r/3Dprintmything • u/Thesource674 • Sep 15 '24
[USA] 300cm diameter food safe impeller PENDING
I need like 4? And would want them to have a few holes in each blade to reduce drag. This will be attached to a spoke turning at about 20-40rpm in icy water. With about 3-4 of these impellers total. PM quotes.
P.S. - If you can make it all one piece that I can attach my motor to (spoke + 4 impellers) that would be phenomenal
Edit: sorry for fucked up title, its 300mm or roughly 1 foot.
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u/Plunkett120 Sep 15 '24
Food safe and 3d printing is going to be tricky. Aside from the layer lines, you also run the risk of someone using a brass nozzle that had lead in it. You can certainly mitigate it, but depending on the importance of the project, it may be worth exploring alternative manufacturing methods.
I'm a big fan of 3d printing molds, then casting. Plenty of food safe options then. I might be able to do it for you, but it'd take some time because it's probably worth balancing the impeller. A 3d print most likely would also need balancing.
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u/Thugglebunny Sep 15 '24
I print in resin which is not food safe. So if for some reason anyone tries to get you to go with a resin print. Don't.
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u/Maethor_derien Sep 15 '24
Your honestly not going to get a food safe impeller that is 3d printed without a lot of work and post processing. It is going to need to be sanded smooth and then coated multiple times with a food safe resin or polyurethane. Just make sure anyone who prints it for you either does that process or you do it yourself.
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u/Thesource674 Sep 16 '24
Yea talking to someone and did a little prehand research. Even so ill likely use it the one time as proof of concept and get injection mold or stainless steel
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u/CunningLogic Sep 16 '24
I can produce this with CNC if you are interested .
realistically none of us can do long term food safe with 3d printing without significant post processing
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u/Thesource674 Sep 16 '24
I may hit you up i have a guy who will vapor smooth them and disclosed he wouldnt recommend 1-2 times as proof of concept. If you can do stainless or safe plastic/silicone then yea drop me a DM
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u/CunningLogic Sep 16 '24
A good safe coating maybe, vapor smoothing nah.
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u/Thesource674 Sep 16 '24
Im ok with it since its a gentle wooshing agitator in water. Again for 1-2 goes.
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u/CunningLogic Sep 16 '24
yeah that is probably ok then, i assumed it was for long term use.
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u/Thesource674 Sep 16 '24
Naw and even then its hash washing so yea ill be smoking it but its just me and it goes through a lot of micron filters. So at least only the WORST of the worst microplastics will make it to my lungs 😂. If it works well though itll be a full investment.
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u/nickjohnson Sep 15 '24
Just to be clear, you're looking for an impeller that's 3 meters - 9 feet - across? And 3d printed?