Rapid prototyping and other updates
On Thursday, we got the first rapid prototype of our case design. We chose to use SLA due to cost, material characteristics, and resolution. We sent the models off to the rapid prototyping company before Thanksgiving, and got the printed model Thursday.
While you can choose various finishing options, we chose a basic satin media blast. The parts still have their “step lines” from the printing process. Finishing the parts to see what the final model would look like involved a lot of sanding, priming, and painting. The light ring was wet-sanded to 2000-grit, then sprayed with a gloss polyurethane. The other parts were sanded to 800-grit, then sprayed with black paint and matte lacquer.
We’re still playing with the light ring a little bit to improve light transmission. We have 4 LEDs in there now, with room for up to 9.
On the production version, the light ring will be a smoke colored polycarbonate to blend in better with the rest of the black case. Also, the case will be made of black ABS as opposed to painted. The colors and types of resins for SLA printing are limited.
It’s very exciting to see the 3D model in a physical form. We have some minor model revisions that need to be made, and we’ll be test-fitting the rest of the electrical and mechanical components this week. After the changes are made, we’ll order the parts that require updates again – then have the steel injection molds made for mass production.
You can view hi-res pictures at our blog at http://blog.themprinter.com. We'll be posting more detailed updates on there.
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Comments
Creator Larry Kluger on December 12
What is the best way to update my shipping address with you? I've moved... Thanks.
Creator Lennart Martens on December 6
Beautiful. Just beautiful :-)
Creator Daniel Amos on December 5
Is there any chance we can have our unit wired for the country we live in?
Creator Irawan on December 4
WOW !
Creator Nicholas Natale on December 3
Thanks for the update Andy- it looks great! It's going to be hard to wait until February ;)
Creator Tim Lomas on December 3
Looking great Andy!
Creator Melissa Evans on December 3
Excellent! Great job!
Creator Daniel Naef on December 3
Beautiful. Can't wait, and still 3 months to go.
Creator Andy Muldowney on December 3
@jamie - Sorry for any confusion. I was referring to multiple finishing options directly from the 3D printing house. The production version will only come in one color right now - black plastic, with a smoke-colored polycarbonate light ring (similar to a Nalgene bottle, if you've seen those).
Creator Jamie Welch on December 3
Looks great! From your post, it sounds like we'll have multiple finishing options. Is this accurate?
Creator Keagan on December 3
Looks good to me.