Grout Trowel: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 15:17, 8 December 2015

Grout Trowel

Project developed by Eric Hecht

Template:Statusboxtop Template:Status-design Template:Status-prototype Template:Status-Model Template:Boxbottom

Abstract

   When spreading grout for tiling in areas like the kitchen or bathroom a normal tool may prove to be to large and unwieldy. My landlord asked for a cheap 3D printable tool that could fufill three tasks. The first main taks and what this tool is made for is spreading grout for tiling. However there are two other functions that you can use this for: smoothing concrete, and spackling. Those secondary applications won't work as well as a dedicated tool but this tool can still perform them. And as a bonus function you can table sandpaper to the bottom of this and use it as a sanding aparatues if you are lacking a powersander!

Bill of Materials

CAD files of parts FreeCAD files found here

STL

File:Bricktrowel.stl

Purchased materials

1kg of White PLA Filament

Tools needed for fabrication of the OSAT

MOST Delta RepRap

Skills and Knowledge Necessary to Make the OSAT

N/A

Technical Specifications and Assembly Instructions

-Overall tool base dimensions Length and Width are 6in by 3in.

- The Grout Trowel

Layer Height: 0.15 mm
Top/Bottom layer thickness: 0.75 mm
Shell Thickness: 2
Fill Density: 100%
Printer Speed: 30 mm/s
Travel Speed: 50 mm/s

- Print time: 4 hours and 36 min with a raft, or 3 hours 29 min without a raft.

-Assembly

N/A

Common Problems and Solutions

If printed without a raft the corners may warp upwards due to heat and not enough proper adhesion to the base. Either add a raft of go more carefully over the surface area with glue.

Cost savings

65 g of PLA filament were used which was a total cost of $1.2 at $20.12 for 1 kg of PLA filament
Grout Trowel can range in price from $3.00 to $50
The cost savings would be $1.55 to $48.55
The cost savings in percent would be 51% to 97.1%

Gallery

References

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 {{777}}
 ==Grout Trowel ==
-  Project developed by [[User:ejmarsha|Ethan Marshall]]
+  Project developed by Eric Hecht
 {{Statusboxtop}}
 {{status-design}}
 {{status-prototype}}
 {{Status-Model}}
-{{status-verified|[[User:ejmarsha|Ethan Marshall]]}}
 {{boxbottom}}
 ==Abstract==
-     According to Construction in Africa, investors are looking to invest $100 billion dollars in the infrastructure of Africa per year starting in 2013 in the next decade <ref>Construction in Africa, KPMG (2014) Available: https://www.kpmg.com/Africa/.../Construction%20in%20Africa.pdf</ref>. A way to put this money to use in the developing continent and to save money in the building of infrastructure, 3D printers could be used to make tools more available and cheaper. One tool is the concrete trowel which could be 3D printed as a cheaper method for smoothing out concrete walls and plaster on walls for the building of infrastructure in developing countries. This trowel would help fulfill the needs of affordable tools for concrete and interior work on houses and buildings in developing countries. Also the light weight of a 3D printed trowel would ease the strain on the wrists of construction laborers. Lastly customizable handles could be made based on a construction worker's grip which would make it easier on workers.
+     When spreading grout for tiling in areas like the kitchen or bathroom a normal tool may prove to be to large and unwieldy. My landlord asked for a cheap 3D printable tool that could fufill three tasks. The first main taks and what this tool is made for is spreading grout for tiling. However there are two other functions that you can use this for: smoothing concrete, and spackling. Those secondary applications won't work as well as a dedicated tool but this tool can still perform them. And as a bonus function you can table sandpaper to the bottom of this and use it as a sanding aparatues if you are lacking a powersander!
 [[Image:ConcreteTrowel_1.jpg|200px|middle]]
@@ Line 18: / Line 17: @@
 STL
-*[[file:masonary_handle.stl|Masonry Handle]]
+*[[file:bricktrowel.stl|Masonry Handle]]
-*[[file:masonary_toolbase.stl|Masonry Tool Base]]
 Purchased materials
-*JB weld
+*1kg of White PLA Filament
 == Tools needed for fabrication of the OSAT==
 # [[Athena Build Overview| MOST Delta RepRap]]
@@ Line 31: / Line 30: @@
 == Technical Specifications and Assembly Instructions==
--Overall tool base dimensions Length and Width are 8 in by 4.25 in
+-Overall tool base dimensions Length and Width are 6in by 3in.
-- The masonry tool base slicer settings were
+- The Grout Trowel
-*Layer Height: 0.25 mm
+*Layer Height: 0.15 mm
 *Top/Bottom layer thickness: 0.75 mm
-*Shell Thickness: 1.4
+*Shell Thickness: 2
 *Fill Density: 100%
 *Printer Speed: 30 mm/s
-*Travel Speed: 50 mm/s
-- The masonry handle slicer settings
-*Layer Height: 0.25 mm
-*Top/Bottom layer thickness: 0.75 mm
-*Shell Thickness: 1.4
-*Fill Density: 60%
-*Printer Speed: 60 mm/s
 *Travel Speed: 50 mm/s
-- Print times: 2 hr 46 min for the tool base and 59 min for the handle- total time: 3 hr 45 min
+- Print time: 4 hours and 36 min with a raft, or 3 hours 29 min without a raft.
 -Assembly
-*JB weld was placed on the short end of the handle and the handle was placed in the middle of the tool base (2 1/16 in from the long side and 4 in from the short side of the tool base)
+*N/A
 === Common Problems and Solutions===
-*When taking off the handle and toolbase carefully peel them off or may run the risk of plastic sticking to print platform
+*If printed without a raft the corners may warp upwards due to heat and not enough proper adhesion to the base. Either add a raft of go more carefully over the surface area with glue.
 == Cost savings==
-*70 g of PLA filament were used which was a total cost of $1.12 at $16 for 1 kg of PLA filament
+*65 g of PLA filament were used which was a total cost of $1.2 at $20.12 for 1 kg of PLA filament
-*The JB weld cost $3.00 for 2 oz of JB weld but only about .5 oz was used in assembly which cost about $0.33
+*Grout Trowel can range in price from $3.00 to $50
-*Adding up both costs the total cost is $1.45
-*Trowels can range in price from $3.00 to $50
 *The cost savings would be $1.55 to $48.55
 *The cost savings in percent would be 51% to 97.1%