3d printing. I need advice, which printer? Child friendly? Easy for non Computer guy to use?

[Irving]

Thanks

[FromMyColdDeadHand]

Yep. To me PET-G, specifically T-Glase is the way to go. I had all kinds of bed adhesion issues with ABS ruining prints- and even if it stuck the warping was a PITA. Never really took to PLA, don't consider it a 'duty' plastic.

T-Glase is tough. Build-tak surface on a heated bed at 60C with a glue stick. Very little problems. Made some new retaining plates for my MP 15-22 mags because I was sick of the followers springing off when I cleaned them. Made it so that are captured on the spring. A new spigot mount for my Sinclair tripod and a Labradar aiming device from a thread on The Hide. Barricade stops for my AR gamer gun. All kinds of do-dads for around the house.

Sprinkler knob broke, to lazy to go to Home Depot, Printed a new one. A Caboose for my wife's families 'One Scale' german electric train- boom.

Makes me wish I had taken more CAD classes. That is the real limit for me. From minds eyes to STL file is bad for me.

[Irving]

How difficult is CAD to learn for people without that background?

[Erni]

Some learning curve on CAD because you have to figure out the concepts of the tool. A block with a hole, sketch square and circle and extrude. Or extrude square and do a hole feature. Etc..
To me easy, but I do CAD for a living.

[Irving]

Sounds like there are people who learn the basics, then level two is expanding possibilities with creative engineering thinking outside the box?

[Irving]

Is anyone making plastic cans (suppressors) for low powered applications yet? Are the operating temps for cans outside what the available materials can handle?

[Wulf202]

Is anyone making plastic cans (suppressors) for low powered applications yet? Are the operating temps for cans outside what the available materials can handle?

There have been atleast 1 plastic and 1 metal 3d printed can that I know of. If you bum around arf you can find the details

[FromMyColdDeadHand]

I think the CAD thing comes down to how much time you use it. I go in spurts where I get a bug and I start doing three different prints of things. I use TinkerCad online. It is amazing what you can do when you spend a couple of hours with it on something. The problem is that I then go three months with nothing done and I get rusty.

Tinkercad is the simple draw things easily and then subtract from them. It has basic and some complex shapes in it- and you can get some pretty complex models out of it. My main issue is that it is more qualitative than quantitative. If the whole thing I'm working on is in Tinkercad, I can get everything to line up. If it engages in something in the real world and needs precise dimensions and placement of things like holes- that is an issue, at least for me.

I will say, that the first time you have a problem and you get out your calipers and CAD something up, print it and it works- that is a pretty sweet feeling.

[bradbn4]

That is neat - I started to look at tinker cad tonight....was thinking of making a 1" npt to 3/4" SH adapter. After a bit of puttering and you tube watching I bought said parts from Amazon.

That sort of part would be perfect to make on a 3d-printer - petg material would work fine. So when the part comes in; I will mic it to and start playing again in the cad software.

[Erni]

Big box of parts arrived. A few items "bruised". Sorting and counting done and assembly has started. If none of the bruised parts hold me back it will be running soonish...