[estrauss]

I bought a 3D printer for a few reasons, but I think my tap handle more than justifies the purchase.

This was the first attempt for our party in September:



Then I tweaked it a little:











If you want to read more about the build, I've got it all here:

http://fermware.com/3d-printed-tap-handles/

I've since refined the hops a little to remove the voids in the print.

[klickitat jim]

Cool. You could make money at that

[RyenyTheElder]

Very impressive.  Looks like that would have been a lot of work on the pc but came out amazing right.  Man I would love to have a 3d printer but I don't think i want to learn all the cad

[Slowbrew]

Very impressive.  Looks like that would have been a lot of work on the pc but came out amazing right.  Man I would love to have a 3d printer but I don't think i want to learn all the cad

I agree.  Very nice work!!!

I can also second the aversion to CAD.  Every time I try to learn a CAD system it kicks my butt.  I'm just not a visual 3D kind of thinker.

Again, good job!!

Paul

[estrauss]

Cool. You could make money at that

I am offering the service of printing these and I'm looking at designing more based on the overwhelming feedback I've gotten.

Go to my post for more info:
http://fermware.com/3d-printed-tap-handles/

[estrauss]

Very impressive.  Looks like that would have been a lot of work on the pc but came out amazing right.  Man I would love to have a 3d printer but I don't think i want to learn all the cad

I agree.  Very nice work!!!

I can also second the aversion to CAD.  Every time I try to learn a CAD system it kicks my butt.  I'm just not a visual 3D kind of thinker.

Again, good job!!

Paul

Yes, it was a decent amount of iterations to get me to that point, but I do love designing in CAD and I am fortunate enough to have started out my career designing cool stuff to get me where I am today.

[EHall]

very f'n cool! I'll take some tap handles and a gun please!

[David Lester]

That's more than just a simple tap handle. It's creative too.


Great job.

[HoosierBrew]

That's more than just a simple tap handle. It's creative too.


Great job.

+1. That's very cool. Nice work.

[glenmoorebrewing]

I would print a lower receiver, thread that and use it for my "freedom ale" tap handle.

[estrauss]

Printing the tap handles took longer than anticipated, but the results have turned out great.  Along the way, I improved the geometry of the hop to reduce the voids in the print and I also experimented with clear filament and was able to modify the flask to really look like a flask with a starter in it.



And here are some pictures of a few I did for some members here and elsewhere.

[Stevie]

Have you thought about doing an acetone vapor bath to smooth out the finish?

[estrauss]

Have you thought about doing an acetone vapor bath to smooth out the finish?

Yes, absolutely.  I've done a few test pieces and I'm going to work on that a little more, but for these pieces I wanted the final product to have some of the "charm" that goes along with a 3d printer where you do see all of the lines and layers.

[Stevie]

Nice. I imagine the hop cone and flask would work well, but how do the grain and water icons look?

[estrauss]

Nice. I imagine the hop cone and flask would work well, but how do the grain and water icons look?

Yea, sorry.  I didn't test the acetone vapor on any of these parts, but on some others.  I think it would be a neat experiment to try on the clear filament and see how clear it gets though.