Hi Phil,
Many Thanks for your response and for the first pic of a sundial
made from what was quite a herculean labour in making all those individual
plots. the lines were fairly easy but the roman numerals are unique to each
plate. Good to see you individualizing the idea with your own ornamental
gnomon design and production methods. Well done!
Thus encouraged I may attempt a series of my own ornamental gnomons for
possible £d printers.
Many Thanks again,
Tony M.
-----Original Message-----
From: Phil Walker <[email protected]>
To: Tony Moss <[email protected]>
CC: [email protected]
Sent: Wed, 4 Mar 2015 14:50
Subject: The BSS Horizontal Sundial and 3d printer
I used your splendid and accurate BSS Horizontal Sundial design pdf but with a
couple of variations. I used a 6" square ceramic tile as the
dial plate, rather than 6mm MDF board, but the making of the gnomon may you
find more interesting. I drew the gnomon by using the
free Sketchup Make 3D modelling program, (which I have used for some time in
creating virtual dials), with the object of making it on a
3d printer.
I decided that it would be better to go to a service bureau rather buy a
printer myself, which would be expensive and maybe of
limited use. There are a number of bureaux in the UK but in the end I chose
Shapeways, a Dutch company who are helpful, who can make one-off
smallish items at relatively reasonable prices, within two weeks and in a
variety of materials from white, solid plastic to metals
from brass, steel, etc..
The method is straightforward, my Sketchup model file, at actual size, is
translated in STL format, a standard CAD software format.
and the file is uploaded into Shapeways' website. Shapeways checks that my
model can be printed without problems and quotes a price.
I then decide whether to go ahead.
I chose your plain gnomon in white Shapeway's Strong and Flexible Plastic
material but I could have used a more complex gnomon in
different colours or Here are my attachments, a photo of my BSS Horizontal
Sundial with the 3d printed gnomon and Shapeway's image
of my fancy gnomon model, should I want to replace the plain gnomon!
Sunny days,
Phil Walker
BSS Member
52° 45' 46"N
2° 22' 18"W
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