# SolidWorks + 3D Printer Contact + Arduino = New Giga Project **URL:** \ **Category:** Giga Meters\ **Created:** [December 3, 2013, 11:28am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/solidworks-3d-printer-contact-arduino-new-giga-project/33602 "2013-12-03T11:28:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![aj-quick](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/aj-quick/32/188008_2.png) [@aj-quick](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/aj-quick)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2014, 1:15am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/solidworks-3d-printer-contact-arduino-new-giga-project/33602/46 "2014-02-24T01:15:26Z")
You’re frankly not gonna get a green card with that attitude pal. ---
**Author:** ![Tyrael](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/a6a055/32.png) [@Tyrael](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Tyrael)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2014, 3:42am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/solidworks-3d-printer-contact-arduino-new-giga-project/33602/47 "2014-02-24T03:42:36Z")
I feel like much of this could’ve been hashed out through PMs or something. Getting back on topic, I haven’t had any time the past few days to work on much of anything (7 month old baby and a daycare provider who decided last-second to not provide isn’t very conducive towards getting work done). Did get a bit of cleanup on the display done, mostly getting rid of excess material and such. In case anyone was wondering, the slots to either side of the display are sized for rectangular LEDs that go under the transparent half-circles on either side (near as I can tell, they look like halves of a frosted acrylic rod or something). The Star Trek VI version of the prop also had these on either side of its display, if I recall correctly. Either way, a similar piece for a ST6 prop would be very easy to make and if there are any requests for it, I’ll be happy to draw one up. ---
**Author:** ![Tyrael](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/a6a055/32.png) [@Tyrael](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Tyrael)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2014, 1:57am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/solidworks-3d-printer-contact-arduino-new-giga-project/33602/48 "2014-04-06T01:57:18Z")
Just want to let everyone know that I’m not dead and that updates will come when I have something to report on. My job’s kept me pretty busy and when I’m not at work, my kid keeps me pretty occupied. I’ve had almost no time to do much of anything outside of that since my last update, so my apologies for that. ---
**Author:** ![Tyrael](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/a6a055/32.png) [@Tyrael](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Tyrael)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2014, 7:45am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/solidworks-3d-printer-contact-arduino-new-giga-project/33602/49 "2014-05-09T07:45:36Z")
Apologies again for the long wait between updates. Who knew having a kid would take so much time? :whatever: (I kid, I kid) I’ve got an inner dome modeled, mostly for scale. I may just have one printed anyway; I’m horrendous when it comes to making anything circular and it wouldn’t be any more complicated than anything else in this build. [![image](http://www.gbfans.com/images/pb/shawngealow/Giga Project\_AssemblyInProgress-May9\_zps24171c34.jpg)](http://s257.photobucket.com/user/shawngealow/media/Giga%20Project/AssemblyInProgress-May9_zps24171c34.jpg.html) From another angle, which shows a bit of the interfacing I’ve added. [![image](http://www.gbfans.com/images/pb/shawngealow/Giga Project\_AssemblyInProgress2-May9\_zps33c2900a.jpg)](http://s257.photobucket.com/user/shawngealow/media/Giga%20Project/AssemblyInProgress2-May9_zps33c2900a.jpg.html) I also added a small mounting area for the speaker that will be a part of the electronics kit for the thing. Again, if anyone could help me make something in Eagle or a similar PCB layout program, I have the component and wiring diagram done and all it needs is to be plugged in and optimized for space. [![image](http://www.gbfans.com/images/pb/shawngealow/Giga Project\_AssemblyInProgress3-May9\_zps996bf09a.jpg)](http://s257.photobucket.com/user/shawngealow/media/Giga%20Project/AssemblyInProgress3-May9_zps996bf09a.jpg.html) Right now my plan is to use a motor with a model kit wheel glued to it to propel the inner cylinder, which will be mounted to the phone cord detangler as seen in other builds. That will plug into the female plug from a phone wall jack, easily found in any hardware store, as shown below. I was thinking of using gears but I don’t really have any on hand, though I could try to model them, I suppose. [![image](http://www.gbfans.com/images/pb/shawngealow/Giga Project\_motordetanglerjack\_zpsb0870724.jpg)](http://s257.photobucket.com/user/shawngealow/media/Giga%20Project/motordetanglerjack_zpsb0870724.jpg.html) ---
**Author:** ![Tyrael](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/a6a055/32.png) [@Tyrael](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Tyrael)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 10:22am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/solidworks-3d-printer-contact-arduino-new-giga-project/33602/50 "2014-05-14T10:22:40Z")
[![image](https://discdn.gbfans.com/original/3X/f/f/fff4822946ce149d613c8465691d2386623108fa.jpeg)](http://s257.photobucket.com/user/shawngealow/media/Giga%20Project/Microphone_zps44af0784.jpg.html) Came out pretty nicely. Just gotta add a couple holes and it’s good to go. I will likely end up modifying the base file to accommodate the servos I’ll be using to move them. EDIT: And this is the 666th post in the Giga subforum. Whoo. ---
**Author:** ![Tyrael](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/a6a055/32.png) [@Tyrael](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Tyrael)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2014, 10:38am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/solidworks-3d-printer-contact-arduino-new-giga-project/33602/51 "2014-05-18T10:38:16Z")
Welp, the files have been sent off to my buddy in Michigan who works for Stratasys. I did some quick updates to the assembly file and some minor edits to the [front cylinder](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/equipment/proton-pack/front-cylinder) and microphone heads, which are now two pieces to allow ease of installation for LEDs and loading into the display part. [![image](https://discdn.gbfans.com/original/3X/2/a/2add0ab6806900cce88881ec8b53ade6fda00ce4.jpeg)](http://s257.photobucket.com/user/shawngealow/media/Giga%20Project/Assembly2-18May2014_zpse9b324ff.jpg.html) [![image](https://discdn.gbfans.com/original/3X/9/f/9fc348f849d5ac082e061cb25374746a53268afa.jpeg)](http://s257.photobucket.com/user/shawngealow/media/Giga%20Project/Assembly-18May2014_zps26dca02b.jpg.html) Now for the waiting game! ---
**Author:** ![kingpin](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/kingpin/32/188026_2.png) [@kingpin](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/kingpin)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2014, 1:28pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/solidworks-3d-printer-contact-arduino-new-giga-project/33602/52 "2014-05-18T13:28:10Z")
Very impressive, Tyrael. Excellent modelling work. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![borzou](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/borzou/32/187576_2.png) [@borzou](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/borzou)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2014, 6:17pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/solidworks-3d-printer-contact-arduino-new-giga-project/33602/53 "2014-05-18T18:17:39Z")
_intense breathing_ ---
**Author:** ![SlimeGuy](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@SlimeGuy](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/SlimeGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2014, 6:42pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/solidworks-3d-printer-contact-arduino-new-giga-project/33602/54 "2014-05-18T18:42:40Z")
_wipes drool from lip… and chin… and keyboard_ ---
**Author:** ![abaka](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/f04885/32.png) [@abaka](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/abaka)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2014, 10:05pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/solidworks-3d-printer-contact-arduino-new-giga-project/33602/55 "2014-05-18T22:05:28Z")
I need this to happen…I’m pretty sure my whole life revolves around this happening!! ---
**Author:** ![pyhasanon](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/fbc32d/32.png) [@pyhasanon](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/pyhasanon)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2014, 11:19pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/solidworks-3d-printer-contact-arduino-new-giga-project/33602/56 "2014-05-18T23:19:36Z")
Have a run by Halloween 2014?!? Ugh… they’re making me spend more money! Why…?!? LOL! Excellent job, love it! Definitely interested in seeing how this turns out… ---
**Author:** ![Tyrael](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/a6a055/32.png) [@Tyrael](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Tyrael)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2014, 11:51pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/solidworks-3d-printer-contact-arduino-new-giga-project/33602/57 "2014-05-18T23:51:09Z")
I can’t promise a run, but I will definitely try for one! I’ll have to talk to some folks about it first. The files aren’t 100% “complete”, per se, which is why this is just a prototype print right now. I will need to get my hands on a print of this to see what needs to be done to properly finish this for a production run. Either way, this is how I feel after working on the models for so long and my buddy telling me there should be no problem printing this thing out: ![image](https://discdn.gbfans.com/original/3X/c/1/c15bbc7866f66b62d5e49d5a460de1455901ab5c.gif) ---
**Author:** ![Tyrael](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/a6a055/32.png) [@Tyrael](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Tyrael)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2014, 4:27am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/solidworks-3d-printer-contact-arduino-new-giga-project/33602/58 "2014-07-13T04:27:03Z")
Took a while but my friend assures me that the parts will be made this week. At least I’ve got time to work on the smoke module for my [proton pack](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/equipment/proton-pack)… ---
**Author:** ![halliwax](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/h/47e85d/32.png) [@halliwax](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/halliwax)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2014, 8:02pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/solidworks-3d-printer-contact-arduino-new-giga-project/33602/59 "2014-07-13T20:02:11Z")
> [@Tyrael](#): > > Took a while but my friend assures me that the parts will be made this week. At least I’ve got time to work on the smoke module for my proton pack… I cannot wait ---
**Author:** ![Tyrael](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/a6a055/32.png) [@Tyrael](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Tyrael)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 1:26am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/solidworks-3d-printer-contact-arduino-new-giga-project/33602/60 "2014-07-25T01:26:27Z")
Well, it’s taking a bit longer due to projects popping up where my friend works, but he did send me this… [![image](http://www.gbfans.com/images/pb/shawngealow/Giga Project\_10547607\_10101948325856330\_7418818652713309531\_n\_zps3334c5d9.jpg)](http://s257.photobucket.com/user/shawngealow/media/Giga%20Project/10547607_10101948325856330_7418818652713309531_n_zps3334c5d9.jpg.html) Aw, yeah. My body is ready. ---
**Author:** ![Bob\_Wobbaz](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Bob\_Wobbaz](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Bob_Wobbaz)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 2:23pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/solidworks-3d-printer-contact-arduino-new-giga-project/33602/61 "2014-07-25T14:23:00Z")
Oooo that looks lovely! Have fun building it, and share your progress pics, looking forward to seeing it come together ---
**Author:** ![kingpin](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/kingpin/32/188026_2.png) [@kingpin](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/kingpin)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2014, 6:42pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/solidworks-3d-printer-contact-arduino-new-giga-project/33602/62 "2014-07-26T18:42:30Z")
Awesome stuff. ---
**Author:** ![simcarr](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/simcarr/32/186557_2.png) [@simcarr](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/simcarr)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2014, 6:48pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/solidworks-3d-printer-contact-arduino-new-giga-project/33602/63 "2014-07-30T18:48:36Z")
Very nice. Enjoy building while the rest of us watch and drool lol ---
**Author:** ![Tyrael](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/a6a055/32.png) [@Tyrael](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Tyrael)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 8:40am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/solidworks-3d-printer-contact-arduino-new-giga-project/33602/64 "2014-08-10T08:40:20Z")
Buddy of mine says the rest of the parts are done and will be here by next weekend. In the meantime, I’ve taught myself a decent amount of EAGLE and have been very, very busy. [![image](https://discdn.gbfans.com/original/3X/7/d/7d92ee211c9dec1b5767c074a4aa039fb1030147.jpeg)](http://s257.photobucket.com/user/shawngealow/media/Giga%20Project/Mainboard_zps23c21a1b.jpg.html) One of a half-dozen circuit boards I’ve come up with in the past week. The rest are for a different project that will see progress in the next few months or so. Stay tuned. ---
**Author:** ![cole-funstuff](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/cole-funstuff/32/33_2.png) [@cole-funstuff](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/cole-funstuff)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2014, 8:22pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/solidworks-3d-printer-contact-arduino-new-giga-project/33602/65 "2014-08-18T20:22:13Z")
Nice to see progress! Get that shell put together and cast already! Just a heads up, I see you have quite a few vias in your circuit design. I don’t know much about your circuit, but those can tend to add quite a bit of capacitance and screw with signals if you have too many of them in a single path. It may make the board look less clean, but you may want to move around a couple of the components to decrease/eliminate as many vias as possible. You’ll also want to beef up (widen) any power traces and look at using a ground plane on one of the layers (assuming you’re only using two) to eliminate potential ground loops. Again, not knowing much about your circuit makes it hard to know if you’ve already accounted for this or not. Looking forward to more updates! [Previous page](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/solidworks-3d-printer-contact-arduino-new-giga-project/33602.md?page=2) [Next page](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/solidworks-3d-printer-contact-arduino-new-giga-project/33602.md?page=4)