Hacker News Reader

Comment by eltoozero | Hacker News Reader

Cool post, but an expensive SLA Printer is not required for this, neither is Fusion 360.

An OSS toolchain would be a reprap FDM Printer (like a Prusa), OpenSCAD for the design, so modules like the pogo cutout and the base structure can be easily and quickly reused in other projects, and then a Slicer program like Slic3r to turn the model into g-code.

Nothing against SLA: especially now that Prusa has the SL1 coming to market with good features at a sub-$1,500 price point, things are about to get very interesting.

View on HN

You could also do this with a couple chunks of wood and a drill press.

It'd be difficult to get all the holes lined up correctly

lazy way to solve this is to tape a 1:1 scale printout of the pattern to the workpiece and use a center punch to mark the hole positions. you could also do this with a ruler and a pencil.

I'm not at all trying to say that you shouldn't use certain tools, especially if you have them set up. Do whatever is most expedient. If that means a $5,000 SLA printer, fine (lucky you!). If you're an Open Source advocate and there's a good FDM printer, great, use that. But none of it is _essential_ to this particular project.

This isn't an indictment aimed at the article's author, but when I see someone go "you don't need to use that fancy printer to make this simple object, you can use this slightly less fancy one," it makes me thing that techy people (including myself) are losing touch with how objects are traditionally made.

I agree, you could do this using more traditional methods, I just think leveraging a nice printing process could save some time/effort. Some other challenges that printing solves:

1. you can set the width of the jig to match your pogo pin spring "active region" easily.

2. You can make cutouts for the board and other features (USB-C + USB-C connectors in my case).

I admit, a Form 2 is an expensive perk. But there are much more affordable routes: https://dirtypcbs.com/store/print3d https://dirtypcbs.com/store/lasercut

I.e. when you order PCBs, you can order a $5 SLA jig :)

I think regular FDM printers may have problems with the fine detail required for some pogo pins. I know mine can't quite reliably get holes <2mm in diameter, for instance. I guess you could use a smaller diameter nozzle.

> mine can't quite reliably get holes <2mm in diameter

A great trick for small holes on a FDM printer is to not print them circular but square or triangular. You'd be surprised how small you can get fairly accurate holes.

I've always printed on size (so usually undersized because of fdm overflow) and then drilled out with the correct size.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com