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Sep 2015

Hello I am an inventor looking to hire help with my next product. I have my current products produced in Asia and would love to have my next finished products produced in the USA and Canada. I have my fingers crossed that I can use 3d printers to produce my finished products.

Heres what we need to figure out… How to embed a solid into either a nylon or a strong flexible plastic.

Let me know if anyone wants the job/challenge. Or if you have figured it out all ready that would be extremely helpful!

Thank you everyone hope you are all having fun innovating.

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    Sep '15
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    Sep '15
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embedding an object in a 3d print can be made very simple if the model is able to be printed in an orientation that allows for insert placement between successive printed layers. imagine modeling a square hole that a nut can drop into, but wont spin, then printing over the top of the nut. If you are interested in working together, please visit my hub and contact me via my hub page.

I agree with Chris- I’ve read about people pausing a print part way to embed items, and then continuing the print. Some slicers (processing program you use to go from 3D model to printable item) have the ability to do this.

Couple of thoughts though-

3D printing is slow. It’s great for prototypes, or items that need individual customization. Unless you use a provider with a farm of machines lead time can be high. (There’s a place around the lower mainland whose name is escaping me right now that has a farm.) I’m assuming you’re thinking of 100’s of items at a time, if you’re already getting things manufactured in Asia (and I assume by injection moulding or similar.)

Embedding by pausing is going to need manual intervention part-way through the print. You can print several items in the same print run all at the same time, pause once, fill them all, and continue. Or you can print one item at a time, pause, fill, continue, and start the next item in the print run. The first way is great in terms of labor, but in my limited experience I’ve had more failures doing it that way rather than completing an item at a time. Especially with a material like Nylon, which I believe tends to curl during printing.

Does the thing you want to embed ever need maintenance? Does it have to be sealed?

Another option would be to design a cap for a cavity. If it has to be sealed, glue it. It’s probably a little more labour, but I think the failure rate will be a lot lower. And if the item to insert is an odd shape, a “fitted plug” could be designed that was split in two halves. Put the thing in the plug, put the plug into a regular shaped hole, seal it all up.

There’s a 3D Printing/maker meet up that the Richmond Public Library is organizing/sponsoring this coming Thursday at the Minoru branch. There maybe some interested/helpful people there. It’s the first of a series of monthly sessions. (Full disclosure- I’m the speaker that night :slight_smile: )

If you want really amazing finishes, and if the item is UV proof, you could probably do some amazing things with a SLA (laser + resin) printer. They have both solid and flexible resins now. You can write to them for samples. I have some that I can bring along to the library on Thursday if you want to see them.

Good luck!

Julian

Thank you so much I just checked out your website and left a message at your shop. Thank you so much for reaching out to me.

IOTDesign is the group I was trying to remember the name of. :slight_smile:

I know they’ve helped other Lower Mainland creators out in the past.

Another place you may want to ask for help, or follow, is the 3D604 google group.

I hope I am responding correctly on this forum lol. Thank you for the invite

to the meet up. I will be there. And thank you for your insight.

Greetings,

Technology Salad 3D has been listed here on 3DHubs.com since February 2014 and 3D printing unusual models with the Form1 SLA Ultra resolution 3D printer since August 2013(upgraded to Form1+ Oct. 2014). Our very first commercial service 3D print was a “dental drill stop” for a Dental Clinic in Calgary Alberta. We’ve been delaying the marketing of our capabilities due to the simple fact we do very well by way of referrals, and quality over quantity is paramount.

Often, we develop another method of making the Form1+ printer get-up and dance.

If you would like to know if your project could benefit from using the SLA 3D printing technology we’d be happy to explore the possibility with you.

Cheers and good journeys,

Brent

Technology Salad 3D

I think you are; I’m still finding it a bit confusing- it seems to mix chronological order with voting.

Please do register: Richmond Public Library | Programs & Events - I don’t imagine they’ll run out of space, but you never know- the 3D printers the library has are always in high demand.

Look forward to meeting you there!

Hello,

Sorry the link you sent me says that the event was canceled and when I call the Richmond Library they did not know about the event to register me.

It is this Thursday the 24th?. What time does it start?

Hmm. It’s still there when I look. But I’ve had trouble sending links from their site before.

Best I can think to do is go to this link: Richmond Public Library | Programs & Events. Then look at Thursday the 24th, 7pm. It’s called “3D Maker MeetUps”. I’ve yet to be told it’s cancelled- I’ll double check with the organizers tomorrow as well.