Total Newb, Rushing Down Another Rabbit Hole!

Mike you are having so much fun.





You are absolutely right about this. I've been interested in 3D printing from before I had an interest in machining. In fact I was debating a 3D printer vs the Sherline lathe I eventually bought (3D printers cost a lot more and could do a lot less back then) so I've been following them for at least 10 years.

I joined a FB 3D printer group, and when people ask about which printer to buy you can almost substitute lathe / mill and the brand names and they would be about the same, well except for the old USA iron bit, being much younger technology that is rapidly advancing there isn't much if any push to go with old machines.

There are lots of machines out there but the two that come to the top as far as recommendations are the Ender 3 (cheap, but works) and Prusa 3 (not so cheap, but comes with all the cool mods so you don't need to add them yourself). I get the impression the Ender 3 is the 7x14 mini-lathe of the 3D printers (except for size, the Ender is comparable to many others in that regard).

With the Ender 3 available for less than $200 it does seem to be a pretty painless choice. Don't feel bad though, because like I said above I've been interested for a long time and still suffering from massive analysis paralysis. Ender or Prusa, PLA or resin oh my. :)

BTW I had made a decision and was all set to get the Prusa i3 for my birthday (November) when you posted that damn CL ad, and my birthday present turned into 800lbs of cast iron milling machine instead. It is ok though, they will make more 3D printers, so maybe I'll get an Ender 3 for Christmas. Plus 3D printers are evolving so quickly that delays result in getting a machine that is cheaper, better or both. I'm also really digging the old mill.
I LOVE that term analysis paralysis, that so describes what happens to me. I rarely spend less than a year researching into something before I take the leap. For the so many decades it was because I had no $$. But then it became a permanent habit when the net came along because it used to be so hard to find info. Now it's the opposite. There is almost too much info liberally sprinkled with diverse opinions. But like with your mill it almost always pays off because a deal always comes along. So far my need for specialized plastic parts hasn't gotten to critical mass so I've not gotten beyond the curious point. It is really fun to watch it evolve.
 
The price on the Ender3 was what finally made me get one. Well, that and the need to make some parts. I've easily spent more on upgrades than I did on the original printer, but it's been a fun process that I don't regret one bit.
 
I love following vicariously people's passion for something that interests me but I've not gotten the bug yet. I read a lot of sci-fi and 3D printing has become the solution to so many future scenarios. And like with the thing Jim Dawson posted the other day it is the next thing because you can do what would be impossible otherwise.

My reasons that the bug hasn't hit yet is it is still evolving so fast and not only are the prices coming down the whole thing is more and more simplified which for me is going to have to be more intuitive less time consuming. I don't do CAD. Also I don't do much with plastic. But I did do one of my first projects the other day. But I was able to do it with my lathe and mill. Once I run into something I absolutely need and can't do with my present equipment the I will not be able to shake the bug I know.

I've been needing a way to vac the huge load of chips that come off my radius cutter that forms my UHMW forms I make for metal pressure forming. The usual vac nozzle close the part was way better than no vac. It was a 40% reduction from no vac, but still chips all over the shop. I decided to use a 2" PVC elbow, hole saw a 1 3/4" hole through it and turn down a 2" solid piece of PVC rod and bore it to fit on my die grinder and epoxy elbow and PVC piece together. Works beautifully with just maybe 2% the mess now.
 

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Can you please do a video (or even still shots) of that in action?
Thanks,
-brino
I'm in the middle of a different project right now, but I'd be glad to try. I only have an iPad for vid and not sure about posting vids. Have any pointers Brino? Or anybody?
 
Have any pointers Brino? Or anybody?

Sorry, not me.....I shun apple products.
-brino

PS: I suppose we should move this discussion and your video to a new thread and give 'Doc back his thread dedicated to 3-D printing.....
 
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