Slicing a part in two for gluing
My situation is that in order to print I have to use an i3 MK3S at the library and they limit people to two hours per week. Consequently, the only way for me to print a project that would take longer than 2 hours is to print it in pieces and glue it together. The attached screenshot shows two such pieces that I am thinking about printing separately and gluing together, but I’m uncertain of the viability of that plan and am seeking advice.
First, the two objects were originally only one which I sliced apart in my CAD program (FreeCAD). They are about 200 mm long and the hollow, orange piece will have to sit on top of the other. I’m concerned that if there is any warping at all the walls of the objects won’t align properly. I’m also concerned about being able to get a bond that is watertight which would be desirable if possible. I thought I might sand the two surfaces that will mate with some fine sandpaper to make them smooth enough to glue together well. That said, in order to print these pieces in under 2 hours each I will have to print them at .3 mm Draft mode and I’m guessing it might be difficult to sand the pieces very smooth. The printer at the library uses PLA.
Would it be a fools errand to attempt what I’m thinking about? Should I go about it another way, perhaps?
Thanks.
RE: Slicing a part in two for gluing
I think this is a viable plan. Don't worry about printing at 0.3 layer height as this won't affect the surfaces you're trying to connect, only the vertical walls. With PLA you shouldn't have problems cementing the parts together. You may also want to consider applying a filler/primer on the inside after glueing the pieces together and applying a paint of polyurethane if you're concerned about it being watertight.
Formerly known on this forum as @fuchsr -- until all hell broke loose with the forum software...
RE:
I think this is a viable plan. Don't worry about printing at 0.3 layer height as this won't affect the surfaces you're trying to connect, only the vertical walls. With PLA you shouldn't have problems cementing the parts together. You may also want to consider applying a filler/primer on the inside after glueing the pieces together and applying a paint of polyurethane if you're concerned about it being watertight.
Thanks for that.
I have a follow up question, if you don't mind... It looks like I can print my box in two printing sessions each under 2 hours (as required by the library where I will print) if I print at the lowest quality without any infill. The box will be subject to very minimal physical stress if any. Mostly, it is for proof-of-concept, although I might put it to some limited use. So, my question is, based on what you see of the design (above in my OP) do you think it will be OK without any infill or would some level of infill be important to minimize warping or some such thing? If so, what percentage do you think would be good.
Thanks again.
RE:
Unless you have enough perimeters to print the walls solid (don't do this unless essential, it causes other issues) you need enough fill to hold the perimeters in place. If this is for low stress proof of concept use then two perimeters and 20% fill should be OK (you could try 10% but it's a slight risk) and still print fairly quickly. The bottom layers might be cut to two but only reduce top layers if you're willing to accept a significant drop in surface accuracy.
Cheerio,
RE: Slicing a part in two for gluing
Find a friend, or two, and have them schedule time with you so you can all use your time together, if they donate their time towards your project you should be able to print the entire thing.
2 hours is an extremely unreasonable amount of time to allow for printer projects relative to school projects or other wise. You should work to find another source or lobby to change the policy.
Good Luck
Swiss_Cheese
The Filament Whisperer
RE:
Find a friend, or two, and have them schedule time with you so you can all use your time together, if they donate their time towards your project you should be able to print the entire thing.
2 hours is an extremely unreasonable amount of time to allow for printer projects relative to school projects or other wise. You should work to find another source or lobby to change the policy.
Good Luck
Swiss_Cheese
Thanks. Interesting idea.
You're right. 2 hours isn't much time. Right now the MakerSpace is only open 2 hours a day and you can only book one appointment per week. Even if was willing to do what you suggest--which I am uncertain I would as it seems rather an effort to circumvent the rules--it would not be possible because of the limited hours.
There are only 2 libraries in the county with 3D printers and only one of those is close enough to consider. So, for now I am stuck with the situation.
I have looked at commercial services and MakerSpaces but they represent other obstacles, expense being one of them. I haven't ruled those out entirely just yet.
RE: Slicing a part in two for gluing
While I usually agree with my esteemed colleague @diem, in this case I suspect you'll be fine with minimal infill. There's not much top surface with these small walls. In either case, with such ultra short print times why not just try it.
I also like @swiss_cheese's suggestion of pooling time with friends. If the library allows it. My library wouldn't. But then again mine has a bit more liberal policy of 6 hours--which is still quite limiting IMHO. Yet it's good to see that library' are offering such services to their communities at all.
Or maybe there are surrounding communities with libraries that allow for longer jobs.
Or check the Prusa world map to see if there's someone near you who's willing to print it for you.
Formerly known on this forum as @fuchsr -- until all hell broke loose with the forum software...
RE: Slicing a part in two for gluing
While I usually agree with my esteemed colleague @diem, in this case I suspect you'll be fine with minimal infill. There's not much top surface with these small walls. In either case, with such ultra short print times why not just try it.
I also like @swiss_cheese's suggestion of pooling time with friends. If the library allows it. My library wouldn't. But then again mine has a bit more liberal policy of 6 hours--which is still quite limiting IMHO. Yet it's good to see that library' are offering such services to their communities at all.
Or maybe there are surrounding communities with libraries that allow for longer jobs.
Or check the Prusa world map to see if there's someone near you who's willing to print it for you.
Thanks.
I've been looking around for other places to print and there may be some options, but I am not yet certain. I have found no other libraries offering 3D printing within a reasonable driving distance, but there may be some private or community organizations.
The library where I've been printing has staffing shortages which explains why their MakerSpace is only open 2 hours a day.
I found the Prusa Wold Map you mentioned but have no idea how to use it. There were no instructions, no stated purpose. I saw a few filter options but selecting any of them didn't seem to do anything at all :-/
RE: Slicing a part in two for gluing
Yeah, too bad. The map looks broken. Used to be a good resource for situations like this.
Formerly known on this forum as @fuchsr -- until all hell broke loose with the forum software...
RE:
yep this post had me looking at it also, and it was sad.
sorry
Swiss_Cheese
P.S. although it's Prusa that should apologize, as a user I'm embarrassed this is all there was to offer.
Good Luck
The Filament Whisperer
RE: Slicing a part in two for gluing
Companies do what they have to to make money, and stay afloat, you can't fault them for that, it costs money for them to stay in business, if you don't fit into that model you have to fend for yourself. the community will try to help you as long as it's possible for that to continue.
Good Luck
Swiss_Cheese
The Filament Whisperer
RE:
Nothing wrong in the map from here in Germany. I can access both the community map and the group identification pages without any problem and can identify individual users on the map, even in the U.S., and send them e-mails. Works like a charm.
I try to give answers to the best of my ability, but I am not a 3D printing pro by any means, and anything you do you do at your own risk. BTW: I have no food for…
RE: Slicing a part in two for gluing
Nothing wrong in the map from here in Germany. I can access both the community map and the group identification pages without any problem and can identify individual users on the map, even in the U.S., and send them e-mails. Works like a charm.
When I first tried the map I was on my iPhone 13 Mini. After my comment abiut it I tried my MacBook and it works there.
RE:
When I first tried the map I was on my iPhone 13 Mini. After my first comment about it I tried my MacBook and it works there.
I found some people near me who, if I I understand Printables.com, are willing to print things for others. I messaged a number of them.
After I sent the first message it struck me that since I had not signed up at Printables the person I messaged might have no way to reach me. I found this quite odd. How is that supposed to work? I could find no info on Printables that explains the site's purpose or how to use it. This I also thought was strange.
After the first message I sent I added my email to the others. Is that how it's supposed to work? Seems like an email harvesting opportunity for spammers if so.
I read somewhere there is no notification system on Printables so people with accounts don't get any emails telling them they have messages at Printables and consequently it may be weeks (or never?) before they discover a message in their Inbox.
I also found it odd that messages I SENT appeared in my Inbox as opposed to a Sent box.
I think the idea of connecting people with a common interest to help each other is merit-able and brilliant but without an FAQ or About page or other instructions Printables.com is a bit of a puzzle.
RE: Slicing a part in two for gluing
I cannot replicate any of your issues. I cannot even access the world map without being logged in and I can certainly not send any message to anyone, not even myself, when not being logged in.
I try to give answers to the best of my ability, but I am not a 3D printing pro by any means, and anything you do you do at your own risk. BTW: I have no food for…
RE: Slicing a part in two for gluing
I cannot replicate any of your issues. I cannot even access the world map without being logged in and I can certainly not send any message to anyone, not even myself, when not being logged in.
I signed in at the Prusa Forum. Then I opened another tab on my iPad and went to word.prusa3d.com, the Prusa World Map site. No pins showed on the map and a Login option was shown. I tapped login and was logged in without being queried for a user name or password. Still, no pins appeared on the map. I reloaded the map page. Still no pins. Maybe a minute or two later the pins appeared. If I reload the page after the pins have appeared they disappear again and may or may not reappear. Sometimes it seems if I leave the browser and switch to another app the pins appear just after I switch back to the browser.
I don't know if what I am experiencing is an iOS issue, a browser issue, a server issue, or what, but the behavior I'm seeing is not that which I would expect.
RE: Slicing a part in two for gluing
I still haven't figured out how to stay logged in across all the parts of this site. Keeps logging me out.
RE: Slicing a part in two for gluing
I still haven't figured out how to stay logged in across all the parts of this site. Keeps logging me out.
I seem to get logged out frequently myself. Not sure why, it may be that there is an inactivity timer. Who knows how these things work? Even the engineers themselves sometimes don't seem to understand why some things happen.
RE: Slicing a part in two for gluing
Yes, it's been happening to me too, but I'm unsure when it started. It seems to be irregular.
Every once in a while I will be checking new posts and I find myself logged out.
I will usually just bring up the login page on another tab and refresh what I am looking at.
Prusa awarded me a badge for logging in again so often.
Cheerio,