3d printing camping/bushcraft kit
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You don't have to use plastic. Rough Timba who produces various widgets like a tripod top for the Lavvu uses corn starch instead. He says he can get 6 stone's worth of weight onto the below widget without breaking. It's just as hard as hard plastic.
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That is largely a matter of semantics. "Man made" against "natural" polymers, natural ones tend to be much more easily biodegradable. There actually are bacteria that brake down polyesters and polyamides, these are not "forever" materials at all.
But I get the sentiment, my guess is that fairly soon we get more modified natural polymers for various things.
Saw video a while back of a guy 3D printing sword hilts, and using them similar to lost wax casting.
On an industrial scale, companies like voxeljet 3D print with sand for making molds for metal casting. Printer covers the print bed with a layer of sand, and the print head applies a binder where it wants the sand to stick together, loose sand acts as support for the print.
On an industrial scale, companies like voxeljet 3D print with sand for making molds for metal casting. Printer covers the print bed with a layer of sand, and the print head applies a binder where it wants the sand to stick together, loose sand acts as support for the print.
I tend to use a resin printer for the lost wax stuff (not that it's actually wax, but has a lot of wax in it...). It burns rather than melts though. The filament printers don't tend to have the level of detail - thought there are some sintering filaments available for domestic machines that look like fun. Not tried them yet.
There's also the ProJet printers which are glorified inkjets - they print in actual wax, one that's soluble for supports and the other for subsequent burnout. Problem is, the definition isn't fantastic (and they can be a bit twitchy about being turned off & on, they seem to prefer to run continuously).
PLA is often described as being made from corn starch; it's still a plastic.
That said, so's horn (or steel if you heat it).
There's also the ProJet printers which are glorified inkjets - they print in actual wax, one that's soluble for supports and the other for subsequent burnout. Problem is, the definition isn't fantastic (and they can be a bit twitchy about being turned off & on, they seem to prefer to run continuously).
PLA is often described as being made from corn starch; it's still a plastic.
That said, so's horn (or steel if you heat it).
I used to have a link to an eu parliament funded research project into biodegradable plastics like corn starch derived ones. Seems back then they didn't biodegrade in a year even enough to stop the bag carrying a typical shopping load! The bags tested were strong enough to still be useable after over 12 months in either soil, air, freshwater or seawater.
Imho reducing the need to use petroleum sources for plastics is one thing but it doesn't get over the fact you're creating a long lasting plastic or that you're using growing capacity that might be much better spent growing food. Better to reduce plastic if you can.
Imho reducing the need to use petroleum sources for plastics is one thing but it doesn't get over the fact you're creating a long lasting plastic or that you're using growing capacity that might be much better spent growing food. Better to reduce plastic if you can.
I printed this rope thing the other day, and I’m rather impressed, easy and strong.
I know quite a few have knocked the printed items as there too much plastic in the world, well PLA isn’t plastic as such, it’s made from corn starch and is biodegradable. Yes it’s not upto climbing standards, but perfect for kit hanging. I’ll make up some items are create a piece for the page.
At the risk of resurrecting this thread I thought I might chuck my 2p into the mix. We've recently got a 3d printer for work and safe to say it's more than paid for itself in terms of being able to throw together a jig or bit that we need.
From the bushcraft perspective though I'm struggling to see much use for making parts you could do with some crafty knot work or whittling, given most of what I can see are line tensioners and toggles.
What I will say though, and I think this is where 3d printing shines, is it gives one the ability to fabricate and replace broken parts, where one can't buy replacements it's just a case of measure up, draw up, and print up. We recently had part of my sons high chair break and within a day it was working again, it really does push back on disposable consumer parts.
From the bushcraft perspective though I'm struggling to see much use for making parts you could do with some crafty knot work or whittling, given most of what I can see are line tensioners and toggles.
What I will say though, and I think this is where 3d printing shines, is it gives one the ability to fabricate and replace broken parts, where one can't buy replacements it's just a case of measure up, draw up, and print up. We recently had part of my sons high chair break and within a day it was working again, it really does push back on disposable consumer parts.
I need a clamp to go round 22mm pole with a hook on....... hunt downtown Chatham....Spend a week looking at Amazon.....3D print one to exact size. SORTED
My son’s 3D printer is my go to option for any small plastic component these days. He’s made some big fluorescent tops for my peripheral tent pags and loads of guyline tensioners.
Beyond bushcraft his printer means that some things can now be repaired where they would have been thrown away.
Beyond bushcraft his printer means that some things can now be repaired where they would have been thrown away.
I have a few bits and pieces which are printed, with variable results. Thingyverse has many options. Of course it depends on the plastic, the print, the purpose of the item. That said, prints can be made locally and cheaply, reprinted as necessary and some things are actually quite impressive - I have a couple of eardrum bursting whistles which are quite impressive and more eco friendly and easier to find than buying locally or ordering online.
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