Prototype 3D

This is why I got the printer...

One of the challenges with any engineering is that no matter how much to check the design, some issue are only noticed when you finally make the actual item, and have it in your hands. This is even more true for 3D models.

I can order 3D prints from China, with a turnaround of around a week. I could print designs on my FDM printer, but not the same - especially small details like the interlocking lips on the case designs (those on the right of the image are for a Faikin). The precision needed for these is not possible on FDM.

But even simple things can catch out out. The white 1 gang back box cover on the left took a week, and on arrival I see the problems - not just the square corners that do not match the back box I have, positioning nipples in the ring are wrong so the back does not lock in the right place, and the back of the ring is 0.5mm thinner which shows on the actual print. Now I can prototype I can test with a turn around of half an hour. I can get the designs right, and then order some from China. I have white resin coming soon as well.

What is fun is that having spotted the errors in the white 1 gang plate, I fixed the design, and printed a prototype for this post. I have just checked and my fix is not correct - I see why now, and have another fix to prototype.

As you can see this saves a lot of time, and some money.