It’s been some time since I’ve been able to get any designing/printing done. Summer time, or concert-season as I like to call it, is a travel heavy time of the year, but I’ve got it under control and now find myself with some time to create.
I was excited to see that there is a contest for fridge magnets currently running. One of the first designs I uploaded was a set of fridge magnets I called Fridge Ninjas Vol. 1 and I had always planned to do a second set. Apparently a contest was all the motivation I needed. Well, a contest, an itch to draw and a fondness for the 0.2 nozzle.
Fridge Ninjas Vol. 2 will be uploaded here shortly. It contains four different ninja poses and there will be a version of each that uses 4x2mm, 6x2mm or 8x2mm magnets. I only have 4x2mm so that’s what I used on the ninjas in the picture.
I printed these on an A1 with a 0.2 nozzle, and using the default “0.10mm Standard @BBL A1 0.2 Nozzle” profile in Bambu Studio. The best part is that I got a nice snug fit on the 4mm magnet, using a 4mm hole. This is the first time that I’ve never had to use a tolerance. 0.2 nozzle continues to impress.
Beyond that, I’m expecting the arrival of some PLA sparkle today that I’ll be using for another project, the Price is Right wheel. It’s a work in progress, but it’ll look cool when it’s done. My goal is to replace flipping-a-coin and/or Rock, Paper, Scissors as a way of settling minor disagreements. I feel like the closest to a dollar without going over is a way more fun than calling heads or tails
I also see there is a model car contest coming up and I’m hoping to have something ready for that as well. I have some thoughts on Makers Supply that I was going to get into, but I’m going to hold off on that for a moment and go get some lunch.
My experience with Maker’s Supply has been very positive and I don’t have much to complain about. The only issue I’ve come across so far is with the length of the wires on the AAA Battery Spring Contact Plate with PH2.0 Connector. Here it is compared to the AAA Battery Box.
The wires on the spring contact plate force you to place your batteries very close to your power distribution board, which limits it’s use. I would love to see the spring contact plate with a wire length closer to the AAA battery box.
There are also a few things I would love to see in the future. A 3x1mm magnet and super glue or some sort of adhesive used to bond parts together. The next idea might not even be possible. In February, I uploaded a design that is still a WIP, Dial-Tone. In the description I wrote:
“The reason I’m uploading this right now is so those out there who have the ability to create a component kit can get an idea of the space they have to work with inside the model. Hopefully a component kit can be put together and made available to everyone.”
The biggest issue with that design was having to rip electronics out of other devices, solder them together, destroying my favourite pair of Ninja Turtle pajamas in the process. Total nightmare. Not only were my PJs toast, but there is no way anyone would be able to make their own. I have no idea if a Bluetooth handset component kit could be put together, but that would be great, especially if it could be made solderless.
I bet a wireless Bluetooth handset contest would produce some great stuff.
There are a couple of places that you may already be familiar with but if not, they both have modular circuits on small circuit boards and connections that make cobbling more complex things together easy.
I have no idea what I’m looking for when I go to those websites. I know very little about anything PCB related and that’s why I was hoping Bambu would make a kit
I finally have my Ice Cream Truck ready to go. I’m working on assembly instructions now and I should have them up by tomorrow.
This is my first design using the Solderless electronics from Maker’s Supply and it was pretty simple to figure out and incorporate into my design. Figuring out where to place to switch for the headlights was a lot of fun. I used a Self-Locking Button Switch and I decided on sticking it in the tail pipe. As you can see in the video, press the pipe in to turn the lights on/off. I used the same kind of switch for the Ice Cream Cone as well as a N20 Single Shaft Worm Gear Motor.
I’ve suggested sparkfun stuff to Bambu a few times. They need some better modular plug and play electronic components. I think it’s sparkfun that has the qwiic, which I’m particularly interested in. A lot could be done with that though, and done easily!
I haven’t gotten too far into the electronics stuff, but this is my general complaint. The wires have been too short in a lot of instances. I need to check out what’s up on offer more recently though; maybe there’s some added wire lengths that’ll help. There’s a design I want to approach though, but the wire length is kind of an issue. I’m trying hard to keep things accessible, so want to avoid doing custom wiring for it.
The wires would need a little board with two connectors on it to daisy chain to add length but if Bambu added those to inventory you could daisy chain away. I’d rather have longer wires though. They definitely need some way to extend wires though. It’s holding things back I think.
The ice cream truck looks incredible! I know this isn’t exactly the solution you were looking for but I just wanted to throw this out as another option. Maybe they could add these to Maker Supply one day? Aliexpress has extender wires that have a male plug on one end and a female on the other. They have them in 2.0, 2.54 and so on. Different lengths too.
Longer wires are a must. I believe all of the motors and LEDs come with a 50mm length wire and those aren’t nearly long enough. I used two 100mm and three 200mm length wires in the truck and they work great. Unfortunately, you can’t swap/extend PH2.0 wires which means I had to use a 4xAAA battery box to run the lights and cone when I’m sure it would have done fine with 2xAAA.
I wanted to keep the Power Distribution Boards between the front and back wheels for easiest access during assembly and I also wanted the batteries to be hidden behind the back door, but the super short wires on the AAA Battery Spring Contact Plate prevented that setup from happening.
EDIT: I used two PDBs because I couldn’t control two lights with one switch and the cone with another switch using the same board. Well, I could but the lights would have to be on in order for the cone to work. That’s using the parts I have from Kit A’s.
I see a possible way of having lights and the motor on the same board and operating independently from each other, but I would need to use 100mm Wire Pair with PH2.0(2PCS) - IC008, 50mm PH2.0 to SH1.0 Conversion Wire and 100mm Y Type PH2.0 to Dual SH1.0 Conversion Wire. I’m going to order those and give that a try. Parts wise, it will end up being a little cheaper if it works.
That ice-cream truck is ace. I keep talking to my dad about the rise of more complete, real, not just trinket, designs. Felt frustrating for so long that most of the 3d printed stuff was some sort of trinket or proof of concept that didn’t really hold up to any real longevity or real world use. I’m big on the addition of hardware to supplement models and enhance them, in function, durability, and ease of use.
Dr Operator, I enjoy seeing your incorporation of hardware into your already excellent designs.
It was recently brought to my attention that a user on Etsy is trying to sell my Cogsworth Clock. I had a good laugh at the price and was only mildly annoyed that my photos were being used. But you should have seen how quickly I submitted a report to Etsy when I saw ‘designed by PanhandleBeach’ written. Apparently attempting to take credit for my designs is more offensive to me then using my photos and selling my work.
I’m waiting on some transparent filament and hardware that will be here today. A couple tests to do with that stuff and if everything goes well, then I’ll just have a bit of drawing to do.
I’ve also started work on a model that I get requests for often. I think I’ve found a way to make it work.
