3D printing handrails?

[Multiple identity account]

Hey,

I just noticed that Shapeways' FUD and FXD have a minimum wall thickness of 0.5mm and/or 0.3mm respectively IIRC. So with that in mind can handrails be 3D printed? I was slightly impressed by FXD and was wondering if handrails can be printed  using that.

 

Cheers!

JBM

[SpoorObjecten]

That's wall thickness

 

For handrails you will be looking at unsupported wires or supported wires (depending on how they are connected)

Unsupported:

0.8 mm thick

1.0 mm if bearing weight (like a sprue)

 

Supported:

0.6 mm thick

 

 

You could print them 0.3mm using Print It Anyway, but it will likely break

[Multiple identity account]

Thanks so much! I will just go have a look and see what 0.8mm handrails look like on a model....

Cheers!

[billbedford]

There are three problems with printing handrails. First is that at anything like scale thickness they are very fragile, in that they will break off if hit across the supports. This was looked great when it was done but some of the handrails did last long.

 

Also with the handrails in place it is difficult to clean up the body behind them.

 

The third problem is that FUD shrinks, if you put a fine handrail next to, say, a boiler the boiler will shrink more than the handrails and you will get a wavy handrail.

 

 

Of course both the machines and materials have improved since these were printed, but I don't think they have improved enough to make handrails a viable proposition, unless you want to keep your models in a glass case.