Re: [M100] 3D Printable replacement battery cover for M200

[Brian K. White]

Any of those you pictured is good. The pla is the weakest but still 
probably OK depending on the exact design of the part. abs, asa, petg 
all definitely good.


I haven't looked at the model in question, but, to make a working 
battery cover in general, you don't always have to *exactly* copy the 
original injection-molded ABS part. You can usually find ways to alter 
the design a little to replace very thin bits with chunkier bits, and 
adjust certain parts that would result in not enough layer-to-layer 
surface area, and still fit and still get the same job done. I think 
that was even mentioned in this thread about making some tabs shorter 
and thicker. So, even pla could be fine, depending on the exact design 
of the part.


But the rest would definitely be good. Especially ABS or ASA if you can 
get it acetone vapor smoothed. The vapor smoothing process slightly 
dissolves the surface, which just as a side effect also joins layers and 
neighboring lines at least all over the surface, and a battery cover is 
almost all surface.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlY833mR6Os
Like this one, Those bendy snaps should by rights just break right off 
because of how they are essentially tall thin towers of layers with a 
tiny x/y cross section. But you can see its glossy. He did acetone vapor 
smoothing on it, and I bet that's what made those snaps actually 
functional now.


A 200 cover doesn't have any "live" parts like that but that example 
just really shows what I wanted to describe well.


There are plenty of examples where you can see that with plain fdm 
printing, even in pla, you CAN get perfectly good battery covers. This 
one looks perfect.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOLB9szKRsk

It just is a bit hit and miss unfortunately, but if the design is 
tweaked to improve the chances, it's much easier & more likely to get a 
good functional result even the first time.


--
blw

On 7/2/20 2:05 PM, B 9 wrote:
Thank you, Brian for all the info. You are officially a Source of Good 
Bits!


https://craftcloud3d.com/ is FABULOUS. Unlike the other sites I found, 
they didn't force me to create an account to get estimates and the 
prices seem much lower. I'm seeing I can get a battery cover for my 
Tandy 200 for $11.04 (PETG) or $11.54 (PLA or ABS), including shipping 
and no extra charge for black. That's almost worth it, if I knew it 
wouldn't break as soon as I try to use it.


image.png

Lee: Good suggestion on checking the library. I don't know if they're 
open yet in my area, though.


—b9

P.S.The URL craftcloud.com  redirects to some 
Korean live/work "hive". Weird.


On Wed, Jul 1, 2020 at 9:21 PM Brian White > wrote:


Different printing methods cost different amounts. The basic service
at shapeways is something called SLS , which is laser-sintered nylon
powder. It produces very good results in terms of both dimensional &
shape accuracy and the toughness of the part, but it's expensive.

The kind of printers people have at home are either FDM or SLA, and
there are tons of services that offer those.

SLA uses uv light to harden a uv sensitive resin. This produces
super-accurate output, but generally too brittle for a useful
mechanical part. Though there are a few special resins that are a
bit stronger and might work well enough for a battery cover. The
problem with a battery cover is it has tiny shapes that just break
off, and on top of that, it has shapes that you intentionally have
to stress and flex in normal use, without breaking.

FDM is the real common one where a nozzle squirts out melted
plastic. This is good for mechanical parts that aren't stressed too
hard, but isn't super accurate, is pretty weak for small parts. It's
just barely good enough for something like a battery cover if the
printer operator is knows what they are doing and gets good layer
adhesion and no warping and uses a tougher material like petg. The
materials used for fdm are tougher than the uv resin, so they can
bend a little before breaking, but the layers and lines is a
weakness unless the printer (both the machine and the person)
actually knows what they're doing. The problem is a lot more people
own a printer than know how to get good results out of it.

If you take an STL fild and go to CraftCloud.com, you'll get
presented with something like 20 or more types of printing, most of
them not good for a battery cover, but at least FDM, SLS, SLA
(maybe, with the best resin), maybe MJF. (MJF turned out not to be
accurate enough for the pcb2molex carrier, but a battery cover ca
tolerate a bit more variability than that carrier). You upload the
stl, select the printing method and material, and finally it shows
you some quotes from different print shops that can produce the part.

But none of these are magic. What you get is only accurate withi

Re: [M100] 3D Printable replacement battery cover for M200

[Brian White]

Different printing methods cost different amounts. The basic service at
shapeways is something called SLS , which is laser-sintered nylon powder.
It produces very good results in terms of both dimensional & shape accuracy
and the toughness of the part, but it's expensive.

The kind of printers people have at home are either FDM or SLA, and there
are tons of services that offer those.

SLA uses uv light to harden a uv sensitive resin. This produces
super-accurate output, but generally too brittle for a useful mechanical
part. Though there are a few special resins that are a bit stronger and
might work well enough for a battery cover. The problem with a battery
cover is it has tiny shapes that just break off, and on top of that, it has
shapes that you intentionally have to stress and flex in normal use,
without breaking.

FDM is the real common one where a nozzle squirts out melted plastic. This
is good for mechanical parts that aren't stressed too hard, but isn't super
accurate, is pretty weak for small parts. It's just barely good enough for
something like a battery cover if the printer operator is knows what they
are doing and gets good layer adhesion and no warping and uses a tougher
material like petg. The materials used for fdm are tougher than the uv
resin, so they can bend a little before breaking, but the layers and lines
is a weakness unless the printer (both the machine and the person) actually
knows what they're doing. The problem is a lot more people own a printer
than know how to get good results out of it.

If you take an STL fild and go to CraftCloud.com, you'll get presented with
something like 20 or more types of printing, most of them not good for a
battery cover, but at least FDM, SLS, SLA (maybe, with the best resin),
maybe MJF. (MJF turned out not to be accurate enough for the pcb2molex
carrier, but a battery cover ca tolerate a bit more variability than that
carrier). You upload the stl, select the printing method and material, and
finally it shows you some quotes from different print shops that can
produce the part.

But none of these are magic. What you get is only accurate within some
range of variation. SLA is very accurate, but probably not strong enough.
SLS will also be accurate enough and strong enough on the first try, but
costs more. For FDM, it's cheaper, but will probably need a few iterations
before you get a very good result. Generally for FDM, you burn through all
those trial & error by doing it yourself, not by paying some service.

There are a TON of small shops out there able print by FDM or SLA. Aside
from craftcloud, there is 3dhubs and several other similar marketplace type
sites or just google. But it's not cheaper when you wait 2 weeks for a part
that isn't good enough, and you end up trying 4 times to get a good one.

-- 
bkw

On Wed, Jul 1, 2020, 6:41 PM B 9  wrote:

> Thanks, Lee! I appreciate the expert insight. I hope Steve is able to
> rejigger the hook tabs with slightly less overhang.
>
> $15 for 50¢ of material sounds crazy, but I don't have a 3-D printer. Are
> there any 3-D print services that aren't so expensive? My local makerspaces
> have closed their doors to focus on PPE right now.
>
> —b9
>
>
> Lee Olivares  wrote:
>
> > The “vertical” hook tabs are on the weak side, simply by nature of their
> geometry and the limits of FDM, but they’re certainly functional.
> Unfortunately re-orientation of the model isn’t a great option to improve
> their strength, nor is beefing them up, simply because of the size of the
> slits in the case.
> >
> > However, making them with slightly less overhang would prevent some
> harmful leverage without affecting function, and it would permit “scooping”
> the three engagements on the short side, since the tolerances there are
> pretty tight as it stands.
> >
> > Managed to fracture one of the vertical “hook” tabs removing the
> support, and it’s a snug fit but a really great design.
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> >
> >
> >  - Lee
> >  - 909.437.0250
> >  - Destroying technology problems.
> >
> > > On Jun 28, 2020, at 21:39, Lee Olivares  wrote:
> > >
> > > Resident 3D Printer repair guy here: that’s expensive, you’re looking
> at .50c in material for an FDM PET print.
> > >
> > > It’s about an hour on a Prusa MK3S @ .2mm, I’m fairly certain my buddy
> gifted me an M200 so maybe I can do some comparison shots.
> > >
> > > Printer is hot and ready so I’ll just crank out a sample as a
> reference, wait 2hrs before making any purchases.
> > >
> > >  - Lee
> > >  - 909.437.0250
> > >  - Destroying technology problems.
> > >
> > >>> On Jun 28, 2020, at 20:04, B 9  wrote:
> > >>>
> > >>
> > >> Very awesome! One of my M200s is missing the battery cover and looks
> a bit janky with the flexible plastic I cut to fit in its place. I got cost
> estimates from xometry and shapeways to see how much it'd be and it seemed
> the cheapest options were $15 to $20 bucks. For example, here's Shapeways'
> prices, but you have to add $3 for black plas

Re: [M100] 3D Printable replacement battery cover for M200

[Peter Vollan]

in my experience 3d printing is not cheap, you have to want the thing
kind of a lot

On Wed, 1 Jul 2020 at 15:50, Lee Kelley  wrote:
>
> I don't know how common it is but our public library has a 3d printer and 
> even though they won't print anything remotely gun related the will print 
> most anything else for 5 cents an oz.
>
> On Wed, Jul 1, 2020, 17:41 B 9  wrote:
>>
>> Thanks, Lee! I appreciate the expert insight. I hope Steve is able to 
>> rejigger the hook tabs with slightly less overhang.
>>
>> $15 for 50¢ of material sounds crazy, but I don't have a 3-D printer. Are 
>> there any 3-D print services that aren't so expensive? My local makerspaces 
>> have closed their doors to focus on PPE right now.
>>
>> —b9
>>
>>
>> Lee Olivares  wrote:
>>
>> > The “vertical” hook tabs are on the weak side, simply by nature of their 
>> > geometry and the limits of FDM, but they’re certainly functional. 
>> > Unfortunately re-orientation of the model isn’t a great option to improve 
>> > their strength, nor is beefing them up, simply because of the size of the 
>> > slits in the case.
>> >
>> > However, making them with slightly less overhang would prevent some 
>> > harmful leverage without affecting function, and it would permit 
>> > “scooping” the three engagements on the short side, since the tolerances 
>> > there are pretty tight as it stands.
>> >
>> > Managed to fracture one of the vertical “hook” tabs removing the support, 
>> > and it’s a snug fit but a really great design.
>> >
>> > Thanks!
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >  - Lee
>> >  - 909.437.0250
>> >  - Destroying technology problems.
>> >
>> > > On Jun 28, 2020, at 21:39, Lee Olivares  wrote:
>> > >
>> > > Resident 3D Printer repair guy here: that’s expensive, you’re looking at 
>> > > .50c in material for an FDM PET print.
>> > >
>> > > It’s about an hour on a Prusa MK3S @ .2mm, I’m fairly certain my buddy 
>> > > gifted me an M200 so maybe I can do some comparison shots.
>> > >
>> > > Printer is hot and ready so I’ll just crank out a sample as a reference, 
>> > > wait 2hrs before making any purchases.
>> > >
>> > >  - Lee
>> > >  - 909.437.0250
>> > >  - Destroying technology problems.
>> > >
>> > >>> On Jun 28, 2020, at 20:04, B 9  wrote:
>> > >>>
>> > >>
>> > >> Very awesome! One of my M200s is missing the battery cover and looks a 
>> > >> bit janky with the flexible plastic I cut to fit in its place. I got 
>> > >> cost estimates from xometry and shapeways to see how much it'd be and 
>> > >> it seemed the cheapest options were $15 to $20 bucks. For example, 
>> > >> here's Shapeways' prices, but you have to add $3 for black plastic and 
>> > >> then there's shipping on top of that.
>> > >>
>> > >> 
>> > >>
>> > >> —-b9
>> > >>
>> > >>> On Sun, Jun 28, 2020 at 7:15 PM Steve Glenner 
>> > >>>  wrote:
>> > >>> The M200 I just got was missing the battery cover, so I designed up a 
>> > >>> replacement and 3D printed it. I donate the model to the community in 
>> > >>> case anyone else needs one: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4508352
>> > >>>
>> > >>> Tandy Model 200 Battery Cover by SteveGlenner
>> > >>> I bought a second hand Tandy Model 200, but it was missing the battery 
>> > >>> cover. So here is a replacement battery cover. It should be printed 
>> > >>> with supports as there are some overhangs but otherwise the settings 
>> > >>> probably aren't critical. I printed mine in black ABS so it matches 
>> > >>> the rest of the bottom case.
>> > >>> www.thingiverse.com
>> > >>>
>> > >>>
>>

Re: [M100] 3D Printable replacement battery cover for M200

[Lee Kelley]

I don't know how common it is but our public library has a 3d printer and
even though they won't print anything remotely gun related the will print
most anything else for 5 cents an oz.

On Wed, Jul 1, 2020, 17:41 B 9  wrote:

> Thanks, Lee! I appreciate the expert insight. I hope Steve is able to
> rejigger the hook tabs with slightly less overhang.
>
> $15 for 50¢ of material sounds crazy, but I don't have a 3-D printer. Are
> there any 3-D print services that aren't so expensive? My local makerspaces
> have closed their doors to focus on PPE right now.
>
> —b9
>
>
> Lee Olivares  wrote:
>
> > The “vertical” hook tabs are on the weak side, simply by nature of their
> geometry and the limits of FDM, but they’re certainly functional.
> Unfortunately re-orientation of the model isn’t a great option to improve
> their strength, nor is beefing them up, simply because of the size of the
> slits in the case.
> >
> > However, making them with slightly less overhang would prevent some
> harmful leverage without affecting function, and it would permit “scooping”
> the three engagements on the short side, since the tolerances there are
> pretty tight as it stands.
> >
> > Managed to fracture one of the vertical “hook” tabs removing the
> support, and it’s a snug fit but a really great design.
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> >
> >
> >  - Lee
> >  - 909.437.0250
> >  - Destroying technology problems.
> >
> > > On Jun 28, 2020, at 21:39, Lee Olivares  wrote:
> > >
> > > Resident 3D Printer repair guy here: that’s expensive, you’re looking
> at .50c in material for an FDM PET print.
> > >
> > > It’s about an hour on a Prusa MK3S @ .2mm, I’m fairly certain my buddy
> gifted me an M200 so maybe I can do some comparison shots.
> > >
> > > Printer is hot and ready so I’ll just crank out a sample as a
> reference, wait 2hrs before making any purchases.
> > >
> > >  - Lee
> > >  - 909.437.0250
> > >  - Destroying technology problems.
> > >
> > >>> On Jun 28, 2020, at 20:04, B 9  wrote:
> > >>>
> > >>
> > >> Very awesome! One of my M200s is missing the battery cover and looks
> a bit janky with the flexible plastic I cut to fit in its place. I got cost
> estimates from xometry and shapeways to see how much it'd be and it seemed
> the cheapest options were $15 to $20 bucks. For example, here's Shapeways'
> prices, but you have to add $3 for black plastic and then there's shipping
> on top of that.
> > >>
> > >> 
> > >>
> > >> —-b9
> > >>
> > >>> On Sun, Jun 28, 2020 at 7:15 PM Steve Glenner <
> steveglen...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > >>> The M200 I just got was missing the battery cover, so I designed up
> a replacement and 3D printed it. I donate the model to the community in
> case anyone else needs one: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4508352
> > >>>
> > >>> Tandy Model 200 Battery Cover by SteveGlenner
> > >>> I bought a second hand Tandy Model 200, but it was missing the
> battery cover. So here is a replacement battery cover. It should be printed
> with supports as there are some overhangs but otherwise the settings
> probably aren't critical. I printed mine in black ABS so it matches the
> rest of the bottom case.
> > >>> www.thingiverse.com
> > >>>
> > >>>
>
>

Re: [M100] 3D Printable replacement battery cover for M200

[B 9]

Thanks, Lee! I appreciate the expert insight. I hope Steve is able to rejigger 
the hook tabs with slightly less overhang. 

$15 for 50¢ of material sounds crazy, but I don't have a 3-D printer. Are there 
any 3-D print services that aren't so expensive? My local makerspaces have 
closed their doors to focus on PPE right now.

—b9


Lee Olivares  wrote:

> The “vertical” hook tabs are on the weak side, simply by nature of their 
> geometry and the limits of FDM, but they’re certainly functional. 
> Unfortunately re-orientation of the model isn’t a great option to improve 
> their strength, nor is beefing them up, simply because of the size of the 
> slits in the case. 
> 
> However, making them with slightly less overhang would prevent some harmful 
> leverage without affecting function, and it would permit “scooping” the three 
> engagements on the short side, since the tolerances there are pretty tight as 
> it stands.
> 
> Managed to fracture one of the vertical “hook” tabs removing the support, and 
> it’s a snug fit but a really great design.
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> 
> 
>  - Lee
>  - 909.437.0250
>  - Destroying technology problems. 
> 
> > On Jun 28, 2020, at 21:39, Lee Olivares  wrote:
> > 
> > Resident 3D Printer repair guy here: that’s expensive, you’re looking at 
> > .50c in material for an FDM PET print. 
> > 
> > It’s about an hour on a Prusa MK3S @ .2mm, I’m fairly certain my buddy 
> > gifted me an M200 so maybe I can do some comparison shots. 
> > 
> > Printer is hot and ready so I’ll just crank out a sample as a reference, 
> > wait 2hrs before making any purchases.
> > 
> >  - Lee
> >  - 909.437.0250
> >  - Destroying technology problems. 
> > 
> >>> On Jun 28, 2020, at 20:04, B 9  wrote:
> >>> 
> >> 
> >> Very awesome! One of my M200s is missing the battery cover and looks a bit 
> >> janky with the flexible plastic I cut to fit in its place. I got cost 
> >> estimates from xometry and shapeways to see how much it'd be and it seemed 
> >> the cheapest options were $15 to $20 bucks. For example, here's Shapeways' 
> >> prices, but you have to add $3 for black plastic and then there's shipping 
> >> on top of that.
> >> 
> >> 
> >> 
> >> —-b9
> >> 
> >>> On Sun, Jun 28, 2020 at 7:15 PM Steve Glenner  
> >>> wrote:
> >>> The M200 I just got was missing the battery cover, so I designed up a 
> >>> replacement and 3D printed it. I donate the model to the community in 
> >>> case anyone else needs one: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4508352
> >>> 
> >>> Tandy Model 200 Battery Cover by SteveGlenner
> >>> I bought a second hand Tandy Model 200, but it was missing the battery 
> >>> cover. So here is a replacement battery cover. It should be printed with 
> >>> supports as there are some overhangs but otherwise the settings probably 
> >>> aren't critical. I printed mine in black ABS so it matches the rest of 
> >>> the bottom case.
> >>> www.thingiverse.com
> >>> 
> >>> 

Re: [M100] 3D Printable replacement battery cover for M200

[Lee Olivares]

Resident 3D Printer repair guy here: that’s expensive, you’re looking at .50c 
in material for an FDM PET print. 

It’s about an hour on a Prusa MK3S @ .2mm, I’m fairly certain my buddy gifted 
me an M200 so maybe I can do some comparison shots. 

Printer is hot and ready so I’ll just crank out a sample as a reference, wait 
2hrs before making any purchases.

 - Lee
 - 909.437.0250
 - Destroying technology problems. 

> On Jun 28, 2020, at 20:04, B 9  wrote:
> 
> 
> Very awesome! One of my M200s is missing the battery cover and looks a bit 
> janky with the flexible plastic I cut to fit in its place. I got cost 
> estimates from xometry and shapeways to see how much it'd be and it seemed 
> the cheapest options were $15 to $20 bucks. For example, here's Shapeways' 
> prices, but you have to add $3 for black plastic and then there's shipping on 
> top of that.
> 
> 
> 
> —-b9
> 
>> On Sun, Jun 28, 2020 at 7:15 PM Steve Glenner  
>> wrote:
>> The M200 I just got was missing the battery cover, so I designed up a 
>> replacement and 3D printed it. I donate the model to the community in case 
>> anyone else needs one: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4508352
>> 
>> Tandy Model 200 Battery Cover by SteveGlenner
>> I bought a second hand Tandy Model 200, but it was missing the battery 
>> cover. So here is a replacement battery cover. It should be printed with 
>> supports as there are some overhangs but otherwise the settings probably 
>> aren't critical. I printed mine in black ABS so it matches the rest of the 
>> bottom case.
>> www.thingiverse.com
>> 
>> 

Re: [M100] 3D Printable replacement battery cover for M200

[B 9]

Very awesome! One of my M200s is missing the battery cover and looks a bit
janky with the flexible plastic I cut to fit in its place. I got cost
estimates from xometry and shapeways to see how much it'd be and it seemed
the cheapest options were $15 to $20 bucks. For example, here's Shapeways'
prices, but you have to add $3 for black plastic and then there's shipping
on top of that.

[image: image.png]

—-b9

On Sun, Jun 28, 2020 at 7:15 PM Steve Glenner 
wrote:

> The M200 I just got was missing the battery cover, so I designed up a
> replacement and 3D printed it. I donate the model to the community in case
> anyone else needs one: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4508352
> 
> Tandy Model 200 Battery Cover by SteveGlenner
> 
> I bought a second hand Tandy Model 200, but it was missing the battery
> cover. So here is a replacement battery cover. It should be printed with
> supports as there are some overhangs but otherwise the settings probably
> aren't critical. I printed mine in black ABS so it matches the rest of the
> bottom case.
> www.thingiverse.com
>
>
>

Re: [M100] 3D Printable replacement battery cover for M200

[Hank Riley]

 Steve,
If possible, please try to take and upload a picture or two of the actual copy 
part you did in black ABS.  Prefer at least one pic to be NOT installed in its 
place on the M200.  Looking for a good shot of the inside where all the tabs 
are and all the performance of your printer will be revealed.
Second, what type of printer do you have and do you like it?  Is it your first 
3D printer what you have now?
Thanks very much for sharing the design with us.
Hank__
   
 On Sunday, June 28, 2020, 10:15:41 PM EDT, Steve Glenner  wrote:  
  The M200 I just got was missing the battery cover, so I designed up a 
replacement and 3D printed it.