....

Cool.

__________________
When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !
Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.

I a wonder if eRockets is printing this in-house or farming it out to Boyce or Galactic? Not that it matters - I’m simply curious…

I remember seeing a video a couple of years ago where Randy was showing the erockets facility. There was an area where all the machinery was located, including lathes, laser cutters, etc. I remember him mentioning the 3D printer(s) as well. So I think it's being done in house.

__________________
I like the unusual, the off beat, the avant-garde. No 3/4 FNC for me!

I'd like to see a photo, to see how good the detail is, and how fine the lines are. Still, not as much fun as a K-41.

__________________
Paul
If we weren't all crazy, we would go insane - Jimmy Buffett
NAR #87246 www.wooshrocketry.org

The Boyce parts are not smooth enough and way too many "lines" in my opinion. They represent the best that can be done with that type of 3D printing, resulting in average cruddy parts. They soften in the sun too.

The resin SLA printing like what Galactic Manufacturing and (hopefully) eRockets is doing results in far superior parts - smooth and no lines...

__________________
-Wolfram v. Kiparski
NAR 28643 - TRA 15520
MTMA Section #606 President

No question using a resin based 3D printer will give you a smoother and more detailed print. Resin printing requires some additional steps and you should be in a vented room as the smell can be a bit much. It can also be a bit more expensive.

If you don't need as great a detail you can do pretty well using regular filament 3D printer. A little filler and some sanding will get you a nice finish.

If you are creating some internal components (like a payload bay) the filament style printer again will do the job with little hassle.

As far as the plastic getting soft in the heat, it depends on what filament you are using. PLA is the most common and it will definitely go soft on a hot day or if left sitting in a hot car. Using ABS solves that issue, but can be a bit smelly as it is printed. It also usually needs an enclosure around the printer to keep the heat even for a good print. PETG is about as easy to use a PLA but holds up significantly better in the heat.


As with most things, it really depends on what you are looking for.

__________________
Web Site and Blog
https://rocketryjournal.wordpress.com

YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@AustinAerospace

3D Printing Designs
https://www.thingiverse.com/austin_aerospace_education

Software
https://sourceforge.net/u/austinaerospace/profile