Sick of Paying Tractor Part Prices.... Make Your Own....(3D Printed)

[AWSubie]

LittleBill,

How did you tolerance the parts so that they had a snug fit? Did you use something like - .002 for the cover inner diameter so that it fit snugly or is there another method? Just curious. I’ve thought about getting a 3D printer but haven’t mustered the courage yet!

 

[LittleBill21]

What about those that never heard of that software? They all use a "foreign language" to most tractor guys. You have to learn and know the vocabulary. And learn the plastics. Like I said, you can't just buy a printer and start making parts. Unless, of course, you're copying someone else's work.

And there's the other negative. You have to accept the layered look in the parts. They never look like the originals or injection molded parts. Nice job on the samples but they all look a little homemade. That's not an insult to the makers, it's just how the printers work--In layers.

Added: By the way; Has anyone mentioned you need a capable computer to print parts too? Many viewers here are using a phone or pad to see this.

This printer, uses a sd card to do actual printing, there is no required computer needed for printing, but if your planning on design with your phone or tablet, yea thats not going to work to well.

I never said it was easy.

 

[Smokeydog]

That’s just cool beans and the future for many parts.

The local Makers group have several 3D printers and a good place to learn and meet like minded people that are helpful that would be cost effective. Also access to mills, welding, blacksmith, sewing, electronics. Not for me but really interesting the things they make.

Long term durability of the OPs part remains to be determined as well as cost effectiveness.

ORNL has seminars of metal 3D printers. Sadly more foreign than domestic interest. It’s going to be a game changer in manufacturing. There are things you can make now you never could by machining. Combing technologies really has possibilities.

 

[LittleBill21]

LittleBill,

How did you tolerance the parts so that they had a snug fit? Did you use something like - .002 for the cover inner diameter so that it fit snugly or is there another method? Just curious. I’ve thought about getting a 3D printer but haven’t mustered the courage yet!

Yea buddy, you need to lower expectations like a lot, the material shrinks and my printer only has a resolution of .12 at its best resolution

if you can get within .2 to .3mm on my machine your doing well.

 

[CoyPatton]

Still, you don't buy one of those printers and start making parts. The part has to be drawn and converted into a digital form the printer can recognize. If you've never worked with CAD or any design software, you're in for a HUGE learning curve and surprise. It's like buying a scalpel and taking up surgery. It doesn't happen over night.

And it's not for those in a hurry. It can take hours to print a part larger than a button.

And while it prints, you are free to do other things. Not like one commenter, who had a 70 mile one way trip, depending on type of roads involved, traffic and other unknowns, he may be looking at several hours to spend as quoted $2.50. 3 hrs+ of time not yo mention fuel cost and all, and note this was a side benefit to a separate project.

 

[Tinhack]

This printer, uses a sd card to do actual printing, there is no required computer needed for printing

So, you write what you want to print on some kind of post card? Where did the card come from?
You can see where this is going.

And while it prints, you are free to do other things.

Yeah. And what were you doing up until it printed? I'll tell ya--You spent the previous month learning to use CAD, writing (drawing) your design, debugging and changing and rewriting that "post card" you have to feed the printer.

I've got 20+ years in the mainframe computer industry and still can't figure out CAD or CAM.

 

[Tinhack]

I'm not trying to discourage anyone. I'm just saying it takes more than just buying a printer. You young guys are built for new technology and are fast learners. When us old-folk start thinking of vectors, dithers, POVs and such, CAD starts sounding more like Coronary Artery Disease.

 

[grsthegreat]

id do lots of cad work, and have a plasma table. setting up fo the cut takes 10x the labor as doing the cut. im sure this printer is the same. my main issue is not too many things on my tractor are plastic.

i have seen a video Jay Leno (not him, but his guys) make a plastic mold of a part he wanted, than cast a sacrificial form to the plastic mold, than make the part of cast metal. that was pretty cool.

 

[Diggin It]

You make these thingamabobs for your hydraulic hoses, then subject them to the oil and the Sun. Do they last or turn to goo?

 

[LittleBill21]

You make these thingamabobs for your hydraulic hoses, then subject them to the oil and the Sun. Do they last or turn to goo?

good question. i will let you know in a year.

based on my reading it has chemical resistance. I guess we will see.