Does anyone have a 3D printer on their boat?

[Lasivian]

I'm thinking that a small 3D printer is pretty much "essential" in my engineering mind. I'm curious if anyone has managed to adapt one to run solely on 12v power.

Thanks

[SVHarmonie]

If it is "essential" (?) to you, then I am sure a small inverter will power it. For less effort, and maybe even less money, than adapting the existing power supply.

[Lasivian]

Originally Posted by SVHarmonie

If it is "essential" (?) to you, then I am sure a small inverter will power it. For less effort, and maybe even less money, than adapting the existing power supply.

Actually, 3D printers almost always run completely on DC voltage for their operations. They only use power supplies to convert AC to DC because DC is not usually available. So the idea of inverting just to convert back seems laughable to me.

However it seems few people have done this. So before I reinvented the wheel (I've built 3 different 3D printers from scratch, but never from a solely 12v viewpoint) I wanted to see if someone else had already done the math.

IE. What would the required wattage be? Which printer models run only on 12v and not 24v? What are things to consider when printing on a boat, like dampening motion of a printer while the boat is moving. Etc.

[Tenedos]

How practical is it to use 3D printers to actually create boat parts?

I love the idea, and I can see this being the "future" in space and maybe for commercial container ships and tankers. Trying to assess the practicality on sailboats. Any experience?

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by Tenedos

How practical is it to use 3D printers to actually create boat parts?

I love the idea, and I can see this being the "future" in space and maybe for commercial container ships and tankers. Trying to assess the practicality on sailboats. Any experience?

I’ve had friends that cave diving would print up some little clips etc to hold things, but as far as any kind of boat part, unless it’s a some kind of little plastic clip, I’m not seeing it, not from consumer printers anyway.
Way beyond any of our means but GE is printing parts for turbine engines, so it’s definitely possible, but I bet that printer cost Millions at least and it’s not going on a boat.

One day hulls will be printed, I don’t know when and I’d expect other things first, but it’s coming.

[Lasivian]

Originally Posted by Tenedos

How practical is it to use 3D printers to actually create boat parts?

I can make any plastic part you can think of. I have also made some plastic parts that temporarily substituted for metal ones. I've been in 3D printing and design for 10 years. One thing holds true, you never realize what you can make until the need arises.

Also remember you're not just dealing with "boat parts", there are a lot of "personal goods" that can be fixed.

Just some thoughts I can make hinges for cabinets, hooks, watertight tubing connectors, brackets for mounting things, corner braces, mounts for electronics, tool handles, toys if you have a kid onboard, artwork to sell. Really your imagination is the biggest limitation.

I even designed and made a block & Tackle that was strong enough to lift myself off the ground with. Just using skate bearings and basic hardware store bolts. https://www.youmagine.com/designs/bl...s-550-paracord

A few of my other designs: https://www.youmagine.com/lasivian/designs and https://www.thingiverse.com/lasivian/designs

[Boatwithnoname]

Originally Posted by Lasivian

I'm curious if anyone has managed to adapt one to run solely on 12v power.

Just plug your printers 12v systems directly into the 12v supply. Done.

Originally Posted by Lasivian

I can make any plastic part you can think of. I have also made some plastic parts that temporarily substituted for metal ones. I've been in 3D printing and design for 10 years.

• No you cannot make anything with 3D printer, not even close.
• Additive manufactured parts are weak. They are not stronger than traditional equivalents.
• Solid 3D CAD skills and software are essential to create parts. (Which means you need a computer and so you already have AC supplied.)

[sailingunity]

Originally Posted by Tenedos

How practical is it to use 3D printers to actually create boat parts?

I love the idea, and I can see this being the "future" in space and maybe for commercial container ships and tankers. Trying to assess the practicality on sailboats. Any experience?

A friend of mine made new scupper grates for my boa when the old ones deteriorated.

The problem was they floated when it rained. So we made a mold from the 3D printed part and casted them, worked out grate, I mean great.

[CaptTom]

Actually, hulls have been printed. At least one; I read the article maybe a year ago.

My questions are (1) materials, and (2) strength of the parts produced.

Many of the parts we use on a boat are cast metal or molded plastic. Even if you had a printer which could print stainless steel or marelon, building it up in layers seems to me (non-engineer!) like building in weak points. The material not only has to stand up to whatever stresses the component is exposed to, but also strongly adhere to the previous layer.

Then again, I don't really follow 3D printing technology. Have these things been overcome?

[Lasivian]

Originally Posted by CaptTom

Many of the parts we use on a boat are cast metal or molded plastic. Even if you had a printer which could print stainless steel or marelon, building it up in layers seems to me (non-engineer!) like building in weak points. The material not only has to stand up to whatever stresses the component is exposed to, but also strongly adhere to the previous layer.

Then again, I don't really follow 3D printing technology. Have these things been overcome?

Printed parts are almost always superior to molded ones. Each layer is fusing to the layer beneath it, creating an intricate network of tiny fibers. A molded piece that can be broken with your bare hands you can't break with a hammer if printed.

I can also print in a variety of materials including ABS, PLA, PETG, Carbon Fiber, Polycarbonate, and Nylon.

While metal can't be printed, you could replace a metal part by making a plastic one much larger and bulkier to temporaily replace it.

Once when I worked at the Wood Technology Center in Seattle we needed a metal spacer for a shaper in a specific thickness. We ordered the part but it was 2 weeks shipping. I printed a heavy plastic washer and the skeptical instructors tried it. It worked fine until the metal washer came in.

[CaptTom]

Originally Posted by Lasivian

Printed parts are almost always superior to molded ones. Each layer is fusing to the layer beneath it, creating an intricate network of tiny fibers. A molded piece that can be broken with your bare hands you can't break with a hammer if printed.

I can also print in a variety of materials including ABS, PLA, PETG, Carbon Fiber, Polycarbonate, and Nylon.

While metal can't be printed, you could replace a metal part by making a plastic one much larger and bulkier to temporaily replace it.

Wow. I guess I had some misconceptions. That's amazing.

For me, I can probably never justify learning to design the parts, never mind the huge learning curve involved in getting started. But it does sound like SUCH a cool hobby!

[JiffyLube]

Originally Posted by Lasivian

Printed parts are almost always superior to molded ones. Each layer is fusing to the layer beneath it, creating an intricate network of tiny fibers. A molded piece that can be broken with your bare hands you can't break with a hammer if printed.

I can also print in a variety of materials including ABS, PLA, PETG, Carbon Fiber, Polycarbonate, and Nylon.

While metal can't be printed, you could replace a metal part by making a plastic one much larger and bulkier to temporaily replace it.

Once when I worked at the Wood Technology Center in Seattle we needed a metal spacer for a shaper in a specific thickness. We ordered the part but it was 2 weeks shipping. I printed a heavy plastic washer and the skeptical instructors tried it. It worked fine until the metal washer came in.

Where do you source materials for printing?

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by CaptTom

Actually, hulls have been printed. At least one; I read the article maybe a year ago.

Sure and the US Marine Corp has printed a building too, but neither is actually in production and that what I meant, one day we will be looking at printed dinghy hulls first maybe, then bigger later?
Metal can certainly be printed and things can be built by additive manufacturing that can’t by subtractive, cause printing is of course adding, where machining is taking away.
https://www.ge.com/reports/treat-avg...rcraft-engine/
This is soon to be in actual production, EASA Certification first, FAA to follow I’m sure.

Printing is definitely going to change things in the future, just it’s my understanding that what us mere mortals can afford, can basically make toys etc. the friend I had would take the parts printed and soak them or wash them in acetone to smooth the surfaces, but that was guess 7 or 8 years ago?

[Lasivian]

Another interesting thing, if you are anywhere where someone has a metal foundry you can give them a printed part, and they can use that to cast you a metal part from it. Just like lost wax casting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVgPM1ojyLw

[BigNut]

Does anyone know of the consequences (if any) of using a 3d printer on a moving boat? I’m thinking at anchor, although things can move a bit at dock also.