Shaweet, can't wait to see the light sabre when it's finished!!!!! Count down is on for the movie!!!!
Posted Dec 5, 2015 12:38:36 AM
3D Printer Baby!
Dec 05, 2015 | ZacHanson
I was very excited to receive it, but tour being what it is, and 3D printing not being an exact science I opted to wait till after tour was over to brake it out and put my new found printing robot to work. Life being what it is often busy and always full, I never got around to setting up my printer until yesterday.
Lets start with the obvious… yes this thing is amazing!
If you don’t know what I mean when I say 3D printing, it basically works like this. You either design a 3D object, or download one for free from a website like “thingiverse.com” and load it into your 3D printers software. The 3D file is divided into layer after layer of flat images. The 3D printer uses a spool of plastic filament, much like the spool on a sowing machine and then feeds it through a 200cº nozzle that rapidly melts the plastic into a liquid, and then immediately cools it back to solid. The result is an object made from 10s or 100s of very think layers of plastic that have been printed on top of each other. Basically this is the stuff of the future.
After a few hours of tinkering, downloading and failing a lot to get my printer to work I was able to print my first object, a LEGO. It was a double whammy to both make something that worked, and also have it be a replica of one of my favorite things from childhood as well as now. This was a boost to my confidence and so I decided to go for something bigger… that was when I saw a design for a Lightsaber. I started getting really excited. I failed three or four times when I started to make this one. I repositioned the pieces I re calibrated the printer, someone under three feet might have unplugged the machine part way through one of the prints, but then I finally did it. I watched with baited breath as the largest piece of Lucks Lightsaber was completed. Success, magic… just wow.
Printing is not fast, and any object that is decent size will take a few hours to complete. The sound of the printed going really makes you feel like you have your own robot. It reminds me of R2D2, Boo BEEP. It is highly repetitive, but hypnotic to watch. I have found myself lost for minutes at a time, just watching as it builds an intricate piece. I am one piece shy of a complete Lightsaber, with more filament on order and my head filled with amazing and aimless ideas of what to make next. From what I can tell my experience is not unique. Printers are a little finicky, and not all designs print well, but for those with inkling to build and create it is just the coolest thing ever.
NOTE: If you are in the market for a 3D printer, I have a Printerbot Play.
Forum Comments
Charlize74
Kirrilee Robinson / Singleton, NSW, AU
That is so cool Zac, love the Lego man :)
Posted Dec 5, 2015 12:44:51 AM
clairewilliams6
Claire Williams / Melbourme , vic, AU
Zac u r one lucky Guy.
Posted Dec 5, 2015 02:06:19 AM
What a cool machine, you will be able to make so many things with it since you have creative ideas.
Posted Dec 5, 2015 03:12:31 AM
Pinup6
The level of NERD and GEEK of this blog...has just made me so happy I'll even go have a drink to celebrate it!
GAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!! Is that ever amazing! You printed your own minifig. NOW...the question is...what colors of plastic filament can you get and is it possible to do printing with more than one color at a time through the spool feeder? Is it something you have to begin and then suddenly stop halfway through the project to alternate color if possible?
As far as I have researched most print only in one solid color. Oh wow!
The basics of the way they run is the same exact way a dye cutting machine does...except it works on a dispersing sideways and upwards motion instead of just horizontal & diagonal. I know exactly what the sound is like. LOVE it.
Stoked. Wow! My nerdovaries have blown.
Posted Dec 5, 2015 03:45:59 AM
rubino855
I find this blog very interesting... as I said in the other thread, I was about to pm Zac to ask him if the 3d printer works for real or if the technology is still too rudimentary. I've been thinking about getting one, but I'm waiting for the price to go down (hopefully it will, as it happens in the computers market). I didn't know that printing any object takes so much time, but I guess you don't have to stare at the working machine the entire time...
@Pinup6 I've seen only pictures of monochrome objects, I don't think it's possible to change colors... but I really don't know, maybe Zac will tell us :-)
Posted Dec 5, 2015 04:41:23 AM
TammyNYFanson
This is intriguing to say the least! I am blown out of the water with the way your mind works and the level of creativity, imagination and technical expertise and intelligence you possess! It is beyond exciting for me, as someone who grew up before all this modern technology, to be opening up my mind and actually learning and getting a fun & exciting hands on education on things I didn't even know existed..you're brilliant and it is amazing how easily you can simplify and convey something that I would normally never comprehend..it's good hanging out with you! :).. opening up my brain to so many new and mind blowing things..I'm getting smarter everyday and finally starting to understand a little bit of the technical world we now live in! You're brilliance in all this stuff is a little intimidating but I like it! Thanks for sharing, Zac..you're all that and a bag of chips! ;) doucopy
Posted Dec 5, 2015 05:19:18 AM
DarkEstBarBie
Emily DeLang / Kennesaw, Georgia, US
That's really awesome, Zac. I have a few friends with 3D printers and they love them. I've been trying to get them to make the Hanson symbol for me but they won't. Maybe that's the "Hanson day awesomeness" that you can do.
Posted Dec 5, 2015 07:02:28 AM
dieteeniescum
My boyfriend has wanted a 3D printer for awhile (he seems to do nothing but tinker with computer stuff); I'm trying not to fall into the trap of getting someone a present just because I want to play with it, and you're so not making it any easier, haha. How do the separately-printed pieces hold together? Like, do they snap together like Lego, or do you have to do something else when it's done?
Posted Dec 5, 2015 09:52:59 AM
eek_a_mouse
Very cool, Zac! So this works sort of like a hot glue gun with a brain... The cooling (so you don't have pooling) must be key. I imagine it would be fascinating to watch it in action. Wouldn't it be cool to have a 3D printer that ran on melted Tupperware and other old or useless plastic household items? (I'm sure we still have some old Barbies who lost their heads around here somewhere.) Of course they couldn't make any money on the spools of filament then...
Posted Dec 5, 2015 10:15:42 AM
TheGlam_Squad
Susannah Robertson / Melissa, TX, US
"someone under 3ft might have unplugged it part of the way through "
HAHAHA #GoodTimes :D
Posted Dec 5, 2015 11:18:49 AM
packatha_br
Thaís Merino / Curitiba, Parana, BR
16
5
10
10
This is perfectly awesome!!!
Posted Dec 5, 2015 11:40:43 AM
nicksmum
Kathy Butler / Stafford, VA, US
That is the coolest thing EVER!! I'm so glad you finally got to get it out and play with it!!
"someone under three feet" huh?? I wonder who that could have been.....????
Posted Dec 5, 2015 01:10:32 PM
Next: Zac Hanson action figure with bacon and lightsaber accessories.
Posted Dec 5, 2015 02:41:26 PM
Clairelily
Claire van Oirschot / WHAKATANE, Bay of Plenty, NZ
7
Looks awesome. =)
Posted Dec 5, 2015 04:14:03 PM
White_Tiger
Jennifer Walker / Newnan, Georgia, US
10
2
@Lisaturner..that would be completely awesome! :D
Posted Dec 5, 2015 05:23:50 PM
Looks fun! I have no idea what I would print though. *thinks*
Posted Dec 5, 2015 06:39:30 PM
missbuck
Missy Buckman / Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, US
1
I sure hope Zac makes some cool legos for next year moe that's for sure. But yeah not sure about smell of melted plastic but hey if you love it so much why not. lol. thanks for sharing Zac.
Posted Dec 6, 2015 12:40:54 AM
Pinup6
@Rubino855
I've assumed the same since my first intro to a working 3D printer was the fake ones used in Grey's Anatomy a while back LOL
I had seen other videos and so far everything I've seen is one color only with the plastic filaments dispersed. Granted...I am sure we can find a way to customize and paint the objects to our liking. But although the ability of printing things that are already in existence for purchase may seem like a waste...to us nerds and geeks...it's a whole n'other thrill!
Basically this will REALLY get interesting once he decides to start printing his OWN art and creations. And that...is the blog or video I sure do not wanna miss out on. :)
Posted Dec 6, 2015 03:12:05 AM
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White_Tiger
Jennifer Walker / Newnan, Georgia, US
I am sure the other individuals on the bus appreciate your patience in waiting a few weeks before tinkering with the new toy, melting plastic and BooBeep noises probably not the best thing to sleep too.
Added - I considered what the first project would be and I thought Star Wars related for sure, because of the upcoming movie (which I'll be curious on your opinion and will be watching personally!) and because, well, it's Star Wars. LEGO man was a surprise but I find it ironic that I was JUST on the Lego website looking at Classic sets :)
Hoping to see the finished light saber when you have time Lego man was cool. :)
Posted Dec 5, 2015 06:30:02 AM