The Bucket Foundry

[WilDun]

Will, certainly had a few issues initially, but I think it was down to:
1. Setting the print head height to ensure the first layer is of correct thickness.
2. Clean the bed surface every time with a wipe of isopropyl alcohol
3. Preheat the bed, in my case to 70 deg C
4. Giving the nozzle a few manual feeds beforehand to ensure it is all flowing well after soaking at 200 deg C.

Loss of SW is a nuisance, but I thought you were on Fusion 360.

KEN,
Do you use masking tape?

My little machine manages at between 210 deg C and 215 deg for the head and between 50 deg & 60 deg for the bed.
Set the temps to what you require and it won't move till those temps are reached.

I eventually found that easily the best thing for removing the tape adhesive still stuck to the bed (after trying everything else really) was a quick rub with good old cheap SALIVA then scrape it off with the edge of an ice cream stick etc - works a treat - If you can't find any of this cheap commodity in Aus, then I'll send you a bottle!

FUSION 360 - it's fine and I was learning it well, however, after a year of getting you hooked ...... "WHAMMO!" - it becomes too bloody dear for a person of my means! - very good for those with a business I guess!

SW - Same thing, too expensive for a dabbler like me - but again it's very good, as we all know!

DESIGNSPARK MECHANICAL(DSM) I'm using this at the moment - this seems to be an older (and free) version of the more sophisticated "SpaceClaim" but it's fine for me.

FREECAD, free as it's name implies, this is 'open source' - seems fine, but I still have to check it out properly.

There are others as well!

…… all great fun for an old guy! If only all this had been around when I was just starting out!

[husaberg]

KEN,
Do you use masking tape?

I manage at between 210 deg C and 215 deg for the head and between 50 deg & 60deg for the bed.

I eventually found that easily the best thing for removing the tape adhesive still stuck to the bed (after trying everything else really) was a quick rub with good old cheap SALIVA then scrape it off with the side of an ice cream stick etc - works a treat - If you can't find any of this cheap commodity in Aus, then I'll send you a bottle!

FUSION 360 - free for a year to get you hooked, then "WHAMMO!" - too bloody dear for a person of my means! - very good for those with a business I guess!

SW - Same thing, too expensive for a dabbler - but again it's very good, as we all know!

DESIGNSPARK MECHANICAL(DSM) I'm using this at the moment (probably an older free version of the more sophisticated "SpaceClaim") but fine for me.

FREECAD, free as it's name implies, this is 'open source' - seems fine, but I still have to check it out properly.

There are others as well!

…… all great fun for an old guy! If only all this had been around when I was just starting out!

Will as far as i can see you just re-sign up again for free according to this

Yes. Fusion 360 will always be free for hobbyists, makers, startups working on developing their products, and students/faculty. Hobbyists get 1 year free to start, whereas students and faculty get 3 years. After the subscription expires, you'll have the option to renew and start the free subscription all over again

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusio...r/td-p/6756051

How to renew your start up/enthusiast license for Fusion 360
Causes:
Start Up and enthusiast licenses for Fusion 360 are good for one year at a time, but can be renewed annually once they expire at the end of the year term.

Note: you can renew the Start up/enthusiast license more than once!
Solution:
To renew the start up/enthusiast license, sign-up for the license again per the instructions in the article below. The renewal sign up process is the same as the initial sign up.

How to activate Start-up, Student or Educational licensing for Fusion 360

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/suppo...usion-360.html

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/suppo...p/8501400.html

[lohring]

I got the same message, but just signed up again for free.

Lohring Miller

[ken seeber]

Will,

Did buy some tape, from yer old mates at Bunnings, it was 50 mm wide, blue and made by 3M, mfg in the US of A. Haven't used it yet though.

Yep, re-enrol with Fusion 360, you are a hobbyist. As it's internet based, I'm sure they could see the turnover of your usage, and the nature of your work, so you wouldn't have any issues. Unless, of course, you were designing the full engine and body model of next year's Lamborghini.

[WilDun]

Will as far as i can see you just re-sign up again for free according to this

Thanks Husa, / Lohring
Looks like I was too hasty about Fusion 360! (too busy using it to really take notice of what was actually being said), so I might just carry on with it - once you know how to use one then the others will naturally be much easier to learn and each one will have its own particular strong points. - I'm doing fine with the present one (DSM) of course but then, it is possible to learn them all!

Ken,
Yes, saw the blue masking tape there as well, just went for the SCOTCH one because that's what worked originally and as saliva (for removing the glue) works well with it, it's free and I have a plentiful supply of it (always dribbling on ), but who knows though, the glue might not work well at different temperatures!

Yes, I would be a little more worried about them having a good laugh at my attempts at drawing than anything else! - the possibility of them copying my inventions definitely doesn't worry me!

[Flettner]

some dry runs, dangerously close to a first melt.

[Flettner]

the crucibal trolly, not finished yet as it needs a ring to hold the crucible so it can be transported and tipped. Note the highly sophisticated lift / lower system.

[husaberg]

some dry runs, dangerously close to a first melt.

I always like this version Neil

Y

About 8 minuets in

[WilDun]

some dry runs, dangerously close to a first melt.

Looks well thought out and quite a beast it would seem ! - will you still be using the old faithful oil / methanol / whatever? burner or will there be an upgrade of that too?

[Flettner]

I always like this version Neil

Y

About 8 minuets in

All well and good but that is just a toy foundry, my lid weighs 90 kg and the crucible I'm useing is too heavy to lift with just one person. So the necessity to need a crane. Having a crane already there, may as well use it to lift the lid also. I might be full of shit but let's see how it works in real life.
This setup is a copy of the foundry I used to use in Thames. What I considered a 'proper foundry'.

Will D, yes I'm useing the same burner, fuel and vacuum cleaner as it all worked well with this size pot on the last furnace. Thankfully I made the burner hole big enough to fit a bigger tube if this one is inadequate.

[husaberg]

All well and good but that is just a toy foundry, my lid weighs 90 kg and the crucible I'm useing is too heavy to lift with just one person. So the necessity to need a crane. Having a crane already there, may as well use it to lift the lid also. I might be full of shit but let's see how it works in real life.
This setup is a copy of the foundry I used to use in Thames. What I considered a 'proper foundry'.

Will D, yes I'm useing the same burner, fuel and vacuum cleaner as it all worked well with this size pot on the last furnace. Thankfully I made the burner hole big enough to fit a bigger tube if this one is inadequate.

90 KG what scale is that?
I never realised it was that big.ALthough i did wonder when i seen how many bags of castable refactory you had.
what size is the crucible?

[WilDun]

Yes, definitely a beast! all much bigger than the' Myford Boy' one above ........ on a higher plane than anything I would dare to try!
I am also a great believer in the "suck it and see" method (using educated guesses and commonsense)……. best way to learn really!
I went to pick up my furnace etc a while ago from Puke, but the bloody burner has gone missing - and it was so good too!
The plans for it are buried somewhere in the archives of my mind - unfortunately the archives are lost too!

[Flettner]

A new R2D2 found and fitted.

[husaberg]

A new R2D2 found and fitted.

Nilfisk who i think brought tellus used to be part of the company that made Nimbus motorbikes
I think Nimbus had one of the first Telescopic forks plus a few other stuff years ahead of their time.

[WilDun]

Nilfisk who i think brought tellus used to be part of the company that made Nimbus motorbikes
I think Nimbus had one of the first Telescopic forks plus a few other stuff years ahead of their time.

Wasn't it a Swedish inline 4 (fore & aft)?