A place to share screenshots of Microblog posts, whether from Mastodon, tumblr, ~~Twitter~~ X, KBin, Threads or elsewhere.
Created as an evolution of White People Twitter and other tweet-capture subreddits.
Rules:
Related communities:
Could someone point me in the right direction to get started on projects like this? Specifically I have an old Emerson CRT that the volume/power knob is missing on and it's impossible to find an OEM replacement. I've been dreaming about getting into 3D printing to print my own, but I don't know where to even begin considering I would need the exact dimensions of the D shaft and then to model something. Appreciate any help, thank you in advance <3
The first time I took on modelling a replacement part, I took as many measurements with a caliper as I could, fired up Fusion 360 and just went for it with no prior experience. It is actually really intuitive and all you need to do is visualize how simple shapes like circles and squares can be used to construct the object. Basically, don't be scared of starting out and try to break down the object into simple and approachable parts.
My first object was a kind of transmission cog, so a very cylindrical object, much like yours. All you really should need is the diameters of different "circles" comprising the model and the cylinder heights.
Get yourself some cheap calipers, radius measure, etc from Amazon. You don't need to spend a million dollars for some basic instruments. This will help you measure things you find in the real world.
For CAD, if you want a really easy on-ramp, try using "Tinkercad". They have a free option for users and there are lots of people who have made really usable replacement parts for things. If you end up really liking it, there are more powerful and complex CAD programs out there, but this will get you a friendly start without spending a lot of money.
If you have problems on the printer end, you can export your Tinkercad projects and send them to "Shapeways" (or other vendors) who will take your CAD file and return a 3D print in the mail. You can also buy your own 3D printer if you wish.
That should get you started, and if you pull all 3 of these threads, you will be able to start reproducing things around your house. Have fun!
Or do the lazy thing, and just keep borrowing other knobs.
if everyone is confessing: Back in my first year in Uni, I and buddy stole a cpu and monitor from storage, not from computer lab, just from storage which was scheduled to get replaced. It was a HP business desktop set from 2009. Fairly spec'd
Buddy wanted a second monitor and I wanted to host some fun sfw websites on lan. Some years later, it now works as my home server with some cheap upgrades.
Oh I also nicked stuff from e-waste dumps: psu's, routers, switchs, electronic trinkets from the labs(I asked lab attendants and they said they don't care)
My uni didn't allow us to use the labs in our free time, and I learned a lot!
I though you needed consent to put sometimes knob in you pocket ...
There was this one time when I needed to replace a specific part of a dog bike trailer. I contacted the company: the creator of the trailer, who happened to live in my neighbourhood came to my place to give me a piece from the prototype he still had in his workshop. Shop local!
Or you just do the most practical thing and order a $2 replacement from Amazon/Aliexpress
How much time it takes for a regular cad user to draw such a knob?
Like 5 minutes.
It is basically 2 rings and a plate with some text on.
Always fun drawing them up in Tinkercad.