I have built a simple 3D printer based on the MendelMax. Initial results have been good. It seems to be useful for creating simple plastic objects that do not need a lot of fine details. I have used Autodesks CAD toolset to design the items, most recently Inventor Fusion and before that I was using 123D. Both are free and can output STL files, which are needed to create the gcode files that are sent to the printer. I wont explain how 3D printing works here because there is a lot of information on the internet, but I would be happy to answer questions.
The first thing I have made specifically for ham radio is a new Dipole center. I'll post here at the end of the winter to report on its resistance to UV light. When I have chosen random pieces of plastic for dipole centers they typically degrade and become brittle. The UV Resistance of PLA sounds like it will be good, but it may not stand up to the high temperatures on the roof in Brooklyn. So the real test may well be in the summer.
Update:After several years the PLA center is still going strong. It seems to hold up well to strong UV light and the cold.
Here are the files:
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