3Dprinting your aquarium parts
For thoseof you serious DIY folks, you may be interested in how you can make your ownplastic aquarium parts by printing them on a 3D printer. Just this year, costsfor the 3D printers have dropped to under $500 USD for a pre-built one, andunder $200 USD for a kit. 3D printing of your plastic parts works well when:
1. Youare good with computers.
2. Youlike trying new designs or colors.
3. Thepart is small, or can be put together with small parts.
4. Thepart does not require great strength.
3. Thereis no easier/cheaper way to get the parts.
Someaquarium parts, such as simple boxes or tubes, are not suited to 3D printingbecause they can be more easily made with simple plastic or acrylic shapes. Butsome parts are so complex that there is no other way to make them except toprint them on a 3D printer. I'll be using 3D printers to make the next versionof algae scrubbers because of the built-in air tubing, magnet compartments,holes, and bubble pathways that make it impossible for the part to be made (inone piece) any other way.
Somethings I've learned that pertain especially to 3D-printed aquarium parts:
1. Onlyuse ABS plastic, not PLA or PVA. The ABS plastic is the same type of plasticused in kid's LEGO toys and is very strong. PLA or PVA plastic, however, willslowly dissolve when underwater or when subjected to high temps.
2. Onlyuse FDM (also called FF) printers. These are the types of printers which usecoils of plastic filament. These are also the cheapest printers. Other types ofprinters such as SLA (liquid) use a photo-cured plastic that will get brittleunder aquarium lights, and "powder-printers" make parts which are notwater tight.
3. The 3Dprinted parts will not be "glossy smooth". They will instead be morelike carbon fiber, with a texture (or lines) running in one direction throughthe whole part.
We aretoo new at 3D printing to be able to recommend a particular printer, but I'msure each reef or aquarium club has someone who has a 3D printer, and this isusually a great place to start.
Summaryof 3D printing links:
Endlessthings to print:
http://www.thingiverse.com/
Generalforum for all printers:
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/3dprintertipstricksreviews
Massiveforum for lots of printer kits and DIY:
http://forums.reprap.org/
Currentlowest-cost assembled printer to print aquarium-safe ABS plastic:
http://www.kicktraq.com/projects/pirate3d/the-buccaneer-the-3d-printer-that-everyone-can-use/
Currentmost popular U.S. based assembled printer:
http://makerbot.com/
Low costChinese clone of Makerbot:
http://www.ff3dp.com/
Anotherlow cost Chinese clone of Makerbot:
http://www.wanhao3dprinter.com/
Easiestfree 3D modeling program to start with:
www.sketchup.com
(needsthe "Export STL" plugin from http://www.armanicreations.com/download/export_stl_file.rb)
Happyprinting!
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