6 replies to this topic

[FountainPenFan]

I was browsing Amazon this evening, and came across this product:

http://www.amazon.co...=rubber pellets

It's a plastic that comes in beaded form in jars (various sizes available) that can be heated in hot water, molded and shaped by hand or tools while still warm, then cools to a hard plastic that can be also be tooled. Cast pieces can be reheated and reused much like thermoplastic hot glue.

Among the customer reviews is a video (roughly the third review on the product page linked) of how it's used (which looks quite easy) and mentions of it being very durable for applications from making small springs (when cast very thin) or hooks for hanging things from walls. As making homemades can require making custom parts and or nerf blasters can require repair parts, I thought this might be an possible alternative to 3D printing (which requires access to a printer or ordering parts online, expensive for startup or per part, respectively) for some simpler components. The only tools used in casting parts would probably be flat surfaces to press with to make nicer, uniform parts and drills or utility knives.

I'm planning on starting work on a PVC blowgun with a wooden magazine/bolt action system after my finals next week, so I may well order some of this and use it along with the PVC (barrel) and hardwood (frame/magazine) materials I plan on using.

Second topic on NerfHaven - hello to all.

[Kronos Nerf Mods]

This option doesn't look half bad. For things that require very oddly shaped reinforcements or for things that can't be made by stacking polycarbonate this could potentially work very well. The only issue here (that is also an issue for 3D printing) is the strength of what you are moulding. The advantage with this stuff is that it can be reused if it breaks.
I am actually very interested to see how this works out.

[Azrael0987]

I agree with Kronos. Using this for reinforcements instead of say something slightly flexible *cough* hotglue *cough* seems like a good idea. Its a good mix between hotglue and epoxy putty. And being reformable to me seems invaluable. It will harden like epoxy putty (im assuming) but you can use a heat gun and make it easier to sculpt than e-putty. Also giving you much more time to refine it too. Id rather heat it up than sand it any day.

[quertyman]

I agree with Kronos. Using this for reinforcements instead of say something slightly flexible *cough* hotglue *cough* seems like a good idea. Its a good mix between hotglue and epoxy putty. And being reformable to me seems invaluable. It will harden like epoxy putty (im assuming) but you can use a heat gun and make it easier to sculpt than e-putty. Also giving you much more time to refine it too. Id rather heat it up than sand it any day.

Just wouldn't want to sand or dremal or whatever too much to melt it back down and ruin your work.

[Just582]

I use a very similar thing called shapelock. I haven't used it for many load bearing applications though, but it seems pretty damn tough, not to mention that you can just use more plastic to make the part stronger. I use it in the airtech 3/4000 to keep the rotation mechs in place, and for holding components like tubing and tees. However, it cannot be used for parts that are detailed, unless you have a mold.

Even though it is supposed to be machinable, it's not. With the lowest speed on my scrollsaw (craftsman variable speed kind) it kinda melts. Not enough to reshape the part, but enough so that you have to make the cut two or three times.

[KaneTheMediocre]

Looks like cool stuff. I also wouldn't worry about too much strength (as long as it's cold...) as you can just mash more of the stuff on your part in most contexts. Repair is probably as simple as "push the other way". At some point material cost will be an issue, which seems roughly 1.5x as much as ABS filament by mass. This is much faster, will make smoother shapes, and doesn't require a robot with a hot-glue gun.

[FountainPenFan]

Looks like cool stuff. I also wouldn't worry about too much strength (as long as it's cold...) as you can just mash more of the stuff on your part in most contexts. Repair is probably as simple as "push the other way". At some point material cost will be an issue, which seems roughly 1.5x as much as ABS filament by mass. This is much faster, will make smoother shapes, and doesn't require a robot with a hot-glue gun.

True, though it would probably be best to make frames and other large sections of homemades out of cheaper materials (i.e. the hardwood I will be using for frames.) I don't know about filament, but this plastic does have the advantage of reuse for continued development of parts or designs - that aspect might make it more cost-competitive with the filament. As you pointed out, this obviously doesn't require any use or access to either drafting software or printer hardware.

I'll order some of the plastic and begin work on my project, and post results here. I will probably make the bolt handle/knob for the action out of the InstaMorph, with a wooden dowel bolt, hardwood frame with InstaMorph grips (since you could make a very nice custom molded grip to fit your hand around a wood core), and PVC barrel with InstaMorph braces to bind the round pipe to the flat wood.

Edited by FountainPenFan, 14 December 2013 - 09:15 PM.