3D Printer

[BubblesUp]

Hi. I wasn't sure where to put this. I've noticed there are some 3d printed frag racks around. I'll be getting my 3d printer soon so am looking for the file for these racks. Anyone know which filament is best to use? Any other use for a 3d printer and the reef?

 

[toybox22]

PETG is what I've seen used a lot. @Vivid Creative Aquatics creates some amazing random flow generators, I love mine. And I believe they are PETG. PLA should be ok as well, but will degrade faster.

 

[MaccaPopEye]

You might have seen it already but just in case check out this thread
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/get-any-part-you-need-right-here.321961/
There are a couple of other 3D printer threads on Reef2Reef as well.

As for designs, maybe try designing your own? You can browse thingiverse (there is a couple of frag racks on there from memory) or other images for inspiration and then use Fusion 360 to draw it up (its free and can be really easy to learn the basics with a couple of quick youtube tutorials).

At the end of the day improving CAD skills when you own a 3D printer is really handy. The first few things you print might already have designs out there. But then one day you will think of something you want to print and you wont be able to find a design and will need to draw your own. By drawing your own simple prints (like frag racks) as practice, you will get decent at drawing basic CAD designs in no time. It can be a little time consuming at first, but it's pretty dang satisfying going from no CAD/3D experience to literally holding an object that you designed and printed out yourself.

As for the material, each manufacturer and material are all slightly different and some might be ok and others might not be. PETG and ABS are usually reef safe. To be extra safe try to stick to natural, white or black colour pigments as I have heard that some colour pigments can leach (but not certain).

PLA has been getting mixed reviews as far as reefing goes and I am having a hard time figuring out if it is fear mongering or not so I am giving it a go to see if it degrades or not.

PLA is biodegradable but as far as I am aware it needs quite specific conditions and bacteria for that to happen. There are a few people who have used it for a couple of years or more with no issues (some here on R2R). And then there is a lot of people who insist it breaks down in reef tanks, however I have not yet seen anyone say that from first hand experience. So you can use PLA, but do so with caution (don't use it for anything essential and check on it every now and then).

Personally I am trying out PLA in my tank with a feeding ring and a nitrate reactor. I'll also be printing out some random flow generators some time in the future (again in PLA).

There is HEAPS of uses for 3D printers and reefing, you just have to let your mind go wild

Projects I am currently in the middle of / on my to do list (almost all I will be trying to draw myself)
- Reef-Pi Aquarium controller housing and power boards
- Housing for a DIY skimmer neck cleaner motor
- Random flow generators (using someones design on thingiverse)
- Holders for power head controllers and power bricks
- Screen lid corner brackets
- Skimmer stand
- ATO float switch holder
- Dosing tube holder
- Probe holder
- Frag racks

And I could go on

 

[Vivid Creative Aquatics Verified Sponsor]

PETG is what I've seen used a lot. @Vivid Creative Aquatics creates some amazing random flow generators, I love mine. And I believe they are PETG. PLA should be ok as well, but will degrade faster.

Yep - we use PETG for all our parts that come into contact with the water. Specifically we use eSun PETG

I think PLA can be fine, but not all PLAs are created equal. I have found that the eSun brand of PLA+ seems to hold up to the saltwater environment as good as anything else we have used. Ive tried a few off-brands of PLA that did not hold up as well - they started to delaminate and get brittle. For example I have a few parts printed in black sSun PLA+ that have been in the thank for more than a year and directly under the lights and there does not seem to be any discernible changes in it's strength or color.

With that said, I do stay away from plastics of certain colors when it comes to putting them in the tank. Some filaments get their color from pigmentation that contain compounds you don't what in your tank . As a rule, i stay away from yellow and orange, red filaments.

All of @MaccaPopEye 's advice is good - designing your own parts can be vary rewarding and ABS (in addition to) PETG are all reef safe.

 

[Saltysav96]

i use ABS and have never had an issue.

 

[Octane13]

Hi. I wasn't sure where to put this. I've noticed there are some 3d printed frag racks around. I'll be getting my 3d printer soon so am looking for the file for these racks. Anyone know which filament is best to use? Any other use for a 3d printer and the reef?

Frag rack:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2672511
I would modify that and replace the magnets with suction cups personally.

I would just pay attention to the layer height. My printed RFG collects a little algae in the a couple locations where there it is not as smooth. I plan on re-printing with .1 layer height instead of the .2 when I have time. @Vivid Creative Aquatics do you sell/share the .stl files? Any plans to expand maybe do some frag racks?

 

[Vivid Creative Aquatics Verified Sponsor]

Frag rack:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2672511
I would modify that and replace the magnets with suction cups personally.

I would just pay attention to the layer height. My printed RFG collects a little algae in the a couple locations where there it is not as smooth. I plan on re-printing with .1 layer height instead of the .2 when I have time. @Vivid Creative Aquatics do you sell/share the .stl files? Any plans to expand maybe do some frag racks?

I'm sorry, we don't sell/share the STL files of the RFG. The only frag racks we have created are just for personal use. We have stayed out of the Frag rack space just because there are so many great solutions out there already - both 3D printed such as the ones made by Printed Reef Solutions and more traditional acrylic frag racks by companies like OceanBox Designs to name just a few.

 

[Vivid Creative Aquatics Verified Sponsor]

Frag rack:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2672511
I would modify that and replace the magnets with suction cups personally.

...I plan on re-printing with .1 layer height instead of the .2 when I have time..... Any plans to expand maybe do some frag racks?

In addition to layer height - think about plaything around with Nozzle size for some of your prints. For objects that have few small details (like a frag rack), you can get really nice results with a .8mm nozzle, as opposed to the usual .4mm nozzle. You may not have to adjust the layer height down too much and you can cut a significant amount of time off your print just because the nozzle can create the layers in few passes.

 

[BubblesUp]

Thanks for all the info and recommendations! I still need to wait for my printer to arrive before I start.

 

[Dennis McGrath]

Here's one I found on Thingiverse that I modified for use with suction cups and personalized with my wife's name. I can send you an STL file if you're interested (without her name, or I can put whatever name you want on it.).

 

[Kyl]

Learn to design your own with either sketchup or fusion 360 is the best advice I can give anyone with a 3d printer, else you're at the mercy of everyone else (.stl files) to ever do anything with the machine.

Get your machine dialed in, get a pair of digital calipers and you can start making whatever you want. As noted, print in PETG for reefing, unless you have an enclosure and understand the nuances of ABS. PLA can be used in everything non-water related for the most part.

 

[Octane13]

Learn to design your own with either sketchup or fusion 360 is the best advice I can give anyone with a 3d printer, else you're at the mercy of everyone else (.stl files) to ever do anything with the machine.

Get your machine dialed in, get a pair of digital calipers and you can start making whatever you want. As noted, print in PETG for reefing, unless you have an enclosure and understand the nuances of ABS. PLA can be used in everything non-water related for the most part.

+1 on the calipers.

Onshape is very good and my preferred program. If you are building basic shapes then TinkerCad works well

 

[Dennis McGrath]

+1 for Tinkercad. It's by far the best place to learn to walk before you fly. Think of a child's coloring book compared to painting the Mona Lisa.
I use Tinkercad quite a bit for the simple stuff, or just to quickly add to or modify a STL file.