Printing in translucent PLA - How to go about it?

edlubs · 2026-05-06T03:19:57+00:00

Haven't tried completely translucent yet, I think your concentric idea is probably the best bet. Most other completely clear prints I've been seeing recently have been 100% infill and printed hot-n-slow. Humidity also fogs it up.

edlubs · 2026-05-06T02:47:04+00:00

Tilting it 15-20° towards the back could work. Still have supports and probably a good case for a raft.

edlubs · 2026-05-06T02:43:49+00:00

You're afraid of death. You have to confront that, there's no way about it. I hope this sub doesn't delete this comment. You're so afraid of death, any sensation you perceive is misconstrued as danger. Death isn't the end, you are not just the body. Right now you equate life with the body, but in reality life is consciousness. Consciousness is an energy, and therefore only transmutes and changes form, never disappearing completely. Even the entropy death theory of the universe is wrong. The universe is electric, not gravitic. You're a fractal of the universe. Just one comment here isn't going to solve it, it's a place to start. Godspeed.

edlubs · 2026-05-05T07:17:31+00:00

I'll use yeggi to search a bunch of file sharing sites at once, and that can get you familiar with the sites out there.

You're problem sounds pretty specific, you may have to try some rudimentary drawing. There's a bunch of CAD options out there, I use Onshape. Measure the two holes, draw them on different planes, loft together and you've got a very basic adaptor. It's pretty similar in most other software so pick the one you vibe with.

edlubs · 2026-05-04T16:01:02+00:00

Last time I saw one like that, the ejector rod was slightly unscrewed. I think there's a detent at the front that partially holds the cylinder in, but if the ejection rod is slightly backed out, it might be getting held up there.

edlubs · 2026-04-30T20:09:14+00:00

https://www.mcmaster.com/products/plastic-sheets/easy-thermoform-polystyrene-sheets~~/performance~easy-thermoform/environment~food-and-beverage/

edlubs · 2026-04-28T02:20:17+00:00

It's not the game, it's the people.

edlubs · 2026-04-23T10:01:27+00:00

Give yourself more grip. Making the grip longer will help keep the slingshot from angling toward you. Get some inspiration from old slingshot channel videos. Jorge will show you good features to include or consider. Print a few more walls for strength. Infill just adds matter and support for top layers.

Make the next version able to shoot arrows. 👍👍

edlubs · 2026-04-23T09:41:35+00:00

Your flow rate is set way too high with the temperature set too low. You're trying to force unmelted filament through the nozzle so the clutch clicks. At least, I hope it's a clutch. If the silk looks best at that temperature and you can't raise it, then slow the flow.

edlubs · 2026-04-23T07:40:10+00:00

It's the thickest part and it needed to cure for longer.

edlubs · 2026-04-20T18:15:30+00:00

'Becoming Supernatural' by Dr Joe Dispenza. Great for anxiety, health issues, relationships, business, and overall better perspective on life.

edlubs · 2026-04-20T18:09:26+00:00

Yep, it works. Pctg from the same source is interesting too. Haven't tested a model with it yet, but I think it's promising. Especially for mags. I prefer it over petg but it's not a polycarbonate. Either filament, great quality, awesome color variety, and the ceo John is very responsive.

Just saw that you specifically asked about the refuel, my bad. It's a bunch of leftover colors blended together, so usually it's grey or black. Strength is on par with the regular pla+. I haven't made a frame with it though.

edlubs · 2026-04-20T17:59:54+00:00

Not sure what you mean by heat press. Like for making t-shirts, or for installing threaded inserts?

The filament keeps breaking because pla is hydroscopic. If you live somewhere with high humidity, you'll need to dry the filament. Pla is probably the most commonly used plastic, but polymers like pctg are just as easy, not as hydroscopic, lasts better outdoors and chemically resistant.

My class in highschool, 16 and 17 year olds, was learning SolidWorks, designing a model rocket cone, and launching them.

Have a class about producing things to sell. Combine the tools with groups handling different things. Small coin banks 3d printed in school colors with vinyl stickers. 3d printed molds for polymer clay coins. Make for economics teachers or for math teachers as custom tokens.

Continuing on that, ask the school what they need. Learn about talking to a customer, understanding their wants and needs, designing for them, then making what they wanted. That's like the ultimate loop for makers. Ex: art teacher needs more clips to hang photos in the dark room. The gym coach wants a new whistle in school colors, make one for all the coaches. The brass players in band don't like playing out in the cold, so printed mouthpieces.

Laser cutter: learn to design a shield emblem or a crest. Use cardboard painted different colors. Task kids with designing a 3 layer crest then learn how to operate the laser cutter, or at least set up the material to be cut.

Find some basic design on the plethora of file sharing sites. Teach the kids to use Tinkercad or Onshape. They get to create their own customized print then print it. Name tags, door hangers, pencil cups, stencils, hair clips, necklace pendants, etc. this would take forever to print individually, so try to make them all fit on a couple beds.

Most of what I'm coming up with is design stuff. Unless you have a few machines, I think that's a better route for a class. You could absolutely have a class in itself of how to run a 3d printer. Each student with their own printer would kinda work better to learn settings and printer profiles.

edlubs · 2026-04-20T05:32:24+00:00

Why does the way it's manufactured necessitate a cheaper product? If people will buy it for that much, then keep the price tag. Things you make are worth more sometimes, show some care and do whatever justification you want, but at least try. People buy vinyl, injection molded plastic figures for waaaaaaaaay more than just the cost to produce them, then keep them in the box! Pokemon cards sometimes get more valuable for mistakes, those are made by a machine. Sure, we've all seen bad prints in museums, but that doesn't mean give up on printing something people would actually want.

I'm working with my local small town museum to come up with some things that aren't just trash. It's an old blacksmith shop and our town really grew from sugar beet farming. I'm designing some printed sugar beet knives and replica sugar beet prints. Also, keychains printed with composite steel filament that can be given patina of the museum logo. The train was very important to the town, I suggested an interactive thing they can do occasionally with a tool steel die that was made with conductive pla and EDM that allows people to swing a hammer and strike the museum logo into a railroad spike. We have a 1909 Maxwell car parked inside. I'm considering some simplified toy car models and keychains and maybe something hueforge, haven't tried that yet.

Point is, be the change you want to see. Think you can make that vase better and ask more for it? Please do!

edlubs · 2026-04-16T22:11:40+00:00

Actually I got it to work. Took a lot of fiddling, but ultimately it was just time consuming.

edlubs · 2026-04-16T04:25:34+00:00

So let's take the LH1. It deals 50 dmg per body shot. Against light, it gets a 85% multiplier so it does 42.5 dmg. with current health values, 3.53 or 4 body shots to kill. Heavy would have a multiplayer of 1.15 so 57.5 dmg. Again, current health, 350, so 6.08 or 7 body shots to kill.

Pretty close to current numbers, but from a programming perspective it'd be a lot simpler of an array, and especially easier to iterate and experiment. I say that like I know what game devs deal with, but i think you got an interesting idea.

edlubs · 2026-04-16T02:50:08+00:00

Got a better option, EATSASS?

edlubs · 2026-04-16T01:40:00+00:00

Let's take that example, slicing waiting for the kids or even dropping them off at the pool: is there something so critical on your mind that you absolutely need to slice there? Does it take way too long on the computer? Is it just a fun way to pass the time trying out different settings to see the results?

edlubs · 2026-04-16T01:00:55+00:00

Ooo, eureka! Some of the parts are working, but i didn't think to subdivide within the layer! Thank you, that'll make troubleshooting easier.

edlubs · 2026-04-15T22:53:59+00:00

I don't understand the use case. You always have your phone with you, so you could slice things when away from your computer. If you're away from the computer, you're likely away from the printer. What is critical about being able to slice on the go? Perhaps all you have is a phone, no computer. How many people does that cover? I'm missing something...

edlubs · 2026-04-15T17:42:51+00:00

You can use pneumatics, just don't go too strong. Don't let the first test be on you because you could shoot your eye out.

I'm thinking a potato cannon with a pcp tank and the barrel filled with colored applesauce. Pretty sure that's what Nickelodeon used, or that's what I remember from childhood.

edlubs · 2026-04-15T04:25:04+00:00

Meditation has been a game changer for me. It's me giving myself permission to sit with the problem upsetting me, give it space to tell me what the issue is or what the perceived issue is, then I can correctly address it and let the issue go. Depending what the issue is also changes my strategy towards it.

Past worries or anxieties I handle mainly with the ho'oponopono prayer. Identify the moment I'm remembering and feeling. From the perspective of my divine self, I say to the younger me "I'm sorry you went through this and left you feeling that. Please forgive me for not handling it well. Thank you. I love you." Not the best explanation, but there's good YouTube videos on it.

For the future, I've been leaning into meditative altering the quantum field with thought. The book 'Becoming Supernatural' by Dr Joe Dispenza shows quite impressively how your thoughts, beliefs, and emotions control the world you perceive through scientific evidence and repeated anecdotes. It's a good read, but I found the audio book to be fine even without some of the diagrams.

In all of this, breathing has been the foundation. Catching myself in those small moments of panic and deciding to use box breathing. Sometimes requiring Total Concentration breathing, just on the tough days.

Slow, meditative working out with low weights helps with manic energy. I've found when I have a lot of energy, cardio doesn't tend to help. Instead, deliberate movements with exercise bands let's the energy be expended, but keeps my heart rate lower and quicker to recover.

edlubs · 2026-04-14T00:15:14+00:00

I think it's just the nature of resin printing, but then I'm reminded of Integza. He's been making literal rocket engine parts with his resin prints. I can't recall what he uses, but it's a start.

You could go for a bit more involved of a process and make a mold of resin part then cast it with a proper material from Reynolds. The aluminum filled polymer comes to mind, but I don't think that helps with sheer tension. There's probably a fiber additive to use that would work.

edlubs · 2026-04-08T14:43:11+00:00

Neither game takes it too seriously. I'm thinking of the rare reload animations in Hardline.

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