The plastic it's made of is porous. The spray varnish I used seeped in and all but disappeared. Repeatedly. I gave up after three coats.
This also means that my Weldbond didn't bond. I resorted to the old 'add some spots of superglue' trick. Alas I forgot how quickly it dries: so one side panel's a bit wonky.
The reservoir's tricky. I used a photo of a real Nespresso reservoir I pulled off line and cloned together before printing to size onto photo paper. It looks OK as long as you don't get too close.
I would have happily spent some extra money on the piece if the reservoir was printed separately in a clear plastic. Or if it had been left off: I was contemplating sawing it off and replacing it with a piece of clear straw but suspected that would have ended in complete disaster, so left it as it was.
And especially that I've set it up in the corner of that Airbnb scene that I've been struggling with for a couple of weeks. I'm hoping that's a good sign that I'm all wired up on it all fired up on it...
Here's a weird thought if you want to try it again. Don't use a spray on poly. Get some clear nail varnish. It's thick enough that even if it seeps in a bit you'll still get a gloss look in the end.
ReplyDeleteThe other thing I've found with Shapeways is that you sometimes need to take a toothbrush to the pieces and get all the excess plastic dust off them before doing anything to them. I had to do that with all my latches and handles in NOLA House before I could begin to put them on the windows.
Good points indeed, Sheila. Thank you! (And I hadn't even thought of brushing my orders before using them...)
ReplyDeleteMmmmmm, Your coffee corner has a very Welcoming aroma of hot coffee wafting from it. :))
ReplyDeleteThe Nespresso machine kit turned out really well especially with the plastic sides you've given it.
Having never painted a raw 3-D printable, it was educational to learn of some of your struggles with it and then to read Sheila's suggestions.
All things considered, I think that it is job well done! :D