MatterHackers’ Might 2019 Hacker of the Month based mostly this new, open supply, 3D printed, jet-powered racer on the OpenRC platform.
Our Might 2019 Hacker of the Month, Cesar Joshua Camacho, who goes by Josh, hails from Brooklyn, New York and at present works as a School Lab Technician at New York Metropolis School of Expertise, the place he additionally earned his bachelors in mechanical engineering. He’s at present concerned in instructing machining 101, two CAD design lessons and a senior design class. Throughout his second yr at school, Josh had the chance to work on a damaged 3D printer his professor made him conscious of. After he was proven 3D prints that have been accomplished on the printer earlier than it was damaged, he knew he needed to make the repairs to get it up and operating once more.
Josh spent the subsequent few weeks studying in regards to the mechanics of 3D printers, and with slightly time and endurance, he was capable of get the machine up and operating once more. After repairing the printer, he was head over heels in love with 3D printing and went out and bought an XYZ Davinci 1.0a for his private use. Whereas he’s acquainted and cozy with the mechanics of 3D printers, his obsession with having the ability to create issues out of skinny air (as he states, ‘like Inexperienced Lantern!’)  which has pushed his ardour ahead over the previous few years.
The CMDAM (Heart of Medical Gadgets & Additive Manufacturing) at Metropolis Tech is presented with a big assortment of 3D printers that Josh has entry to, together with; three Stratasys Uprint Pluses, a Dice Professional, a Markforged Duo, a Lulzbot TAZ 6, a Lulzbot Mini, a Formlabs Type 2, two Sparkmakers, two MicroMake l2’s, two Monoprice Choose Minis, a Flashforge Creator Professional, and a Creality CR-10S5. As well as, he additionally has the next fashions at residence: a Creality CR-10, a Prusa MK2.5s, a Monoprice Mini Delta, and a MicroMake l2.
Lots of the 3D printers within the Metropolis Tech CMDAM lab are tasked with 3D printing prosthetics and orthotic gadgets. Many of those gadgets require superior supplies together with carbon-fiber infused NylonX, metal-infused supplies like tungsten ABS, aluminum, bronze and different supplies from Digital Foundry, in addition to flexibles like TPU/TPE. One of many many triumphs of the lab was designing and printing ‘stress cushions’ from versatile supplies that changed the steel springs in lots of the prosthetics. They discovered these 3D printed stress cushions labored higher than their metal counterparts, lasted longer, and didn’t require upkeep as soon as put in.
For the 3D printers that Josh makes use of that don’t have proprietary slicers, he primarily makes use of Cura and slic3r, however his favourite is Simplify3D due to the choice of customization choices out there. He additionally advantages from utilizing MatterControl as nicely so he can slice elements for print time estimations, which helps him plan materials consumption and printer utilization schedules.
All of this expertise and data lead Josh to design and print his wonderful jet-powered RC automobile, referred to as the Slingshot, based mostly on the OpenRC mannequin by Daniel Norée. He initially needed to make an excessive hobby-grade RC automobile that wasn’t in the marketplace and would cease individuals of their tracks. However most significantly, he needed to create a enjoyable venture after his inspiration was piqued by the expertise he had 3D printing and constructing the OpenRC F1 mannequin.
The steering mechanisms and the body are based mostly on the OpenRC mannequin, and the jet-powered turbine is designed completely by Josh. The thrust generated by the turbine provides the automobile the ability it must propel ahead on the modified wheels. Whereas testing the iterations of the automobile, Josh was initially inside however was requested to proceed his experiments outdoors to chop down on the turbine noise within the workplace.
Josh additionally prints fee and volunteer elements for a mess of companies, associates, and household. Every little thing from gears 3D printed in Taulman Nylon for personal firms, to prototypes and collectible figurines, alternative automobile elements (primarily for his father), college students at Metropolis Tech, in addition to toys and presents for the youthful members of the family in his life.
Josh is at all times prepared to be taught extra about 3D printing – he is a big fan of the RepRap motion and loves the camaraderie of the 3D printing group. Anytime he can watch a video tutorial in his free time, it helps to raise his understanding not solely of 3D printing, but additionally ideas like materials sciences, vibrational evaluation, and thermodynamics. His love for his pastime has really elevated his understanding and appreciation of his profession, and his skill to assist others be taught extra a few multitude of areas in engineering and manufacturing.
Transferring ahead, Josh hopes to see what all of us want for; decrease prices in machines and supplies to open the floodgates of 3D printing for everybody. Whereas prices have come down significantly within the final 5 years, with so many extra firms creating new machines and supplies, he hopes to see extra entry for each person. One in every of his most important wishes is to see the invention of the 3D printed burger within the restaurant trade!
What’s subsequent on the horizon for Josh? Along with the entire different pursuits he has, he’s additionally a fan of, and has a background in, aeronautics. He desires to create one other OpenRC prototype, this time referred to as the F22 – an open-source, RC airplane that anybody can 3D print and modify nonetheless they please. Following in Daniel Norée’s design, he might be designing them to be support-free, and they are going to be out there on MatterHackers’ web site in addition to others sooner or later as soon as it’s accomplished.
We are able to’t wait to see the OpenRC F22 venture come to fruition, and we might be internet hosting the OpenJetRC automobile on our website as quickly as it’s out there, along with the F22 designs!
Are you or somebody you understand doing one thing superior with 3D printing? Inform us about your venture or 3D printed creation, and you would be featured in our subsequent publication! E mail chris.morgan@matterhackers.com along with your story thought!
