The Printer Bench
I started out with the Creality Ender 3 Plus on the right. After a year of printing, I decided that I wanted something with a larger print volume. That’s when I purchased the Creality Ender 5 Plus on the left. I replaced the stock CPU boards with the TH3D EZBoard Lite V1.2. These are 32 bit CPUs with 512k memory. With the TMC 2208 motor drivers, they are very quite boards as compared to the Creality originals. The swap required a screen replacement on the Ender 5 Plus but was relatively inexpensive and easy to install. Both printers are using BLTouchs for bed leveling and have glass beds. I’m using Rasberry PI 4s to run the Octoprint print server software on each printer. The projects listed on this page are organized in chronological order with the most recent project first.
Imperial Probe Droid
Continuing with the Starwars theme. This is a 3D printed project designed in Fusion 360. It has 95 printed parts and uses a Arduino Nano to control the lighting.
Monster Car
This is an electric powered monster car that I designed in Fusion 360. It was printed on my 3D Printers. It has a first person view camera (FPV) and can be driven using FPV goggles. Hope you enjoy the video!
Starship Enterprise
We have been re-watching some of our movie collection and watched the Star Trek series. The Starship Enterprise looked like a drawing/ design challenge so I decided to take it on. Below is the design drawing in Fusion 360. The model has many 3D printed parts, 15 LEDs, and two strips of programmable LED strips. An Arduino Elegoo Nano computer is in the engineering deck and is programmed to control the lights.
Bundled-up Bernie
Bernie Sanders was bundled up at the Biden inauguration. Bundled-up Bernie became the biggest meme from the inauguration. I couldn’t resist printing one of the STL files from Thingiverse.com and painting it. The figure is 5″ tall. Here are after printing and painting images.
Starwars Tie Fighter
After designing and building R2D2, we decided to re-watch all of the Starwars movies again. Watching them gave me the idea of designing my own take on an Imperial Tie Fighter. 30 design drawings and many hours of printing later, here’s my version. It is powered by a rechargable battery that is in the engine bay on the rear of the model. This area also houses the Arduino Elegoo Nano computer programmed to control the lights.
R2D2
My goal for this project was to continue learning AutoDesk’s Fusion 360 computer aided design and manufacturing software. I wanted an R2D2 that was completely 3D printed without any post processing. It required 67 individual 3D drawings that were then saved as STL files. The STL files were then printed on two Creality 3D Printers. The total build is over one hundred printed parts. To move the dome, I used an Arduino Elegoo Mega 2560 computer, programmed to control a motor controller board that moves a stepper motor, MP3 player for the sounds and a mechanical relay to turn on and off the lights. The lights could have been controlled by the Arduino but I like the addition of the mechanical relay sounds. The model is half scale based on the Astromech drawings and stands about 22 inches tall. A shout out to Astromech the R2D2 builders club for the dimensional drawings that I based my design on. Not everything is detailed in the drawings and I did take a few design liberties.
R2D2 electronics. Voltage converter, Arduino Mega 2560 computer, and motor controller.
Screenshot from the Fusion 360 software. This is the final assembly drawing used to ensure that components fit together.
Christmas Tree Topper
Needed a new tree topper this year. 3D printer and Fusion 360 to the rescue!
Saturn V
I found this project on Thingiverse.com and had to make it. I used the electronics from this project for the flames.
This is the rocket plume internal electronics. Components include a Voltage converter, and a Arduino Nano computer. The Nano is programmed to control the individual programmable LED lights.
HXR
This being a very weird COVID 19 year, we’ve been keeping in touch with my sister Janet in Kentucky via Zoom meetings. Specifically, we have been playing Farkle matches with her and Mead. My luck being down, I needed a way to change it. So I introduce HXR, you can put the hex on your Farkle opponents and change your luck. Unfortunately, it hasn’t changed my luck but it was fun to make. Being a fair person, I made one for Janet with an interchangeable die plate. That way she can change it to a University of Kentucky HXR and hex their opponents. The UK version comes with matching dice cups.
Benchy
This is the defacto 3D printer test to see if you have your printer dialed in. I never printed one and decided that I should. This one is a bit supersized.
Bench Power Supply
I needed a bench power supply when prototyping my electronic projects. I found a nice design that uses a PC power supply on YouTube. However, it had a wooden case. I decide to design my own case and print it. The design is available on Thingiverse.
Toyota Engine Model
I found this engine model on Thingiverse. I designed the battery, electronics and electric motor housing to drive the engine.
Pandemic Related
When the pandemic struck in March of 2020 there were food shortages. We stocked up on some frozen items. The freezer was pretty packed and I kept having things fall on my feet. I designed these shelf stops to solve the problem.
Door push/ pull drawing, printing and completed.
Mask Straps/ Tensioner
Mask fabric cutting template
Baby Yoda
Everyone wanted a Baby Yoda. Or is that Grogu? Michelle graciously made the robes.
Baby Groot
Made with wood filament, sanded and stained American Walnut. I airbrushed the top of the head with green.
Longhorn Team Spirit
Go Horns! Timelapse..
Moon Lamp
Saw this project on thingiverse and had to make it. I designed the base/ lamp holder.
Lithophane Lamps and Night Lights
Lithophanes are traditionally done in porcelain. This site can take your images and make a 3D printable STL file. This can then be printed to produce the lithophone. Below are some of the lamps that I have designed and printed. Most of the images are mine. The owl image was taken by and printed for a friend.
3-Sided lamp with wooden base. Utilizes a RGB color changing light bulb with remote control.
Northern Harrier Lamp and Night Light
Twisted Tree lamp. Image taken on the edge of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
Owl Lamp
Owl night light
Halloween Pumpkin Tea Lights
Thought these would be fun for fall decorating.
Tyrannosaurus Rex
Thingiverse model super sized. Measures 1 foot tall by 3 foot long.
Replacement Light Switch Knob
Because sometimes things break.
Plant Stakes
R2D2
My first R2D2 project. It stands about 18″ tall.
Personalized Containers with Screw Lids
Polar Bear and Seal
Swimming Sea Turtle
Rolls Royce Jet Engine
In the early 1990’s I did some software development work for American Airlines. I saw one of these engines bolted to a giant concrete block and test fired.
My First Print
This a model that comes with the Ender 3 printer.
