Have you ever had an idea for a custom part that would help you with a custom ebike system design?
I think the best example of this is the Big Blue Saw / BBS thread.
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=48811
I have used them and I was happy with the result. They have a proprietary CAD (computer aided design) program that is very easy to use. It has a grid using 1/16th of an inch for the squares. I wish they had a 1mm grid option (one mm is 0.039 inches, 1/16th is 0.062 inch). Its not that a finer resolution is better (although that is good), I just like having metric as an option...
Of course, the problem is that...if you draw something in the 2D BBS program, you can only have BBS make it for you, and also...they don't do 3D-printing.
Water-jetting and laser-cutting can make a complex 2D metal part very easily. Like torque-arms, or mid drive motor mounting brackets. Some of the cost of the parts is the time for set-up, so...if you only need one part, it will be pricey. If you order five of the same, there is a break in the price for each piece, and 10 or 20 is even better. If you have a clever design, it might be easy to sell the other sets, so you end up with one set a better price.
I also want to kick off this thread with an open-source 3D-print in plastic, of my design. There are services that will print-out your 3D part in plastic and ship it to your home. But...someone has to draw it. Eventually I want to learn how to draw parts so I can 3D print them. I have heard good things about Rhino and Googles Sketchup, and recently I have had Fusion-360 and FreeCAD recommended for my project.
As this thread evolves, I will list 2D/3D drawing programs that are recommended, and also services that will print your 3D design and ship it to you. I would also like to list ES members who have a 3D printer, and those list members who have 3D drawing skills that they are willing to perform for a fee.
Here is aluminum plates cut to have interlocking fingers at the edge, which will be welded. I have also seen this method used for laser-cutting wood for similar parts.
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12847&start=500#p1278057
And here is another example...
I think the best example of this is the Big Blue Saw / BBS thread.
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=48811
I have used them and I was happy with the result. They have a proprietary CAD (computer aided design) program that is very easy to use. It has a grid using 1/16th of an inch for the squares. I wish they had a 1mm grid option (one mm is 0.039 inches, 1/16th is 0.062 inch). Its not that a finer resolution is better (although that is good), I just like having metric as an option...
Of course, the problem is that...if you draw something in the 2D BBS program, you can only have BBS make it for you, and also...they don't do 3D-printing.
Water-jetting and laser-cutting can make a complex 2D metal part very easily. Like torque-arms, or mid drive motor mounting brackets. Some of the cost of the parts is the time for set-up, so...if you only need one part, it will be pricey. If you order five of the same, there is a break in the price for each piece, and 10 or 20 is even better. If you have a clever design, it might be easy to sell the other sets, so you end up with one set a better price.
I also want to kick off this thread with an open-source 3D-print in plastic, of my design. There are services that will print-out your 3D part in plastic and ship it to your home. But...someone has to draw it. Eventually I want to learn how to draw parts so I can 3D print them. I have heard good things about Rhino and Googles Sketchup, and recently I have had Fusion-360 and FreeCAD recommended for my project.
As this thread evolves, I will list 2D/3D drawing programs that are recommended, and also services that will print your 3D design and ship it to you. I would also like to list ES members who have a 3D printer, and those list members who have 3D drawing skills that they are willing to perform for a fee.
Here is aluminum plates cut to have interlocking fingers at the edge, which will be welded. I have also seen this method used for laser-cutting wood for similar parts.
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12847&start=500#p1278057

And here is another example...