3D printers have amazing possibilities for making our world better, but unfortunately lots of the things that people print on them have little or no useful value. From an environmental outlook, 3D printing is far from perfect. The world doesn't really need to be filled with little plastic dinosaurs, cars, or sculptures of people. My goal for this project was to make an environmental argument for why 3D printing can be a net-positive.
As an example, I decided to use 3d printing to repair my bike light. More exactly, it was my bike light's handlebar mount that needed fixing. It's a NiteRider MiNewt 600 Cordless Rechargable Headlight and I broke the section that connects the light to the handlebar clip. At TechShop, I was able to successfully design and print a repair part.
Tools:
As an example, I decided to use 3d printing to repair my bike light. More exactly, it was my bike light's handlebar mount that needed fixing. It's a NiteRider MiNewt 600 Cordless Rechargable Headlight and I broke the section that connects the light to the handlebar clip. At TechShop, I was able to successfully design and print a repair part.
Tools:
Calipers
Audodesk 123D, or other CAD software.
3D Printer (or printing service). I used Makerbot, Type A Machines, and Objet.
Audodesk 123D, or other CAD software.
3D Printer (or printing service). I used Makerbot, Type A Machines, and Objet.
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Signing UpStep 1: CAD your replacement part
My first step was to recreate the part of my bike mount in CAD. Using a set of calipers, I measured the mounting parts of my light and recreated the necessary shape. I used 123D, a free CAD software produced by Autodesk, available at http://www.123dapp.com/123d.
It isn't necessary to replicate all of the part's feature's exactly. Identify which dimensions are critical for attaching the light and then finish it off however you like. It's important to remember that your final part will probably be made out of a material that is less strong than the original. Add extra support and keep in mind the orientation you will end up printing in. If you are using a Makerbot or other FDM (filament-type) printer, the material will be much weaker in some directions than others. One tip for getting a good finish is to add small fillets (~0.05" or so) to all of your part's edges since most printers aren't effective at creating sharp corners.
I exported the shape as an STL file to bring to the 3d print software.
It isn't necessary to replicate all of the part's feature's exactly. Identify which dimensions are critical for attaching the light and then finish it off however you like. It's important to remember that your final part will probably be made out of a material that is less strong than the original. Add extra support and keep in mind the orientation you will end up printing in. If you are using a Makerbot or other FDM (filament-type) printer, the material will be much weaker in some directions than others. One tip for getting a good finish is to add small fillets (~0.05" or so) to all of your part's edges since most printers aren't effective at creating sharp corners.
I exported the shape as an STL file to bring to the 3d print software.
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MikeCicc says:
Jul 9, 2012. 11:08 AMReply
Dude! Cool!
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