A local community college offered to 3D print the ring grabbers that we designed for this season. Although the grabbers are quite strong, we are concerned they may break upon an impact with another robot.
Is there a process that we can use to strengthen the grabbers? We wondered if there is a coating or dip that we can apply.
Something Like plastidip?
You can also try to apply plastic solvent like metheyl ethyl ketone(with proper ventilation and respiration) on the surface of the plastic to weld the layers together more.
Thanks Kevin. Have you tried either of these approaches?
I have tried the MEK but no the plasti dip. We were using it to strengthen and waterproof our 3D printed nozzles.
Not much help in terms of adding strength to the part, but do consider the printer orientation. The horizontal layers are stronger as there is entanglement within the layer as the abs is hot but much weaker due to less entanglement between the horizontal layers as they have cooled to some extent between passes. So think of it like a carpenter cuts a part out of wood which has grain.
Maybe you or the college has already considered that aspect. If not build them in two or three different orientations and see is one better than the other for your application.
Other thought is to build a metal shield of some type that doesn’t interfere with ring grab and hanging but affords some level of protection from bumps in the field…
APS
You could add some ribs to the design; some 45-degree ribs where the cup of the grabber meets that flange, and some ‘U’-shaped ribs, or even a grid of ribs, around the cup shape would help.
You could possibly try covering it in fiberglass fabric and resin. Keeps its shape when the core is broken.
I have seen products that use the 3d printed part as a mold to make a part. Cast the part into silicone then use another plastic to cast from it. (see http://justindunham.net/2011/08/making-cast-resin-3d-printer-parts/ )
You can coat the plastic in resin, possibly with some reinforcing such as carbon fiber, fiberglass or microspheres, but I would be sure (And test) the plastic wont react to the resins. Also if you don’t do it neatly it will show…nothing some sanding and a coat of paint wont cover hopefully
Thank you for the fiberglass recommendation. We will try it this weekend.
