使用3D印刷技术 自制水族器材 （中文日后更新）

SantaMonicaHelp

3Dprinting your aquarium parts

For thoseof you serious DIY folks, you may be interested in how you can make your ownplastic aquarium parts by printing them on a 3D printer. Just this year, costsfor the 3D printers have dropped to under $500 USD for a pre-built one, andunder $200 USD for a kit. 3D printing of your plastic parts works well when:

1. Youare good with computers.

2. Youlike trying new designs or colors.

3. Thepart is small, or can be put together with small parts.

4. Thepart does not require great strength.

3. Thereis no easier/cheaper way to get the parts.

Someaquarium parts, such as simple boxes or tubes, are not suited to 3D printingbecause they can be more easily made with simple plastic or acrylic shapes. Butsome parts are so complex that there is no other way to make them except toprint them on a 3D printer. I'll be using 3D printers to make the next versionof algae scrubbers because of the built-in air tubing, magnet compartments,holes, and bubble pathways that make it impossible for the part to be made (inone piece) any other way.

Somethings I've learned that pertain especially to 3D-printed aquarium parts:

1. Onlyuse ABS plastic, not PLA or PVA. The ABS plastic is the same type of plasticused in kid's LEGO toys and is very strong. PLA or PVA plastic, however, willslowly dissolve when underwater or when subjected to high temps.

2. Onlyuse FDM (also called FF) printers. These are the types of printers which usecoils of plastic filament. These are also the cheapest printers. Other types ofprinters such as SLA (liquid) use a photo-cured plastic that will get brittleunder aquarium lights, and "powder-printers" make parts which are notwater tight.

3. The 3Dprinted parts will not be "glossy smooth". They will instead be morelike carbon fiber, with a texture (or lines) running in one direction throughthe whole part.

We aretoo new at 3D printing to be able to recommend a particular printer, but I'msure each reef or aquarium club has someone who has a 3D printer, and this isusually a great place to start.

Summaryof 3D printing links:

Endlessthings to print:

http://www.thingiverse.com/

Generalforum for all printers:

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/3dprintertipstricksreviews

Massiveforum for lots of printer kits and DIY:

http://forums.reprap.org/

Currentlowest-cost assembled printer to print aquarium-safe ABS plastic:

http://www.kicktraq.com/projects/pirate3d/the-buccaneer-the-3d-printer-that-everyone-can-use/

Currentmost popular U.S. based assembled printer:

http://makerbot.com/

Low costChinese clone of Makerbot:

http://www.ff3dp.com/

Anotherlow cost Chinese clone of Makerbot:

http://www.wanhao3dprinter.com/

Easiestfree 3D modeling program to start with:

www.sketchup.com

(needsthe "Export STL" plugin from http://www.armanicreations.com/download/export_stl_file.rb)

Happyprinting!

sunningfish

Please translate into chinese,so most of partners can understand this ad.

SantaMonicaHelp

用3D 印刷技术制作水族器材

喜欢自己动手制作水族器材的鱼友们，如果你想要你的作品（塑料材料）美观且结实，试试3D打印技术来进行改进. 就今年，利用3D 技术制作一件成品的价格不到500美金（约3200人民币），部件或套件的价格也不到200美金（约1300人民币）。此价格是据美国市场情况分析的，国内市场价格会有所不同，请具体情况具体分析。

    3D技术是个非常实用且好用的方法，如果：

1.        你有一台好的电脑
2.        你喜欢尝试新的设计或颜色。
3.        制作小型水族器材，小型效果佳。（零件小，易操作，省制作时间）
4.        制作和使用不需要费很多力气。
5.        不要购买太便宜的零件或部件。

一些水族零件，如使用简单的盒子或管，因为他们可以用简单的塑料或亚克力材料来制作，就不需要3D 技术。但有些复杂的零件，就需要用3D 印刷来制作。我将使用3D印刷技术来制作新一版藻类洗涤器，因为内置的空气管，磁铁，孔和泡沫很难用其他简单方法来制作 。

通过使用3D印刷技术， 我认识到：

1.        不能用PLA 或PVA, 只能用ABS塑料.  ABS塑料与制作儿童玩具的塑料是同一 类型，都很结实。 但是PLA 或PVA的塑料会在水里或是高温条件下，会慢慢溶解。

2.        只能使用FDM（也称FF）印刷机。 这类打印机使用的是塑料丝线圈。 这也是最便宜的打印机。 其他类型的打印机制作不出好的效果。如SLA(液体)打印机，它是使用光固化胶的，制作出来的成品或零件在水族灯的照射下， 它的材质会变 脆。 而用“粉打印机”制作的成品或零件对水的密封性较差。

3.        3D印刷技术制作出的成品或部件表面不是光滑的。整体上看，与同一方向纹理的碳相似。

对于 3D印刷技术我们还没有完全掌握，还有待于更深入的了解。所以只能够推荐特定的打印机机型，但我敢肯定，礁水族馆或水族俱乐部应该会有一台3D印刷机。 如果有兴趣制作自己的水族器材，那些地方会起到帮助的。

3D 印刷技术的相关网址：

Endless things to print:
http://www.thingiverse.com/

General forum for all printers:
https://groups.google.com/forum/ ... ertipstricksreviews

Massive forum for lots of printer kits and DIY:
http://forums.reprap.org/

Current lowest-cost assembled printer to print aquarium-safe ABS plastic:
http://www.kicktraq.com/projects ... t-everyone-can-use/

Current most popular U.S. based assembled printer: （最受欢迎的美国印刷机网址）
http://makerbot.com/

Low cost Chinese clone of Makerbot:（最便宜中国的印刷工厂）
http://www.ff3dp.com/

Another low cost Chinese clone of Makerbot:（最便宜中国的印刷工厂）
http://www.wanhao3dprinter.com/

Easiest free 3D modeling program to start with:（）
www.sketchup.com
(needs the "Export STL" plugin from http://www.armanicreations.com/download/export_stl_file.rb)


Happy printing!