I am making LC Scale Kits & Accessories for mud!

[SharpeCat]

Underextrusion around corners on bottom side, means I just need to slow down my outer walls and this will be a nice part right off the plate! I’m actually going to reprint it but keep this one for painting later; we are aiming for ship quality right off the plate.

Not sure how to not understate this, but you definitely feel the extra strength from thicker walls here.

I’m considering going back and redoing 1:8 parts with big nozzle/less but thicker walls, for more strength.

1:4, 1:8 and 1:16.

For display purposes I can scale to almost any size now, but for RC functional scales that’s a different story/takes time.

 

[The Jade Bean]

Underextrusion around corners on bottom side, means I just need to slow down my outer walls and this will be a nice part right off the plate! I’m actually going to reprint it but keep this one for painting later; we are aiming for ship quality right off the plate.

Not sure how to not understate this, but you definitely feel the extra strength from thicker walls here.

I’m considering going back and redoing 1:8 parts with big nozzle/less but thicker walls, for more strength.

1:4, 1:8 and 1:16.

For display purposes I can scale to almost any size now, but for RC functional scales that’s a different story/takes time.
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You can see the strength!

 

[SharpeCat]

You can see the strength!

Speaking of strength, I am tuning for PETG today. Trying the Hoods in various petg colors, and if that goes well the rest of the bodies will follow.

Polycarbonate coming later this month after I get a few metal parts for my hotends; I will remake the gears and shafts in those for final version. For now, trust me that the carbon fiber PLA is plenty rigid enough; polycarbonate is on another level though.

 

[Michael B]

Those colors look great! I really like the blue!!

 

[SharpeCat]

Like I said, nothing worthy comes easy boys.

This is *some” of my fails while learning PETG in just a couple days. 2 days ago I ran 100 test prints, all 100 failed.

Yesterday I ran 12, 6 failed, so far; other 6 are near completion.

Plan is to rerun the entire batch again (Still PETG), as out of the 6 that is completing soon, i only saw 2 that i consider
"ship ready".

And plan is to rerun it as many times as needed until we get it right; i appreciate everyone's patience during this learning process.

I also very much appreciate the support from my early birds as well.

- Sharpe

 

[Hiluxforever]

Thanks for all the work you are putting into this.

 

[SharpeCat]

Thanks for all the work you are putting into this.

Thanks boss, much appreciated.

 

[SharpeCat]

One good way to look at it is; as the bags of fails grow, so does the print quality for the ones that make it.

Nothing worthy comes easy, and without sacrifice!

I threw a PETG carbon fiber into the mix; you’ll need a hammer, probably, to break it. Even the PLA one is very tough at this size; and likely more feasible because weight.

Also added ironing to the top layer, so the front of the hood looks more smooth.

Going to spend today tuning the hood some more, still PETG, and then taking the refined settings over to the rest of the Body.

 

[SharpeCat]

One good way to look at it is; as the bags of fails grow, so does the print quality for the ones that make it.

Nothing worthy comes easy, and without sacrifice!

I threw a PETG carbon fiber into the mix; you’ll need a hammer, probably, to break it. Even the PLA one is very tough at this size; and likely more feasible because weight.

Also added ironing to the top layer, so the front of the hood looks more smooth.

Going to spend today tuning the hood some more, still PETG, and then taking the refined settings over to the rest of the Body.

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It wasn't until i looked at the photos after i made this post that i figured out why my hood is lifting before the prints complete: the doubles in colors shows a pattern of which printers are finishing and which aren't. From that I was able to figure out that the printer directly under the AC vent, and ones far away from it are the ones completing the prints; the others are being lifted by the air conditioning directly hitting it.

Taping up the kitchen and living room air vents and trying again! I got a good feeling about today's batch!

 

[SharpeCat]

It wasn't until i looked at the photos after i made this post that i figured out why my hood is lifting before the prints complete: the doubles in colors shows a pattern of which printers are finishing and which aren't. From that I was able to figure out that the printer directly under the AC vent, and ones far away from it are the ones completing the prints; the others are being lifted by the air conditioning directly hitting it.

Taping up the kitchen and living room air vents and trying again! I got a good feeling about today's batch!

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Decided to go with this instead of taping up air vents; good chance to add a little more green to the room. Blowing air back into the kitchen!

 

[SharpeCat]

Trying to get organized.

I have a lot of “practice print” parts that will go into “salvage yard” and later you guys will have plenty of “basher” parts that you can thrash and not feel bad about it. They are structurally good, but aesthetically imperfect.

Alternatively, they can be made good with some post processing; sanding and paint.

Maybe I’ll do some no reserve auctions/lots on eBay for fun, and someone can build one from “scraps” for dirt cheap.

Not something I’d give to you guys for the version that goes on your tabletops and shelves.

For these, ask for “basher” parts and they’ll be a fraction of the price. Again, you guys/my beta testers do not need to worry; you break something you let me know and I’ll ship out replacement. The pricing stuff is for those interested in buying a kit or parts later; when I am ready to offer them for sale.

Also, building a printer this week and maybe next, so about to be super swamped. I’m trying to get some printers up for ABS, for the DIY 200 series cup holders for mud; and after cup holders I foresee some beautiful scale ABS FJ parts!

Good thing the boys can work in the background while I work on other things! They are working on rear side panel and wheel well; in PETG at the moment but you guys will have options.

So updates will be brief this week, and likely just photos. Let’s be honest we all prefer that anyways .

 

[Hiluxforever]

Trying to get organized.

I have a lot of “practice print” parts that will go into “salvage yard” and later you guys will have plenty of “basher” parts that you can thrash and not feel bad about it. They are structurally good, but aesthetically imperfect.

Alternatively, they can be made good with some post processing; sanding and paint.

Maybe I’ll do some no reserve auctions/lots on eBay for fun, and someone can build one from “scraps” for dirt cheap.

Not something I’d give to you guys for the version that goes on your tabletops and shelves.

For these, ask for “basher” parts and they’ll be a fraction of the price. Again, you guys/my beta testers do not need to worry; you break something you let me know and I’ll ship out replacement. The pricing stuff is for those interested in buying a kit or parts later; when I am ready to offer them for sale.

Also, building a printer this week and maybe next, so about to be super swamped. I’m trying to get some printers up for ABS, for the DIY 200 series cup holders for mud; and after cup holders I foresee some beautiful scale ABS FJ parts!

Good thing the boys can work in the background while I work on other things! They are working on rear side panel and wheel well; in PETG at the moment but you guys will have options.

So updates will be brief this week, and likely just photos. Let’s be honest we all prefer that anyways .

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With how I drive an RC cars I will probably need a lot of spares.

 

[SharpeCat]

PETG rear wheelwells fresh out the oven!

Carbon fiber petg one still going.

Rear side panels today.

 

[SharpeCat]

Meet some of the boys! They are a part of a fleet of Sidewinder X2s I got for $350 each, and added automation on top. I can get anyone a 25% discount for the Artillery lineup of printers by the way; for those who want to print along, I can give you all my settings. I plan on sharing settings in a separate general 3D printing thread, after I am more tuned. The tuning is never finished by the way, but we do get closer to something we can be proud of with each day we spend.

The names of the printers are on bottom, who they are currently working for is top; I don’t have everything properly color coordinated yet. Custom color requests will come when budget allows for it; still in test printing and beta stages. I also labeled them a while ago earlier In the thread, not everyone’s names are on here; I’ll get to it.

I did a little more tuning (this is a daily theme), and you can tell from these photos and last (which I will reprint/throw them into muds mini salvage yard - the mud yard!).

@Michael B your boy EIFFEL 65 completed his trial successfully and gets to move onto the next round. Or rather, back to the last round for a reprint of wheelwells.

Sorry @The Jade Bean , our boy PAPA SMURF got a little tipsy near the top and you lost a fender. Don’t worry I will rerun and we have an extra fender now.

@CruiserTrash i really just tried to look for you with the cruiser cat tag; didn’t work out. Your boy CAPTAIN AMERICA also lost a fender! He will be redoing the round with PAPA SMURF, while everyone else who completed their trials properly. He’s actually already on it.

@mrboatman your boy JAMES P SULLIVAN successfully completed his trial, and gets to move onto to the next stage.

@Hiluxforever i really need to stop @Hilux cat to look for you guys. Your boy BLASTOISE passed inspection and gets to move onto the next round.

Stay tuned for more updates.

 

[SharpeCat]

Don’t worry mud, I have more and the fleet will grow with time and as budget allows; for those who don’t see their name. The Voron will be a great addition if I can make it through this 300-page manual and figure out a lot of things I haven’t done before, so I’ll be busy a while.

 

[SharpeCat]

I take it back, everyone failed the second round of inspections! I took a closer look and the corner where the seam is could use a little work.

Going to take a break on PETG and work on metallic bodies instead. There are 12 colors total and I’ll load 10 up tonight; skip pink and black since chassis is black, and since I’m pretty sure no one here wants pink? If you do let me know I’ll throw some in.

I just realized don’t have enough petg to do the entire bodies anyways, but I have plenty of metallic PLA!!

 

[The Jade Bean]

Man that’s a lot to keep up with! You’re rocking it!

 

[CruiserTrash]

This is amazing @SharpeCat - you have a whole production environment going on there. Thanks for your eye to detail!

 

[SharpeCat]

This is why we take the time to fine tune:

Teal is first batch this week.

White is second test print.

Check out the red copper color on current prints! I was going to wait til they are finished tomorrow to share but these metallic colors… man… I’ll save the rest for tomorrow/fingers crossed on current prints. I had a few fails already from the thin rear fender lifting off mid print; they print upright for best quality/no support needed, but it is the most difficult orientation to print them in. There is very little surface area on bottom to grip the fender to bed as it prints; in future I’ll be able to afford more corexys/non moving beds and that’s where we will come closest to perfection.

By the way, best way to help speed things along is to donate towards my machines, materials, and mocha fund; I’ll setup a portal soon as I could really use more printers after tuning! Even with my fleet this is a massive project; estimated time is over 1 month print time for 1 printer, if every print goes perfect.

An even better idea is for some of you guys to get your own printer; I can get you discount on everything you need including filament, and print along. After the project you’ll end up with the knowledge needed to tackle your own prints and make your own parts; that will be the real value @Hiluxforever , is equipping you guys with the knowledge you need to keep these things running… forever! Infinite replacement parts and for pennies on the dollar compared to paying for replacement parts (shipping costs). Not just for this kit, but for all your RC and other projects.

Remember I share all my settings; I even fine tune it live on my twitch every day. The stream needs work is why I haven’t shared it, but for the super curious you can see these prints/live feeds live for 12-20 hours a day; I turn off to reset occasionally.

Trying again today after a few settings changes.

 

[SharpeCat]

Okay maybe just a few more sneak peeks at the metallic color body lineup coming this week. 5 colors now 5 more tomorrow.

Some of My Artillery Silk Colors (aka Metallic) Lineup:

Flourescent Green
Red
Silver
Orange
Black

And @CruiserTrash Cat, we aren’t leaving any man behind on this field trip; I can hold yours for as long as needed. That will give me time to refine and improve it; the best one will always be the one that leaves my house last.

You got all the time in the world brother, to make room for what already has your name on it.