have the time to invest in another hobby.
Older thread but still on the first page...
I bought a Monoprice Maker Select 3 two years ago and ya, it can be a hobby in itself. Mine has came in really handy for making tool holders for my shop, especially for my lathe. Made a set of brackets so I could mount a sound bar to the top of my TV, a replacement handle for my B&D Workmate and several items I probably forgot.
I downloaded and sorta learned how to use Design Spark Mechanical, free from Allied Electronics so I could design my own stuff. Learning curve is pretty steep but managed to get by well enough. Most difficult item I have done so far were the brackets to mount the sound bar on top of my TV. Uses a couple screws in the TV to hold the brackets and provides a flat platform for the sound bar to sit on.
Just another tool that to me when needed is worth the investment in both money and time.
I bought a Monoprice Maker Select 3 two years ago and ya, it can be a hobby in itself. Mine has came in really handy for making tool holders for my shop, especially for my lathe. Made a set of brackets so I could mount a sound bar to the top of my TV, a replacement handle for my B&D Workmate and several items I probably forgot.
I downloaded and sorta learned how to use Design Spark Mechanical, free from Allied Electronics so I could design my own stuff. Learning curve is pretty steep but managed to get by well enough. Most difficult item I have done so far were the brackets to mount the sound bar on top of my TV. Uses a couple screws in the TV to hold the brackets and provides a flat platform for the sound bar to sit on.
Just another tool that to me when needed is worth the investment in both money and time.
I have a "Bolt Buddy" tool for my CZ .22 blot action rifle a guy made off a 3D Printer. It's a very simple thing, you just press the face of the bolt down on the little raised dimple and turn/remove the safety in order to easily disassemble the bolt for cleaning or maintenance. It works, not really that finely made, but it works.
i have made plenty of things with a 3d printer i would say are useful. ar & ak pistol grips, handguards, and stocks for buffer tubes. i have also made magazines. i have only had the chance to test out the ak magazine and it worked fine. absolutely perfect as a matter of a fact. the real issue with making magazines is acquiring springs. i tried to make my own tool for winding music wire into springs and failed horribly at making my own ak magazine springs. supposed to wind them into form then bake them at like 500 degrees for a hour or fire & oil harden them to retain the springyness. anyhow. it is not a strong material at all, and i think it is over exaggerated. i had a ender 3 pro with all the upgrades under the sun. i even had printed with carbon fiber and petg not just pla. i never did get a glock or ar15 frame to work right. very very close, but not quite right. i could get all the parts to fit, but it was like something just was not to spec exactly right. i mean i had to barely file or sand some holes every time anyhow and ect to even get it to the point it would be at but.
i really do not think you should get a 3-d printer expecting to be able to make a gun. there is polymer 80%s that are better and stronger material. due to the nature of FDM printing and the seam line it will always be somewhat weak. sure you can re-inforce it. epoxys and other types of bonding agents, but i do not think thats well suited for receivers. i mean, sure it CAN work, but why? why spend a week or 2 weeks, just hours and hours and hours of trial and error trying to make something work for a subpar terrible quality end product? why not get something or make something that will actually last? dont say - well you can replace it.
do you know how long it takes to go from no receiver to a actual working receiver? about 2-3 days of leaving a 3d printer running for a ar15 lower. it isnt practical. then you have to probably spend a full day just cleaning it up, doing light sanding, small round tail filing of holes to make all the parts fit. it isnt practical it isnt strong enough and it does not make sense.
theres plenty of things you can make though. they are nice to have around sure. definitely. but i feel like they are a waste of money.
even the magazines are subpar quality. yes they will work, but just the nature of 3d printed plastics is fragile.
here is a 7.62x39 ak magazine, a glock 19 magazine & a ar-15 magazine i made -
i made a few copies of all of them, but i figured i would show both sides of what they look like.
So i have not actually tested the AR-15 magazines, nor the glock magazines, but i have springs for them and they seem to fit rounds and feed just fine so i have no doubt they will work.
glock 19 magazine assembly - next to one that is completed with a spring.
you can make anything with a 3-d printer really just about.
i made a halloween mask, a fridge magnet of the H&k LOGO, a paperweight of a skull & a model replica of the Sword fish from the anime cowboy bebop-
like i said , i tried and tried all different materials and ways to print the guns and never could get one to work right. im most likely going to destroy these glock 26/27 lowers eventually as they are way out of spec. i even got the rails to make them work. i had all the parts and everything to build one. i eventually just got a polymer 80 and it worked perfect the first time. 3d printing is a strange process and you would have to see a video of how its done. that one glock lower i left all the support material attached to show how it comes off the print table.
i also made a ak magazine loader. sucks it only can load 10 rounds at a time you ram in there, but it works good.
i have actually tested the ak magazines in different colors and varietys of types of plastics and they work fine.
Save your money. i wouldnt get a 3d printer if you expect to make alot of gun stuff. its just not strong enough and they print out of spec way to often. it is not worth the trouble or the money. that is why i sold my printer. it was way to much of a headache.
i really do not think you should get a 3-d printer expecting to be able to make a gun. there is polymer 80%s that are better and stronger material. due to the nature of FDM printing and the seam line it will always be somewhat weak. sure you can re-inforce it. epoxys and other types of bonding agents, but i do not think thats well suited for receivers. i mean, sure it CAN work, but why? why spend a week or 2 weeks, just hours and hours and hours of trial and error trying to make something work for a subpar terrible quality end product? why not get something or make something that will actually last? dont say - well you can replace it.
do you know how long it takes to go from no receiver to a actual working receiver? about 2-3 days of leaving a 3d printer running for a ar15 lower. it isnt practical. then you have to probably spend a full day just cleaning it up, doing light sanding, small round tail filing of holes to make all the parts fit. it isnt practical it isnt strong enough and it does not make sense.
theres plenty of things you can make though. they are nice to have around sure. definitely. but i feel like they are a waste of money.
even the magazines are subpar quality. yes they will work, but just the nature of 3d printed plastics is fragile.
here is a 7.62x39 ak magazine, a glock 19 magazine & a ar-15 magazine i made -
i made a few copies of all of them, but i figured i would show both sides of what they look like.
So i have not actually tested the AR-15 magazines, nor the glock magazines, but i have springs for them and they seem to fit rounds and feed just fine so i have no doubt they will work.
glock 19 magazine assembly - next to one that is completed with a spring.
you can make anything with a 3-d printer really just about.
i made a halloween mask, a fridge magnet of the H&k LOGO, a paperweight of a skull & a model replica of the Sword fish from the anime cowboy bebop-
like i said , i tried and tried all different materials and ways to print the guns and never could get one to work right. im most likely going to destroy these glock 26/27 lowers eventually as they are way out of spec. i even got the rails to make them work. i had all the parts and everything to build one. i eventually just got a polymer 80 and it worked perfect the first time. 3d printing is a strange process and you would have to see a video of how its done. that one glock lower i left all the support material attached to show how it comes off the print table.
i also made a ak magazine loader. sucks it only can load 10 rounds at a time you ram in there, but it works good.
i have actually tested the ak magazines in different colors and varietys of types of plastics and they work fine.
Save your money. i wouldnt get a 3d printer if you expect to make alot of gun stuff. its just not strong enough and they print out of spec way to often. it is not worth the trouble or the money. that is why i sold my printer. it was way to much of a headache.
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