Well, it has been a few weeks since I posted my last update on the Boeing 747SP, but for a few good reasons, one of those reasons is that I started the FedEx 747F for a client. This one will have removable wings and wing box. In the interest of continuous improvement, I took a different approach to the wing box from the 747SP, and I am pleased with the result. I also made some improvements to my jig so I could position the empennage (horizontal and vertical stabilisers) section. Now I’m nearly ready to shape the wing blanks I made a few weeks ago.
Another reason is that I decided to buy a 3D Printer to make more realistic turbine fan blades for my Airliner Models. Id been planning to do this for a while, then Aldi advertised one in their weekly buys for $300, so with a 60 day no questions asked return policy, I had nothing to loose, and everything to gain, which I did. After a lot of trial and error, and learning how to use a 3D modelling software package, I finally managed to print a decent quality turbine fan. The one shown below is magnified and still requires a bit more cleaning up to remove the remaining support structures built during printing.
I was ready to take the printer back after multiple attempts to print out a decent turbine fan, until I decided to try a new 3D slicer program (this converts a 3D object into printable layers). I initially installed the 3D Slicer software preloaded on the micro SD card that came with the printer, and proved this was the cause of the problem. So, the secret to a good 3D print is using good slicer software, and not necessarily the printer itself.
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Fraser Aero Art 