Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

For those of you wondering where I have been...
I little while back Mrs. Maggi saw that schools are starting to teach about 3d printers. As we homeschool, she was worried that our daughter would fall behind. Enter the world of 3d printers. At that point I started researching them, and the culture around them. I decided to go with a HIC top Prusa i3. It is a kit, which means that I still get the joy of putting it together, without having to design the whole thing. Built it, printed some doohickies off of thingiverse, mostly cookie cutters, then decided it was time to design my own THING. Well, the choice in what would be is obvious. A media guard. Now, that means that you need a program to make it in. Enter OpenSCAD. A completely free program that let's you make parametric designs, that means that you enter some numbers and it rebuilds the design to match. I enter the height, diameter, thickness, hole size, and space between holes, and it builds me a media guard that is 3d printable.

I am still tweaking the code, but I will be happy to share the scad file with those that want to use it in a noncommercial way.

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3D Printers and school..,

Given a local report that many kids are near useless as employees because they can't write or do maths, then I seriously wonder how 3D printing will help get a job..
But , having said that.. our local experts consider that all children should be taught to CODE..
I would imagine that the two skills are totally related, as the basis of 3D would be pure code..

As for your media guard, I have a far simpler machine.. yes... a drill...

Good the hear your still alive..

PS... functionally, how strong is that 3D printed structure..? I have wondered just how the printed plastic. Holds together ..
Like a sand castle, no point looking good, if some pressure sees it collapse...
..

Stronger than pvc with that many holes... Turns out 3d printed stuff is incredibly strong, like laminated wood or anything. You actually have a lot of control over its strength in your slicer program. I printed at 50% infill with 4 shells, which is pretty tough.

The other thing about additive manufacturing is that complexity is free. I made the hole shape in an arch, because a rounded top prints easily, but the square bottom does not clog with hydroton. And I can have as many holes as I want without getting tired.

Here is the final piece placed in the grow bed. The bed has been empty for a couple of months, as the previous media guard I had pushed up the water level too much.

I feel like my growbed now has a Roman theme...

3D printing is fun. I have had one for almost two years I have a Makergear M2 great printer.
I did the kit also.
Did you print that out of PLA it is hard to tell from the picture? I did not think PLA would last in water. ABS will hold up to water.

I like it! I like it alot! Although it won't make me rush out and get a 3D printer anytime soon it certainly is the 'next big thing'... Across a wide range of applications too!


Anyways, well done - I'll have 6.....hahaha

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Indeed. Very.cool... but I will not be tempted..
Just too many other things to be done
..

PLA, we will see how long it lasts. Kind of don't want to deal with the ABS fumes yet. Plus, I want to build an enclosure before I use ABS. PLA actually smells kind of sweet when printing. Might get some PETG filament...

Hi
Good try my pirate friend but I don’t believe a word of it.
Let’s just consider the facts;
Caring dad? Yes
Home schooling? Yes
Major investment? Yes
Female cooperation? Yes
And the first thing you build is a ,”media guard?’

I do not believe it!

I want to see the , ‘personalized hair bands’ The cute little fish! The pieces of eight!
My only chance to convince, ‘her Indoors’ to invest in a 3d printer and you blow it!
Ps Welcome back. Missed you

I did mention the cookie cutters. Queen Elsa now figures prominently in our cookie collection.

ABS is not that bad I moved my printer to a walk-in closet. Push plastic has good filament for a decent price.
I get their 6.6 pounds black ABS. when you print very big pints you done have to worry about running out.

Walk in closet... bragger.