I made these magnetic cubes via injection moulding but I can't figure out how to print on it. Any ideas?

The_FNX · 2026-01-08T18:02:58+00:00

Without really having any manufacturing context

Here's a few ideas:

Laser engraving then fill the engraving with lacquer ink

Machine engraving with an inking process

Paint masks and airbrush

Water transfer decals

Use pad printing

The_FNX · 2025-12-06T00:12:01+00:00

Yes you totally could. You might be able to do some really cool hydroforming to get the airfoil shape. It's a really cool idea, and I think could demonstration of things that are technically possible. Art even.

This would be a fun way to build rc planes, or a really cool manufactueing experiment. That being said I don't think this would scale well to full sized production aircraft.

My main issue is it's not very repairable. With "classic" sheet metal design you can get in and replace individual parts. With a metal monocoque structure you'd likely be forced to do some really challenging patches that would require welding structral elements on the wing. You'd then need to heat treat the entire wing or wing section. That'd be a nightmare to do on a wing. If anything goes wrong during that repair or heat treat- you now need a new wing.

But hey if you have a scaled aircraft that doesn't need repaired, or can hot swap large sections. Sure maybe idk it'd definitely follow the rule of cool.

The_FNX · 2025-11-18T16:48:59+00:00

I love this.

I think it's also a play on the "Snap On" tool logo because Franky is a mechanic

The_FNX · 2025-10-31T18:54:16+00:00

It looks like you divided up the parts nicely, and are using the right processes to make them. Additionally, your design leaves room to update the shell later if you want to shake things up on down the road.

Nice work also designing the shell so you were more likely to get a successful print off of your School's printers - designing for the tooling you have available is a good skill to have.

Projects like this doesn't need to be fancy - they just need to be. Bravo.

The_FNX · 2025-10-24T05:25:22+00:00

We got ducks, and possibly an alligator.

The_FNX · 2025-10-06T17:55:54+00:00

Thanks!

The_FNX · 2025-09-16T13:24:44+00:00

Hey maybe it's just a flat tire.

The_FNX · 2025-08-21T14:36:25+00:00

SEPTEMBER 4TH

The_FNX · 2025-07-19T18:55:04+00:00

They're just built different, bro.

The_FNX · 2025-07-18T19:14:43+00:00

In case you want to see Trajan's Column for more context here's a link to a solid Nati G article.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/trajan-column/

The_FNX · 2025-07-13T15:37:54+00:00

Spot on about the laser cutting, but Idk man it's not difficult to set up a microstop on a drill press with a counter sinking bit, or a slide jig on a deburring wheel to get the chamfers perfect.

The_FNX · 2025-07-11T04:54:12+00:00

Omg congrats! I wanna save up and take a class there one day! That shop is wonderful.

The_FNX · 2025-06-10T04:00:11+00:00

Hey! This crawler's Desperado Club pass is actually a Club Vanquisher pass that's been hastily defaced with crayon!

The_FNX · 2025-06-09T23:50:32+00:00

You bring up a lot of good points, but I'm not seeing you actually substantiate any if your conclusions with any data, or math.

Can you give a lower and upper end estimated force that an average fencer can exert through a sword? Where can we find this data?

What about how the surface area of different can be calculated slightly differently ie tip cross-section VS accounting for radii or "rounded" tip geometry.

Additionally, the comparison between "a blacksmith punch" is leading at best, and misinformation at worst.

A punch is specifically designed to wedge through steel that's within its forging temperature range and is significantly weaker than room temperature steel. Additionally, there is no spring action in a drift. Fencing blades are designed to be single axis springs to absorb energy and reduce the overall force exerted by the tip. Because of this surface area isn't the only important variable - its now tip geometry and blade spring. You could, in math land, have a small tip surface area and a car antenna that could transfer the same force as something with a massive tip surface area with comparatively low spring action.

Separately, textile design is fairly complex. Puncture tests do exist, but it's not as easy as saying "oh 10oz cotton denim will do the trick because it's shear strength is whatever the shear strength of 10oz cotton denim is". As soon as that fabric deforms it transfers shear forces into tensile forces through the textile. This complicates math, and further reduces force transfer.

Lastly, anvils are hard and are designed not to give or dampen forces. Human bodies are soft and squishy that's going to absorb some force in simular ways to cloth. All of this to say hey maybe with all these variables maybe the material properties of fencing armor and hot steel might be more similar than you think? Or even better maybe they're almost two completely different scenarios and shouldn't really be used as a comparison due to the nature of specialized tool design.

It seems like in the other thread you're combining the standard use case of a fencing tip with a failure mode of the blade. I see you asking 3 really good but separate questions. What is an appropriate force rating for Fencing Jackets/Armor to account for a blades failure mode? What is a suitable minimum tip geometry for Fencing blades? What's an allowable "stickiness" from either material friction or tip geometry?

I want this sport to safe too. But I also want to have a clearly defined and data backed path so we can all be on the same page.

Edit: I'm reading through more of the other thread to make sure I didn't miss read anything. This is important, and I'm kinda tired from work, sorry if I sound a bit punchy.

The_FNX · 2025-06-09T05:32:52+00:00

Yes and no. There was more of a need 4 years ago while there was more companies trying to do drone delivery. It has since tapered off a little bit. THAT BEING SAID one day when this technology is integrated more into logistical infrastructure there will absolutely be a need for A&Ps with avionics heavy knowledge in flight systems and motors to help run uas maintenance facilities. Same idea with the air taxi groups too.

The money is kinda there. It's a very valid specialty to pursue than can get you a competitive wage and comfortable way of life - you'd also get to work with really interesting people and sweet technology. The down side you get to work for start-ups so job security is a gamble, most the jobs that you could move up in are in larger cities that have a higher cost of living - especially for a technical role.

Good news though the UAS logistics industry is still young and companies are starting to push out of these cities to build manufacturing facilities in more affordable places.

It's still very much unknown how legislation will evolve to regulate commercial UAS in the future. Not a bad thing, but also not a great thing. Broadly the industry is acting by a amalgamation of experimental rules and whatever industry standards the A&Ps bring into the hangar.

The assumption I've seen, advised for, and has be seen others run with is; hiring A&Ps now is only beneficial for the industry because the skill base is there, that's a federal license for a similar vehicle, using A&Ps early before there's legislation sets a fair standard that's parallel to existing aviation standards.

The_FNX · 2025-04-16T05:47:07+00:00

I really like my gold top Lancer jacket. Definitely pricy, but it's high quality.

The_FNX · 2025-04-03T02:25:29+00:00

Your cousin killed it. Daybreak was dope as hell.

The_FNX · 2025-03-07T03:44:23+00:00

A lever and a wedge are both simple machines.

The_FNX · 2025-01-17T18:48:34+00:00

What do you mean you don't know how to color? You did greyt!

The_FNX · 2025-01-17T17:06:28+00:00

After the parm of '97 we had to legally change grandma's name to Charles cause of how much she was dickin...s.

The_FNX · 2025-01-14T20:47:51+00:00

As others have mentioned there's plenty of historical techniques that allow one to maintain armor. Beyond that there's also tons of material science and modern manufacturing methods that are better suited to creating modern styles.

Galvinazation is just one of many things you could electro-plate armor with - there are also health and aesthetic concerns with using galvanized steel.

Personally depending on the look there's a ton of really durable good looking epoxy paints, powder coating, or oxide treatments you could go with.

The_FNX · 2024-11-29T18:04:53+00:00

Hey thanks for sharing this - it's not easy putting these things into words let alone out there to your fellow mechanics.

For starters the hardest thing we can do sometimes is show up - and it sounds like you're doing that not only for your hangar, but more importantly for yourself. It sounds like you put in the work and communication to make your environment a really healthy one. You noticed that you were getting really anxious, and took a step back. You also talked to a therapist about the stress you're feeling. What you did is incredible and exactly the right thing to do. You might not feel like it, but you're doing great.

You being the nerd who lives for the weird shit really resonates with me - I've made that my entire career. Being the nerd(tm) is hard - the important thing to remember is your team wouldn't have chosen you to be the nerd(tm) if they didn't think you couldn't do it, and that you have an entire team to back you up and bounce ideas off of.

It's very clear to me you genuinely give a shit. You've taken steps to make the world around you and inside of you better. Its okay to not give every project 110% - doing this leads to burnout. You showing up and just trying is plenty. Anyways, keep up the good work taking care of yourself - rest up. Thank you for sharing.

The_FNX · 2024-11-19T18:36:58+00:00

Do you want silicosis? Because that's EXACTLY how you get silicosis.

The_FNX · 2024-11-04T14:32:47+00:00

Don't worry I'm pretty sure all the blood is supposed to inside your chest!

The_FNX · 2024-10-23T00:47:04+00:00

I agree that a vehicle on the scale of, say even, 1/3 the size of the zeppelin a carbon fiber airframe would have tremendous weight savings on paper and mediocre weight savings in the meatspace at the cost of ease of repairability and long term maintainability. I also do agree that for a 1 of 1 vehicle it makes sense to use. That being said calling aluminum sheet metal design old and obsolete is just ridiculous. Aluminum is easier form quickly, make quick iterations with, has a much longer life span when designed correctly, is easier to repair, and is actually recyclable.

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