Models with moving parts like gears?

[Cyber-Mav]

Iv printed some models out now like the heart with gears in it and im shocked at how this works.
How is the printer able to make moving parts all in one go? Iv used a hand 3d pen before and as soon as filament touches filament it melts and fuses together. These moving parts models are just witchcraft.

 

[montymint]

Machine tolerances are a wonder

 

[Cyber-Mav]

But how can it put filament on top of filament without it sticking together?

 

[andy_mk3]

If it's printed with a bit of a gap then it wont bond together. Stuff printed on top may need to be broken free. There's lots of print in place things that work like that.

 

[brendy]

Use of bridging etc can make it pretty much flawless, still mazes me when I'm printing out fidget stuff for my girls.

 

[Cyber-Mav]

iv printed out a movable fish thingy, cant believe how its done, its not possible to put filament down onto thin air, it has to touch something, i dont get how it just doesnt fuse to whatever it touches since it is liquified.

 

[Cyber-Mav]

I think i understand now after watching it in action, its varying the temperature of the filament as it puts it down, to start a moving part off it puts down a colder layer that doesnt stick to the previous layer then it puts down hot layers that stick as usual.
Was like watching paint dry but more entertaining

 

[ElliorR]

Print some of these. They’re so satisfying to play with.

Printables

www.printables.com

 

[Cyber-Mav]

Will check those out. Be interesting to see how 4D printers change things up.

 

[Joe Jones]

I'm still amazed at the print-in-place stuff even after printing quite a few over the years.

Some of the things people create are fascinating as well where they can self build, collapse, or even have built in spring like mechanisms.

 

[Cyber-Mav]

Yep, knowing the material and its properties results in some very interesting outcomes.
Im currently messing with designs and keep altering stuff based on how i think how hard the printer will find it to print and optimise based on leveraging the printers strengths.