Product Description
The OG of the the 3D printed products is the Full Shield. After I ordered a Litter-Robot 3 for my three cats I found one of my cats, Linc, became OBSESSED with the Litter Robot when it did a cleaning cycle. As soon as he hears the motor start up his head perks up (even sometimes when he is asleep) and he runs over to the LR and starts to climb in to play with the poo’s and pee’s as they slide down into the waste tray as well as trying to get the screen open so he can play in there. Suffice to say I wasn’t too thrilled about this because this isn’t a cheap device to let him destroy. So having a 3D printer I figured there was a solution out there, and in walked the Full Shield.
The Full Shield is one solid piece that has a lip on the back that snaps onto the rim of the LR3, leaving a decent 7.75″ opening for your kitties to still get in and out. When the globe turns upside down during the cleaning cycle the Shield helps prevent your little rascal(s) from jumping in and having a party.
CAT SIZE NOTE: My biggest kitty is 16 lbs and quite long and tall and he doesn’t have any issues getting in (he is only 3.5 years old though), but with bigger kitties I’d suggest getting a Half Shield or an Alt Shield.
DESIGN NOTE: The original design for the Full Shield was graciously shared by Hanibalecter on Thingiverse. If you have a 3D printer of your own you can download the file to print it for yourself!
How does 3D printing work?
Every 3D printer builds parts based on the same main principle: a digital model is turned into a physical three-dimensional object by adding material a layer at a time. This where the alternative term Additive Manufacturing comes from.
3D printing is a fundamentally different way of producing parts compared to traditional subtractive (CNC machining) or formative (Injection molding) manufacturing technologies.
In 3D printing, no special tools are required (for example, a cutting tool with certain geometry or a mold). Instead the part is manufactured directly onto the built platform layer-by-layer, which leads to a unique set of benefits and limitations
From here, the way a 3D printer works varies by process. For example, desktop FDM printers melt plastic filaments and lay it down onto the print platform through a nozzle (like a high-precision, computer-controlled glue gun). Large industrial SLS machines use a laser to melt (or sinter) thin layers of metal or plastic powders.
The available materials also vary by process. Plastics are by far the most common, but metals can also be 3D printed. The produced parts can also have a wide range of specific physical properties, ranging from optically clear to rubber-like objects.
Depending on the size of the part and the type of printer, a print usually takes about 4 to 18 hours to complete. 3D printed parts are rarely ready-to-use out of the machine though. They often require some post-processing to achieve the desired level of surface finish. These steps take additional time and (usually manual) effort.
This was copied from 3DHubs, for more information please visit them!
2 reviews for LR3 Full Shield – 3D Printed