Saroj Manandhar, MatterHackers’ June Hacker of the Month, shares his secrets and techniques to attaining the modern, detailed prints all of us crave.
Saroj Manandhar, an Engineering Supervisor at The Toro Firm, first realized about 3D printing when he attended a tradeshow in 1999, the place he set his eyes on a Stratasys FDM 3000. Proper then and there, he knew he needed to have one.
He got down to procure one for his firm as quickly as doable. “My purpose was to combine 3D printing in our growth course of in hopes of saving money and time,” stated Manandhar, including that “in lower than a month, we have been utilizing the FDM 3000 across the clock to print our prototypes in a matter of hours fairly than the standard methodology of constructing molds that may have taken us a number of weeks and price fifty occasions extra.”
Since then, Manandhar’s firm has procured a number of different giant FDM printers, they usually have not regarded again since: “we develop our merchandise completely using 3D printed elements. It additionally helps that 95% of our parts are plastic. We proceed to avoid wasting properly over $250,000 in tooling yearly and lower down on growth time by 10 – 6 weeks per venture.”
Entranced by what 3D printing might accomplish, Manandhar waited for the day when 3D printers turned extra reasonably priced so he might start to work on some private tasks. “I’ve all the time needed my very own 3D printer for a very long time,” states Manandhar, “and with the 3D printers now being extra reasonably priced, I lastly procured two Airwolf HD printers in 2014.”
With loads of follow utilizing Solidworks, Manandhar started designing his first print for pleasure: Ironman. “I thought of it a private problem to mannequin your complete Ironman swimsuit,” claims Manandhar, “it took me a number of weeks to finish the mannequin and some extra weeks to print the elements within the Airwolf and FDM printers.”
With outcomes like this, we would say it was undoubtedly well worth the wait.
Ironman MK17Â
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So, what’s his secret to producing prints that seem like they have been solid?
Step 1: Use an automotive filler/primer to coat the prints. Manandhar makes use of Dupli-color automotive primer.
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Ironman MK42 – Peak 46″
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Step 2: Sand the surfaces. 200 – 300 grit sand paper is really helpful.Â
Millennium Falcon
Step 3: Paint the elements in your required shade. Dupli-Coloration and Rust-Oleum paint works properly.Â
Robo Cop – ED-209
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Step 4: Coat the print in 2-3 layers of clear polyurethane. Manandhar makes use of Rust-Oleum clear coat.
Hyperlink – The Legend of Zelda
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Manandhar has printed loads of profitable fashions utilizing the above steps, at each his house and at work. Due partially to his glorious prints, he hopes that 3D printing will proceed to develop into extra areas and grow to be extra accessible: “I consider that our era has the duty to arrange the following era in 3D printing – each faculty and school ought to tailor programs in ‘Speedy Fabrication’ and supply funding to maintain this system.”
“With the fast advances in 3D printing of not solely plastic, however different supplies resembling metallic, carbon fiber, meals, organic, and even building supplies,” confirms Manandhar, “there isn’t any doubt that 3D printing will impression the best way we reside sooner or later.”
We could not agree extra.Â
Do you suppose you’ve got what it takes to be our subsequent Hacker of the Month? Merely comply with us on Fb/Twitter or e-mail media@matterhackers.com. Inform us about your venture or 3D printed creation, and you can be featured in our subsequent e-newsletter. Hacker of the Month can even win 3 free spools of PRO collection PLA or ABS filament to additional their pursuit of 3D printing greatness.