News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:600 Watt, 3d-printed, Halbach Array, Brushless DC Electri... by Animats on Friday May 12, 2017 @03:41AM (#14322110)
That's a nice project. The author claims 80% efficiency, which is reasonably good. Most amateur motor designs are far worse.

The plastic motor shell has a very smooth finish, and screw threads. What process did he use to 3D print those fine screw threads? I didn't think any available 3D printing process was good enough for that.

Re:600 Watt, 3d-printed, Halbach Array, Brushless DC Electri... by ragebol on Friday May 12, 2017 @04:13AM (#14322228)
At 1m33 [0], you can see the thing in an Ultimaker 3D printer, but as other commenters say, the threads are likely tapped. I have seen 3D printed threads, but not that fine, at least not with FDM

[0] https://youtu.be/NFvMC3l3fGY?t=1m33s

Re:600 Watt, 3d-printed, Halbach Array, Brushless DC Electri... by donquichotte on Friday May 12, 2017 @03:50AM (#14322153)
I think he printed an undersized hole, drilled it to the right diameter and then used a tap to thread it.
Re:600 Watt, 3d-printed, Halbach Array, Brushless DC Electri... by Animats on Friday May 12, 2017 @04:01AM (#14322189)
Look at him screwing on the end bell of the motor at 222 seconds in. [1] That's a big diameter thread, and the close-ups of it show a very clean thread. You can see the marks of the 3D printing layers on the outer motor casing, but not on the thread. I suspect that thread was turned on a lathe.

[1] https://youtu.be/NFvMC3l3fGY?t=222

Re:600 Watt, 3d-printed, Halbach Array, Brushless DC Electri... by Aser on Friday May 12, 2017 @06:48AM (#14322842)
I've printed finer threads on my cheap 3D printer, although it took a few tries to get them the right size.

It's possible that he used acetone vapour to smooth out the surface of the threads.

Re:600 Watt, 3d-printed, Halbach Array, Brushless DC Electri... by viggity on Friday May 12, 2017 @11:58AM (#14325103)
that would be a huge tap. the motor looks to be about 4-5" wide. you'd need a $500+ tap for that, no?
Re:600 Watt, 3d-printed, Halbach Array, Brushless DC Electri... by HeyLaughingBoy on Friday May 12, 2017 @05:11PM (#14327963)
Probably not tapped, but single-pointed on a lathe or thread milled: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Threading_(manufacturing)#Sing...