We <3 the MakerBot Operators: Shane from Australia
Do you see that white spacer on that miniature ATV’s rear right wheel? Well guess what — that’s new MakerBotter Shane’s first project, and one of his first prints.
You see, Shane’s son had a miniature ATV…but it wasn’t fast enough. So, like any clever father, he got a new motor and gearbox. Unfortunately, the new gearbox didn’t quite mesh with the old drive system. Luckily, Shane is an industrial designer, and had just received his new MakerBot kit, so out come the calipers, and a little bit of 3d modeling and a bit of printing later, the ATV was all set and faster than ever.
More of our interview, after the fold!
MakerBot Operators MicroInterview
Q: What brought you to 3D printing/MakerBot?
When modelling and designing products we either make them by hand with MDF or send them out for STI printing to confirm we are happy with the look and function before we commit to the mould. I researched what it costs to buy an STI and it was way too expensive, then I stumbled across the Bot and thought….cool, this will work. We just want to punch out quick parts like tube end caps, bushes, aesthetic covers for bolts and or to cover a weld on some frame work…for more complex parts we would stick with stereo lithography but for straight out small parts this seemed perfect.
Q: What is your favorite thing you have printed so far?
I’m setting the machine up at home so it can be brought into work …working and I should have all the bugs ironed out…so i needed a test subject!. The first part I have printed here is actually a modification to my two-year-old’s Electric ATV. The original gearbox and 6v motor was too slow for him and he basically burnt it out so I swapped it out for a new 12V motor running on 18v and new a gearbox. It required me to design the adaptor plate between the original wheel hub and new gearbox output.
As you can see pretty straight forward but outstanding results! Have hooked it up and it now punches out 10km/hr. I have now changed the settings as you guided and am printing out a solid part before he breaks it. Very happy with the machine thus far.
-Shane
And voila! It all goes together. And remember…this is his first project with his new Thing-O-Matic. Well done and welcome to the MakerBot community! We’re better for having you.
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2 Comments so far
Brett Jones
Great job! It’s funny timing to read this because my daughter’s ride on train went out; she burned up the motor (ok fine, we left it out in the rain and it flooded the motor compartment). I had another motor for something else and last night I printed up a new mount and gear to mesh with the current gearbox.
Tom Wilson
Hi Shane, I’m interested in buying a makerbot, can you tell me, was it just a matter of getting a different power cord to fit with Australian wall sockets or is there a further issue with voltage?