On Wed, 16 Jan 2013 17:35:54 -0800 (PST),
In my eyes, you're defending freedom. My hat's off to you sir.
I really don't deserve that. I have merely lucked out and am
enjoying the results of getting involved with 3D printers.
I'm learning, is all. Most of the path had already been
bushwhacked down by a lot of really good folks before me.
It only takes rather low technology items (nothing in what I
have is expensive or difficult to come by) to make a 3D
printer. What's interesting to me is just many different uses
I've already discovered that have made a difference -- and
I'm only just starting.
I mostly use the 3D printer for other things -- not ammo
magazines. You know, project boxes and the like. Two days
ago, our microwave's door opener broke. Turns out they use
two plastic standoffs molded as a single unit as part of a
faceplate. The standoffs have holes in them for another
plastic part that sits between them and "flips" the latch
when pressed. Since only one side actually presses against
the latching mechanism of the door itself, that is the side
put under regular tension and it eventually breaks. The other
side, built just as well (or just as poorly) isn't under the
same stress.. so it survives easily. They should have beefed
up the stressed side differenly. Dumb, but there it is. So it
broke. I used the 3D printer to print out a special piece I
used to rebuild and reinforce that side and repaired the oven
using that and CA glue, rather than go buy another oven.
I also used it to repair a broken electric window of a car.
The unit uses an ABS plastic gear of sorts (not sure of the
right technical term) around which a string of contained ABS
beads are driven. A wire through those beeds was also broken.
Replacement is offered only by buying the entire unit at $200
each, after waiting some time because it's not a common item.
Cost me about $2 in parts (aluminum crimps and some new
braided wire at $1 each) and the rest was made in the 3D
printer. Total repair cost is probably about $3-4.
Of course, there are the shockingly good ammo magazines you
can also make. Takes about two hours to print something for
15 rounds. And I just sit by and watch, mostly. They work
right out of the printer, though it helps to do just a tiny
amount of clean up afterwards.
I'm increasingly surprised by just how many different uses I
can find, though. Once you have the tool around, you realize
how easy it is to fashion some unique part that when added to
other common parts makes a result that does unusual things.
It's opened up my imagination more and very much enhanced my
life, already. And if the part doesn't do exactly what I
wanted, I just sit down, edit a little, and reprint and try.
Very easy to get something really nice.
I'm designing a custom controller for a 240VAC kitchen stove
(30A). I am still exploring the sensor details, but right now
am experimenting with a 40kHz distance sensor (under $2
shipped from China) and a keypad. Purpose is to make certain
that it takes a code to enable the stove for use and that if
the person using it walks away from the immediate vacinity,
the stove automatically shuts off. (My daughter is autistic
and we cannot trust her around it alone.) I've been having
lots of fun designing pieces for it. The circuit boards
literally snap into the ABS fixtures and I've designed fun
locking mechanisms that work beautifully. I needed holes in
different places -- no need for special tools... just include
the holes into the design. Hole for micro USB connector?
Easy. Holes for 40kHz emitter and receiver? Easy. Holes for
DF13 connectors? Easy and perfect fit! Etc.
I mentioned my area reports defensive uses routinely. Lo, we just
another heard in the news--yet another someone in my neck of the woods
just used a gun defensively to save his life.
If you're in trouble (esp. in a remote area), when seconds count the
police are just minutes away.
I live in an area that has a minimum 5 acre lot size, but
many properties (like mine) are very much larger. I own a
hillside that is mostly deep woods (approximates a national
rainforest in appearance) and not close to law enforcement. I
have a VERY well designed, long driveway with steep cliffs on
both sides of it that rises 150' from above the entry road
and winds around two hairpin curves with a 300' stretch of
road about a 40' rising cliff directly below my house that
overlooks the stretch. NO ONE can easily come up here without
being fully observed over quite a stretch. Steel gate on
tracks at the bottom.
Funny thing is that a few months ago a car stopped right at
the bottom and a man in casual military dress was just
staring up at my driveway. I happened to be coming down at
the time and asked why he was just standing there.
He said, "There is no way anyone is going to be able to
approach you on anything but the road because of the steep
cliffs on either side. I was just admiring the defensible
design of your home access."
In actual fact, our property was designed and built in 1970
by an MJ drug dealer (property later seized) who wanted to
complicate the idea of a surprise raid by police and federal
officers. The forest canopy is 80' to 100', close knit, and
the hillside relatively difficult to traverse upwards towards
the (very large) home, which overlooks the entire hillside.
It really is an interesting design when you look at it that
way.
But being where we are, in some cases it could be hours or
even days before others could arrive to help. Luckily I have
the kind of property and area where the family and I can keep
in practice without going anywhere. (Without practice and
drill regarding what each of us expects from another, we
would expose each other to additional avoidable risks.)
All that said, I don't expect trouble and will do everything
I can to avoid it. I'd rather run away from confrontation, if
safe to do, than sit pat and duke it out protecting my turf.
Things I can replace. Family I cannot. Cover is better than
concealment. But not being there at all is even better than
good cover.
Jon