Prototyping, Testing and Manufacturing with 3D Printing

As a analysis and growth mechanical engineer, Michael Graham has seen just a few completely different sorts of expertise come and go. However as soon as a university pal talked about 3D printing to him, he was hooked.

Since 2011 Michael has labored as a contractor and engineer designing and constructing specialty machines and industrial gear. He has additionally dabbled in 3D printing by means of his profession, most notably with HP’s multi-jet Fusion 3D printer, and sometimes elsewhere. However in 2012 he picked up an unique Printrbot with the 3D printed and laser lower {hardware} to construct it for the educational expertise.

“I noticed folks making trinkets on Thingiverse however actually I had no concept what I’d use the machine for. It simply appeared like a doubtlessly useful gizmo and a profession ability to select up.”

As soon as he moved from the Midwest to Portland, Oregon and found the PDX 3D Printing Lab meetup and the thriving maker group, he had discovered his tribe of fellow ‘layer geeks’. They meet month-to-month to share tales and nerd out. Additionally they contribute a heavy presence to the annual Portland MakerFaire.

As an engineer, Michael has created exams, jigs and fixtures, and plenty of different designs. Certainly one of his main engineering experiments got here after he turned curious concerning the power of the completely different infill patterns utilized by most 3D printers. So, he constructed a check machine and decided that the rectilinear infill sample was not solely the quickest to 3D print, but it surely additionally resulted in a higher remaining half power/weight ratio in comparison with a honeycomb fill. He additionally decided that perimeters have a far higher impact on half power than infill does by way of power gained/plastic used. These outcomes helped Michael mannequin the present strategies he makes use of to design his 3D prints. An engineer all the way in which!

Whereas he has a store with a lathe, a mill, and different bigger manufacturing machines, he makes use of his 3D printer essentially the most. He enjoys seeing the fruits of his labor extra simply repeated and shared. He primarily makes use of a Prusa Mk3 to manufacture his designs.

Michael’s important challenge in the intervening time is the Mug-O-Matic TinyCNC drawing robotic. The Mug-O-Matic is an open-source, extremely modifiable mug printing robotic that makes use of markers, and the path of the creator who makes it, to decorate favourite espresso receptacles with enjoyable designs.

“I’ve experimented with constructing a machine to mechanically acetone vapor polish abs plastic utilizing an ultrasonic mister. It labored fairly properly but it surely was positively a hack. These days I’ve my thoughts set on producing novelty robotic kits and my designs particularly DO NOT require any post-processing since that drastically will increase the man-hours wanted to provide them. The imaginative and prescient is to actually scrape elements off the print bend and drop them right into a delivery field, with none useful compromises being made.”

Michael is continually pushed by curiosity and a need to develop and apply new expertise. This lead him to the creation of the Mug-O-Matic, “This specific work was impressed by quite a lot of tasks found on-line by means of my curiosity in making toys and constructing automated gear. I actually just like the ‘Eggbot’ egg plotter specifically and the way critically it takes its foolish job. I wished to create my very own little job particular robotic too, besides with an output that has extra on a regular basis enchantment than eggs. I believed hmm…I drink espresso day-after-day & I’ve by no means seen a espresso mug plotter earlier than. Sounds enjoyable!  Finally, my toy has completely different priorities than the eggbot, so I take advantage of completely different expertise and commerce off a decreased drawing decision to realize a lower cost level.”

However as a realist, Michael is aware of that supplies for tasks needs to be attainable by everybody, so he makes use of off-the-shelf supplies, as a rule, so everybody can reap the benefits of his creations. Solely when he can’t buy a ready-made resolution does he begin designing new elements. At that time, he makes use of no matter materials it takes to get the job carried out proper.

Michael has put his skills to good use, profitable a number of design contests sponsored by Instructables.com, Thingiverse, Pinshape, and others. He attributes his success to placing in a critical effort to make a inventive, unique, and reproducible challenge with wonderful documentation. His hottest tasks have a number of hundred thousand views on his engineerdog.com web site (hyperlinks beneath).

For the long run, Michael has many tasks to work on, however he has a weak spot that many people share, “ I strive to not overlook that the most harmful factor affecting my potential to finish a given challenge is…my subsequent challenge! So I strive to not do two tasks directly. That stated, down the highway, I’d have an interest to construct an expert (open-source) model of my TesterBot machine and provide a mechanical testing service. The one limitation is discovering paying purchasers first!”

We stay up for seeing extra of Michael’s designs come to life sooner or later! To see extra of what Michael is as much as, go to his web site right here:

www.engineerdog.com

You can even see Michaels’ designs on Thingiverse right here:

https://www.thingiverse.com/MechEngineerMike/about

Do you suppose you may have what it takes to be our subsequent Hacker of the Month? Merely observe us on Fb/Twitter or e mail chris.morgan@matterhackers.com. Inform us about your challenge or 3D printed creation, and you possibly can be featured in our subsequent publication. The Hacker of the Month can even obtain a free spool of PRO Sequence or MH Construct filament to additional their pursuit of 3D printing greatness.