3d printer?

[Leonidae]

*click*

just how cool is that?!

 

[Prosthetic]

I think the link is broken.

 

[Duke]

They've been around for prototyping and architectural modelmaking for a number of years now. But yes, they are cool.

 

[ExigeEvan]

They are definetley cool, but not particularly new. Been around for atleast 2 years now.

On an open day to Southampton Uni they showed us a tower, the size of a Rook in chess, which had a spiral staircase within it. Seamless, detailed and quality finish.

 

[Prosthetic]

The link isn't working for me... I'll check it out when I get home I guess.

 

[exigeracer]

I like how he says it will cost a machinist too much to do it, but prototyping something off a Rapid Prototyper would cost you most likely more, not to mention that you haven't machined or cast it. That piece of ABS he's holding would probably cost 400-500$.

 

[ExigeEvan]

I like how he says it will cost a machinist too much to do it, but prototyping something off a Rapid Prototyper would cost you most likely more, not to mention that you haven't machined or cast it. That piece of ABS he's holding would probably cost 400-500$.

Very true, but it some situations it is priceless.

Take for example a warship. Instead of carrying spare parts, or even have a supply vessel with spare parts the plan can be taken from a data base, a model made, a cast made and then the part made. Plus, a rapid-prototyper would probably hold up to the movements of the sea far better than a machinist.

 

[exigeracer]

On an open day to Southampton Uni they showed us a tower, the size of a Rook in chess, which had a spiral staircase within it. Seamless, detailed and quality finish.

Just remembered my school's got the same model. It must be a freebie file that the printer comes with to test out first runs.

 

[Philly]

We have one of those here at Hope. Same model, in fact.

Unfortunately, our CAD class couldn't make any parts that actually worked using it. But I've seen a lot of upperclassmen using it for their research stuff. It's a very cool machine.

 

[Beerz]

Pretty cool.
I had already seen something of the sorts a few years ago, but it was much bigger and with a few limitations this model doesn't seem to have.

 

[Boost Lee]

That is the coolest thing I've seen posted on here. haha

 

[Keef]

I like how he says it will cost a machinist too much to do it, but prototyping something off a Rapid Prototyper would cost you most likely more, not to mention that you haven't machined or cast it. That piece of ABS he's holding would probably cost 400-500$.

The piece he modeled looks like it was cast. Today sand castings are modeled on computers, then that model is cut on a CNC machine, then that casting must be sent to a foundry where the negative space inside the casting is filled with metal. After all that is said and done it gets sent to a machine shop again where certain surfaces are machined smooth. But that's making it from scratch. Copying an existing part--making a new casting from it--would be challenging because of the high temperatures required to compact sand into a casting. Yeah, you'd probably have to use a one-piece sand casting that can be broken to extract the finished part. You would have to melt the original part out of that casting so you could fill it with new metal. Then of course you'd have to machine the surfaces of that one too.

Or you could scan it and machine it once. I believe the scanner actually makes a program that a CNC machine can work directly off of, but the printer quickly makes a prototype so you can see what it's going to look like when it's done. I'd think it would only take a few parts to pay the whole system off, compared to the old school way of casting it.

 

[nk4e]

I wonder what would happen if that got into the wrong hands....

 

[Jim Prower]

They are definetley cool, but not particularly new. Been around for atleast 2 years now.

On an open day to Southampton Uni they showed us a tower, the size of a Rook in chess, which had a spiral staircase within it. Seamless, detailed and quality finish.

Try 20 or so. and, yeah, that's a pretty standard part, comes with the machine, I think. I have a couple lying around here.

Ah, yes, the rapid Prototyping Machine. This type, a 3D printer, basically glues dust together. There's plenty of other types. My favorite is the type that creates a part using resin and a UV Laser. Stereolithography.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapid_Prototyping

There's even processes where you can sinter a metal powder, and have a working part within hours.

The various technology classes:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_laser_sintering
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fused_deposition_modeling - have used this personally
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereolithography
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laminated_object_manufacturing - Have also used this
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electron_beam_melting
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_printing - This is what Jay has.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_engineered_net_shaping

 

[stumpydino]

surely if you have broken the piece you would still need a complete piece to scan in to replicate it

 

[Jim Prower]

Well, you CAN put the break back together. Typically with a slide valve, you won't lose the part that breaks. It doesn't go THAT fast.

 

[Barracuda]

What I'm wondering is if you can manipulate the points on the program since the piece it printed still showed the crack.

 

[Jim Prower]

If you close the crack, even that scanner won't pick it up, and if it does, yes, it can be edited out in the CAD program before it is sent to the STL machine. In fact, you could make that smoother and flatter than the original...at least, on the 3D model.

 

[nk4e]

Lets take apart the 360 and replicate and improve! We have the Technology!

 

[mPWRD]

Leonidae... that is effing amazing. i just realized my dream of building my own car may be a lot closer...

 

[Jim Prower]

Well, yes and no...a small machine costs around $30,000...

If you have to ask how much the big ones cost...well, you better be doing a LOT of work for MAJOR corporations to get it to pay itself off...

Truth be told, though, Machine Tools, of any kind, are pretty expensive. A simple Bridgeport Knee mill can easily cost over a grand.

 

[mPWRD]

oh i know how much these things cost... thought that i was going to have a machinist design and build a lot of the smaller parts... can probably do it myself now... and it WILL be expensive.... must start saving up.

 

[nk4e]

Leonidae... that is effing amazing. i just realized my dream of building my own car may be a lot closer...

Including the Cost of the machine and materials...think of taking care of it also. Getting a Education sound better if you want to build your own car.

 

[mPWRD]

what do you think i'm doing now? 4 yrs undergrad at berk and then grad school i dont know where...

 

[nk4e]

Wording, would of probably explain it when I read it. But then again, I am only going to a community college. But, I have no excuse for myself. I look over my post and read it again. Then editing it , if I have the time. That or my right pinky finger will hit the shift button accidentally. THE INTERNET IS SERIOUS BUSINESS!!

 

[exigeracer]

Truth be told, though, Machine Tools, of any kind, are pretty expensive. A simple Bridgeport Knee mill can easily cost over a grand.

Lately there's been a little surge in the old-timer market though. All of the machinists that picked up war effort equipment are all well into retirement and are finally getting rid of that last favorite mill or lathe. There's some serious vintage (but still amazingly reliable) machinery going on the market for fairly cheap. And if you're looking to get your foot in the door, under a thousand dollars gets you a very respectable piece of equipment.