New Purchase... 3D Printer

Credit Card Hit.... new toy I needed this for a kitchen job that is now close to completion...

Had to come up with a shelf retainer to use on 7mm shelf pegs as the manufacturers had made the curved end units with adjustable shelves FFS.... I was told to get an IP from the Government's Intellectual Property office.... which I have now..

I have also invented another product for the same kitchen.... I will post info on these soon...

CTC FDM Dual Extruder:

Ooo, CAD'ing up and 3D printing actual useful parts (not just toys) is very satisfying.  I have a Flashforge Creator Pro. Let me know if you have any questions, I'd be happy to help.

Oooh very nice!

I'd be happy with a normal printer that didn't paper jam at the first sign of glossy paper...

little models of kitchen designs coming up.


Im sure a load of little 1:50 kitchen unit cubes to stand on architects plans would be handy for initial planning. a bunch of 600, 800, 900 and 1000 white cubes to represent kitchen units could then be placed onto printed plans.

Thanks Guys...

It is a learning curve.... What I am not sure of is why I have to keep setting up the bed level. Had a couple of times it has scored the face of the bed. I am impressed with what you can do with it... and having to think about the construction avoiding having to use supports by using angles and also thinking about the interior of the parts.... making them really strong etc...

Don't know anything about 3d printing but having used cnc machines they all need referencing on start up. Its called zero point. Without that the machine wouldn't know where to start from. It needs to know zero xyz before moving to other coordinates in the code. Have fun. Can you model some xeons? 

Impressive stuff!....I guess we won't see you for a while Daz as you get 3D printing forumed up!

Joe, Its not really for referencing the zero point. it's the Z axis where the extruder nozzle needs to be set by a routine of making sure a piece of paper can slide under the bed and nozzle in five places on the bed... Seems to have settled down now.

You think Rendering can be slow.... 3D printing can take many hours (24 hours and more) for quality parts.. Print a Zeon... yes but it will just be a non-working concept... haha

Mingers.. Thanks... There are some 3D Printing forums already out there.... I have joined one but I am just being ignored LOL...

What size are the parts you are printing?
The orientation, infill percentage, outline speed, layer height etc etc can all add and deduct hours from a print job. 
What slicer software are you using? If you are looking into 3D printing in the long term, consider using simplify3D. I have a licence for it if you would like to take a look

benwaterman wrote:What size are the parts you are printing?
The orientation, infill percentage, outline speed, layer height etc etc can all add and deduct hours from a print job. 
What slicer software are you using? If you are looking into 3D printing in the long term, consider using simplify3D. I have a licence for it if you would like to take a look

It's quite big with 4 shells on 6 individual components, 25% infill, layer height 0.2mm using White ABS with 40mm per second extrude speed...

I am using MakerWare which came with the printer which is okay but I suppose a bit basic... I have looked at Simplify3D and it does look more advanced..

Well after much tweaking and making parts to what is really a low spec printer I have made the following products.

The first invention the Shelf Retainers are needed to finish off the kitchen that the manufacturers decided to make the curved end units with adjustable shelves and guess what, the shelves just fall off FFS...
The second invention required for the same job as the customer is not really happy with just adhesive holding up the undermount sink...

Fitted these today... all worked well...

Shelf Retainor Video -


Sink Retainer Photos

Great job Daz

Dave Gannon wrote:Great job Daz

Thanks Dave

I did notice when fitting the Sink Retainors that the quartz installers cut nearly all the overhang from the LH side of the Schock undermount bowl.... they should not have done this FFS!

I have to say Daz, you're on to something here! There's not really anything like this on the UK market, they tend to be 2 or 3 piece systems that can be a little bit fiddly to fit (such as the ones Rohl do) and are usually supports that fit towards the top of the cabinet.

I know of a product in the States called Cinclips which works on a similar principle to yours, but they are VERY expensive (around £80-£90 per set) over here, if you can get them at all.

Michael W wrote:I have to say Daz, you're on to something here! There's not really anything like this on the UK market, they tend to be 2 or 3 piece systems that can be a little bit fiddly to fit (such as the ones Rohl do) and are usually supports that fit towards the top of the cabinet.

I know of a product in the States called Cinclips which works on a similar principle to yours, but they are VERY expensive (around £80-£90 per set) over here, if you can get them at all.

Thanks Michael... Yes, I did find some options like you. Just googled the Cinclip you mentioned as I had not seen those... look a bit ugly and for this customers sink would not have worked on the LH side like mine does  due to the rounded top edge....

With mine these can be pre-mounted to support the sink and adjusted before the worktop is installed for templating etc.... Win Win....

I really like what you've done Daz, might be an idea to get a few more sets made and give them to a worktop company you use to get their impression too.

Michael W wrote:I really like what you've done Daz, might be an idea to get a few more sets made and give them to a worktop company you use to get their impression too.

Thanks Michael, Yes I am showing them it at the moment....

They look great Darrel, good luck with the pitch!

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Kitchen Pete wrote:They look great Darrel, good luck with the pitch!

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Many Thanks Pete...

Hi all,

Just thought I would mention I can now offer to 3D print plastic parts and have designed a few products for our industry a couple of which have been made, fitted and tested by me.

If you need anything making please feel free to get in touch...

You have already seen the Shelf Retainor and the Undermounted Sink Retainor above and I have a few more inventions in the pipeline...

I've had a couple of PTO kitchens this year with curved doors. I've dummied up a solution by changing the piston position in the showroom but it's almost impossible to get a nice opening action on the door without leaving it too proud of the adjacent openings. So it's not very fitter friendly and the weight of the doors can have a marked affect on the efficacy of the unit. I did wonder about creating a curved arm or simple linkage that would activate the piston and throw the door out nicely. 
It will have to be down to you because as my boss/wife has just agreed to me getting a new wood butchering tool for Christmas it's unlikely that i'll get a 3-D printer past her. 
So i'll try and work on a prototype in the New Year and maybe we could go from there.

I feel like a kid , can't wait to find this in my stocking - https://www.ffx.co.uk/tools/product/Festool-Ks120Eb-4014549085394-240V-260Mm-Kapex-Sliding-Compound-Mitre-Saw

Kitchen Pete wrote:I've had a couple of PTO kitchens this year with curved doors. I've dummied up a solution by changing the piston position in the showroom but it's almost impossible to get a nice opening action on the door without leaving it too proud of the adjacent openings. So it's not very fitter friendly and the weight of the doors can have a marked affect on the efficacy of the unit. I did wonder about creating a curved arm or simple linkage that would activate the piston and throw the door out nicely. 
It will have to be down to you because as my boss/wife has just agreed to me getting a new wood butchering tool for Christmas it's unlikely that i'll get a 3-D printer past her. 
So i'll try and work on a prototype in the New Year and maybe we could go from there.

I feel like a kid , can't wait to find this in my stocking - https://www.ffx.co.uk/tools/product/Festool-Ks120Eb-4014549085394-240V-260Mm-Kapex-Sliding-Compound-Mitre-Saw

Interesting, what PTO piston do you use?
Going to be a big stocking by the looks of it...nice...

Blum. Although i used Hafele as well to see if i could get a better action. The main problem is that in a conventional set up the piston will get wiped out when closing because of the approach angle of the edge of the door. I've positioned the piston towards the centre of the curve but it takes a little finessing to get the approach angle right for it to work nicely/at all. I'd like to retrofit what we've done as there's a chance that it will need to be adjusted as the doors bed in. One of the installs has been going for 8 months with no issues but i would like a solution. If anyone else has one it would be nice to hear!

Kitchen Pete wrote:Blum. Although i used Hafele as well to see if i could get a better action. The main problem is that in a conventional set up the piston will get wiped out when closing because of the approach angle of the edge of the door. I've positioned the piston towards the centre of the curve but it takes a little finessing to get the approach angle right for it to work nicely/at all. I'd like to retrofit what we've done as there's a chance that it will need to be adjusted as the doors bed in. One of the installs has been going for 8 months with no issues but i would like a solution. If anyone else has one it would be nice to hear!

Thinking out loud, I think the piston needs to be in an angled holder and a angled bracket on the back of the door could work....