2018-01-24, 02:01 AM
SIDEBRACE Analysis
I'm so happy, I'm ticked off.
As I stated previously, the 3D printed replacement parts were "off." Not Steve's Fault. I gave him bad definition files.
The key here is that the one thing I got right in my definitions was the thickness of the parts. Since EIFRAME was being used as not much more than a spacer, it's length could be slightly off (sitting in a stack with other EIFRAMEs) and it could still take up the needed thickness space. I just needed to adjust the holes.
With SIDEBRACE, its tabs plug in to other pieces, so the thickness (amongst other dimensions around the tabs) had to be spot on. It was. Further, just about everything "critical" was on, and mostly irrelevant dimensions were off. I screwed up on one corner of one tab on SIDEBRACE, requiring me to use hacksaws, files and grinding wheels to try to remove excess material.
While happy that my pieces needed little modification, I was also kind of ticked off at the piece that Q3D produced. While I might not bust their chops about the lagging documentation, there is no excuse for bad design, requiring me to get on the soapbox.
(SOAPBOX)
Okay Q3D, I get it. You are a business, and you have to constantly look to reduce your costs.
But there is an old saying about being "penny wise, and pound foolish." You are laser cutting these parts out of melamine (which I keep erroneously referring to as "melamite"), at a cost of probably a penny or two a piece. That extra "bulk" that you are trimming off is probably not going to another part, and is ending up as scrap, anyway. So, what cost have you really saved?
Furthermore, by engineering in a very thin section in your parts, causing those parts to be received (by the customer) as broken, you are getting requests from customers to ship replacement parts. Not only are you eating the cost of the replacement part (a penny or two), but now you have to deal with shipping the part (probably at the cost of a dollar or so). And let's face it, the shipping is going to be a padded envelope, and the replacement part will probably also be broken in transit.
Having to deal with little "nickel and dime" support issues like that, it is no wonder you guys have stopped supporting your products. Design the parts right from the beginning, and you do not have this minor (yet costly) support issue.
(/SOAPBOX)
Anyway, I took my OneUp kit to my EAA Chapter's Build Night, as my Build Night project. Step one was to modify my SIDEBRACE pieces. Paul loaned me his "Tiny Tim" hacksaw, and I cut the tab of the first SIDEBRACE down to size. Next to correct the area next to the tab. It is not flush with the other side of the tab, and is only thick by something like a millimeter or two. Too thin for even Tiny Tim. So, I tried a grinding wheel. Results can be seen in the attached photo.
On the second SIDEBRACE, I put the piece into a vice, and used a file on it to make that minor second correction. Much finer control for a much finer correction.
Side Note: I inappropriately declared victory on the Extruder, last post. I had not added the bearings to the assembly, so I actually was not finished with it.
On to the gantry assembly.
I'm so happy, I'm ticked off.
As I stated previously, the 3D printed replacement parts were "off." Not Steve's Fault. I gave him bad definition files.
The key here is that the one thing I got right in my definitions was the thickness of the parts. Since EIFRAME was being used as not much more than a spacer, it's length could be slightly off (sitting in a stack with other EIFRAMEs) and it could still take up the needed thickness space. I just needed to adjust the holes.
With SIDEBRACE, its tabs plug in to other pieces, so the thickness (amongst other dimensions around the tabs) had to be spot on. It was. Further, just about everything "critical" was on, and mostly irrelevant dimensions were off. I screwed up on one corner of one tab on SIDEBRACE, requiring me to use hacksaws, files and grinding wheels to try to remove excess material.
While happy that my pieces needed little modification, I was also kind of ticked off at the piece that Q3D produced. While I might not bust their chops about the lagging documentation, there is no excuse for bad design, requiring me to get on the soapbox.
(SOAPBOX)
Okay Q3D, I get it. You are a business, and you have to constantly look to reduce your costs.
But there is an old saying about being "penny wise, and pound foolish." You are laser cutting these parts out of melamine (which I keep erroneously referring to as "melamite"), at a cost of probably a penny or two a piece. That extra "bulk" that you are trimming off is probably not going to another part, and is ending up as scrap, anyway. So, what cost have you really saved?
Furthermore, by engineering in a very thin section in your parts, causing those parts to be received (by the customer) as broken, you are getting requests from customers to ship replacement parts. Not only are you eating the cost of the replacement part (a penny or two), but now you have to deal with shipping the part (probably at the cost of a dollar or so). And let's face it, the shipping is going to be a padded envelope, and the replacement part will probably also be broken in transit.
Having to deal with little "nickel and dime" support issues like that, it is no wonder you guys have stopped supporting your products. Design the parts right from the beginning, and you do not have this minor (yet costly) support issue.
(/SOAPBOX)
Anyway, I took my OneUp kit to my EAA Chapter's Build Night, as my Build Night project. Step one was to modify my SIDEBRACE pieces. Paul loaned me his "Tiny Tim" hacksaw, and I cut the tab of the first SIDEBRACE down to size. Next to correct the area next to the tab. It is not flush with the other side of the tab, and is only thick by something like a millimeter or two. Too thin for even Tiny Tim. So, I tried a grinding wheel. Results can be seen in the attached photo.
On the second SIDEBRACE, I put the piece into a vice, and used a file on it to make that minor second correction. Much finer control for a much finer correction.
Side Note: I inappropriately declared victory on the Extruder, last post. I had not added the bearings to the assembly, so I actually was not finished with it.
On to the gantry assembly.
![[Image: avatar_23.png?dateline=1515658171]](https://fabric8r.com/community/uploads/avatars/avatar_23.png?dateline=1515658171){kind=avatar}