I just looked it up to see what it was. That is some cool stuff. If you're not familiar with it, just search on YouTube for "3d printing" and watch a couple of the videos... then imagine when they figure out how to print metals in addition to plastics.
Also known as rapid prototyping. The pieces can be used as patterns for "lost wax" investment casting meaning there is no requirement for draft. So within limits you can use the process to make metal parts. I am pretty certain that some work has also been done in the field of powdered metals, a natural application. So we should be seeing some of those parts coming along at any time.
Jim
Way cool, huh? My son & younger brother turned me onto this stuff. I also saw it awhile back on Jay Leno's list of his Top 10 favorite garage tools.
The future is now!
We use it at work quite a bit for making gas turbine parts. An engineer can design a new turbine blade on the computer and the 3D model fed into the printer and a few hours later you have a perfect plastic model of the blade. How perfect is a factor of how many "slices" make it up or how thin each layer of printed plastic is. The plastic can then be encased in a ceramic shell and then the plastic is melted out and metal poured into the mold. Voila! You have a functional part in a couple days vs a couple months.
Staples now has the 3D printers in their Service Section right next to the regular color rinters and BW copiers.
Bring in the file and they'll "print" it right out for you.
Brave New World. endless possibilities. Can't wait to see the medical applications along with the new "printing" materials.
In WV we have a few of these in Career Tech Centers (previously referred to as "Vocational Schools"..no a dirty word) and I have a bearing on my desk that was printed out in a high school CADD class about 7 years ago. If you are friends or business partners with the CADD program/teacher, you could probably get them to print out your designs for you.
I just watched a tv program where they discussed the social implications of the 3D printers..I was blown away...they had a kid on who made a functioning AR-16 type rifle in a 3D printer..food wll be made in these things in the near future...such as beef etc!!.
Star Trek here we come!
Star Trek here we come!
Yea, and it's not just in 5 or 10 years, these and other technolgies are growing exponentially....google is mapping the functions of the brain...in the future they will be able to insert information to enhance learning or specific information (or whatever they want) Just think about it...selling guns or other products will not require licensing as these technologies will be available through the internet...conceivably millions will lbe able to make what ever products they want...perhaps this will be licensed in a similar way that music is now through apple/Itunes etc...??
I have a very short memory. If I could get a plugin for a 2g USB in the side of my head for memory storage I would be happy!
Gary, amen to that!! What we have to concern ourselves with is when they put things in that we do not ask for or want...
X10 Mike!!!!
We use it in die casting sample parts. It saves thousands versus "hogging" out a sample part from a billet piece of aluminum
I've heard of it, and have drawn up parts in Solidworks CAD for friends who have had parts made using it.
So why not a new 1980 Chrome Bumper MGB!
I can see Moss Motors using one of these to manufacture classic parts.
You can actually laser sinter solid metal parts but I think the unit is still pretty expensive.
Jim
The nice thing is, you can draw something yourself and send it off to have it "printed". You don't actually have to own one. I do that with circuit boards. The CB companies have software you download, draw up your CB. It is even in the software to estimate and order copies.
I am not sure the software for 3d printing is quite to that level yet but there are companies which will do the printing. Evidently, there are Iphone apps which can take photos of things and convert to 3d printing files.
(http://www.rc-tech.net/cars2/panttransam/turn/turn3.jpg)
I do not yet know what metals they can sinter, or the physical properties once finished. Presumably the parts could be smoothed and polished to some degree and provide a finish that would accept plating but how even it would be is another question. Some very fine finishes in stainless have been produced with fine powder, compressed preforms and oven sintering, I have a sample scalpel handle that is as good or better than a billet part, with intricate internal details. I doubt laser sintering can match that. This part was made over 15 years ago.
Jim
Slighhtly off subject, but one more time on the 3-D printers...they now can take a persons DNA (such as a burn victim) and make skin in a 3D printer that will not be rejected by the body...I'm not making this up, we are living in a rapidly changing world...there is also a machine available that will take virtually any liguid and produce pure drinking drinking water..I'm talking sea water, piss, or paint...this was sci-fi just a few years ago...hang on for the tech ride....
Jim
They use Zemak (zinc alloy types) in conjunction with 3D printers to mock up usable parts for various mechanical assemblies. In most cases the Zemak 3D rendering is not the correct alloy for the production part but it is used for fitment and functionality!!
Mike,
We've been drinking purified piss for eons. I don't think there is a drop of water on this planet that hasn't passed through at least one kidney sometime or another. The only difference is now the purification process doesn't take as long.
Well, I've heard that piss is sterile so there's that... (doesn't make me want to drink it though. Of course for some women I might feign reconsideration... ;-)
I have a 3D printer kit on order, it should be here about the time we get back from Omaha. We have already put together a plan to attempt metal and have maybe a week's worth of work before our first test.
Jim