PLA / PVA Spring Motor Demonstrator

cults3d

From time to time, revisiting older designs is necessary due to various reasons. This project, the PLA/PVA Spring Motor Demonstrator, is a revisit and redesign of my original PLA Spring Motor Demonstrator located at http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:402412. Yes, the redesigned version is smaller in size and printed in just one color, but what's most significant is that it was printed in place and fully assembled using PLA for the structure and water-soluble PVA for supports. Once printing is complete, simply tossing it into a water bath for a few hours makes it ready to run, with no assembly required. Although I had previously heard of dual-extrusion printers, PVA was a new concept to me until I saw the release of the Ultimaker 3 (my life in 3D printing has been relatively sheltered). After engaging in discussions with my wife and with Christmas on the horizon, I received an Ultimaker 3 Extended that included PVA filament. I have always disliked PLA supports as they often leave a rough surface at the point of contact with the component being printed. However, Cura slicer and Ultimaker have resolved this issue using PVA supports; the surfaces where these supports are used are remarkably smooth, leaving no visual sign that support was needed. The first photograph shows from left to right: the original PLA Spring Motor Demonstrator, the redesigned PLA/PVA Spring Motor Demonstrator encased in PVA, and the PLA/PVA Spring Motor Demonstrator after its water bath. To see a video of the prototype, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6w0yKowwVEk. For a video of the prototype in the water bath, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeWeDsPPoC8. Note that I am using a printed circuit board etching tank with a bubbler and heater to expedite the PVA dissolve. This project was designed using Fusion 360, sliced using Cura, and printed in PLA/PVA on an Ultimaker 3 Extended.