3D Printed Passive Cell Phone Amplifier
I made a 3D printed phone amplifier as a practice exercise for using the Maker Lab’s 3D printer. I added some of my own modifications to an already existing design courtesy of dan55178 on Thingiverse.
2/4/2019
I selected the first version of my design, but OnShape did not work on my laptop due to issues with WebGL. I was working on my headphone amp enclosure at the same time so I didn’t get the chance to fix it.
2/7/2019
Since I wasn’t able to fix my issues with WebGl, I ended up using OnShape on one of the in house desktop PCs. However, I then found out that STl files are meshes and therefore can’t be edited by CAD software. I ended up selecting a new design since my previous one was too large for the 3D printer bed, and used TinkerCAD to add on some solid parts to my chosen mesh. I added “El Remansito”, the diminutive form of the name my mom gave to our house to the base, and added a ring to the amplifier to make it longer and wider. I then printed it, but had to remove many of the supports, as they would have been impossible to take out.
2/11/2019
I went to pick up the final print early in the morning and got to work removing the supports, which I was able to do quite easily. I tested the amplifier with my own phone and got a small but non negligible increase in volume. The final print came out to 89 grams, which went over the specified max limit. I originally didn't intend for it to use that much material, but after messing with the size and amount of support material in the model, I forgot to keep double checking. That's something I'll have to pay extra attention to next time.
There are plenty of things I would like to do differently with subsequent prints. For one, it would be better to select designs with less small hollowed out areas, so I don't have to risk having insufficient supports, as I don't want to add supports where I can't take them out. Second, I'd like to get more familiar with how much wiggle room I have in terms of my infill levels, and what designs require more or less infill. Despite this, I’m intrigued by what the 3D printers can do, and I'd like to use them more in the future.
2/4/2019
I selected the first version of my design, but OnShape did not work on my laptop due to issues with WebGL. I was working on my headphone amp enclosure at the same time so I didn’t get the chance to fix it.
2/7/2019
Since I wasn’t able to fix my issues with WebGl, I ended up using OnShape on one of the in house desktop PCs. However, I then found out that STl files are meshes and therefore can’t be edited by CAD software. I ended up selecting a new design since my previous one was too large for the 3D printer bed, and used TinkerCAD to add on some solid parts to my chosen mesh. I added “El Remansito”, the diminutive form of the name my mom gave to our house to the base, and added a ring to the amplifier to make it longer and wider. I then printed it, but had to remove many of the supports, as they would have been impossible to take out.
2/11/2019
I went to pick up the final print early in the morning and got to work removing the supports, which I was able to do quite easily. I tested the amplifier with my own phone and got a small but non negligible increase in volume. The final print came out to 89 grams, which went over the specified max limit. I originally didn't intend for it to use that much material, but after messing with the size and amount of support material in the model, I forgot to keep double checking. That's something I'll have to pay extra attention to next time.
There are plenty of things I would like to do differently with subsequent prints. For one, it would be better to select designs with less small hollowed out areas, so I don't have to risk having insufficient supports, as I don't want to add supports where I can't take them out. Second, I'd like to get more familiar with how much wiggle room I have in terms of my infill levels, and what designs require more or less infill. Despite this, I’m intrigued by what the 3D printers can do, and I'd like to use them more in the future.
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