3d printer

[jdm]

1 minute ago, LittleWatchShop said:

I have a Ph.D. in EE.  I am not crowing about it, but to say that one of the most important things I got out of my  studies was to not be afraid to tackle the unknown.

I have no Ph.D, in fact I dropped out of high school. So it must have not been because of studying that myself either has never been afraid of tackling the unknown. No crowing and that's right, but let me say it has worked for me too.

[JohnR725]

2 hours ago, LittleWatchShop said:

The 3D CAD issue is a false mental barrier.  It is not hard. 

That's more a point of view opinion versus fact.

For instance I once pointed out that I like to use Tinkercad. My impression was this was software designed to get kids in the 3-D printing. So if kids can use that adults can use it to and they do. But when I pointed that out somebody came along and basically said I was an idiot for using it it's a horrible program and I should be using  FreeCAD because it's so much better.

The problem is everybody's different and both of us have valid points of view for the above paragraph. Just because one person hates it doesn't make the program bad. Just because somebody likes it doesn't necessarily make It good. I don't think you can come along and say designing things are easy may be easy for you but easy for everybody?

Then for the above mentioned programs I have links for both of them below.

https://www.tinkercad.com/

https://www.freecadweb.org/

[LittleWatchShop]

I got an Allen Bradley foot pedal on ebay--arrived yesterday.  I like AB because it is continuous control (for my lathe).  However, this one did not have a base and thus exposed 120V to the user.  So, I printed a base on my 3D printer.  Not really pretty...but functional.

[LittleWatchShop]

Here is a custom spacer for the Wittnauer Electrochron watch.  The WD-5 battery has not been available for 40 years.  Using this spacer and a readily available battery and your Electrochron comes alive!!

3D printed

[LittleWatchShop]

Aquastar Watch back wrench converter. 

[LittleWatchShop]

3 hours ago, JohnR725 said:

But when I pointed that out somebody came along and basically said I was an idiot for using it it's a horrible program and I should be using  FreeCAD because it's so much better.

Well, that was not me.  I have never used Tinkercad.  A lot of people use Autocad Fusion3D.  It may be the best 3D software available...dunno...I have not tried it.  Find something you like and stick with it...essentially what I did.

[LittleWatchShop]

And then there is this...I will stop now.

 

[JohnR725]

4 hours ago, LittleWatchShop said:

Well, that was not me.  I have never used Tinkercad.  A lot of people use Autocad Fusion3D.

Don't worry it definitely wasn't you. The point of my reference was that something that seems simple to you may not be simple to somebody else. So even the ability to use a CAD program to design something simple for you may not be simple for somebody else.

 

 

[jdm]

10 hours ago, JohnR725 said:

But when I pointed that out somebody came along and basically said I was an idiot for using it it's a horrible program and I should be using  FreeCAD because it's so much better.

That somebody was me. But I never "basically said" anything about anyone using it, kid or adult.
I simply stated my (negative) opinion about TinkerCAD, as everyone is entitled to do.
Actually I invite people to try TinkerCAD, or anything else that exist, and post here, or somewhere else and share it.

[JohnR725]

1 hour ago, jdm said:

I simply stated my (negative) opinion about TinkerCAD, as everyone is entitled to do.

I agree 100% with this? The point I'm trying to make is as somebody's pointed out that CAD is easy and designing things Is easy and making stuff with your 3-D printer is easy. The reason I picked my particular example was you expressed a valid negative opinion of a program that supposed to be simple and easy to use. But things that are supposed to be may not actually be. As We are both trying to point out to the original person asking the question contrary to someone else's opinion that designing stuff with a computer may not be as easy as it appears.

 

Thinking about friendly to use programs what about this one?

https://studio.blender.org/training/3d-printing/

Notice it's description it's been around since 2002 so they should know what they're doing. Notice how it's description makes it sound really wonderful we should all be using it because it sounds wonderful.  But I vaguely recall from my own personal experience I really thought the program sucked.  It definitely does not function the way my brain does but it doesn't a nice description of how wonderful and friendly it is to use

Maybe a better way for somebody get in the 3-D printing if they want to make their own stuff is find a CAD program you like. I'd recommend trying the free programs see if you find any alike. Then yes there are places out there that will make your stuff for you see a lot even need a 3-D printer. Haven't looked at their prices in a very long time though and of course it depends on where in the planet you live. But the simplistic of this paragraph is get some software try it out there knows maybe it really isn't that hard to do. But at least if you're trying free software all your spending is your time you're not buying a printer discuss sit around doing nothing.

Then this video isn't exactly right for the discussion but? There is some good ideas in here learn how to make sketches on paper before you even go to the CAD. Pay attention like when he talks about the stuff he is designed he might take a whole week doing it. So if you think getting a 3-D printer is going to make you a quick tool the first time Your not paying attention to the video. But a lot of this does apply to watch repair like modify existing tools. Or adapting other tools. Which strangely enough watchmakers a been doing for a very long time. As proof of that find anyone that's been In watch repair For a long time and start looking at their tools you'll find all kinds of weird strange tools probably acquired from another watchmaker that you have zero idea why it exists, Okay maybe that's not the best example? I did notice the time watchmakers do tend to accumulate all sorts of strange and wonderful tools that hopefully they had a purpose at one time even if it appears to be a total mystery as to why it exists now in their accumulations. Because somebody acquired another tool and used in watch repair. So you don'talways have to make a new tool just  find one to do whatever you need to do.

https://youtu.be/a6clcMGufUo

 

 

[LittleWatchShop]

1 hour ago, JohnR725 said:

Then this video isn't exactly right for the discussion but?

It is a great video.  I have watched a number of his videos.  He is almost a perfect clone of me (except MUCH younger).  Only a few ways in which we differ: 1) I have never learned to manage my hoarding, 2) I never sketch my designs 3) accent (Aussie vs Texas drawl).

I have piles of old printers waiting to be disassembled.  The parts are only partially organized (standoffs, screws somewhat assorted, motors, gears, steel rods).  I want to be better!!!  One of my problems is the "shiny object" syndrome.  Maybe that is just ADD.

Back to CAD complexity.  The key, IMO, is to not allow yourself to be intimidated by the myriad of features.  For example...in FreeCAD, there are many work benches.  I only use two (plus the sketcher).  For 3D printing, I think those are all you need.  I mean really...who uses the MS Excel to do Fourier analysis???  It is there...beckoning you in to the tool box.  But you can use Excel just to organize a list of the people you invited to your party.