3D Printer Gurus - Would you run this?

[nedmo]

Hello

I am working on a project, based on a Twin Hammers to emulate the Vaugn Gitten Jnrs "Brocky" KOH truck. It will be able to do a top speed of approx 25mph

I always envisioned getting a local guy to fab up a steel cage, but I had the idea of maybe trying to 3d print it.

So I used tinkercad and about 6hrs of time to come up with this. http://autode.sk/2CWanNF

What is peoples opinion on getting it printed with shapeways strong and flexible? It will cost $350.

for comparison the steel cage would be $700

Cheers

[Hydrocarbon92]

The link doesn't work, can you maybe post a screenshot?

[nedmo]

New link.

[binaryterror]

The answer I would say is to split that into pieces and bolt together like Axial or Losi do. This will lower the overall size and likely reduce costs.

[QuesoDelDiablo]

I'd be hesitant about the strength of printed parts for something as large as a cage. It really depends how much support you add with the other components that you'll be bolting to it though.

Breaking it up into multiple pieces is good advice, that will allow you create stronger corner connections.

[JatoTheRipper]

Breaking the chassis into multiple pieces will probably make it more expensive, but it's a good idea. As a one-piece unit you are screwed if it breaks in a wreck. You'd have to spend $350 all over again.

[nedmo]

Yeah and not having my own printer yet is time/cost prohibitive for prototyping.

It was a cool excersise to design it up, but I will be going the brazed alsteel brake line route.

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[Dbx]

Making it in sections will be a lot cheaper on Shapeways. Their pricing structure includes ‘machine space’ as well as printed volume, which makes large frames in particular vary expensive.
I print my D90 cage in 7 peices and screw it together. So far it has held up very well. I was very careful about the detail design in order to make strong junctions. It’s taken many a tumble... but this is a scale Crawler, rather than a trail truck/basher/crawler like the Hammers. It would not last long the way our TH gets abused.

[nedmo]

That looks great!

I totally agree, on scale it would be an ideal solution.

But the way I hammer the Hammers I think would be asking for a life of constant reprints.

My ideal situation would be a mix of steel tube and 3d printed components in non-streas areas. Allowing for 1 peice intricate designs.



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