fraens
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2023
Posts: 9
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Post by fraens on Feb 10, 2024 9:22:58 GMT -5
Dear Forum, In the last few weeks I have designed and built a 3D printed ball machine for wooden balls. I got the idea from this forum. Actually, I have been working on rock tumbling and have searched half the forum for information. Finally I came across the category Sphere making. I was immediately enthusiastic and had to build such a machine. I am very pleased to be able to present it here. Suggestions for improvements are always welcome ;-) You can find my video here:
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Post by jasoninsd on Feb 10, 2024 9:35:49 GMT -5
fraens - This is seriously amazing! Great work on this! I'm absolutely enthralled!
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Post by parfive on Feb 10, 2024 9:43:35 GMT -5
Two thumbs up from Siskel and parfive.
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Post by liveoak on Feb 10, 2024 10:29:55 GMT -5
I like the plywood sphere, now it would be pretty cool if you could make a rock sphere made out of glued up slabs!
Patty
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vwfence
has rocks in the head
Member since January 2013
Posts: 557
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Post by vwfence on Feb 10, 2024 10:57:54 GMT -5
I am curious as to the cost of the machine
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,576
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Post by Mark K on Feb 10, 2024 12:35:39 GMT -5
I like the plywood sphere, now it would be pretty cool if you could make a rock sphere made out of glued up slabs! Patty You can. I am planning on trying it as soon as I figure out what glue to use.
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Brian
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2020
Posts: 1,506
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Post by Brian on Feb 10, 2024 13:26:34 GMT -5
Very cool! You did a great job on the machine and the video.
I will be looking forward to hearing if it works with rocks!
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fraens
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2023
Posts: 9
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Post by fraens on Feb 11, 2024 4:27:36 GMT -5
I am delighted that my project has been so well received. I am currently working on another project that you might like. I am building a 3D printed rock tumbler. The machine has been running for about 2 months now and I have already tumbled a few rocks. It is driven without moving parts. An electromagnet makes the machine vibrate. But I think it will be quite a while before I can make a video about it. Rock tumbling takes a lot of time. Here are some of the first pictures (https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17kFvDws711fzBtc-V42w_fifzg7puAPH?usp=sharing). When the machine is finished I will write a detailed description.
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Post by liveoak on Feb 11, 2024 7:00:07 GMT -5
You can. I am planning on trying it as soon as I figure out what glue to use. Look forward to it Mark, would be cool.
Seems like epoxy would be the only choice, at least no one would see any bubbles, like in a doublet !
Patty
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Post by liveoak on Feb 11, 2024 7:01:45 GMT -5
Rock tumbling takes a lot of time.
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Post by parfive on Feb 11, 2024 13:59:14 GMT -5
A wild and crazy vibe, fraens. Maybe no moving parts but I still want to see the movie. : )
Time to print the larger parts?
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jm
having dreams about rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 56
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Post by jm on Feb 12, 2024 1:17:43 GMT -5
Very nice!
I've used a 3d printer to make grinding and polishing cups for my sphere machine, but never thought of building the entire sphere machine with it.
Looking forward to see how it works on rocks.
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ThomasT
spending too much on rocks
Trying to keep the dust down.
Member since June 2022
Posts: 254
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Post by ThomasT on Feb 12, 2024 14:30:21 GMT -5
Pretty amazing work. Impressive ability to produce that machine!
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Post by pauls on Feb 12, 2024 18:38:00 GMT -5
I like the plywood sphere, now it would be pretty cool if you could make a rock sphere made out of glued up slabs! Patty That would be definitely possible. Edit to add, Epoxy 330 would be the glue of choice.
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callmerob
starting to spend too much on rocks
I really like a dirt road
Member since September 2019
Posts: 131
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Post by callmerob on Feb 17, 2024 19:03:36 GMT -5
Love the video! Very professional editing and music. Beautifully done. Love the machine! The simplicity of basic flat plates and holes means the whole thing can be built on the kitchen table, but don’t you dare drill a hole in Mom’s table, mister! A motor on a pivot are the only moving parts. Nice compact low voltage motors. The 37mm diameter class motors are more than up to the task of grinding stone. Love the design! The simplicity of basic flat plates and holes also means it can be built from hinges and hardwood from Home Depot, maybe varnish the wood for water resistance, if you don’t have access to a 3D printer. And I think there are threads on the Sphere Forum that discussed glueing slabs together to make a preform. I used 10mm thick marble bath tile and superglue. Rough the polished surface with sandpaper to give the glue something to stick to. Thanks for sharing your solutions to these sphere machine problems. Great video and machine! I like it!
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callmerob
starting to spend too much on rocks
I really like a dirt road
Member since September 2019
Posts: 131
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Post by callmerob on Feb 17, 2024 20:12:03 GMT -5
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