3D printing – first projects

I was thinking about getting myself a 3D printer a while ago, but then didn’t after I read about all the problems and also the fact I don’t how to make 3D-designs. A few weeks ago I had the same idea again, in combination with a cooperation with my search mate, who is also into making things and he already worked with 3D-designs before. So I ordered the Creality Ender 3 v2 with some extra upgrades (Unicorn tube an springs) to arrive at his house and he got 2 weeks to put it together and to fiddle with it. I didn’t want to start it because I was afraid I would throw the thing out of the window with my lack of patience. Two weeks later, he brought the printer here while he had to study for his course. It took me 2 days to get the PETG to stick properly in all directions and also to design and test my first cable guide for the coil cable with a 45-degree angle. There are several of thosewith a straight guide that you can download from internet, or buy from Ebay etc.. but the cable usually doesn’t run in a straight line alone your shaft. Took me two tutorial videos on Tinkercad and there you go, my first design ! It needed lots of corrections but I’m almost there. I figured it can be used for cables going in both directions around the shaft. If it doesn’t fit, just turn it aroundf.. Boy, did that NOT work lol.
I also downloaded the Minelab Equinox coil support because it’s just a horrible 19th Century design, not ergonomic and the coil ears tend to break easily. This support divides any pressure over the coil itself so it’s not just pushing on the two ears.

My first 2 attempts weren’t very great because the print let go of the bed after a few layers, but I fixed it this morning and printed the whole thing in one go 😀 So second thing I had to solve was to get rid of the supports. The hole in the ears was almost solid print and PETG is quite hard, so i drilled them out, but I am now trying a new print without any support in the holes. If that fails, I will have printed 1.5hr for nothing lol.