Desktop Injection Molding???

[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

Anyone seen this before?

Saltgator | Desktop SoftGel Injection

It looks interesting and promising - but, not sure if it's mostly Hype, and limited it might be. Am curious if anyone already saw this before - and did a major digging into the website to learn about it - and/or are considering buying the unit!?

-K

[david merten]

I have been following saltgator since they first started posting. I am going to get one. It looks really interesting. I do not have a specific use, I just want to play with it.

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[Kurt]

Hey David,

Very Interesting. Thanks for the feedback. Does that unit basically heat up plastic, and allow you to squirt it into Molds? Or, is it only some kind a special gel that you heat & squirt it?

I'm interested in potentially doing my own Injection Molding of some prototypes. Since you are looking to get one of the units - I will now indeed look into it a bit more to see what it actually does. 

-K

[david merten]

Right now they have their own custom formula of liquid pvc with dinch additive.  So it's fairly safe and low temp ( lower than pla melt ) the material is reusable if you make a mistake. They are working on other materials,  and I believe plastisol (sp?) type materials will also work.

It will be a neat addition to 3d printing capabilities. 

Kickstarter started today. And I am not affiliated with them in any way.  

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/3d-printing-tips--tricks/ef1182dc-bfc1-4541-a90c-b317308e6eden%40googlegroups.com.

[Kurt]

I'm bummed I missed the start of the KickStarter. Sadly - I went to the webpage on their website that offered $5 reservation - but, when I went to try doing it - it came up with a broken link. Then, when I went back to main webpage - BOOM - I saw the Kickstarte was Live. 

I find it ODD in the KS campaign - it shows $137K of $15K goal - but, I can't seem to find how the funding matches the funding level - and how many units have already been backed. Seems strange. 

I DO Plan to back it tonight!

-K

[3D Printing Tips and Tricks]

Why would you want this? Are you into fishing???

[Kurt]

No - I do not do fishing.

I have a prototype design, for which I would soon like to get test units in people's hands to try out. I'd like to print in TPU. But, if I made a mold - I could make limited run copies in a flexible material using this injection molding system. It would not be for Full production - but, more like a limited production run. And, this unit would be great for that use case.

-K

[3D Printing Tips and Tricks]

This is not for TPU. It is for GEL. WAY softer. Gooier. It's optimal use case is making fishing lures. Read the entire KS page.

[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

Andy,

You bring up a good point - as the KS info and their Website info is Confusing!

ON the KS campaign it shows:
​Wide Heating Range
176°F-410°F  (80°C-210°C),
compatible with various injection materials

Claiming:
Soft, Hard, Hybrid - You Choose​
Soft-touch parts, flexible components, or mix textures – One for all.

Also mention of:
3D Printing Materials - PLA, ABS, PETG, PC, PEEK/PEI, ASA

So - with all that mentioned in the KS - how can you say ONLY GOO material?

Gotta say - what they wrote makes no sense - 210C tops - yet claiming PEEK - which is more like 400C required!

I'm Stumped!

Your Turn!

-Kurt

[markni...@gmail.com]

Kurt,

Take a look at a real injection molder: https://www.xometry.com/resources/injection-molding/injection-mold-components/

What they're calling the screw is actually a ram, usually actuated by either a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, due to the amount of pressure needed to extrude the molten plastic.

Then there is the clamping pressure needed to hold the halves of the mold closed, so the the cavity is fully filled, and no injection pressure is wasted by leaks.

What these guys are showing looks a cross between the device my kids used to use to mix their chocolate milk, and  Ron Popeil's vegamatic.

Andy is correct, in that you can mix plastisol with dyes, pour them into aluminum molds, and cure them in your oven, to make fishing lures.

Xometry is a website where by you can post your 3d models for bids to be done on real machinery.

You will be much happier with the result, and the price is not horrible.

[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

I am a bit familiar with Xometry - I believe that Essentium used them for some jobs. They do 3D Printing, I guess they also do IM, and they do other project like CNC, metal bending and cutting - kinda a bit of everything. 

I get your point - this Device in this posting is truly NOT Really suitable for IM. I Do Indeed find it odd they claim something about PEEK on the site/KS - yet also claim max temp of around 210C. 

So, for now - will hold off on this KS campaign...

-K

[david merten]

I have followed this project from the beginning.  I do not fish, but I see interesting use cases for this product. One such idea is skin for robots. It's a simple basic unit, so your not going to do high pressure injection,  but for small simple 3d printed molds it sounds like it will work great. 

All the different materials listed on the website are what you can make molds out of, not run through the machine.

They also show some interesting pictures of rc tires that have been over molded onto 3d printed hubs. 

I will post more when I get my unit in September ( I hope)

             David

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[James Fackert]

Overmolding to seal connectors after wiring too.

Loctite has an interesting bunch of low temp molding materials for this...

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/3d-printing-tips--tricks/CAPZzpqsL1xhgEVTU7Xt1%2ByzGatFHzZ5UEqFtV5kZVmwZVrF%2BPg%40mail.gmail.com.

[Kurt]

Hey David - thank you SO MUCH for your follow-up. I was actually going to ping you on here and prod you for a little follow-up. 

So, thanks also for confirming those materials are in regards to Molds - NOT materials going into the Injection unit. 

Now, again - looking at the website & campaign - I see it can go from a very soft squishy material to a firm type material. So, a durometer between that of 20A like remote buttons - and 40A like harder rubber tires - pretty much would work for me. Although I mentioned my project would be good done in TPU - that's only a guess at a 3DP material similar to what I would have really liked for my project. I'd really prefer something more like a flexible styrofoam rubber type material. So, this IM unit may indeed be able to produce what I need. 

-K

[Kurt]

That's interesting James - as I know Loctite supplied resins for EnvisinTec printers.

-K

[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

Yippee -- it's DONE - I BACKED The Campaign!!!!!!

I'm sure THIS one will work out Better than the "OLO" - later renamed "ONO" - which, "Oh No"  - it NEVER Delivered!!!

Yeah - I know this one will. 

I'm sure Sophie and David will enjoy reading this reply!

-K

[david merten]

Great, I will have someone to collaborate with if I have problems. I also ordered 5 extra bottles of plastic so I can cover all 3 of their different shore values. 

 

         David

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/3d-printing-tips--tricks/8ec8a967-a247-4198-95fe-bec592b5ef94n%40googlegroups.com.

[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

I did add TWO extra bottles. But, yes - I WILL indeed help Collab to test this unit out!

-K
P.S. - it did NOT confirm my address when I Backed the project - as I MUST Change my Shipping Address!!! Ugh...

[david merten]

It's been a couple years since I have done a kickstarter, but I am pretty sure there will be a questioner at the end of the campaign that will verify our shipping address and allow us to pick which materials we we want in our order.

         David 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/3d-printing-tips--tricks/2fcc8f3f-58a5-4e93-9d27-594e98c40dadn%40googlegroups.com.

[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

Cool - I hope so! But, of course - I could check the Shipping address in my Account - but, alas - it's Late for me here now - I MUST Crash...

L8r,

-K

[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

GREAT News - They hit 1K Backers - and now there are TWO Additional Stretch Goals that will be Granted! Yeah - more polymer for creating stuff - that is VERY COOL! But, Yeah - no interest in a Stupid Gummy Bear Mold...

But - the chance to get a New 3DP via a Raffle - COOLIO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Come on folks - I just KNOW there are other folks in this forum who would have a Helluva lotta FUN with this Device!

-K

[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

OOps - Forgot the pic...

[david merten]

If they make it to the 3d printer giveaway, I hope you win 1! I have plenty right now, though I wouldn't mind a bamboo...

The "gummy bear" mold is set up to take a magnet, so it is making a "gummy" fridge magnet.  Great for kids, and a good mold sample for people wanting to embed magnets in soft things.

                David

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/3d-printing-tips--tricks/c0d27944-3cd7-4c9c-9f55-b6622a423616n%40googlegroups.com.

[Dan Flemming]

Buster Beagle 3D

He has a few different injection molding kits.

The latest is fully automated.

I thought about trying the M3 injection molding kit.

They are extremely expensive too.

Imagine 50 models in the time it takes to print 5.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/3d-printing-tips--tricks/CAPZzpqtejdXgs0kSggeaVmvMr1eiZZuzmf%2BVc0ob2e_DgfQF9w%40mail.gmail.com.

[markni...@gmail.com]

Yes, Buster Beagle has kits that have all of the qualities of a real injection molding machine, and not a pastry squeezer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzYe9b0Iuzc

[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

I don't think they made it to the level of a 3D Printer give away. 

But, they did make their Target goal. I got an email late Thur. night about the Survey request - to give them my shipping address - which I just filled out. 

I'm stoked about this unit - and can't WAIT to get my hands on it!!! Right now - I have not One but TWO Projects for which I plan to use this IM device - and start producing prototypes to sell to people - although, initial prototypes I will probably just give to people for testing - as Beta Testing units!!!

-K