February 2019 Hacker of the Month, Michael Graham, makes use of 3D printing as his mainstay instrument in testing and prototyping instruments and supplies for his engineering builds.
Posted on January 28, 2019
by
Chris Morgan
As a analysis and improvement mechanical engineer, Michael Graham has seen just a few completely different sorts of expertise come and go. However as soon as a school buddy talked about 3D printing to him, he was hooked.
A busy day for the Mug-O-Matic
Since 2011 Michael has labored as a contractor and engineer designing and constructing specialty machines and industrial tools. He has additionally dabbled in 3D printing by his profession, most notably with HP’s multi-jet Fusion 3D printer, and sometimes elsewhere. However in 2012 he picked up an unique Printrbot with the 3D printed and laser reduce {hardware} to construct it for the training expertise.
“I noticed individuals making trinkets on Thingiverse however actually I had no thought what I’d use the machine for. It simply appeared like a probably useful gizmo and a profession talent to choose up.”
The Superb Mug-O-Matic!
As soon as he moved from the Midwest to Portland, Oregon and found the PDX 3D Printing Lab meetup and the thriving maker group, he had discovered his tribe of fellow ‘layer geeks’. They meet month-to-month to share tales and nerd out. In addition they contribute a heavy presence to the annual Portland MakerFaire.
As an engineer, Michael has created exams, jigs and fixtures, and plenty of different designs. One in every of his main engineering experiments got here after he grew to become curious in regards to the energy of the completely different infill patterns utilized by most 3D printers. So, he constructed a check machine and decided that the rectilinear infill sample was not solely the quickest to 3D print, nevertheless it additionally resulted in a higher remaining half energy/weight ratio in comparison with a honeycomb fill. He additionally decided that perimeters have a far higher impact on half energy than infill does by way of energy gained/plastic used. These outcomes helped Michael mannequin the present strategies he makes use of to design his 3D prints. An engineer all the way in which!
Michael’s Common Take a look at Machine
Whereas he has a store with a lathe, a mill, and different bigger manufacturing machines, he makes use of his 3D printer essentially the most. He enjoys seeing the fruits of his labor extra simply repeated and shared. He primarily makes use of a Prusa Mk3 to manufacture his designs.
Michael’s most important undertaking for the time being is the Mug-O-Matic TinyCNC drawing robotic. The Mug-O-Matic is an open-source, extremely modifiable mug printing robotic that makes use of markers, and the course of the creator who makes it, to decorate favourite espresso receptacles with enjoyable designs.
Michael’s Gear Gentle Swap Cowl
“I’ve experimented with constructing a machine to robotically acetone vapor polish abs plastic utilizing an ultrasonic mister. It labored fairly nicely nevertheless it was positively a hack. These days I’ve my thoughts set on producing novelty robotic kits and my designs particularly DO NOT require any post-processing since that drastically will increase the man-hours wanted to provide them. The imaginative and prescient is to actually scrape elements off the print bend and drop them right into a delivery field, with none purposeful compromises being made.”
Michael is consistently pushed by curiosity and a need to develop and apply new expertise. This lead him to the creation of the Mug-O-Matic, “This specific work was impressed by quite a lot of tasks found on-line by my curiosity in making toys and constructing automated tools. I actually just like the ‘Eggbot’ egg plotter specifically and the way critically it takes its foolish activity. I needed to create my very own little activity particular robotic too, besides with an output that has extra on a regular basis attraction than eggs. I assumed hmm…I drink espresso each day & I’ve by no means seen a espresso mug plotter earlier than. Sounds enjoyable! Finally, my toy has completely different priorities than the eggbot, so I exploit completely different expertise and commerce off a decreased drawing decision to realize a cheaper price level.”
Michael’s Home made Vapor Polisher for ABS
However as a realist, Michael is aware of that supplies for tasks ought to be attainable by everybody, so he makes use of off-the-shelf supplies, as a rule, so everybody can make the most of his creations. Solely when he can’t buy a ready-made resolution does he begin designing new elements. At that time, he makes use of no matter materials it takes to get the job performed proper.
Michael has put his skills to good use, profitable a number of design contests sponsored by Instructables.com, Thingiverse, Pinshape, and others. He attributes his success to placing in a critical effort to make a inventive, unique, and reproducible undertaking with glorious documentation. His hottest tasks have a number of hundred thousand views on his engineerdog.com web site (hyperlinks under).
For the long run, Michael has many tasks to work on, however he has a weak spot that many people share, “ I attempt to not overlook that the most harmful factor affecting my capability to finish a given undertaking is…my subsequent undertaking! So I attempt to not do two tasks directly. That mentioned, down the highway, I’d have an interest to construct knowledgeable (open-source) model of my TesterBot machine and provide a mechanical testing service. The one limitation is discovering paying shoppers first!”
A 3-wheeled design undertaking Michael labored on in faculty.
We sit up for seeing extra of Michael’s designs come to life sooner or later! To see extra of what Michael is as much as, go to his web site right here:
You may as well see Michaels’ designs on Thingiverse right here:
Do you suppose you’ve got what it takes to be our subsequent Hacker of the Month? Merely observe us on Fb/Twitter or e mail chris.morgan@matterhackers.com. Inform us about your undertaking or 3D printed creation, and you possibly can be featured in our subsequent e-newsletter. The Hacker of the Month can even obtain a free spool of PRO Sequence or MH Construct filament to additional their pursuit of 3D printing greatness.