After dozens of test prints, I have a good understanding of what's lacking in the MK 1 printhead, but first the good points. The first iteration had the minimum requirements to produce a decent print. It had a sturdy mount for the clone Titan and E3D V6 hotend. It also has a 50mm cooling fan blowing into a cone that directed it just blow the nozzle tip, although after swapping to a clone Volcano heatblock which puts the nozzle 8.5mm lower, I had to use some gaffer tape to redirect the airflow down a little. Will have to figure out new dimensions to suit the longer dimensions. Starting with Mk2, I wanted to address the part cooling issue and also add a mount for an original Antclabs BL Touch bed leveling sensor that just arrived in the post. I chose a mechanical sensor instead of a filed proximity type because up until now I haven't finalised what print bed material will go into the future production version of the Mission 3D printer yet. In my opinion a high quality mechanical sensor is the best choice for glass or any of the new print surfaces now on the market. I also wanted to experiment and hopefully develop a tool-less hot-swappable printhead module for maximum convenience going from a 0.4mm nozzle to a 0.8mm one for example. With the low cost of clone parts, it was feasible to swap extruder, hotend, bed leveller and fan all in one. However, after awhile i realised the idea would be too costly and wasteful. Plus I found that the overall weight of everything was a mit much for even very strong neodynium magnets. Perhaps a magnetic system would work better if it was a lightweight Bowden system, maybe later... I also felt it was necessary to tidy up the whole printhead appearance for a better look. So at the end of Mk2 development, the magnets are out but the part cooling fan setup and BL touch mount is looking good! On to version 3!
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I have ordered almost all of the parts required to build my second 3D printer from Chinese suppliers. Aside from being much cheaper, I think they might be very low quality. But I am interested to learn if good design and software settings can make up and to see if the part are even as low quality as the prices seem to hint at. If this is possible in any significant way, then I could say there is a future in very cheap but fully functional 3D printers.
It may have quite a boring name for now but my latest prototype is taking shape. I am developing a large format 3D printer based on my proven SUNBIRD Mobile Computer Lab. As an enclosure, the SUNBIRD offers many advantages as a platform over conventional consumer 3D printers. Read all about it on my dedicated page - https://bramtan.weebly.com/
I was lucky enough to receive a set of declassified drawings of the Northrop YF23 stealth fighter from an aerospace enthusiast who happened to buy one of my SR71 Blackbird Models. I was immediately taken its curves and the challenge of modelling this prototype and optimising it as a 3D printed model. It took me 11 attempts to model this aircraft from the drawings provided, I was never sure I could do it justice. I discovered eventually that the key to getting it right was reading up about the design intent behind the curves and angles and realising that not a single surface is the way it is, by accident. I finally suceeded in approximating this beauty buy staying absolutely true to the 2D profiles. The finished model with more texture detail and optimisation to fit smaller printers will be available for download on Pinshape and Cults 3D very soon!
In 1967 the North American X15, an experimental aircraft used in test flights to gather information to aid aircraft and spacecraft design set the record for the world's the fastest manned powered aircraft reaching Mach 6.7. It was powered by a single rocket engine and regularly achieved altitudes above the 50 miles which qualified most of its pilots as astronauts. The North American X15 contributed hugely to advances found in modern air and spacecraft.
I was inspired to model this iconic plane after being contacted by a modelling enthusiast from the US who was interested in buying and printing one of my earlier 3D print models, the SR71 Blackbird. The X15 took me two days to model using 2D drawing from the internet. It's quite a simple shape but it did sharpen up my surface modelling skills nicely. I have modeled one of the earliest versions, hence the oval windows and no wingtip pods. I think it looks badder lwith the oval windows. I also had to make a few small changes to the shape of the tail to make it printable without infill or supports. This also speeds up the build time and cuts down on material costs. If you have a 3D printer with a build volume of at least 190mm x 190mm x 190mm, you can build my 1/35th scale model of this iconic plane. It's available for download here: https://pinshape.com/items/35442-3d-printed-north-american-x15 Honestly I never thought 3D printing could be a viable medium to make really beautiful organic sculptural things. I'm still way off its full potential but I really surprised myself this time. I feel like I've got a step closer to realising the thoughts and feelings in my head, and thankfully they don't look too bad either, Phew! I get so wrapped up with horrible world news and social networks nowadays. I'm in need of therapy! So I'm trying to focus on a singular aim - To look for beauty in unexpected places.
I love the way this print came out, the black PLA by Arianeplast (Fabrique en France!) printed really well, when I look at it I feel genuinely happy, strange and nerdy but whatever works... The original Grasshopper model was tweaked after test prints indicated problems. I've now decided to print two walls instead and reduce the layer height to 0.1mm to improve detail and strength on overhangs. Now just one or two small flaws remain that will hopefully be ironed out in the next version. I have even had a stab at signing my work. I decided on the Chinese character of my family name which is Tan but written 'Chen' in Mandarin. It looks the business! Murmurations 2 will be even better, printed with translucent PLA with digitally controlled LEDs to give the thing more energy and movement to capture the feel of a real murmuration, which was my original aim. In the meantime - Starling Murmurations 1 can be downloaded here - https://pinshape.com/items/33696-3d-printed-starling-murmurations-1 If I had to pick a most beautiful sight in the animal kingdom I would say it has to be a murmuration. In wintertime starlings flock together in their hundreds of thousands, flying in perfect harmony creating an illusion that they are one giant organism rather than a collection of small birds. This behaviour is still not fully explained but scientist think that it is a strategy that protects from predators and the temperature is slightly elevated inside a murmuration, a bonus in the middle of winter. This beautiful video shows it all - |
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Bram Tan Archives
September 2023
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