Stack Exchange
log in sign up chat discuss faq users badges

Area 51 » Technology

definition commitment beta

The Digital Fabrication site didn't have enough activity during the beta, and has been closed. You can download the data dump of all questions here.

67 Example Questions (2 closed)

active newest votes
up vote 11 down vote
What's important to know before I buy a laser cutter?
added by Highly Irregular Aug 23 '12 at 8:58
link
up vote 11 down vote
What 3D printing materials are food safe?
added by uncovery Dec 18 '12 at 9:35
link
4  
Excellent.. was wondering this today. – naught101 Jan 24 '13 at 12:07
I just heard about this resently - NASA is funding 3D food printing :] See the reference here – Leslie at Acme Consultancy Ltd May 29 '13 at 19:27
up vote 10 down vote
Would an FDM machine with a milling bit following the printer serve to improve surface quality and fit of the parts or would it cause more problems?
added by insta Jun 28 '12 at 21:23
link
up vote 10 down vote
How can I use [model 3D scanner] and [model 3D printer] in tandem to act as a 'copier' without any human interaction?
added by Marcelo Jun 28 '12 at 21:39
link
I think if you reword this to "Can I use [model 3d scanner] and [model 3d printer] in tandem as a "copier" without human interaction?" it might be better. – warren Jun 29 '12 at 13:04
up vote 10 down vote
Is there a way to use recycled paper / cardboard as a wood-like material for any personal-scale CNC machines?
added by Bryce Jun 29 '12 at 1:53
link
1  
I appreciate that this question is not about 3d printing, which I think will help the channel appeal to the full range of fabrication possibilities. – Matthew Bernhardt Jun 29 '12 at 12:53
I can see all kinds of uses for this ... I would like to see a discussion on this. Also would there be a way to use coreplast in the same way? – Sharon Kay Jun 29 '12 at 18:03
1  
Plastics too. I'd like to know if there's a way to turn recycled materials into useful objects via cheap CNC machines. – Bryce Sep 22 '12 at 8:45
up vote 10 down vote
What are the design considerations when building a knife cutting attachment for a CNC table?
added by Matthew Bernhardt, edited by Mark Booth Apr 5 '13 at 10:05
link
This was a question I had on the old forum (which I think is still relevant) – Matthew Bernhardt Jun 29 '12 at 12:57
1  
Good question, but I wouldn't call any stack exchange a forum if I were you. For many of us forums have bad connotations, SE is something different and better suited to it's purpose. – Mark Booth Jun 29 '12 at 13:35
Fair enough - I've struggled with the appropriate term to use, actually. I agree that forum isn't the right one, but I'm not sure what to use instead. – Matthew Bernhardt Jun 29 '12 at 20:22
1  
@Matthew: I call them frikis or wikorums. :) – insta Jul 3 '12 at 14:46
up vote 10 down vote
I have model [Y] [milling machine]. How can I automate it using an [Arduino]?
added by warren Jun 29 '12 at 13:02
link
up vote 10 down vote
For home parts casting, what do I need in a [brass-melting] furnace?
added by warren Jun 29 '12 at 13:03
link
Not quite sure what you mean. Compared to what? Have you cast lead, alu, before? Induction heater or charcoal furnace? – Renoir Jul 3 '12 at 18:55
@Renoir - hence the question – warren Jul 5 '12 at 13:59
up vote 10 down vote
When are printed gears or bushings not suitable and can anything be done to use them instead of industrial components?
added by insta Jun 29 '12 at 16:12
link
up vote 10 down vote
What steps are necessary to safely print with Nylon weed-trimmer filament at home?
added by insta Jun 29 '12 at 16:16
link
up vote 10 down vote
What sort of materials can I use with a hot wire cutter? What materials should I avoid?
added by Matthew Bernhardt Jun 30 '12 at 19:21
link
up vote 10 down vote
What insurance do I need to protect against accidents incurred using personal manufacturing equipment?
added by warren Jul 2 '12 at 19:53
link
1  
I think this is too localised... it will differ by location thanks to local laws and insurance companies. – Highly Irregular Jul 29 '12 at 8:33
1  
@Highly Irregular - perhaps ... but it would seem to be pretty inclusive (eg, does Term Life cover incidents like this, Homeowner's, etc) – warren Nov 1 '12 at 16:37
up vote 10 down vote
Is there an easy way to print with ABS in the house and not have the whole house fume up badly?
added by creuzerm Jul 3 '12 at 14:00
link
up vote 10 down vote
Is there an upper limit to the available resolution from a resin printer?
added by insta Jul 3 '12 at 14:43
link
up vote 10 down vote
At high travel speeds, the Arduino on a RepRap is pressed for CPU time. Is it possible to offload its work to auxillary devices?
added by insta Jul 3 '12 at 14:55
link
up vote 10 down vote
I have a third-generation Sanguino Reprap main board. Will the Ultimaker opto-endstop boards work with it?
added by Renoir, edited by WikiSpeedia hang-around Nov 10 '12 at 19:25
link
up vote 10 down vote
When drilling very small (<0.5 mm, 3 mm through) holes in brass, my drill bits keep breaking half way. How can I stop this?
added by Renoir, edited by WikiSpeedia hang-around Nov 10 '12 at 19:24
link
up vote 10 down vote
I am using the laser toner method to create my own PCBs, but the black toner leaves marks everywhere after sanding it off. How can I clean it?
added by Renoir Jul 4 '12 at 12:37
link
up vote 10 down vote
What sort of byproducts do I need to watch for when laser cutting plastic?
added by Matthew Bernhardt Jul 4 '12 at 14:05
link
up vote 10 down vote
Can I print with the much cheaper ABS or PLA chips rather than filament. What extruder designs have been tried?
added by Stuart Jul 5 '12 at 10:52
link
up vote 10 down vote
What software would I need in order to set up my Kinect as a 3D scanner?
added by Matthew Bernhardt Jul 10 '12 at 4:47
link
up vote 10 down vote
How do I improve laser engraving on glass?
added by sergeantKK, edited by WikiSpeedia hang-around Nov 10 '12 at 19:24
link
...When I laser engrave onto glasses, the quality of the etching is sometimes very poor, it appears as though the glass getting"blasted" away at the edges of the design. Is it the type of glass I'm using ? Should the glass be coated in something first ? I heard wet newspaper can help... – sergeantKK Jul 13 '12 at 10:48
up vote 10 down vote
How can I successfully 3D print my top heavy action figure designs?
added by nekollx, edited by WikiSpeedia hang-around Nov 10 '12 at 19:24
link
up vote 10 down vote
I wish to write my own CAM software to generate tool paths for CNC milling. Where can I find details of the algorithms for generating tool paths?
added by Rocketmagnet Sep 21 '12 at 11:05
link
up vote 10 down vote
When should I use climb milling, and when should I use conventional milling?
added by Rocketmagnet Sep 21 '12 at 11:05
link
up vote 10 down vote
How do I calculate speeds and feeds for my CNC milling machine?
added by Rocketmagnet, edited by WikiSpeedia hang-around Nov 10 '12 at 19:24
link
Wouldn't the answer to this be the same whether CNC or conventional milling machine? – alx9r Jan 13 '13 at 7:27
@alxr: Mostly yes except CNC machines with 0.002mm precision and corresponding scale tools are not uncommon, and I guess calculations of feed for milling 40x40x40cm block of steel into a sheet metal stamping profile can be quite different than milling mechanism of 3x3x1mm micropump. – SF. Apr 22 '13 at 9:17
up vote 10 down vote
Despite using the heated printbed I got some warping on my print. What can I try to improve this?
added by bardiir Oct 1 '12 at 6:44
link
up vote 10 down vote
How can I arrange coiled (non-spooled) filament to avoid snags or tangles while printing?
added by sugaredlightning, edited by Mark Booth Nov 28 '12 at 10:14
link
up vote 10 down vote
What are recommended methods for finishing/smoothing the surface of a printed object?
added by sugaredlightning Dec 2 '12 at 4:56
link
1  
I would add which material you are talking about here to clarify – uncovery Dec 18 '12 at 9:02
up vote 10 down vote
Which ABS colors are least likely to change color during printing?
added by uncovery Dec 18 '12 at 9:31
link
up vote 10 down vote
What are the most stable connection types to combine ABS parts to a larger model without screws or glue?
added by uncovery Dec 18 '12 at 9:43
link
up vote 10 down vote
Is there a social network where I can find people with a 3D printer nearby?
added by Ralf Dec 27 '12 at 19:21
link
Might expand this to also ask about possible nearby hackerspaces. – Compro01 Jun 10 '13 at 21:28
up vote 10 down vote
Are there any consumer 3D printing machines/materials capable of producing items that are able to withstand temperatures up to 800 degrees Fahrenheit?
added by boscho Jan 4 '13 at 16:31
link
2  
That's about 204°C right? ABS should withstand that. Also, there are powder/laser printers that will print metal alloy objects. Perhaps a higher temperature? – naught101 Jan 24 '13 at 11:24
1  
Hi @naught101 welcome to our Digital Fabrication proposal, but could we please try to keep comments for clarifications and suggestions to the proposed question please, if people not used to Area 51 see something that looks like an answer, it makes them think this is a place where questions are answered rather than one where questions are merely proposed. – Mark Booth Jan 29 '13 at 14:19
2  
@MarkBooth: I know. I was trying to point out that the question is based on poor information. I think the same question about a higher temperature (ie. a temperature higher than common printing materials can stand) would be more interesting and useful. – naught101 Jan 30 '13 at 0:01
Revised for the sake of a better proposal q. – boscho Apr 28 '13 at 19:52
up vote 10 down vote
How do I drill a precisely positioned, long, straight hole in mild steel?
added by alx9r Jan 13 '13 at 7:29
link
up vote 10 down vote
Primer on material engineering: How to choose metal for my [my purpose]?
added by SF. Jan 16 '13 at 12:49
link
up vote 10 down vote
Does PLA give of any toxic by-products when melted using something like a Filabot?
added by naught101 Jan 25 '13 at 0:29
link
I would edit this to "What are the safety considerations for consumer PLA reclaiming/recycling?" – circuit-bento Apr 5 '13 at 9:04
1  
Hrm.. I know what you mean, but "safety considerations" seem a bit broad (have you read an instruction manual for a consumer product lately?). I'm specifically interested in what happens with PLA when it's melted, because it's commonly used for food containers. I don't want answers like "don't burn yourself" or "don't stick your fingers in the grinder"... – naught101 Apr 5 '13 at 23:29
up vote 10 down vote
How can I support this large overhang [example] when 3D printing?
added by naught101 Jan 25 '13 at 0:30
link
up vote 10 down vote
Is there a cheap, safe way to get the high pressures and temperatures (170°c/60psi) needed to make high quality starch-based plastics?
added by naught101 Jan 25 '13 at 1:36
link
1  
See instructables.com/id/… - doesn't strike me as particularly safe. – naught101 Jan 25 '13 at 1:37
up vote 10 down vote
I need to lap weld two 1/8" thick stainless steel sheets, can you help me choose the most effective welding process?
added by shoul25 Jan 29 '13 at 20:14
link
up vote 10 down vote
Can 3D printing match injection moulding for structural strength?
added by naught101 Feb 9 '13 at 10:38
link
1 2