Hi All
Well, we here at Linkspan Models have finally got our 3D printing system delivered, set up and running!
![](https://i513.photobucket.com/albums/t339/carlmtflo/20190425_185504_resized_zpsarn84qle.jpg)
The system comprises the actual printer (the large red box) which is completely self-contained, the sieve to mix the used and fresh powders (the black machine) and a sandblasting cabinet (actually in the workshop) which uses fine glass beads as the blasting medium.
Yesterday was our first day of actually printing anything so a test set-up was created in the supplied software using parts for our forthcoming Spirit of Free Enterprise kit.
The actual printing process is a bit of a non-event in that there is very little to see happening, other than watching the laser do its thing through a small window in the top of the machine :
![](https://i513.photobucket.com/albums/t339/carlmtflo/20190502_163925_resized_1_zpsivizjpfn.jpg)
The dark areas are where the laser has fused the nylon powder into a solid layer.
The process is very time consuming - as is most 3D printing solutions - but with this system we can print multiple parts in one session. Additionally, it is a very hot process!!! Temperatures within the build chamber reach in excess of 170 degrees Celcius. This is to bring the nylon powder close to the melting point, thereby allowing the use of only a very low-powered laser to add the 'finishing touch'. Such a high temperature adds to the overall time that the machine is in use - about 1 hour to warm up and a good 2 hours to cool down to 50 degrees before the lid will unlock.
![](https://i513.photobucket.com/albums/t339/carlmtflo/20190502_164249_resized_1_zpsr25dmtti.jpg)
The result at the end of the production process is a 'cake' of nylon powder which contains the printed parts within - this is removed from the machine for post production processing :
![](https://i513.photobucket.com/albums/t339/carlmtflo/IMG_0673_zpsspkrkpag.jpg)
![](https://i513.photobucket.com/albums/t339/carlmtflo/IMG_0675_zpskebbgh20.jpg)
![](https://i513.photobucket.com/albums/t339/carlmtflo/IMG_0680_zpskvy6z2tu.jpg)
At this time, the 'cake' is still very warm!
Once broken down, the parts within become obvious and, using various supplied tools and brushes, the loose powder is removed :
![](https://i513.photobucket.com/albums/t339/carlmtflo/IMG_0684_zps5w7mvwel.jpg)
![](https://i513.photobucket.com/albums/t339/carlmtflo/IMG_0687_zpskfhrxbxs.jpg)
Once all the loose powder has been removed, the parts are placed in a tray ready for the next stage which is a final polish in the sandblaster :
![](https://i513.photobucket.com/albums/t339/carlmtflo/20190503_021807_resized_zpsjzti55q2.jpg)
You will note that all the parts are a dark grey colour. At this time, this is the only colour available for these 'affordable' machines as the darker colour aids the SLS process with the lower powered laser. It is not a handicap for our hobby though as most of the parts will be painted anyway.
More action to come - more parts to print - but already we can see that this set-up is going to help us enormously going forward and, in the near future, we will be able to offer a design and print service beyond what we need to produce for Linkspan's own needs.