pic: 3D Print Limit Switch CFiber

[rsegrest]

Sorry guys. Uploaded to reply to a PM from another poster. Didn't realize this would create some discussion.

What is it? We needed to mount a limit switch on a robot and so we designed this bracket. The limit switch mounted at the top of the bracket (can't really see it in the photos) and the wiring ran down the channel to the outlet at the bottom.

• Filament - Carbon Fiber reinforced ABS
• Printer - Makerbot Replicator 2x
• Mechanical Comparison - Seems to be stronger and slightly lighter weight than the ABS. My printer doesn't like PLA and we have not tried the PET so can't compare to those. Trade off is that it is a more brittle in thinner prints, just doesn't have the flex that ABS has. We are planning to do some real stress testing with the machine shop instructor. He has some nifty tools we are going use to test the tensile strength compared to ABS. Will post those when we have them.
• Print temp - I run it at about 210c.
• Ease of print - AMAZING. Don't know about you guys that have 3D printers but about 1/2 the time it seems the room temp and humidity (thank you East Texas weather) warp my ABS jobs or they have trouble sticking to the bed. Not so with CF/ABS. Out of 20+ print jobs with it only one failed to adhere and that was a user error (ID-10-T for the techie friends out there and it was all on me ).
  Appearance of print - We like it MUCH better than ABS. It is a true matte black finish and significantly smoother to the touch even with the exact same print settings.
• Cost - Our supplier sells it for $39.95/lb.

I think I got all the questions answered. If there are more post them and I will answer the best I can.

*Edit* Kevin - If you guys are going to TRI so is our team. I can send one of these with our engineer for you to look/see/feel what I am talking about regarding quality of the print.