Native 5 LW scales (WIP)

[Josh Crutchley]

I've been working on these for a little while and thought I would share. Of course they haven't tested but I'm 90% confident they'll work. They don't have texture or cutouts for weight savings. Hopefully someone wants to give them a try and let me know how it goes. Any constructive feedback would be appreciated.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5373585

[billdoier72]

Those look great. I'd love to give them a try.

[Josh Crutchley]

Those look great. I'd love to give them a try.

Thanks! Forgot to mention threaded inserts are needed.

[Josh Crutchley]

Newest revision. I placed an order with Xometry to be able to test them.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5373585

[Ramonade]

Newest revision. I placed an order with Xometry to be able to test them.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5373585

I think Xometry is a european brand, isn't it ? Could I bother you to ask the reference for the threaded inserts ?
I could potentially test your scales (once my brother finally is able to use the 3D printers (filament and resin), and try something with wood and a lot of hand work !

[Josh Crutchley]

Newest revision. I placed an order with Xometry to be able to test them.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5373585

I think Xometry is a european brand, isn't it ? Could I bother you to ask the reference for the threaded inserts ?
I could potentially test your scales (once my brother finally is able to use the 3D printers (filament and resin), and try something with wood and a lot of hand work !

Not sure, they may be based in Europe but they have facilities in the US. I chose the free shipping option and that put the delivery date 2 weeks from today. I think they have 2 other options, 7 and 2 days, for faster turn around but this isn't a rush job.

I made the holes 3.2mm so it will work with M2 or 2-56 inserts. You may need to shorten some of them for the clip screws if they're too long.
https://www.mcmaster.com/browse-fastene ... plastic-7/

[Josh Crutchley]

Just got the first test scales in and have it assembled. The lockbar pivot needs moved slightly because the back end sticks out of the scale. Also the hole for the pivot was too small but that was easily fixed. Next revision should be good to go.

[Josh Crutchley]

Almost fits perfect with the OG scales. I think the process used to print this set, SLS, leaves a rough texture that affects final dimensions. There's some small changes I'm going to do but I'm hesitant to alter more until I try another process. The OG scales have a slight draft angle for the injection molding that I might add. I want to try printing molds and casting scales out of resin.

[apollo]

Those Scales look nice how are there weight and feel?

[Josh Crutchley]

Those Scales look nice how are there weight and feel?

Thanks, I don't have the threaded inserts in yet so it's hard to tell. I think they should be similar in weight once fully assembled. The next version will be a little thicker and possibly have texture.

I want to use washers but the N5LWs pivot bushing is too thick. On the PM2 or Manix 2 the bushing is very close to the width of the blade. The bushing is unique to the N5LW as far as I know. It uses a hex on one side, instead of the typical d-shape, to prevent it from spinning. Pivots from other knives will work to solve the width issue but you lose the hex.

[JRinFL]

I’m excited to try these once you have the final version posted. I’ll try ASA filament if it works with my printer.

[Gtscotty]

That's neat, why did you send off to have the scales made? I thought you had a printer, are the ones you ordered milled? I might try printing these tonight to see how they look.

I need to go ahead and get a hardened nozzle so I can print interesting stuff like this in something cool like CF Polycarb. Thanks for posting up the STL for other folks to try!

[Josh Crutchley]

That's neat, why did you send off to have the scales made? I thought you had a printer, are the ones you ordered milled? I might try printing these tonight to see how they look.

I need to go ahead and get a hardened nozzle so I can print interesting stuff like this in something cool like CF Polycarb. Thanks for posting up the STL for other folks to try!

I have a Photon Zero resin printer which might be big enough but didn't try. The resin I have, cheap Anycubic, is too brittle for a LW. I also have access to an Ender 3 but it always has issues. FDM would work but your left with something that looks 3d printed. I was hoping SLS would give a better look but it's somewhere between FDM and SLA. The Nylon 12 is awesome but the SLS gives it a rough texture.

[Sharp Guy]

I also have access to an Ender 3 but it always has issues. FDM would work but your left with something that looks 3d printed.

The person with the Ender doesn't have something right. My one Ender has made literally thousands of parts one at a time over the past few years. My other Ender doesn't run as much but it's reliable too. I have ABL on both and I rarely even level the bed. I have it dialed in to the where the parts I sell look great for FDM. Also, Hatchbox has matte PLA that hides the layer lines pretty well. Yeah it's still not SLA but I've get some nice compliments on my work and I don't want to mess with a resin printer. Maybe someday

Nice job on the scales! I'll bookmark your file and make a set at some point. I have a lot of different filament colors including some neon green PLA+ that might be kind of cool to use for scales

By the way I have some CF/Nylon and a all-metal hotend that I need to install on one of my machines. I also have a plan to make a simple enclosure. I just haven't had enough time to do it yet. Need to get to that soon

[Matus]

A very cool project. I have a naive question - since this design is done from scratch - why not make the handle a little more ergonomic with some 3D contouring? I mean with a 3D print the sky is the limit.

[Josh Crutchley]

A very cool project. I have a naive question - since this design is done from scratch - why not make the handle a little more ergonomic with some 3D contouring? I mean with a 3D print the sky is the limit.

Thanks, I'm still working on it. I'm self taught and the contouring is the biggest challenge for me.

[Matus]

You are doing an awesome job. IMO this is the future of custom scales. The 3D printing is getting cheaper, selection of materials grows, so does the product quality. I am following this thread with a lot of interest. Keep at it

[curlyhairedboy]

A very cool project. I have a naive question - since this design is done from scratch - why not make the handle a little more ergonomic with some 3D contouring? I mean with a 3D print the sky is the limit.

Thanks, I'm still working on it. I'm self taught and the contouring is the biggest challenge for me.

what modeling software are you using?

[Josh Crutchley]

A very cool project. I have a naive question - since this design is done from scratch - why not make the handle a little more ergonomic with some 3D contouring? I mean with a 3D print the sky is the limit.

Thanks, I'm still working on it. I'm self taught and the contouring is the biggest challenge for me.

what modeling software are you using?

Fusion 360. This and the Manix lw are the most complicated models I've done. I can do simple contouring like the Mule team scales using the Sweep function. The flat scales are pretty easy, just trace the outline and extrude.

[curlyhairedboy]

A very cool project. I have a naive question - since this design is done from scratch - why not make the handle a little more ergonomic with some 3D contouring? I mean with a 3D print the sky is the limit.

Thanks, I'm still working on it. I'm self taught and the contouring is the biggest challenge for me.

what modeling software are you using?

Fusion 360. This and the Manix lw are the most complicated models I've done. I can do simple contouring like the Mule team scales using the Sweep function. The flat scales are pretty easy, just trace the outline and extrude.

I believe there's a way in Fusion 360 to adjust the sweep path along multiple axes to yield a varying sweep thickness.