Encasing parts in 3D Prints

[Oliveros 11]

Well, I had an idea the other day as I was faced with a missing magnet for a safety reed switch on a piece of equipment and came up with the idea that I could probably 3D print one, pause the print, set the magnet inside the part and let it finish the print and encase the part inside.

 

I did and it worked and I then found it was a common thing you could do and I hadn't just made a great discovery. Lol

 

Here's the result

 

 

Top view where you can see the magnet inside.

 

The next day I then had the idea that maybe I could encase a reed switch in a 3D print and make a part myself instead of paying $150.00 a piece.

 

Sure could, here's the results.

 

Reed switch is placed very close to the front, you can't see it though, it's about 3 or 4 layers in to keep it from getting wet.

 

Back side where the wires come out, I ended up making a template of the wiring channels I made in the piece so I could prefab the wiring before the print was ready so it wouldn't be stopped for too long.

 

Lastly, a top view

 

I figured I epoxy the opening where the wires come through and that should pretty make it ready to install.

 

Turns out Cura actually has a "Pause print at height" feature, either at a MM level or layer height, who would've thought?

 

Edited November 19, 2019 by Oliveros

[Oliveros 11]

Just realized I put this in the materials section, could a moderator move this to Engineering.

[geert_2 557]

Thanks for showing the idea. I have seen this concept for embedding nuts, but I hadn't seen it for other stuff like reed relays, sensors and magnets.

 

[Oliveros 11]

Yeah, that seems to be a common thing to do, which is great.

 

I really think there'a  lot that can be done with 3D printing, just gotta figure it all out.

[Ishy 8]

Where is the Pause at height feature?

[Oliveros 11]

It's up in the top left corner, whichever tab opens up "Modify G-Code" or something like that, then it opens up options for it. 

[Ishy 8]

Thank's, Not even looked there before.

 

[Oliveros 11]

Me neither, I just googled it and found out about it after I manually did it.