M1dn1ghtN1nj4

Very nice. You can tell the bowl is printed because of the form of the top layer around the rim, and the layer lines down the side. Do you have an STL for it? I might try to make that, but adapt my 120LPH pumps to it (it's what I have, so it's what I'll use). This could be a neat integration. My sluice box, for the next version, will change to be used with a 5 gallon bucket. MUCH more capacity and runtime. Seems you already have little brackets that go on the bucket, so that's a pretty nice start. How long did this take you to design?

@Creekboy Not necessarily to cross-promote, but have you seen my 3D printed sluice box?I just posted an update today. Finished my near-final design a few days ago. Maybe it could spark an idea for something you could design? I can help a little with suggestions and advice/tips if you need help.

Well, as far as I can tell, it's the smallest FUNCTIONAL sluice box. This isn't a cute scale model to look like a neat paperweight. This thing actually WORKS! Let me know what you think! This has taken me well over 4 months to develop past where you saw it last time. I still have a few minor tweaks I want to do to it, but all in good time. As long as you can spoon feed it small enough material, this will work for you. I guess this would be more suitable for processing concentrates, but it should still be a hefty worker! Features: * Self-contained power (4x AA rechargeable batteries @ 1350mAh each) * 3x 120 LPH micro pumps @ 6volts each * Self-recycling water system * Can be used as a single or double tier system * Sluice trays are set at 8 degrees * Removable riffled drop-ins (currently printed in green) (upgradeable/swappable) * Debris catch bin for removing excess material from the basin * Scotchbrite scouring pad used as a particulate filter to prevent pump clogging * Fully disassembles and packs into itself for painless transportation * Watertight, isolated battery compartment won't get wet from splashes or overflow * Drain holes to prevent water buildup around solder connections to pumps, and in storage area * Spare storage area can be used for rubber mats, vials, filters, etc * Riffled trays (3D printed) designed for use in this system with its specific flow rate/angle * Quickly comes apart for cleaning of the trays or storage * Currently takes 687.52 grams of PLA filament @ 1.75mm (52 hours to print on my settings) Things I want to improve in my next version: * Isolate the pumps better so they don't suck up material or silt * Raise the edges to allow it to process larger piles of material without spilling over the sides of the trays * Make a better trap to catch the waste material, rather than let it build up in the main basin * Design riffle drop-ins that are more easily removable * Possibly design different types of riffle drop-ins This one was just before this 2-tier version, when it was at a single level. Check out this point in the video, where a pretty good size nugget shows up!

I want to say that I didn't forget about this. In fact, I have a fully functional setup already. Taking it on vacation this coming Friday! I'll post updates in the OP.

Turns out that I don't want to use PLA for this. ABS is what I want, but my printer doesn't support it. So to start, I'm going to try to make enough money to afford a printer that can do larger prints, AND support ABS, by creating and selling various 3D printed models on my current printer. I'll leave my Patreon page up, in case anybody wants to help out that way. So I'm currently working on a new design that can classify material while maintaining a much smaller footprint. My idea is that the water pump can be tossed into the water somewhere, run on a battery pack, and pump the water up a hose to the top of the sluice. When you're done with it, everything should be able to pack back up into itself nearly. How's that sound?

Working on a second version that I can print on my new printer. I'm limited to 8"x8"x8". Have to get creative. This is more fun than it sounds. ?

I get my 3D printer next week, and should start testing prints on it be that weekend. Small print area, but I have some ideas...

Yeah, I was thinking of ABS. I'll start off with some basic stuff, like printer upgrades and so on, which will help me get used to the printer. Likely going to be buying it tonight. UPDATE: So yeah, I bought it last night. It'll be here next week. Knowing my time constraints, It'll arrive at my door Tuesday night, and be up and running by Saturday.

I'm looking at buying a starter printer. Don't laugh at me, but the Anet A8 is the one I'm getting. Sure it's cheap, and the frame is acrylic, but I have two friends here in Ohio that own the same printer, and have no issue with theirs. I just can't justify $600 on a printer yet. This one says it supports ABS, luminescent, nylon PVA, PLA, PP, HIPS, and wood.

That's the idea. In addition to the video, what features would you like to see added to it? Remember, I don't know what the final cost will be yet. Material is the biggest factor. Then there is the pump, battery, hose, mats, etc.

I print using PLA, so the end result is actually much lighter than aluminum. Plus, it's not technically "solid" plastic. Where it would be 1/4" thick, I add in some internal ribbing to make it stronger, while using less material because of the air space. I COULD add in a classification system but remember, this will never be designed to run massive cubic yards of dirt through. You want that, you'll have to stick to the man-size metal systems. This is for trowel feeding, sort of like a blue bowl, spiral wheel, or something like that. I just don't have the time or resources to make this out of metal, wood, or anything else. I'm poor (my job is about to disappear when my company gets absorbed by another, in a couple weeks). I think at this point that I'm just going to build one for myself, and call it quits. As many parts and small details as are in this, it would take ages to make just one from metal. It wouldn't be feasible to make it a public item. Yes, it's expensive using PLA (sort of), and I can't justify making this thing any more expensive than it will already be. I can't keep making it bigger and bigger to accept baseball size rocks to be fed into it. It's just PLA, not aluminum. This was never designed as a competitor to the 4' tall, Gold Hog setups or anything that you just throw in shovel fulls of dirt. It's meant to go through stuff like this: Not trying to be negative here. This is why I came to a forum first, before I spent any money on a physical model. If it didn't pan out (haha, nice pun), then I'd abandon it. It's very possible that this is just another one of my failed ideas. It happens. Suck it up (another stupid pun. lol) and move on. ?

I'll take all constructive criticism. ? This will take trowels full of dirt, and separate black sand and gold from the rest of the larger and lighter materials. It just won't take boulders the size of your fist. lol I COULD design it to handle even larger material. But this is meant as a second stage kind of thing. It was never designed to have shovels full of dirt just crammed into it. Basically, classify your dirt first, using at least 1/4" mesh. Everything smaller than that can be fed into this sluice. Classifying only takes a few seconds, so it's not really a burden. I thought about making an aluminum version, but if I were to sell them publicly, I MIGHT be able to make one a week. Not even a halfway decent return for the amount of time it would take. But 3D printing it would allow me to make drop-in upgrades, digitally design upgrades, etc.

Also, are sluice mats typically about 1/4" thick (from the top of the riffle to the bottom of the mat. total height)?

Check out my thread. I could use some feedback on the design.

Any feedback? I'm looking at a 3D printer for $150, but of course, you get what you pay for. I could probably make the sluice slides 6" wide. I don't want to go TOO wide, or the whole thing becomes larger than it needs to be. Plus, the bigger it is, the more it will cost the buyer, and I'm trying to keep the cost down.

The user can use whatever mat they want. I'll make little tabs on the side that will hold the mat down. This is meant to be hand fed, after you've classified your material. The reason for the size is three fold. 1, it'll fit into a backpack. 2, it costs less to make. 3, the only printer I have access to has a limited print area.

I have been working on this for a couple weeks. It's a collapsible, customizable, self-contained, super light, 3D printed sluice box! I know there are other folding sluice boxes, but none of them actually fit in a backpack, or are light enough to carry in one hand. This solution would be EXTREMELY helpful! I'm on my phone trying this, so when I get to my laptop, I'll write in a bit more. So I'm currently in the CAD stage. I have a guy that does 3D printing for me, and his machine is limited to 12"x12"x15" so I might have to shrink the size of the project down to fit, as I don't have access to, or can even afford, a larger 3D printer. I have this up on Patreon to attempt to raise some funding to start getting prototypes printed, and boost this project towards the finish line! This is my Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/M1dn1ghtN1nj4

I'm new here (first post, too). Name's Noah. That certainly is a nice, clean, rugged looking setup. I can't link yet until I have 10 posts, but I'm creating a VERY small sluice. One that dwarfs that one. Mine is 14" long 8" wide 6" tall (when disassembled), and around 20" tall when assembled. Slides are 4" wide. Battery powered, self contained, recirculating water, interchangeable mats, etc. All 3D printed. Still a WIP.