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 a number of completely different sorts of know-how come and go. However as soon as a school good friend 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 tools. He has additionally dabbled in 3D printing by his profession, most notably with HP’s multi-jet Fusion 3D printer, and sometimes elsewhere. However in 2012 he picked up an authentic Printrbot with the 3D printed and laser lower {hardware} to construct it for the training expertise.
“I noticed individuals making trinkets on Thingiverse however truthfully I had no concept what I’d use the machine for. It simply appeared like a doubtlessly useful gizmo and a profession ability to select 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 group, 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 exams, jigs and fixtures, and plenty of different designs. Certainly one of his main engineering experiments got here after he turned curious in regards to the power of the completely different infill patterns utilized by most 3D printers. So, he constructed a take a look at machine and decided that the rectilinear infill sample was not solely the quickest to 3D print, but it surely additionally resulted in a better closing 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 when it comes to 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 best way!
Michael’s Common Check Machine
Whereas he has a store with a lathe, a mill, and different bigger manufacturing machines, he makes use of his 3D printer essentially 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 essential mission in the intervening time 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 path of the creator who makes it, to brighten favourite espresso receptacles with enjoyable designs.
Michael’s Gear Mild Swap Cowl
“I’ve experimented with constructing a machine to robotically acetone vapor polish abs plastic utilizing an ultrasonic mister. It labored fairly effectively but it surely 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 transport field, with none useful compromises being made.”
Michael is continually pushed by curiosity and a want to develop and apply new expertise. This lead him to the creation of the Mug-O-Matic, “This specific work was impressed by quite a lot of tasks found on-line by my curiosity in making toys and constructing automated tools. I actually just like the ‘Eggbot’ egg plotter specifically and the way significantly 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 believed hmm…I drink espresso day by day & I’ve by no means seen a espresso mug plotter earlier than. Sounds enjoyable! In the end, my toy has completely different priorities than the eggbot, so I exploit completely different know-how and commerce off a decreased drawing decision to realize a cheaper price level.”
Michael’s Home made 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 performed proper.
Michael has put his skills 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, authentic, and reproducible mission with glorious documentation. His hottest tasks have a number of hundred thousand views on his engineerdog.com web site (hyperlinks under).
For the long run, Michael has many tasks to work on, however he has a weak spot that many people share, “ I strive to not neglect that the most harmful factor affecting my capacity to finish a given mission is…my subsequent mission! So I strive to not do two tasks directly. That stated, down the street, 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 purchasers first!”
A 3-wheeled design mission Michael labored on in school.
We stay up for 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 can even see Michaels’ designs on Thingiverse right here:
Do you suppose you could have what it takes to be our subsequent Hacker of the Month? Merely observe us on Fb/Twitter or electronic mail chris.morgan@matterhackers.com. Inform us about your mission or 3D printed creation, and you can be featured in our subsequent e-newsletter. The Hacker of the Month may even obtain a free spool of PRO Sequence or MH Construct filament to additional their pursuit of 3D printing greatness.
