▼This page was part of an MTU course MSE4777 OA and MSE4777 OB/MSE5777/EE4777/EE5777: Open-source 3-D printing

Please leave comments using the talk page. The course runs in the Fall semester. It is not open edit.

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!

Dimensions: This is a small trowel designed for tight areas. The notches are.25in by.25in. LxW 6inx3in

A comparable trowel can be found here:

Bill of Materials

CAD files of parts Files found here

STL

Scad

• Brick Trowel

Purchased materials

• 1kg of White PLA Filament

Tools needed

1. MOST Delta RepRap

Skills and knowledge needed

• 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

Cost savings

• 61 g of PLA filament were used which was a total cost of $1.20 at $20.12 for 1 kg of PLA filament
• Grout Trowel can range in price from $5.00 to $25.00
• The cost savings would be $3.80 to $23.80
• The cost savings in percent would be 76% to 95.2%

References