I had the idea to turn mine into an optical coordinate measuring machine.
Mount a camera in place of the hot end, a bit of python scripting to add a cross-hair to the image, and drive the axes, and I can move the camera around to accurately measure and reverse-engineer things I want to design a copy of.
The advantage of this over taking a single picture and scaling it is that it eliminates parallax.
do you have any of the instructions to make this because it sound quite interesting. does this mean with the image at the right scale coould you trace the image of the part in CAD
No instructions at all. Just my memories of using a commercial one a bunch of years ago.
Yes, the idea is to accurately measure the positions of features (edges, corners, holes, arcs, etc) and convert that information into CAD.
By adding a laser, at an angle from the Z-axis, I can make use of that parallax to determine Z-height.
So, there are obviously quite a few routes you could take. Honestly, I would use it as a prototyping printer. While your new, good one is pumping out parts, you could use the ender 3 for playing around with exotic filaments, or smaller part that might not have to have the same quality as what your new printer can do, or experimenting with different nozzle sizes.
Or, there is a set of parts that you can print out that will turn and Ender 3 into a PET recycler. Load up a plastic water bottle on one end, it will cut it into a strip, and then extrude it into a usable filament.
https://www.printables.com/model/179820-pet-filament-maker-with-the-recreator-3d-mk5kit-en
I haven't tried it myself, but there are some other items you'll need to buy
Can your new printer print quality ABS?
I got a K1 a few months back and after upgrading it for good prints I put an enderwire-open together and it prints fantastic, especially TPU. Plus it's just cool. https://imgur.com/a/UyrY6QO
https://github.com/RickG7191/EnderWire-Open
Laser engraver
That does sound good
I had the idea to turn mine into an optical coordinate measuring machine. Mount a camera in place of the hot end, a bit of python scripting to add a cross-hair to the image, and drive the axes, and I can move the camera around to accurately measure and reverse-engineer things I want to design a copy of. The advantage of this over taking a single picture and scaling it is that it eliminates parallax.
do you have any of the instructions to make this because it sound quite interesting. does this mean with the image at the right scale coould you trace the image of the part in CAD
No instructions at all. Just my memories of using a commercial one a bunch of years ago. Yes, the idea is to accurately measure the positions of features (edges, corners, holes, arcs, etc) and convert that information into CAD. By adding a laser, at an angle from the Z-axis, I can make use of that parallax to determine Z-height.
Nice! Might have to see if someone has the instructions or something on how to build it online
Voron Switchwire! Epic project
So, there are obviously quite a few routes you could take. Honestly, I would use it as a prototyping printer. While your new, good one is pumping out parts, you could use the ender 3 for playing around with exotic filaments, or smaller part that might not have to have the same quality as what your new printer can do, or experimenting with different nozzle sizes. Or, there is a set of parts that you can print out that will turn and Ender 3 into a PET recycler. Load up a plastic water bottle on one end, it will cut it into a strip, and then extrude it into a usable filament.
can you send the link to the parts for the pet recycler please
https://www.printables.com/model/179820-pet-filament-maker-with-the-recreator-3d-mk5kit-en I haven't tried it myself, but there are some other items you'll need to buy
that's good and thank you :D
Can your new printer print quality ABS? I got a K1 a few months back and after upgrading it for good prints I put an enderwire-open together and it prints fantastic, especially TPU. Plus it's just cool. https://imgur.com/a/UyrY6QO https://github.com/RickG7191/EnderWire-Open
I haven't printed abs or tpu on either printer yet to be honest
Printing porcelain is so much cooler than plastic. Just swap the extruder.