3-D Printing

[generator12]

Has anyone had exposure to the "additive" processes known as 3-D printing?

It appears that these technologies will cause some real turnover in manufacturing industries. Trials have been run in which everything from handguns to missile components have been made. Some are going commercial while others are still in design/test stage.

It appears to be a high potential investment opportunity as well, if a guy can just choose the right one. (DDD, Stratasys, Xone, etc.) Just curious as to whether anyone can describe first-hand experience with one of them.

 

[Fishing Dude too]

Re: 3-D Printing

Used to make a receiver got 3 shots out of it, At that point was worn badly

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: 3-D Printing

I have a friend that has a 3d printer. In my opinion it is a great tool for making parts. The resulting plastic can be used for casting parts. There are various polymers used in the 3 d printers and some stronger and harder then others.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: 3-D Printing

One of the guys in our department at work has a 3D printer that he built from a kit and assorted parts. He makes really interesting stuff and brings it in. One of the most unique things that he has made is a 'gear bearing', which supposedly can only be made by the 3D printing process.

Totally cool technology . . .

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: 3-D Printing

we had two plastic 3D printers in the engineering prototype lab in my last job. the machines were pricey, the resins more so. however we could make prototype plugs for casting, and we could make styling/marketing models any time we wanted.

for lasered sintered metals, we went to a large prototype shop. there we could get useable hard parts.

 

[southkogs]

Re: 3-D Printing

We're still a little young in the life cycle of 3D printing, but the technology has incredible potential. The one-off and small scale manufacturing potential alone pretty intense, but using a design/distribute/produce model (digital publishing, music distribution, etc.) there's even further potential.

Some food grade media has been toyed with, making me wonder if they can't (at least at some level) save on transportation costs moving food over long distances and running through a "printer" on the other end.

Very fascinating technology.

Used to make a receiver got 3 shots out of it, At that point was worn badly

True: that was the first AR receiver. THIS ONE (1911 style) hasn't done quite so poorly.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 3-D Printing

Some food grade media has been toyed with, making me wonder if they can't (at least at some level) save on transportation costs moving food over long distances and running through a "printer" on the other end.

Like stuff a pork chop in a transmitter and have it come out the printer sort of along the lines of "Scotty, beam me a pork chop"? Or tell the "food printer" to print a pork chop?

The first is Star Trekkie, but should work since the pork chop is just moved (tele-ported) from one place to another.

The second needs material to make a reconstituted pork chop - protein, flavorings, fats, vitamins, minerals etc. Transportation is still needed to get the raw materials to the printing site. That's if you would eat a tofu or soybean pork chop. Might as well just make a "food pill". I dread the future.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: 3-D Printing

They're even doing titanium metal printing. In fact, someone just made a model 1911, Colt .45 using one. They've also printed a car ( at least the panels and chassis) which is going to make an endurance run soon. It's already proving to be a real breakthrough in medicine too. They have one in Haiti now which allows them to "print" simple items like catheters and clips on site, rather than having to order them and be charged a huge mark up. They've also "printed" complete, fully funtional kidneys as well as an artificial liver which lasted 40 days, which is a tremendous breakthrough. Just imagine how much time that could buy a transplant patient. Can't wait to see what they do next. Imagine being able to print that obscure piece of Starcraft, Lonestar, etc.... trim, or to be able to print off a whole new cowl of your own design.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 3-D Printing

TImagine being able to print that obscure piece of Starcraft, Lonestar, etc.... trim, or to be able to print off a whole new cowl of your own design.

Now there is a use - printing the unobtainable plastic emblems that have been broken or sun damaged over the years. MMMMM.

 

[southkogs]

Re: 3-D Printing

Like stuff a pork chop in a transmitter and have it come out the printer sort of along the lines of "Scotty, beam me a pork chop"? Or tell the "food printer" to print a pork chop?

The first is Star Trekkie, but should work since the pork chop is just moved (tele-ported) from one place to another.

The second needs material to make a reconstituted pork chop - protein, flavorings, fats, vitamins, minerals etc. Transportation is still needed to get the raw materials to the printing site. That's if you would eat a tofu or soybean pork chop. Might as well just make a "food pill". I dread the future.

LOL - more like the second, though the first has been talked about (my ears aren't quite pointy enough to get there yet though). I think the real idea was that by having several "media" to input into the gizmo, you could dial in a pork chop or lamb chop and it could produce it for you.

More practically, the raw food grade material could be "condensed" (air removed more than anything) to pack more on an airplane to drop over an area like the Philippines (in it's current condition). Once delivered, the printer could output the material into something - bigger than the pill you mentioned, but still probably not all that exciting - that will hold folks over until the world returns to normal. Basically, food just condenses down for transport.

On one hand the second sounds impractical, but sometimes things condense more than one might think I guess.

 

[southkogs]

Re: 3-D Printing

Now there is a use - printing the unobtainable plastic emblems that have been broken or sun damaged over the years. MMMMM.

That could be done now.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 3-D Printing

That could be done now.

Exactly what I was thinking. Wonder if my local Staples has a 3D printing yet. Upload an image and go to Staples and pick it up. Only in Europe so far, I think.

I would call Scotty to see if it's ready for pick-up.

 

[southkogs]

Re: 3-D Printing

Exactly what I was thinking. Wonder if my local Staples has a 3D printing yet. Upload an image and go to Staples and pick it up. Only in Europe so far, I think.

I would call Scotty to see if it's ready for pick-up.

If not, THESE GUYS have it available. Office Max (I think) launched it across their retail outlets in Europe, but I don't know if anyone is doing it besides test outlets here in the states.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 3-D Printing

I looked at the UPS link, no stores close yet. Also looked at the FAQs, but the most important question wasn't there. How much $$$?

 

[southkogs]

Re: 3-D Printing

I looked at the UPS link, no stores close yet. Also looked at the FAQs, but the most important question wasn't there. How much $$$?

That I don't know. I haven't had call to have anything made yet. I've been invited to a couple of demos, but haven't made it out to one.

In my line of work I do a TON of 3D modeling for design/art. So, I can easily make the model - I'm just waiting for the right opportunity to shoot something out of one of these things.