Making scales on a printer.

I have access to a 3D printer at my work and I'm fairly certain that I could arrange use of it for personal items on occasion. My question is simple; could somebody here design some scales in CAD software?

The printer can get create models that are very intricate. If your design has raised lettering, recessed lettering, spikes, tentacles, whatever, it will get printed. The models are rock solid and can withstand a good amount of impact.

Here's the material it will be made of:
FullCure720 Transparent Materials - Objet Geometries

So if anybody wants to send me some CAD drawings (STL or SLC files) I'd really appreciate it. If all goes well I would print two pairs and mail one back to whoever designed them.

Is this like one of those rapid prototyping machines.. sounds like a cool idea

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Originally Posted by Del1r1um

Is this like one of those rapid prototyping machines.. sounds like a cool idea

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Yeah it's pretty slick, too. Unfortunately I don't know how to do anything in CAD. I guess if nobody chimes in I could always bring a razor in to one of our engineers and see if they'd design it. But that's boring -- I want creative shavers!

Damn, if only I knew/had CAD...

Well drats. I guess I can take a drawing and have someone at work design it in CAD. Then I can post it in the help files. :)

I thought of an additional question; would there be any reason not to create the scales as one piece? Meaning that the spacer would not be a separate piece and you'd only need one pin where the blade swives.

EDIT: Philadelph and any other scale makers; if you give me a PDF drawing of some ideas and include the dimensions, I might be able to use that.

I'm not too bad at designing in 3dsMax.

I've done some work in CAD but it's been a little while. Let me see if I can "acquire" a copy to "practice" on and maybe I can mock something up for you. I'll let you know progress. I also have friends who are proficient who would help.

Concerning the uniscale, I know one the concerns is flex and strain on the wedge and pivot point. If the material being used is flexible enough to be under the constant pressure than one would be fine. I'm thinking, if you can, make one design and make it a two piece and a one piece. It'd be easy enough in CAD.

That would be so useful for making prototypes
and casting a silicone mold from those.

I can work in autocad have been for 8+ years.

What type of files does the system recognize?

I also have to find my copy since I migrated to a MAC i got rid of my PC software.

I can get trial softwares of CAD software for MAC which are easy to use.

I just need to know what extensions and files the system uses.

Awesome Idea.

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Originally Posted by 0livia

That would be so useful for making prototypes
and casting a silicone mold from those.

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That's exactly why we have the printer in the first place. I work I.T. for a medical device manufacturer, and it's much cheaper in the long run to test out implants and surgical tools with the acrylic rather than going through the whole machining process.

The engineers that use it have a few novelty items they've printed -- the coolest being some sweet chess pieces. The rook is about normal size (say the size of your thumb for reference) and has the brickwork recessed, a small doorway, a spiral staircase with steps, and a crazy-small double helix down the center for support.

I figure why not load up some scales and see how it goes. I got a PM about it today so we'll see!

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Originally Posted by singlewedge

I can work in autocad have been for 8+ years.

What type of files does the system recognize?

I also have to find my copy since I migrated to a MAC i got rid of my PC software.

I can get trial softwares of CAD software for MAC which are easy to use.

I just need to know what extensions and files the system uses.

Awesome Idea.

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They'd have to be STL or SLC files. I can find out if other formats will work on Monday.

I'm not that familiar with the various CAD softwares -- from what I read from the printer manufacturer's site, it seems that most programs can export to one of those files. We use NX at my company so that's the only one I can vouch for.

EDIT: For singlewedge, claytor and Piet:
http://redeyeondemand.com/CADtoSTL.aspx

There are instructions for setting various CAD programs to save as STL. AutoCAD and SolidWorks are both listed.

There's a Dutch company that prints prototypes and anything else for online customers but they use a different technique. They print the objects out of a box filled with plastic? particles of 0.1mm in size. That can still be nice but not very detailed.

Your printer uses 0.016mm layers which is much better for fine details :)

I think for a stylish pair of scales autocad is most suited, but if you would like scales with e.g. a gun, science fiction or fantasy theme I can help you out.

Edit: If you print the scales as two sides and a wedge you can easily take a mold from them for casting because of the flat innersides.

I'll take a crack at it in Autocad. It looks like it can export STL files.

It might take a few days.

Wicked cool idea though.

Mark

theyve got these crazy one touch routing machines now, they get fairly detailed. wont yield as finished a product as the machine your talking about..
i knew a guy that had access to one of those back in the day, he was always givin out these crazy dradel type geometric odities with moving parts. his were kinda brittle like macaroni though...
great idea

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Originally Posted by 0o.Mark.o0

I'll take a crack at it in Autocad. It looks like it can export STL files.

It might take a few days.

Wicked cool idea though.

Mark

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Sweet. Just send me a PM when you have the STL and we'll see what happens. :)

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Originally Posted by The0ctopus

theyve got these crazy one touch routing machines now, they get fairly detailed. wont yield as finished a product as the machine your talking about..
i knew a guy that had access to one of those back in the day, he was always givin out these crazy dradel type geometric odities with moving parts. his were kinda brittle like macaroni though...
great idea

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We have an older 3D printer that uses a fine powder and compacts it for the part. It yields a good model but similar to what you've said, if you dropped it or hit it too hard it would crumble. It was kinda like Tylenol.

The new one we have is probably just less than 2 years old and uses an acrylic base. If the parts were sterilized they could actually be implanted. They have printers now that use titanium. Don't think we'll be getting one of those anytime soon, but damn would that be sweet.

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Originally Posted by commiecat

I have access to a 3D printer at my work and I'm fairly certain that I could arrange use of it for personal items on occasion. My question is simple; could somebody here design some scales in CAD software?

The printer can get create models that are very intricate. If your design has raised lettering, recessed lettering, spikes, tentacles, whatever, it will get printed. The models are rock solid and can withstand a good amount of impact.

Here's the material it will be made of:
FullCure720 Transparent Materials - Objet Geometries

So if anybody wants to send me some CAD drawings (STL or SLC files) I'd really appreciate it. If all goes well I would print two pairs and mail one back to whoever designed them.

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Hey What's up????

I am an exoerienced 3D cad modeller. Send me the dimensions from pin to pin... and heel to toe on the blade... I will rock you some scales ready for the Rapid -Pro machine... One catch I want a pair as well.

Cheers

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Originally Posted by Archie

Hey What's up????

I am an exoerienced 3D cad modeller. Send me the dimensions from pin to pin... and heel to toe on the blade... I will rock you some scales ready for the Rapid -Pro machine... One catch I want a pair as well.

Cheers

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Well this is more of a "I want to see how this turns out" thing, so go ahead and draw up some scales that you could use and I'll see if I can print them out. If you can make it as close to standard then that'd be cool but I honestly don't have any razors right now to put these on. I'd prefer some details that would be difficult to carve/cut by hand just to show off, so go wild. I'll print two pairs -- one for myself and one to mail back to the designer.

Send me a PM when you have a model. I mentioned up-thread that the files need to be in STL or SLC format. This printer is at my workplace so I can't guarantee that I'll print them, but I'd say that it's 95% likely. :)

Cool......

Hate to bump this but there were several posts about making CAD files, but I never heard back. :(

So is there anyone else interested? Read the thread for specifics. Basically, if you know CAD and can make some scales, send me either an STL or SLC file and I can print them as a very durable acrylic-based material.

I'd print two pairs, one pair for me to keep and one pair to be mailed back to whoever sends me the file(s).

I'm glad you bumped this; I had not seen it. I may toy around with it this weekend

How will you convert dwg/dgn or dxf extension to slc/stl?

I can dabble a little of 3D in autocad. Wouldn't be too much trouble to extrude something in 2d.

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Originally Posted by davik

How will you convert dwg/dgn or dxf extension to slc/stl?

I can dabble a little of 3D in autocad. Wouldn't be too much trouble to extrude something in 2d.

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Well I'm not exactly familiar with the various CAD programs. Our engineers use NX which I can troubleshoot on a basic level, but I've no idea how to create a model in it.

AutoCAD can save files as STL so conversion would be done in the application:
Rapid Prototyping & Direct Digital Manufacturing - RedEye - CAD-to-STL

They have to be 3D for this experiment as the printer will create the actual scales in an acrylic. If you feel like having a go then PM me with the STL files. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by commiecat

Well I'm not exactly familiar with the various CAD programs. Our engineers use NX which I can troubleshoot on a basic level, but I've no idea how to create a model in it.

AutoCAD can save files as STL so conversion would be done in the application:
Rapid Prototyping & Direct Digital Manufacturing - RedEye - CAD-to-STL

They have to be 3D for this experiment as the printer will create the actual scales in an acrylic. If you feel like having a go then PM me with the STL files. :)

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I tried sending a PM but I must have done something wrong because that message is not in the sent folder.

I'll just post the links here.

mediafire link to stl file:razor3.stl

Unfortunately I can't upload a preview jpg from work because of a stupid firewall. If you want a preview of the scales, I'll upload it later.

*note: the slot for tha blade is two milimeters wide, I'm hoping the material used is flexible enough.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by davik

I tried sending a PM but I must have done something wrong because that message is not in the sent folder.

I'll just post the links here.

mediafire link to stl file:razor3.stl

Unfortunately I can't upload a preview jpg from work because of a stupid firewall. If you want a preview of the scales, I'll upload it later.

*note: the slot for tha blade is two milimeters wide, I'm hoping the material used is flexible enough.

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I got the PM and just sent you a response. They have the file loaded but the printer operater wanted to confirm the length first because he's seeing it at around a foot long. That'd be a killer blade. :)

Okay, so I'm terribly impatient and the shop guys seemed bored so I had the scales printed out despite the discrepancy in scale. That's right, I used the word scale twice in that sentence with completely different meanings. :)

As expected it was way too large but I hope you can at least see what this thing does and the potential it has if painting could be done right. I told the guys that it would be too large so they printed up some smaller ones, which were all too small for a razor but look awfully cute.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...tanding-up.jpg

http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...aying-down.jpg

http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...1-top-view.jpg

Those are all single pieces. Not to sound picky, but I'd actually prefer two scales without a connecting piece. Even with the larger size, the bowing seems to be a bit much.

What do you guys think about painting them? Like, how to paint them, types of paint to use, etc. The model material absorbs paint.

Krylon makes a Fusion product that would be worth a shot. Since it's applying to plastic it'd have to bond to it.

I've reduced its length. The problem was that the drawing units were set to inches, and I used metrics units as reference - such a newbie mistake.

I can see the potential to make unique scales, such as adding a text relief or to puncture intricate patterns... depending on how precise that printer can be...

Here's what I've done to it.

Feel free to correct me in any way in any way, or even sketch something that I'll try to reproduce.

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Originally Posted by davik

I can see the potential to make unique scales, such as adding a text relief or to puncture intricate patterns... depending on how precise that printer can be...

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Yes yes yes! Do text relief or add texture or crazy spikes or something -- no point in using the printer for the kind of stuff you can just cut out of a plexiglass sheet. :)

From the manufacturer's site:
PolyJet™ technology enables horizontal layers of just 16-micron (0.0006"), exceptionally fine details, and ultra-thin walls down to 0.1-0.3mm typical (accuracy varies according to the geometry, part orientation and print size).

It's both accurate and intricate. If you're taking requests then I'll say that I adore some of Max and Philadelph's designs. Not to mooch off their creativity, but check out some of the more unique synthetic scale designs here for inspiration:
Custom Vintage Straight Restore Gallery : Acrylics & Synthetics

And Philadelph has a few here:
Straight Razor Place Forums - Philadelph's Album: My Keepers

So if you're up for modifying the file more, go for it -- or send me the file for the new drawing you did and I'll print it out.

I'll put my back into it this weekend then.

It's terrible, I've done the model but failed to convert it into one solid object.
The only thing left was to join the thin layer of texture to the razor scales. My idea was to make a texture similar to snake scales, and apply it to the model, but it refuses to fuse them - something about non aligned vertices. I'm not expericenced enough to work it out.

You can print the stl file I made, though without the snake scales they're just uninspired.

If anyone can help, please do. Here's the dwg and stl

Free File Hosting Made Simple - MediaFire

If you guys ever want to sell a set of these scales let me know...I need a set for my tiny 5/8" razor.


It'd be pretty sweet to have a set made with "JokiJo" printed on the side.

Did anyone ever take this any further? I have a 3D printer on order and have some ideas for custom scales and brush handles. Both printing them directly and using the printer to make a mold.

I know nothing about 3d but I like the look of this if it's any help.
3d model straight razor