3D Printing as a shop tool and my new LS130 Sander

[anthonyz]

I am starting a refinishing project on a Modern dresser which looks to be Alder and Walnut, with Burl accents which was pained completely red. Now stripping off the layer of thick red paint and a lot of work to go. I picked up a LS130 yesterday to help with the job and liked the idea of making my own contoured pads. The DIY kit for the LS 130 which will make you one pad is $60, so I thought I would try making my own. I have made some accessories for my Domino, and clips and such for my systainers with my 3d printer, so I thought I would continue to make more accessories.

I designed the backer plate in autocad then 3d printed it and glued a block of Polystyrene foam to it, with holes drilled for dust collection.  Contoured the block per the DIY pad instructions and added some velcro then added sandpaper.

My LS 3d printing accessories
View attachment 1

This is the basic pad set up with the 3d printed back.
View attachment 2

Then after contouring an adding sandpaper.
View attachment 3

This is the drilling guide to drill the hole in the right place into the foam pads.
View attachment 4

My version of the Flat Sanding Pad Long.
View attachment 5

I am looking at other foams that are a little less firm, but at a savings of $55 per pad I can't complain too much. My printer has already paid for itself in a variety of accessories for my shop and home and I continue to come up with more ideas. If I make a dozen pads at my cost it would be the equivalent of one from Festool, or the equivalent in $720 in Festool pads. That pays for the 3D printer and then some.

If you are using 3D printing for your shop, what are you making? Do you think a 3D printer could be a valuable tool in your shop?

 

[semenza]

Pretty cool!

I wonder how practical it would be to scan in or CAD draw custom profiles and print the entire thing?

Seth

 

[anthonyz]

Pretty cool!

I wonder how practical it would be to scan in or CAD draw custom profiles and print the entire thing?

Seth

3d scanning, on a consumer level still has a way to go, but designing custom pads are completely doable. Cost would go up for the plastic use, but on simple profiles, it would not be to difficult. A large profile may take up to 8-9 hours to print. The backer plates take a little over an hour. So it just depends on the time you can wait for a profile you need.

 

[ear3]

Nice work Anthony.

 

[anthonyz]

Thanks Edward. 

 

[Grakat]

I for one think that a 3d printer would be a very valuable addition to the workshop and the family home. I am holding off at this point in time because I would prefer to get something with a larger print area without mortgaging the house to pay for it. I also run a 3d software package, which would be great for making specialised components and then utilising them in projects.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[bkharman]

Anthony. How well does the backer hold up with clicking to the LS?  I need a dozen or so custom profiles in the near future and am curious how this holds up.

Cheers. Bryan.

 

[jbasen]

Hi [member=34574]anthonyz[/member]

Great job!  Is it possible for you to post the stl files here and/or on thingiverse?

Also, where did you get the foam?  What kind of glue did you use for attaching the backing plate to the foam

Just trying to get all the details so I don't have to reinvent the wheel

Thanks

I also use my printer for various things around the shop. I posted the stl file for the ts-75 cover plate I designed. That is the only Festool specific item I've done so far though I've done a number of other miscellaneous items.  I have a Pirnha Fx combo CNC router, laser engraver, and 3D printer.  I've just started playing with the laser engraver head.  Very nice for burning decorattive designs into wood.  I do wish the laser was a little more powerful so it could be used as a cutter instead of just a engraver

 

[Cheese]

[member=34574]anthonyz[/member]
Thanks for posting Anthony...the last time I even thought about 3D printing was about 18-19 years ago when I had to submit a product justification to management for the purchase of a 3D printer for our model shop. The purchase price with software and a service contract was around $20K+ at the time. Because of the cash involved, I never even considered it for private purchase.

Edit: I also note that back then this was a brand new technology and wasn't even called 3D printing but rather was referred to as "Rapid Prototyping".

Just curious as to what a decent/reliable 3D printer runs now?

This along with a small CNC router/laser cutter could prove to be a game changer in the hands of the average guy.

 

[jbasen]

[member=34574]anthonyz[/member]
Thanks for posting Anthony...the last time I even thought about 3D printing was about 18-19 years ago when I had to submit a product justification to management for the purchase of a 3D printer for our model shop. The purchase price with software and a service contract was around $20K at the time. Because of the cash involved, I never even considered it for private purchase.

Just curious as to what a decent/reliable 3D printer runs now?

This along with a small CNC router/laser cutter could prove to be a game changer in the hands of the average guy.

I got my Piranha fx on kickstarter, where it was cheaper, but it is now selling from Rockler for $3200.

 

[anthonyz]

Anthony. How well does the backer hold up with clicking to the LS?  I need a dozen or so custom profiles in the near future and am curious how this holds up.

Cheers. Bryan.

For as long as I have been running it, it seems to be holding up fine. I am just running PLA, ABS will be stronger.

 

[anthonyz]

[member=34574]anthonyz[/member]
Thanks for posting Anthony...the last time I even thought about 3D printing was about 18-19 years ago when I had to submit a product justification to management for the purchase of a 3D printer for our model shop. The purchase price with software and a service contract was around $20K at the time. Because of the cash involved, I never even considered it for private purchase.

I got my Piranha fx on kickstarter, where it was cheaper, but it is now selling from Rockler for $3200.

Just curious as to what a decent/reliable 3D printer runs now?

This along with a small CNC router/laser cutter could prove to be a game changer in the hands of the average guy.

I have a Printrbot play. Great little entry unit. I did do the upgrades of bed size and heated bed. About $550 total for my set up. My bed size is only 4wx8Lx5h. But has done a lot so far.

 

[anthonyz]

Hi [member=34574]anthonyz[/member]

Great job!  Is it possible for you to post the stl files here and/or on thingiverse?

Also, where did you get the foam?  What kind of glue did you use for attaching the backing plate to the foam

Just trying to get all the details so I don't have to reinvent the wheel

Thanks

I also use my printer for various things around the shop. I posted the stl file for the ts-75 cover plate I designed. That is the only Festool specific item I've done so far though I've done a number of other miscellaneous items.  I have a Pirnha Fx combo CNC router, laser engraver, and 3D printer.  I've just started playing with the laser engraver head.  Very nice for burning decorative designs into wood.  I do wish the laser was a little more powerful so it could be used as a cutter instead of just a engraver

Was thinking I may post or make files available at my woodrave.com site. I just used blue polystyrene foam from the box stores. I can make about 128 foam pads for about $12. (That's just the foam part). I used contact cement but it will melt the foam a little, but once it's attached to the backer, its locked on and won't come off. You can use a foam adhesive, but I don't know how well it will hold.

 

[Cheese]

Really good info...

So [member=18233]jbasen[/member] the Piranha is a small CNC router with a 3D printer head and laser "burner" head available? What's the table size?

And [member=34574]anthonyz[/member] the Printrbot is strictly a 3D printer but it only costs approx $550? 

The technology is incredible for these prices.

 

[jbasen]

Really good info...

So [member=18233]jbasen[/member] the Piranha is a small CNC router with a 3D printer head and laser "burner" head available? What's the table size?

And [member=34574]anthonyz[/member] the Printrbot is strictly a 3D printer but it only costs approx $550? 

The technology is incredible for these prices.

Yes the Piranha Fx is available.  The table size is a little small 12" x 18" but a work piece for routing or engraving can extend beyond the ends of the unit.

Max height for 3D printing is 3" high.

Here is a link to the unit on Rockler's web site
http://www.rockler.com/cnc-piranha-fx-3-d-and-laser-bundle

Since the machine is really just a Next Wave Automation Piranha CNC router with 2 additional heads, you can buy the machine in pretty much any configuration you want.  So, if you don't want the laser engraver head you can buy the machine without it. 

 

[anthonyz]

Really good info...

So [member=18233]jbasen[/member] the Piranha is a small CNC router with a 3D printer head and laser "burner" head available? What's the table size?

And [member=34574]anthonyz[/member] the Printrbot is strictly a 3D printer but it only costs approx $550? 

The technology is incredible for these prices.

The Printrbot play starts at $399, so that's the base level. Look at the Wanhoo, it runs $399, free shipping with a heated bed built in and gives you a 8"wx8"lx7"H bed. so basically gives you all my printer has and gives you a larger work space. I am thinking about ordering one, but there is a bit more of a learning curve on that unit.

wanhaousa.com/collections/3d-printers/products/duplicator-i3-steel-frame
https://printrbot.com/shop/assembled-printrbot-play/

 

[anthonyz]

Really good info...

So [member=18233]jbasen[/member] the Piranha is a small CNC router with a 3D printer head and laser "burner" head available? What's the table size?

And [member=34574]anthonyz[/member] the Printrbot is strictly a 3D printer but it only costs approx $550? 

The technology is incredible for these prices.

Yes the Piranha Fx is available.  The table size is a little small 12" x 18" but a work piece for routing or engraving can extend beyond the ends of the unit.

Max height for 3D printing is 3" high.

Here is a link to the unit on Rockler's web site
http://www.rockler.com/cnc-piranha-fx-3-d-and-laser-bundle

Since the machine is really just a Next Wave Automation Piranha CNC router with 2 additional heads, you can buy the machine in pretty much any configuration you want.  So, if you don't want the laser engraver head you can buy the machine without it.

I built my own CNC which is 31"x31" work space with a 4.25 height. I would love to add a laser to it some time in the future.

 

[Cheese]

Fantastic...I really appreciate the info from both of you. [thumbs up]

I really need to do some research into this further. Thanks for the references.

I did read a few days ago that 3D printing was now available for use with aluminum. Again, I placed this within the reference frame that I was familiar with which was the $20K number. Thus I dismissed it. I'd be willing to spend up to $5K for some CNC/3D printing hardware. I think I'd like the CNC platform to be a bit larger than the 3D platform.

 

[anthonyz]

Fantastic...I really appreciate the info from both of you. [thumbs up]

I really need to do some research into this further. Thanks for the references.

I did read a few days ago that 3D printing was now available for use with aluminum. Again, I placed this within the reference frame that I was familiar with which was the $20K number. Thus I dismissed it. I'd be willing to spend up to $5K for some CNC/3D printing hardware. I think I'd like the CNC platform to be a bit larger than the 3D platform.

If you are tech savvy, look at the X-Carve cnc, if you are up for a weekend build. Very affordable and can be expanded, then look at the 3D printers for a good starting place. If both are in the same unit you will only be able to do one thing at one time, and then the break down and set up between each becomes another whole factor.
https://www.inventables.com/technologies/x-carve

 

[rvieceli]

[member=44099]Cheese[/member]

Peter Parfitt has a bunch of videos on his X-Carve on his youtube channel:



Ron