afv aficionado

Hi Moo
The phrase 'running rings around the opposition' comes to mind.

Mal

TheGreatestMoo

Indeed, but check out how balanced it is. I don't think I ever took the KV down on my first life all day lol. Its 9 hits vs 3 for the little Scorpion. Even though it might not be able to go up against these tanks in RL, you sure have to work for it in the IR game. It feels really even I think.

I got a couple quotes still pending on how much it would cost to have another company 3d print the tank. I hope its not too much... how much would you all be willing to spend for a tank like this? It would be sold as all the 3d printed parts, hardware needed like bearings, stainless steel screws, piano wire for suspension all the other misc stuff, instruction manual, etc.

afv aficionado

Hi Moo
I wouldn't be expecting much change out of $400.00. Close?

Mal

TheGreatestMoo

It might end up being significantly higher then that. Cause with 3d printing the main cost is simply time it seems. All the printers can only do it so fast. For me if I were to print the kits myself I honestly wouldn't do it for anything less then like $800. It is probably a whole week of print time for 1 tank with my 2 printers I have here. Those 3d printed snow blowers I sold at the end of last winter took 30 hours of print time which isnt including all the time it takes to stop and start new prints on the machines, and they had about 60 pieces, but that was printed on my larger diameter 0.6mm nozzle. This scorpion has over 300 pieces and is printed with the 0.4mm nozzle to get more detail and resolution. I don't know the total print time on that. The snow blower kit sold for about $350. So idk... It might end up being the best to get your own printer and print your own tank out. I will for sure be selling the STL files with instructions, and I could even sell the hardware kit separately. I will have to wait and see just what all these quotes come out to though for the printed parts.

afv aficionado

Ouch. I'll wait with you.
Will have to check what local companies charge to print. If I buy the printer, that'd double the cost.

Mal

TheGreatestMoo

Both of my printers are Da Vinci's 500$ printer converted to better electronic brain with a Smoothieboard controller was another like 2-300$. I got my 2nd Da Vinci used on ebay for about 300$ store return. The Da Vinci by itself is all proprietary filament and software, which is not good. So you would have to replace the main controller with something else.

My printers here: http://voltivo.com/forum/davinci-hwm...odded-da-vinci

Many other affordable printers out there now though. Don't fall for the makerbot's your only paying for brand name now with them.

afv aficionado

Hi Moo
Electronics & computers aren't really my thing, hence the interest in having it printed elsewhere.

Mal

TheGreatestMoo

A cool article posted about the tank http://3dprint.com/69709/3d-printed-fv101-tank/

Still no word on the quotes for how much itll cost =(

DeadTom

Welcome back Moo, I followed your last CNC version and liked what you had then....now this stl file for sale is even better. Purchase and print.....better get some more stl files rolling for other tanks.

TheGreatestMoo

Well I'm open to ideas now, because I heard back from one of the quotes, they are not even finished with the whole quote yet but it was already over $800.00 USD which is JUST the printed parts. Soooooo back to the drawing board probably? Not sure where to take it from here.

Max-U52

How about soft skinned vehicles? I'd kill for a deuce and a half. If you do jeeps I might buy several. Ambulances. Opel Blitz cab and bed to fit on currently available chassis. Artillery. Being able to purchase and print might even make me buy a printer.

The possibilities are endless.

Wozwasnt

Even with virtually no CAD experience anything is possible -

TheGreatestMoo

Wozwasnt - yeah those are amazing looking, I lack the skills to scratch build something like that without CAD lol. I was raised around computers so its just easier for me.

I think I'm going to focus on just getting the STL files ready to sell for the Scorpion. Also I think I could sell the hardware kits as-well. With everything you need to build it. What do you guys think? I'd have to work out the costs for those. I'm thinking $120.00 for the digital file package, which would include the STL files, DWG files, instruction manuals with images step-by-step, parts lists and the original 3ds Max 2011 file (The 3ds Max file is not traditional CAD, it is polygon based mesh file).

Max-U52

Woz, have you made any more progress with the jeep? Even as a static model it looks interesting.

Wozwasnt

No, I've been trying to finish off the M50 first as I'm running out of room and the Chally 2 will be out soon. Also been working on a few 1/16 HMG's for shapeways.

TheGreatestMoo

A few pics from a battle with did over the weekend. Managed to roll the tank completely over! Another couple hours running the tank around, only thing that broke so far was the smoke grenade launcher when it flipped. This thing is a beast.

TheGreatestMoo

I've been thinking of putting this Scorpion tank up for auction on Ebay to help get some more funds to finish trying to produce these as a kit. I need to make myself a 2nd tank anyways to make the instruction manual. Would you guys be interested in me doing that? I would list it as an auction.

dragon245

Ill bite what would you want for it????

TheGreatestMoo

I was thinking of auctioning it to see what it actually got up to. Or shoot me an offer in private message.

I'm designing my own 3d printer based off the Ultimaker design. It is going to be crazy huge, 24x24x32" print area! With 2 of these monsters I will be able to pump out tank kits myself.

TheGreatestMoo

Just an update, I've been working like crazy on my own 3d printer to be able to print scorpion kits. The printer is almost up and running. Once everything is working properly I should be able to print nearly a whole Scorpion tank kit in a single print. All the pieces of the tank fit on the 24x24 platform.

Couple pics and a youtube of it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqIX2Lurm-I

Strato50

I just came across this thread for the first time... wow! This is exactly the direction I want to see even casual tankers take the hobby. It'll only be a couple years before people are routinely designing or commissioning 3D parts or entire tanks like you are. Excellent.

Whats the status of your kit production operation? Is printing the entire kit in a single print session cutting down your costs significantly?

TheGreatestMoo

Yeah I want to make many many more RC things, check out one of my other projects, 3d printed snow blower: http://s1.zetaboards.com/RCsnowcats/topic/5749076/1/

I still have not finalized the whole Scorpion yet. I need to make myself a 2nd one to make sure everything is all good to go. Also I can create an instruction manual with step-by-step images. Once its all ready they will be sold in an assemble it yourself kit with all the printed parts, screws and hardware you need.

I'll keep everyone posted.

chris3BK

hi

how long do you print for one scorpion?

cu christian

Pah co chu puk

Very cool build. I have done 3d printing. An Acetone dip before painting will take out the printing ridges and fill in the gaps. Be careful when you try it, Acetone is hazardous to work with. It is flammable and will melt both the plastic and your brain.

vonmarshall

My Feedback: (1)

Can you tell us more about this. I have bought some 3d parts for other RC projects and was a bit disappointed about how rough the finish was. How does one do an acetone dip?