Steigede Posted July 11, 2020 Share Posted July 11, 2020 With this whole global pandemic keeping me at home more I decided to dive back into the hobby I used to love working on over a decade ago. I like to make small devices that would not cause catastrophic damage if there was a mishap. I needed small stars but cutting them and getting consistent results was giving me some trouble. I decided to 3D design and print a small star plate. I also made a mini star cannon. I printed everything in PLA plastic. I know the general consensus is that plastic is no good but I think the way that stuff is 3D printed, layer by layer, would cause any explosion to just split the printed layers and not throw shards of plastic everywhere. I tested this theory with a small 3D printed canister shell and it just popped the bottom off when it exploded in the sky. I could have probably even re-used it. Let me know if anyone wants the files. I still need to get some test videos of the stars burning. Filled with green star composition. Used a putty knife to squish the damp composition in the holes. Small stars pressed out. A little meal powder prime. Also helps to stop them from sticking together. Turned the plate sideways and tapped it with the putty knife to break them off of the plate. A few more batches. I suspect this plate would be great for dragon eggs too. I'll have to make another batch of that and try it out. The mini star cannon that shoots a single star produced from my star plate. About 3 inches high. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spectra1 Posted July 11, 2020 Share Posted July 11, 2020 That's a fun little project. I would love to have a go at it if you would be willing to share the files. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steigede Posted July 11, 2020 Author Share Posted July 11, 2020 Sure! https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4539282 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spectra1 Posted July 11, 2020 Share Posted July 11, 2020 Thanks. I'll make one today Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steigede Posted July 11, 2020 Author Share Posted July 11, 2020 Thanks. I'll make one todayOh shoot, I uploaded the wrong one. New one should be up there now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dylman Posted July 11, 2020 Share Posted July 11, 2020 Steigede, That's very impressive & innovative of you. The more I read about different Pyrotechnic projects, I see people using their printers for various aspects of what they're doing. I think it's great that you guys are possibly engineering new ways to come up with the same outcome that other tooling has produced in the past. Did you use this star plate with a hydraulic press of some type. I'm wondering how these printed plastics hold up under high pressures. I'm guessing they can withstand it. I know of people using printed parts in machined applications too. How'd your star gun work? Was it able to hold up through firing of stars or did you start to notice degradation? Thanks for your designs, now if I only had a 3D printer. They truly are amazing. I'd be interested to see how they withstand the tests of time before you notice them breaking down. Dyl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steigede Posted July 11, 2020 Author Share Posted July 11, 2020 (edited) Steigede, That's very impressive & innovative of you. The more I read about different Pyrotechnic projects, I see people using their printers for various aspects of what they're doing. I think it's great that you guys are possibly engineering new ways to come up with the same outcome that other tooling has produced in the past. Did you use this star plate with a hydraulic press of some type. I'm wondering how these printed plastics hold up under high pressures. I'm guessing they can withstand it. I know of people using printed parts in machined applications too. How'd your star gun work? Was it able to hold up through firing of stars or did you start to notice degradation? Thanks for your designs, now if I only had a 3D printer. They truly are amazing. I'd be interested to see how they withstand the tests of time before you notice them breaking down. DylI initially made the star gun walls very thin and noticed that even just the brief heat from lift was causing the tubes to deform when I picked them up. They were a bit malleable. I print at about 235C so you can see why that would deform it. I increased the wall diameter by a few mm and that problem was solved. I did not use a press to make the stars. Just binded them with some dextrin and they're hard little pebbles. The star gun worked great and launched the stars nicely but I need to work on my prime. The wouldn't fully ignite until they were halfway back down to the ground and then they would finish burning in the grass. Edited July 11, 2020 by Steigede Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steigede Posted July 11, 2020 Author Share Posted July 11, 2020 Here's a video of it firing off. My girlfriend was a bit distracted and didn't follow the star. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carpyt Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 Thank you my dear sir! I have like 3 printers and your files are now going! I printer end caps used in small aerial shells and have had awesome luck with 2-3mm thick plugs. I also printed a star sorter as well and a few rammers to make clay plugs. Next up is a girandola! Awesome work man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steigede Posted July 13, 2020 Author Share Posted July 13, 2020 Thank you my dear sir! I have like 3 printers and your files are now going! I printer end caps used in small aerial shells and have had awesome luck with 2-3mm thick plugs. I also printed a star sorter as well and a few rammers to make clay plugs. Next up is a girandola! Awesome work man.Very cool! Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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