MatterHackers’ Could 2019 Hacker of the Month based mostly this new, open supply, 3D printed, jet-powered racer on the OpenRC platform.
Our Could 2019 Hacker of the Month, Cesar Joshua Camacho, who goes by Josh, hails from Brooklyn, New York and at present works as a School Lab Technician at New York Metropolis School of Expertise, the place he additionally earned his bachelors in mechanical engineering. He’s at present concerned in instructing machining 101, two CAD design courses and a senior design class. Throughout his second 12 months in class, Josh had the chance to work on a damaged 3D printer his professor made him conscious of. After he was proven 3D prints that had been finished on the printer earlier than it was damaged, he knew he needed to make the repairs to get it up and operating once more.
Josh spent the following few weeks studying in regards to the mechanics of 3D printers, and with a bit time and persistence, he was in a position to get the machine up and operating once more. After repairing the printer, he was head over heels in love with 3D printing and went out and bought an XYZ Davinci 1.0a for his private use. Whereas he’s acquainted and cozy with the mechanics of 3D printers, his obsession with having the ability to create issues out of skinny air (as he states, ‘like Inexperienced Lantern!’) which has pushed his ardour ahead over the previous few years.
The CMDAM (Middle of Medical Gadgets & Additive Manufacturing) at Metropolis Tech is presented with a big assortment of 3D printers that Josh has entry to, together with; three Stratasys Uprint Pluses, a Dice Professional, a Markforged Duo, a Lulzbot TAZ 6, a Lulzbot Mini, a Formlabs Kind 2, two Sparkmakers, two MicroMake l2’s, two Monoprice Choose Minis, a Flashforge Creator Professional, and a Creality CR-10S5. As well as, he additionally has the next fashions at dwelling: a Creality CR-10, a Prusa MK2.5s, a Monoprice Mini Delta, and a MicroMake l2.
Most of the 3D printers within the Metropolis Tech CMDAM lab are tasked with 3D printing prosthetics and orthotic gadgets. Many of those gadgets require superior supplies together with carbon-fiber infused NylonX, metal-infused supplies like tungsten ABS, aluminum, bronze and different supplies from Digital Foundry, in addition to flexibles like TPU/TPE. One of many many triumphs of the lab was designing and printing ‘stress cushions’ from versatile supplies that changed the metallic springs in most of the prosthetics. They discovered these 3D printed stress cushions labored higher than their metal counterparts, lasted longer, and didn’t require upkeep as soon as put in.
For the 3D printers that Josh makes use of that don’t have proprietary slicers, he primarily makes use of Cura and slic3r, however his favourite is Simplify3D due to the choice of customization choices out there. He additionally advantages from utilizing MatterControl as effectively so he can slice elements for print time estimations, which helps him plan materials consumption and printer utilization schedules.
All of this expertise and information lead Josh to design and print his wonderful jet-powered RC automobile, known as the Slingshot, based mostly on the OpenRC mannequin by Daniel Norée. He initially needed to make an excessive hobby-grade RC automobile that wasn’t available on the market and would cease folks of their tracks. However most significantly, he needed to create a enjoyable venture after his inspiration was piqued by the expertise he had 3D printing and constructing the OpenRC F1 mannequin.
The steering mechanisms and the body are based mostly on the OpenRC mannequin, and the jet-powered turbine is designed completely by Josh. The thrust generated by the turbine provides the car the facility it must propel ahead on the modified wheels. Whereas testing the iterations of the car, Josh was initially inside however was requested to proceed his experiments exterior to chop down on the turbine noise within the workplace.
Josh additionally prints fee and volunteer elements for a mess of businesses, buddies, and household. All the things from gears 3D printed in Taulman Nylon for personal corporations, to prototypes and collectible figurines, substitute automobile elements (primarily for his father), college students at Metropolis Tech, in addition to toys and items for the youthful relations in his life.
Josh is at all times keen to study extra about 3D printing – he is a big fan of the RepRap motion and loves the camaraderie of the 3D printing group. Anytime he can watch a video tutorial in his free time, it helps to raise his understanding not solely of 3D printing, but in addition ideas like materials sciences, vibrational evaluation, and thermodynamics. His love for his pastime has really elevated his understanding and appreciation of his profession, and his capability to assist others study extra a few multitude of areas in engineering and manufacturing.
Transferring ahead, Josh hopes to see what all of us want for; decrease prices in machines and supplies to open the floodgates of 3D printing for everybody. Whereas prices have come down significantly within the final 5 years, with so many extra corporations creating new machines and supplies, he hopes to see extra entry for each consumer. Certainly one of his primary wishes is to see the invention of the 3D printed burger within the restaurant trade!
What’s subsequent on the horizon for Josh? Along with all the different pursuits he has, he’s additionally a fan of, and has a background in, aeronautics. He needs to create one other OpenRC prototype, this time known as the F22 – an open-source, RC airplane that anybody can 3D print and modify nonetheless they please. Following in Daniel Norée’s design, he will likely be designing them to be support-free, and they are going to be out there on MatterHackers’ web site in addition to others sooner or later as soon as it’s accomplished.
We are able to’t wait to see the OpenRC F22 venture come to fruition, and we will likely be internet hosting the OpenJetRC automobile on our website as quickly as it’s out there, along with the F22 designs!
Are you or somebody you already know doing one thing superior with 3D printing? Inform us about your venture or 3D printed creation, and you possibly can be featured in our subsequent publication! Electronic mail chris.morgan@matterhackers.com together with your story concept!
