3D Printing Woodworking Jigs and Gauges for Beginners!

[@glencrandall7051]

Thank you for sharing Mike. I think about 3D printing from time to time but have no really good project in mind. And I have plenty of real projects on my plate right now. Maybe some day I will get around to 3D printing. Meanwhile it's interesting hearing about what they can do. Take care and have a great new year.🙂🙂

[@LouTrasser]

Hi Mike, I especially enjoy watching your lathe videos, because they are more geared towards a hobbyist, like myself, although I enjoy watching Tomas, and Richard too. I won't call myself a beginner, because I did turn a chess set 30 years ago, but need to practice again now that I am retired. This video disappoints me, because last year, sometime, I took your idea of making a gauge out of scrap wood to check a turning's diameter for a chuck, and it works easily and perfectly. I hope that 3D printing for hobbyists is only a fad, and we (hobbyists) continue to use our creativity and "scrap" wood to make necessary accessories, because we all know every woodworker has plenty of "scrap" wood. I put scrap in quotes because of how expensive wood is, and I love to repurpose and use "scrap" wood as much as possible. Thank you.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

It’s nice to have options, and scrap wood has it’s place! Now make a set of jaws from scrap wood like the ones I showed. Umm. Not so easy. 3D printing is not something I am really getting into. I gave my son back his printer. It is another tool. If it works for you use it. If not...

[@davidchester5784]

I designed and printed some vacuum chucks last month that have been working great! Super useful in the woodshop.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

That's awesome! It sounds like you're getting some great use out of 3D printing.

[@balahmay]

Yes I have made some vacuum chucks also. So then I decided why not try making some of the other vacuum chucking components. I made the rotary vacuum adapter and the socket where it plugs in on the left side of the spindle. (used good sks bearings, o-rings, and silicone grease). Also printed a six way manifold for the hoses, gauge, and two valves. Complete setup, no machining. Using it every day just about.

[@Brian-rv2rv]

Good intro to 3D printing, Mike. I got a Creality Ender-3 S3 SE for Christmas. Basically latest cheap beginners machine like the one you showed. Really good, because it auto levels! My son and I have printed stuff, but until I saw your video I had not considered it for my woodturning. I'll correct that straight away. (I also have some interesting failures, mostly because faulty orientation has left strings in the mechanism that I didn't clean up properly) I am going to plunge into the weird world of CAD this year, I hope. Cheers from Melbourne Australia.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

It sounds like you're off to a great start with your new printer!

[@deyyoung42]

My local library has a tech center with several 3D printers and a Glowforge laser cutter. They offer some basic training and it is a great way to make one off parts and jigs.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Libraries are a great resource, and it sounds like yours has some fantastic equipment!

[@randysmith9715]

I asked this question at our local library, "This will be an odd question, but do you have 3D printers available?" She told me, "Not odd at all, we are investigating this subject."

[@haroldsworld]

Interesting as usual. I have the one you show, I bought a few years ago because my grandson was interested in them. We built it together, figured out how to use it and that to me was worth the $300 I paid for it. However, the problem with the one you have is it does take a lot of work to get it to print. Bed leveling sucks and the frustration will stop you from using it because it is an every time you use it event. It was soon collecting dust. One tip I got from a geek was to use Windex with Ammonia, they don’t all have ammonia anymore, to clean the bed before printing. The is also a better plate than the one you use, worth the upgrade for $25. My brother is the real geek and while at his house he had a Ender 3V3. The next entry model. It is a little more than one I bought, but I can use it. What I liked about it was you really just print the files you have sliced into G code. No bed leveling, its like having a belt lathe vice a variable speed. I just run a extrude run to clean out he nozzle, wipe the bed and print. The only issues I have had is setting up the part in Creality so that you get minimal overhang. But that is true with any 3D printer. Thanks for the file tips, already downloaded them.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

It sounds like you've had some great experiences with 3D printing. You are right, bed leveling sux.

[@LewisKauffman]

Thank you, Mike!

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

You're welcome, Lewis!

[@oldgeezer1746]

My son-in-law also has a 3D printer. Better than owning one, I send him files to print, and they show up in the mail. Humor aside, our public library has a 3D printer that you can schedule time on AND there is an assistant there that is well versed on how to run the machine. This is a great place to start as you can familiarize yourself with the complexity.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

That's a great tip! Libraries offer so many resources!

[@nordy67]

I use 3d printing all the time in my woodturning. I've used the infill patterns to create interesting epoxy resin blanks for pen turning. The best use has been for threaded inserts for urns and boxes. I've also experimented with creating a threaded reverse chucking accessory. On Thingiverse there are some great plans to store micromesh pads and pen bushings. If I ever cast something in epoxy I print the container and simply turn it away.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Great suggestions for projects! Thanks for sharing.

[@jeffpeters6561]

I want a 3d printer. I can see it being really useful. I have a buddy who just got one and he's printing some jaws and pen blank off for me.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

It's amazing what you can make with a 3D printer.

[@knothead5]

Looked at it but my grandson does some.

[@douglasmccoy4236]

Mike, Where did you download the model for the lathe jaws? Thanks for sharing your thoughts on 3D printing for woodturning.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

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