Amazing "printer" (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Rutledge
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ecuriel
Corporal
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- Jun 28, 2009
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I have been keeping my eye on this technology for a while. Some believe it will be available for consumers within a few years.
Rutledge
Master Sergeant
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binder001
Command Sergeant Major
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The 3D printers are fascinating. In the world of plastic models one fellow did some parts off 3D printing. He offered tracks for an LVT (Amtrac) in 1/35th scale. They were gorgeous pieces but cost $98 per set! As the technology improves perhgaps costs will come down and the opportunities for its use will increase. I have heard that this is really good for prototypes, then after any revisions the prototypes can be used for mold making to create masses of parts more cheaply.
Maybe someday we'll get to the level of the "replicator" in Star Trek. Simply talk to your computer, "I want a Spanish sailor from Trafalgar in 1805 in 1/30th scale. He should be wearing a hat and posed as if firing a 24-pounder ships cannon"
Maybe someday we'll get to the level of the "replicator" in Star Trek. Simply talk to your computer, "I want a Spanish sailor from Trafalgar in 1805 in 1/30th scale. He should be wearing a hat and posed as if firing a 24-pounder ships cannon"
theBaron
Major
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- Mar 27, 2008
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Actually, there is an extrusion machine that is available as a kit, for making objects using styrene. There is a series of videos on YouTube from a modeler who bought the kit and built the machine, then demonstrated casting pieces. For example, he made a model of Doctor Who's TARDIS, based on a CAD file.
The technology in this case comes from the medical field; it's used to make prosthetics and other objects in plastics or resins. Someone figured to make the machine smaller and package it as a kit. with the extruder and the hardware necessary to interface to a PC and read the design from a file. It also includes laser-cut plywood pieces to build the box. The results are OK, though, not spectacular. The piece had rows or ribs, from each pass the nozzle made as it extruded a bead of melted styrene. The finished piece would need some sanding. But the technology is improving, so it's conceivable that we could see something like that to make figures. It's still easier at this point to take a master and make a mold.
Prost!
Brad
The technology in this case comes from the medical field; it's used to make prosthetics and other objects in plastics or resins. Someone figured to make the machine smaller and package it as a kit. with the extruder and the hardware necessary to interface to a PC and read the design from a file. It also includes laser-cut plywood pieces to build the box. The results are OK, though, not spectacular. The piece had rows or ribs, from each pass the nozzle made as it extruded a bead of melted styrene. The finished piece would need some sanding. But the technology is improving, so it's conceivable that we could see something like that to make figures. It's still easier at this point to take a master and make a mold.
Prost!
Brad