Hello everyone,

The Wayne makerspace lab has been busy since the start of the semester.  There is always someone in the lab, printing, drawing, testing robots, or just hanging out.  The printers are almost constantly running and the students have no problem with figuring them out.

Our portable printer (affectionately named “Polly”) exhibited platform heating problems for over a month now.  A heated platform is important when printing with ABS plastic as it needs to cool slowly to reduce the risk of warping.  As the printer was under warranty, the vendor sent a replacement heating element.  It worked for a little while, then failed again.  As it turns out, the ribbon cable that connects the heating element to the circuit board was damaged from improper assembly at the factory.  Here are Neal and Chris tearing the printer apart to install the replacement cable.  Thanks, guys!

image

Like copy machines and laser printers, it is a good idea to purchase a service plan for 3D printers.  The portable printer does not have a plan (the vendor is too small), but our two Makerbots are on the plan and has already saved us considerable cost in upkeep.

Amy from the Business Office found a cool pumpkin for use on www.thingiverse.com) as a candy jar at the teller window.  Named “grumpy pumpkin”, it certainly looks the title.  The jar took 12-14 hours to print, and the lid another 3-4 after that.  The lid did not fit properly due to a slightly flawed CAD design.  But no worries, Daniel from that office used our Dremel tool to carve the lid into shape (pun intended).

IMG_19700101_121812

IMG_19700101_122003

If you find something interesting on www.thingiverse.com that you would like to print, please let us know!

Morgan, Dusty, and I had a big day on Friday.  We attended and presented at Manufacturing Day at Wayne College, the first event of its kind.  Over 160 attendees from the Chamber of Commerce and manufacturing companies in Wayne County came to the event.  We had a 3D printer in the main meeting room as well as another in a classroom for our breakout session.  The three of us explained and demonstrated how 3D printers are used in manufacturing.  If you are interested in knowing more, please open the PDF in this e-mail.  Our presentation was well received and we had an excellent lunch, too (Old Carolina BBQ, baby!).

IMG_20141003_132431

IMG_20141003_095133

IMG_20141003_135918

tom-presenting

Later this week, a dozen or so engineers from the University of Akron Human Powered Vehicle Team will arrive at the 3D Lab for CAD lessons, courtesy of Dusty.  They would like to build custom, lightweight, strong parts for their vehicles and 3D printers are just the thing.  More news about this endeavor next week.

human powered vehicle team

 

3d-printing-news

See how 3D “bio printer” creates on-demand skin grafts for burn victims:

http://www.gizmag.com/printalive-biopronter-skin-grafts-burns/34057

 

On the fun side, see how skateboards use 3D printed replacement parts:

http://www.gizmag.com/electric-bubblegum-skateboard-3d-printed-parts/34035

 

As always, please click here to view the weekly blog of the Wayne makerspace.

If you wish to be removed from this mailing list, please reply to this message.

 

Stay tuned for more news next week:

Tom