4 replies to this topic

[xXD3V1LXx]

Why hello there boy and girls of the internet and nerf fans all around. Im sure you know that most writeups here on the 'haven use the imperial system and not metric. So how are other people from other countries supposed to make NIC blasters? Well they cant really unless they get special orders or get it from a US distributer! But this is where a new finding comes in! 3d printing filament made of petg. It is super strong and flexible and can survive the pressure from a fully grown male with just a bit of flex.

 

These rolls are cheap only being at around 20$ a roll. And it doesn't matter how high your 3d printer can print because you can buy a cheap 5$ soldering iron to melt it together. Its best temperature is at 245 celsius. It comes in all different colors. Here is the clear petg on amazon all you do is look up esun petg. http://www.amazon.co...aw/d/B00PQD7GRQ

Edited by Aeromech, 16 May 2016 - 01:16 PM.

[Draconis]

Just because i its the same material we use for barrels and tubes does not mean that printing is a good option for making them.  The filament deposition process is very rough in comparison to extruded tubing, and would have very poor seals on plungers and darts.  This is part of why the printed turrets need work to operate well.  Also, people from other countries have no trouble with creating their own blasters.  In some places, they have much better access to materials than we do (due in pert to population density), and can simply walk down the street to a plastics shop.

Edited by Draconis, 16 May 2016 - 10:40 AM.

[Meaker VI]

Also, people from other countries have no trouble with creating their own blasters.  In some places, they have much better access to materials than we do (due in pert to population density), and can simply walk down the street to a plastics shop.

Or they use metric PVC and parts. SGNerf did several homemades that way awhile ago. But there is no way you're ever going to make *3d printing* tubes cost effective: the plastic alone in the PT on a Mark-8 would cost orders of magnitude more than buying a piece of PVC in a store. Let alone that you can't actually 3d print it anywhere near the same quality as the extruded PVC or even to the right size in any home printer (at ~12" long, you'd need a huge printer).

 

Also, PETG is not the same as PVC, which is ~90% of what we use in homemades. Lexan/Polycarbinate is a better material if you're going high-end stuff, and again, cheaper to buy in sheets/tubes than in spools.

[Astech]

Awesome! Now all I need is a $2000 3D printer and I'll be set to make nice cheap barrels... Seriously though, while 3D printing is "the future" etc, it'll never compete with solid, cheap, mass-manufactured materials. Even in Australia where I live (a place in which I've ranted about the lack of parts avaiave ability) I have still been able to find the materials I need (write up pending).

 

PETG is nice progress though.

[Langley]

You identified 3D printing as relevant to the modified/homemade nerf community.  Congrats.