Making a 3D printed bracket to the focus motor

[Astrofriend]

My 3D printer is working hard. I'm now making the third vesion of my bracket that shall hold my focus motor in place. Narrow space around it and complicated geometry. This is how far I have come:

http://www.astrofriend.eu/3d-printing/focus-motor-bracket/01-focus-motor-bracket.html

If I'm lucky maybe I had it completed tomorrow.

/Lars

[bojan]

Lars, this looks good.
However, sometimes it is easier and/or quicker to use aluminium corner profile an drill couple of holes in it...

[Astrofriend]

Hi,
Yes it is and I already have a steel bracket. But it looks ugly and it does not have a holder to the driver box. But most important, I need something to practice CAD drawings on. Later I have much more complex things to draw, a new motor focuser mechanical device.

You told me earlier you have printed a lot of parts, what's the latest project ?

Lars

[bojan]

It was turret for C11 (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=176306&highlight=turret)... it turned out quite well. And some mechanicals I did for work.
Also, couple of adapters and holders (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=145306&highlight=life).

[mswhin63]

I made mine from a aluminium flat sheet. This has provided me with all the spatial dimension where I can possibly make one with a 3D printer.

So far I would do more testing before committing to get a 3D printer or resin printer.

[Astrofriend]

The Turret looks exiting, maybe some idea can come from that to some new project for me in the future. But for the moment so much I have to do before I can test my new rig.

/Lars

[TrevorW]

What are you using PLA or ABS either may be too flexible for that application :)

[Astrofriend]

Now in the beginning I use the standard PLA filament. On this bracket there will not be any hard force acting, I think it will be strong enough. I have added som extra structure to the bracket to have it flex less.

6 days after version 2 is now version 3 in the printer and prints out. It's all the small details that take so much time and the lack of experience of CAD drawing. Very often it complain of broken lines and it's hard to find when the structure is complex.

Look at page 4 to 6 for the last details:
http://www.astrofriend.eu/3d-printing/focus-motor-bracket/01-focus-motor-bracket.html

When this bracket is finished I start drawing tube rings to the guider camera and lens.

/Lars

[TrevorW]

Try free version of 123Design very easy to create 3d objects and save to STL for printing

[iborg]

Hi Lars


It looks like a nice design. I particularly like how you have tapered your 'ears'. Should maintain strength at the attachment point, and still allow a nice amount of flexibility for sliding the power box (I think) in and out.


Philip

[Astrofriend]

It worked very well with the holder of the driver box, I didn't even had to fine adjsut the dimension, but for version two I will extend the deep of it by 5 mm to make it more stable.

I think I'm stuck with FreeCAD now, I have no time to learn another CAD tool. The positive, I already fell I can do the most important design I need in FreeCAD.

I 3D printing the last bracket now that I need to setup my new equipment. Tomorrow I will test drive the equipment indoors to see that everything works, espceially the motor focus.

But the biggest problem, how to get a clear sky ?

/Lars

[sharpiel]

A clear sky? So true. Wish we could print that too...

Good luck with your printing adventures. I enjoy reading your posts Lars.

[Astrofriend]

Now I got the focuser to work, that closed the sky for ever I think.

/Lars

[Astrofriend]

I had to do something about the stiffnes of the bracket, as it's now it gave some xtra backlash. Latest development of the bracket is the version 4.1. The latest version is much stronger and I hope it work even better.

The last changes, page 8:
http://www.astrofriend.eu/3d-printing/focus-motor-bracket/08-focus-motor-bracket.html

It needs some practice to work with 3Dprinted plastic, later all this supports to get it strong enough will be there from the start.

/Lars