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 growth mechanical engineer, Michael Graham has seen just a few totally different sorts of expertise come and go. However as soon as a university 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 gear. He has additionally dabbled in 3D printing by means of his profession, most notably with HP’s multi-jet Fusion 3D printer, and infrequently elsewhere. However in 2012 he picked up an unique Printrbot with the 3D printed and laser reduce {hardware} to construct it for the educational expertise.
“I noticed individuals making trinkets on Thingiverse however truthfully I had no concept what I might use the machine for. It simply appeared like a doubtlessly useful gizmo and a profession talent to choose up.”
The Wonderful 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 neighborhood, he had discovered his tribe of fellow ‘layer geeks’. They meet month-to-month to share tales and nerd out. Additionally they contribute a heavy presence to the annual Portland MakerFaire.
As an engineer, Michael has created checks, jigs and fixtures, and plenty of different designs. One among his main engineering experiments got here after he turned curious in regards to the power of the totally 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, however it additionally resulted in a better last half power/weight ratio in comparison with a honeycomb fill. He additionally decided that perimeters have a far better impact on half power than infill does by way of power 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 probably 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 important mission 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 Change Cowl
“I’ve experimented with constructing a machine to routinely acetone vapor polish abs plastic utilizing an ultrasonic mister. It labored fairly nicely however 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 want to develop and apply new abilities. This lead him to the creation of the Mug-O-Matic, “This explicit work was impressed by quite a lot of tasks found on-line by means of my curiosity in making toys and constructing automated gear. I actually just like the ‘Eggbot’ egg plotter particularly 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 enchantment than eggs. I assumed hmm…I drink espresso on daily basis & I’ve by no means seen a espresso mug plotter earlier than. Sounds enjoyable! Finally, my toy has totally different priorities than the eggbot, so I take advantage of totally different expertise and commerce off a diminished drawing decision to realize a cheaper price level.”
Michael’s Selfmade Vapor Polisher for ABS
However as a realist, Michael is aware of that supplies for tasks needs to be attainable by everybody, so he makes use of off-the-shelf supplies, as a rule, so everybody can benefit from his creations. Solely when he can’t buy a ready-made answer does he begin designing new elements. At that time, he makes use of no matter materials it takes to get the job executed proper.
Michael has put his abilities to good use, successful 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 mission with wonderful documentation. His hottest tasks have a number of hundred thousand views on his engineerdog.com web site (hyperlinks under).
For the longer term, Michael has many tasks to work on, however he has a weak point that many people share, “ I attempt to not neglect that the most harmful factor affecting my potential to finish a given mission is…my subsequent mission! So I attempt to not do two tasks without delay. 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 mission Michael labored on in school.
We look ahead to 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 too can see Michaels’ designs on Thingiverse right here:
Do you assume you could have 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 mission or 3D printed creation, and you would be featured in our subsequent e-newsletter. The Hacker of the Month will even obtain a free spool of PRO Sequence or MH Construct filament to additional their pursuit of 3D printing greatness.
