Ooops that one file per message is quite annoying, it posts the message for you as soon as you press upload... /rant over

Just got my package from Shapeways today! So happy that it has finally arrived.

The design was a concept, draw and try upload it to Shapeways in less than 2 hours effort to take advantage of the 66% off black detail offer and it hasn't turned out too bad.

Things I've noticed :-
- The triangulation of the STL seems to be very course for the outer ring, but I suspect this is a problem with Alibre Xpress rather than shapeways.
- The black detail material is actually quite springy and not very rigid. I expected this (infact hoped for it) for the really thin blades, but the inner ring was packed as an ellipsoid in the packaging Which made trying to bend it back into shape and fitting it into the outer ring a bit annoying.
- I need to add more clearance to parts I intend to move The pins fit and slide into the slots perfectly... but the pivot pins and the inner/outer ring don't really rotate ... need to do some sanding I think.
- Alot of support material remains ... you can see some still stuck onto one of the blades in the 4th picture...
- You can actually notice the 'print lines' that mark the pieces.

Things I should say :-
Sorry to Shapeways if it was annoying to print out 2*24 pieces of very very very small parts that didn't earn much money Sorry. I printed double in case the really thin (0.25mm?) pieces didn't work out.

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Pre-empting questions on "WTF is this thing?"...

Its a 'large' mechanical iris diaphragm that 'opens' and 'closes' as the outer ring is rotated around the inner ring.

Here is a photo of it 'almost closed' showing the translucency of the blade detail material. Doesn't make a real effective iris to shut out light does it?

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This photo shows the 'trying to pretend to be star-gate' attempt

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[Updated on: Fri, 31 October 2008 07:05 UTC]