What about 3D printed tees?

[Jerome]

I did a quick search and didn't see anyone mention it. Anybody try it? I'm going to try it with flexible TPU filament(waiting for the printer to be delivered). Here is a GIF of model I built in Blender:
The slicer says it will cost 9 cents to print.

[Jnc10]

The tee works great

[Jnc10]

I loved it but it broke in the first round. going to try adding an extra wall of thickness and see if that helps
it broke where the circles come close together so maybe the stars will work better

[Jerome]

Figured it'd take some trial and error. I appreciate you posting your results. Thanks!

[Diceberg]

Subscribed!

[leibin]

My first test print will be 30mm tall. I still don't have my printer yet so I can't be sure what is best for me. As wbond alluded to above, the beauty of printing your own is you can make them any size that works best for you.

Yes, I did order $300 of equipment primarily to print a few $0.10 parts. These are strange times.

Baaahahahahaha - man, you and me must have fallen from the same tree I ordered a new sidewinder as I had already claimed my sim build as my xmas present, but thought....'need something under the tree' ....and I need to print some things like an STL for a ball mold with the holes in it to mark the ball for the Uneekor QED that another member here shared. Then I thought the same thing as you, 'shoot, buying these Birtees is expensive when you only use a couple out of the pack'. Plus, they're ripping apart from the abuse.

So, laughs aside (love this thread you started LOL). I created one that I haven't printed yet because I have to wait to open the printer in a couple of days. Here is my design which I based off of one that was on Thingiverse. I have some TPU on hand to give it a run and I'll link to the STL for anyone that wants to give it a run. It's my first ever design, so there's a chance that it won't work out...probably a decent one

I tried to create a bit of a lip at the bottom, but don't know if it's going to be useful. I hit off of a FB mat and the tee likes to tilt at times. It's 29mm now, but resizing it should be easy in whatever designer you're using.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-n4FF9eZClgz1y-V_0KW9gNIylTUSBtw/view?usp=sharing

Talk soon, and have a good one!

[Jnc10]

the ones in the original design are too fragile with TPU. I might try ABS but first I will print this different design

[Jnc10]

This Version printed much cleaner so hoping it holds up a little better

32MM puts the ball at the same height as a #5 birtee

[leibin]

It's like a picture of my baby that I never had......rofl So, do you think it's too thin? looks like it printed ok....looking forward to hearing how long it takes to fail. Maybe it needs to be a bit thicker in the body.

Let me know how well the ball sits in the hole in the top....this was all purely guessing without being able to print it yet.....

[Jnc10]

I made one the same height but narrower and the ball sits just fine. I can break them pretty easily though

[Jerome]

The flaring out at the top of this design concerns me from a durability point of view. My thinking is to try and spread the impact over as much of the tee as possible. I'm also thinking lighter is better. The tee is going to accelerate 0-100mph in an instant. Tee with higher mass is going to have to deal with more energy.

[Jerome]

I like "feet" for my mat so I made a model with thicker walls and slots like leibin's design.


https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Bj2...ew?usp=sharing

[leibin]

I think Jnc10 is the only one that has printed them....my printer is under the xmas tree right now, and I think Jerome's in the same boat TPU would be preferred as it's flexible and can handle impact. What did your buddy print them with?

[Jerome]

I have 3 different flexible filaments now ready to test and a stubborn determination to make this work. I'll spend thousands to save $10.

[leibin]

Love it man! Let us know how they print and which material works best!

[Adrenaline]

This is awesome. Following.

[Jerome]

One more, like a cooling tower...

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MwTAOW0VcdfeqdWzR8sXbsu12dm3LEC1/view?usp=sharing

[Jnc10]

they are great but I cannot get them to last with the Flexible filament I have. I seem to break one every round
easy to print and they work amazing. I would think if you could print them on their side it might make them stronger
Will wait and see how others make out

[JackedUpSwing]

I’d pay $20 for one that works with a fiberbuilt mat(doesn’t sink down into the fibers) and lasts forever(or at least 5k driver hits)

[leibin]

I’d pay $20 for one that works with a fiberbuilt mat(doesn’t sink down into the fibers) and lasts forever(or at least 5k driver hits)

My design sits nice and flat on my FB mat, but it sounds like I need to thicken it up based on Jnc10’s feedback. I have some printing now but I can’t swing for another week due to some rib pain. I’ll start working on a much thicker one

[leibin]

they are great but I cannot get them to last with the Flexible filament I have. I seem to break one every round
easy to print and they work amazing. I would think if you could print them on their side it might make them stronger
Will wait and see how others make out

Where did mine fail? Just curious for a redesign

[Jnc10]

They held a little better but mostly in between the spaces going up. I almost feel it being 1 solid piece would be better. I think one of them I knocked the top off. Even with some cracks I stll used them until they would not stand up

[leibin]

Thanks for the feedback - I’m working on a new design over the weekend!

[Jerome]

OK, last one until I get my printer and can start testing(I swear ). This one is thin with slots. If I can print it with quality TPU, I bet it will last 100's of shots.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/15UV...ew?usp=sharing

[edit]
I might make one more but not post it until I test it. I think the slots should have rounded corners. Those sharp 90s are going to be trouble(concentrated point of stress).