Everyday I provide a little bit of work on the design, slowly it moves forward. Still lots of work ahead. Want to look at the Fusion 360 model? See how it’s being modelled? http://a360.co/1QoKKpV
We are planning to 3D print the large parts, and make large traditional molds from them. We still need to figure out if we are going to do expanded foam or fibreglass construction.
This is an open collaborative project, so bear in mind that it might not make it without collaborators. It’s also meant to be an experiment in distributed open source design.
Due to the sheer size of the project, a single prototype will be made. Hopefully we can convince folks that it’d be fun to achieve something big together.
We ARE inspired by those designs! I bought one last week. Really good stuff.
The printer I am using to print it is the Printrbot Big-E… This design will teach me how to print really large objects. It isn’t easy. For the pioneers out there, basic kits will be available on Friday. Mine is 8x4x4 (roughly)… It can be scaled up or down.
This kit will be quite affordable. We need a solution like this to get more people printing larger things. It comes with a new set of problems, for sure, but it is freeing to sit down and design without the constraint of size!
@Brook_Drumm I have met the author of those handy RC aircrafts (here with model of Spitfire on my picture from our conference http://goo.gl/RgIo1v) several times as we are from the same country and I did interviews with him. He is also an architect and pilot of real small airplanes. His latest Thunderbolt (pictures here in my article http://goo.gl/PAeKC8) with rectactable landing gear is just a pure beauty in the air. As I have your Printrbot Simple Metal, I have plan to print static Spitfire. The test part is already done, but with Simplify3D slicer (as Cura is not the 1st choice here).
I’m impressed with the http://3dlabprint.com designs. Brook got a copy of the spitfire so one can be printed and flown :). A similar style design is being considered. Scaling up has challenges (weight and strength).
I still think a spiral print has potential with epoxy on the surface. The chrome playing I want to do requires a clear coat of paint so the lighter the weight to begin with the better !
You could 3d print the parts and then put a few layers of fibreglass for strength sand it down smooth. That might work. Painting on epoxy coat might not be strong enough.
My thoughts are to make a 3D printed frame for the structural strength of the fuselage, but I’m wondering if it’ll have the strength to support the loads of flight. The square frame would fit in the cavity you see in the fuselage, the motor would be mounted to it. If plastic is too weak, it’ll have to be CNC’d plywood or something.
No its not bad at all. After some definite success with the heated chamber, I’m going to make another pass and make it airtight to improve it as much as I can. Then move on to a heated bed. I have all the parts for that and a plan, but the current print may not be finished until tomorrow!
I finished the wing and it screwed up at the top… Which is good and bad… I can probably fix it with sanding and make it look awesome, so I will. I was SHOCKED at how heavy the wing was with 5% infill and dual wall!! Very very heavy. I need to double down on spiral prints with bigger nozzles. Also, need to make some improvements to the machine… A 25 hour print showed me some ways to improve it and I definitely think it will result in better prints. I’m really starting to have fun w it now that I’ve completed an 80% scale print of the wing.
Other things I want to try:
-2% infill
adding interior support to a shelled out wing instead of the default infill pattern
-higher speed to find the limit of the machine
-larger nozzles
Another weird idea: build a machine for just the wings (skinny, tall and wide). I realized last night that I could build a much better machine for the wings if I built to spec. It could focus on speed and rigidity for very tall, thin prints. A nice fit for wings, tail, etc. and two printers are better than one, right?
I’m wondering if doing the body in sections makes sense… And standing it on its nose to take advantage of spiral prints when possible
The test part is already done, but with Simplify3D slicer (as Cura is not the 1st choice here).