[SailDesign]

My #2 kid and his wife gave me a 3D printer for Christmas. Most fun present for years!

I thought it might be fun to have a "LOST" badge to go above the "SOUL" on the car. Still playing, but here's version 1. Still needs sanding and painting, but it's a start

My first print was a boat hull, because I've been designing boats in 3D for a living for at least 25 years. First time I've been able to play with a small version of the real thing.

 

[glove]

My #2 kid and his wife gave me a 3D printer for Christmas. Most fun present for years!

I thought it might be fun to have a "LOST" badge to go above the "SOUL" on the car. Still playing, but here's version 1. Still needs sanding and painting, but it's a start

View attachment 141360


My first print was a boat hull, because I've been designing boats in 3D for a living for at least 25 years. First time I've been able to play with a small version of the real thing.

View attachment 141359

Looks Good.

 

[T0uretteSyndr0m]

Very nice. I can't wait to see what else you make for the car!

 

[56chuzz]

What a great gift! My wife and kids are poor like me, so I'll have to save up for one of those! What material are you using to print with?

 

[SailDesign]

What a great gift! My wife and kids are poor like me, so I'll have to save up for one of those! What material are you using to print with?

Currently using PLA, but have some ABS on the way to try. Those seem to be my two choices for this one.

 

[56chuzz]

I know that the PLA is biodegradable, but what about the ABS?

 

[T0uretteSyndr0m]

I know that the PLA is biodegradable, but what about the ABS?

ABS is what most car parts/accessories are made of.

 

[Narsil]

I've been 3D printing for our small business since around 2012. One thing to know about PLA is that, even though it's printed at around 200*C, at even 100*F, it becomes soft and floppy. I've had work parts get soft and very deformed from sitting in the front seat of my car in the Florida sun. It was a straight probe holder about one foot long, three inches wide, and less than a quarter inch thick, with large cutouts to reduce weight and material. It sagged under its own weight in the sun and ended up in more of an "L" shape. Completely ruined the part.

I like the idea of your badge but I don't think PLA is going to work for you unless your car paint never gets above 80*F. If it does, ABS or PETG is going to hold up far better. If you find that you can't reliably print ABS or PETG, you can try High Temp PLA or Tough PLA. You'll have to heat treat your badge in an oven or toaster oven after printing. I don't understand the chemistry behind it but the heat treatment makes the part much more heat resistant and it won't soften again unless the temperature gets much hotter than where it softened during the heat treatment.

Good luck! I've found 3D printing to be one of the more frustratingly enjoyable endeavors I've tried.

 

[SailDesign]

I've been 3D printing for our small business since around 2012. One thing to know about PLA is that, even though it's printed at around 200*C, at even 100*F, it becomes soft and floppy. I've had work parts get soft and very deformed from sitting in the front seat of my car in the Florida sun. It was a straight probe holder about one foot long, three inches wide, and less than a quarter inch thick, with large cutouts to reduce weight and material. It sagged under its own weight in the sun and ended up in more of an "L" shape. Completely ruined the part.

I like the idea of your badge but I don't think PLA is going to work for you unless your car paint never gets above 80*F. If it does, ABS or PETG is going to hold up far better. If you find that you can't reliably print ABS or PETG, you can try High Temp PLA or Tough PLA. You'll have to heat treat your badge in an oven or toaster oven after printing. I don't understand the chemistry behind it but the heat treatment makes the part much more heat resistant and it won't soften again unless the temperature gets much hotter than where it softened during the heat treatment.

Good luck! I've found 3D printing to be one of the more frustratingly enjoyable endeavors I've tried.

Useful info - Thanks!

I seriously doubt the badge will ever make it to the car, however - just a nice thought and something to get used to the printer with. Most of my stuff since is boat-related.

Here's one with a dime on the engne box for scale. Low-res - higher res versions will happen when I get more used to it.

just a nice thought and something to get used to the printer with. Most of my stuff since is boat-related.

 

[Narsil]

That is really slick! A friend of mine just helped me upgrade a several years-old Creality CR-10S. About $100 worth of upgrade parts and it's printing better than our $5k Ultimaker S5.

I'm really impressed with people who can 3D model well. I've been doing it intermediately for a decade and I'm still terrible at it.

 

[SailDesign]

That is really slick! A friend of mine just helped me upgrade a several years-old Creality CR-10S. About $100 worth of upgrade parts and it's printing better than our $5k Ultimaker S5.

I'm really impressed with people who can 3D model well. I've been doing it intermediately for a decade and I'm still terrible at it.

"

I've been designing boats in 3D for a long time. I CAN still draw by hand, but I don't have a drawing board any more. And it's much simpler using my favourite software, Rhino, to get a fair hull shape.