3D Printing and RVing

[BuckyII]

@Neal ...yesterday, after MANY failed “First Layer Calibrations”, I was not very happy with you and this thread. However, things started to come together today and I have successfully printed a couple small test items! Things are looking up...

 

[Golfer Guy]

Neil, your post begs the question. Does anyone have a problem with pulling the generator release and not getting it to unlatch? I have that problem,tug all I want it stays locks. Crawl under the coach give it just a little pull from there and it pops right open. Not sure why the cable pull is not getting the tension it needs to unlock the generator slide.

 

[NWIP]

I think this is a common problem. I heard you can adjust and someone changed the spring. Mine works for now so I haven’t investigated this myself.

 

[Neal]

@Neal ...yesterday, after MANY failed “First Layer Calibrations”, I was not very happy with you and this thread. However, things started to come together today and I have successfully printed a couple small test items! Things are looking up...

Haha, it takes time, the learning curve is steep! But it's fun, you'll get it. 1st layer calibrations are an art and they change depending on smooth or textured sheets if you got both. The desired result is a smooth piece of plastic and not ridged, it takes time. I suggest find some 1st layer calibration tests on Thingiverse.com so you have more time to play with the adjustment vs. the default one from Prusa although that's what I end up using now that I have it figured out. Remember this is a hobby thing so it's not science, it's someone invention in progress and they need TLC to work but it's fun to make things.

Neil, your post begs the question. Does anyone have a problem with pulling the generator release and not getting it to unlatch?

I think the latch pulls fine but the weight of the hood won't pop out enough to hold the open position. There are bumpers you can adjust be Newmar uses these more for alignment than a spring to keep flush with the left/right body around the hood.

 

[Neal]

For the 3D printing nerds I finally added OctoPrint to my setup. I've had the raspberry pi b+ for probably a year now but as I've never worked with something like this I figured it would be painful to setup so I never did it. I was wrong, it was so easy to setup by downloading octopi, etcher, install the image to the drive, setup the network, done. Easier than that. There is a newer raspberry pi zero W out but that is NOT recommended from what I read so what I bought was the best option. I'll include links to that as well.

Parts:

Amazon.com: CanaKit Raspberry Pi 3 B+ (B Plus) Starter Kit (32 GB EVO+ Edition, Premium Black Case): Computers & Accessories

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01ER2SKFS/?tag=rvf01-20

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JZKCCQH/?tag=rvf01-20

Thingiverse (other options available) camera mount:

Search Thingiverse - Thingiverse

Search and download free 3D printable objects for your projects, from prototypes to home improvements.

www.thingiverse.com

YouTube video on setup, you'll stumble on more in your setup with some googling, add-ons for OctoPrint such as Anywhere and SpaghettiDetective

 

[Buly]

Neal,
I don't understand where you keep in the Ventana all that shait you are buying every day? ??
Doris is the only one I know of, that can compete with you in online purchasing?

 

[Neal]

Haha, remember I removed my jack knife sofa and installed an updesk which is like a table so the computer printer fits underneath on the left, the 3D printer fits underneath on the right.

 

[Buly]

Haha, remember I removed my jack knife sofa and installed an updesk which is like a table so the computer printer fits underneath on the left, the 3D printer fits underneath on the right.

View attachment 1685​

Also keep in mind that the slide motor has to lift and push all that weight in and out. I had to replace my controller on the same slide already once.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

Between @Neal and a friend of mine in the Seattle area (Lynn), I think I may be losing the battle on avoiding the 3D printing beast! Lynn (a retired federal LEO) has been 3D printing for a year or so. He keeps prodding me to try it. I keep pushing back!

His current project is making "ear protectors" for medical mask wearers. He made some for his daughter (a 911 dispatch supervisor) and his son in-law (a police officer). Between them, they know many of the first responders in the greater Seattle area and word of the ear protectors quickly got around. He has now distributed several hundred to police, fire and medical folks, and the project continues. He says his 3D printer is running 18 hours a day.

Yikes! Do I really need another job?

Hopefully, 3D printing won't work on a Mac...right? Right?

TJ

 

[Neal]

Also keep in mind that the slide motor has to lift and push all that weight in and out. I had to replace my controller on the same slide already once.

My setup may be equal or less weight than the jack knife sofa. I removed it myself, I know! It sucked The weight difference is not a concern, even if heavier by a little, the sum total weight is much much more overall so we're talking fractions of a percentage difference, but interesting thought nonetheless. I'd be more concerned about the FWS and how I pack out the frig!

Between @Neal and a friend of mine in the Seattle area (Lynn), I think I may be losing the battle on avoiding the 3D printing beast! Lynn (a retired federal LEO) has been 3D printing for a year or so. He keeps prodding me to try it. I keep pushing back!

His current project is making "ear protectors" for medical mask wearers. He made some for his daughter (a 911 dispatch supervisor) and his son in-law (a police officer). Between them, they know many of the first responders in the greater Seattle area and word of the ear protectors quickly got around. He has now distributed several hundred to police, fire and medical folks, and the project continues. He says his 3D printer is running 18 hours a day.

Yikes! Do I really need another job?

Hopefully, 3D printing won't work on a Mac...right? Right?

TJ

Sorry TJ, works ideally on a Mac, you will get hooked. It's so much fun to make your own things.

 

[texskeet]

How about making a holder for remotes and glasses and also sleep # controller and add an open top compartment for my hearing aids. The night table is so small if you stacked them would really help. 4 angled slots with flat top open tray for hearing aids.

 

[Neal]

If you look at the left edge of my desk you'll see the mentos gum and that green piece there holds all of my remotes, pens, etc. I designed that and 3D printed it. Was fun.

 

[BuckyII]

@Neal and @redbaron got me into 3d printing about 3 months ago...hardly a day goes by that I’m not designing/printing something...jigs for woodworking projects, hard to find hardware store stuff, bins, projects for neighbors...on and on. One of the best/most fun purchases I’ve made in a long time. Mine is setup under a desk in my office.

 

[Neal]

@BuckyII these are hard to get but appear in stock now. I got two:

Textured Powder-coated Print Sheet | Original Prusa 3D printers directly from Josef Prusa

Double-sided textured PEI powder-coated spring steel sheet. Although the sheet has an MK3 print on it, it is also compatible with newer printers, including the MK4/S.

shop.prusa3d.com

These are amazing. You don't put any adhesive stuff on it like hairspray, it holds the print and when cooled down your print slides off. This thing is magic! First layer height has to be right for it to work, tinker as usual.

The best filament in my opinion is Prusament so if you get some of that too and anything else it helps with the shipping charge from Prague. I have too much filament, I admit! Ohy!!!

 

[BuckyII]

@Neal , I have one of the textured sheets but hardly use it. I like the smooth surface of the one in the picture. I never have to use the hairspray...use isopropyl alcohol every few prints to clean the surface. The most amazing thing to me about 3D printing is the accuracy...I can tweak the design of two pieces that mesh together by .001" and notice the difference.

For those wondering what would I ever use a 3D printer for...attached is a picture of a small plastic retainer used for keeping an old design sliding door in its track. A neighbor searched every hardware store in Naples looking for several of these with no success. I was able to design this using Fusion 360 in less than 30 minutes and then it took about 15 minutes to print.