Tugboat's 3D Printer Build

Parts have been ordered for the new printer, the Rostock. It'll get a separate build thread, but I figured I'd announce it

The Rostock has more than double the print volume of the Mendel, and can print up to 18" vertically. So, I can do a Connie hull in one print run on the Rostock.

 

Yeah After this one, I promised the wife that I wouldn't build any more unless I made enough money to pay for one I want to do one that can do longer pieces horizontally so that I can do decks without welding pieces together. Not a top priority right now, and it would be a couple hundred more expensive than Rostock because I would need to add 2 more power supplies to power the extra heated bed sections, and buying bigger pieces of aluminum bed and borosilicate glass print surface (8"x24").

But Rostock will make printed boats practical from a production standpoint; one weld in the hull vice 5 for most predreads or armoured cruisers. The Rostock will be able to do ships up to 96' beam, too. So bigger ships could be printed, as well as WWI stuff.

 

I think you missed a post, but I strongly suggest that you guess 'Connecticut'.

 

This thread is getting more confusing by the post!

 

LOL... I believe James is going to name his Connie USS Louisiana aka Louise aka Weezie

Shades of 'Sanford and Son'...

 

Someone's building the USS Commie?

 

Printed mylargest object yet... stern SS 01 level for HMS Malaya. Not perfect but I am thoroughly pleased with the result. A couple imperfections here and there for the file to work on, but even the stairs came out well I am also especially pleased with the splinter shields; I made them 1/8" thick at the bas and 1/16" wide at the top so that they look thin, but are thick enough to take hits well. The funky stuff along the sides is support material in the cavities where the secondary turrets go. It comes out easily by hand.

 

very nice indeed

 

The Rostock will do even better work; it prints at more than twice the speed of the Mendel, which will solve some issues with curling I've encountered on the larger prints. In the meanwhile, I continue work on the Connecticut file, and will be printing the top deck and SS that fits into the 01 level. I'll be doing a forward SS for Malaya in a bit, but the stern SS was necessary for routing the magazines of the 3 guns in the stern of the ship, which can be reloaded through the hole in the stern 01 level when the top is lifted off.

I've spent a few minutes here and there cleaning up the piece pictured above, so that when painted it will look really good. I also adjusted a few print settings, so the one I do for Brian K's HMS QE will look even better right off the printer. Then it's time to do turrets!!! I have a mess of files from Ronnie Hunt that I need to make into reality for him, then I can print them at my leisure for other people. Nagato, Agano, and others... Also have Greg's Littorio turret that I want to get going, I've heard that there are a number of Littorio drivers who want turrets.