OT: 3D printers

[moneymaker]

Has anyone seen the “new”, 3D printers in action. I think i read last week there is one in Kearny Mesa on display (i.e. in action). I think it is the the next big thing, but haven’t actually seen one in action yet. SSYS went up significantly yesterday. The whole start up arena for these printers seems to be getting ready to ramp up.

[The-Shoveler]

Yea I think the 3D printing thing is going to be huge!

But I don’t think it will be in the average home
anytime soon making replacement parts for your car.
But I can see these being used in just in time manufacturing big time (Automation anyone?).

Maybe even at local shops where you can order a quality part (quality materials) and pick it up in a few minutes/hours etc…

I just don’t think the quality will be there in the home market for quite some time yet, maybe never.

This was started in my home town BTW, (Go Valencia)

[livinincali]

[quote=The-Shoveler]
But I don’t think it will be in the average home
anytime soon making replacement parts for your car.
But I can see these being used in just in time manufacturing big time (Automation anyone?).
[/quote]

Maybe not car parts but they’ll be in the home. This latest kickstarter campaign is one for less than $300.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/pirate3d/the-buccaneer-the-3d-printer-that-everyone-can-use

Here is somebody using one to 3d print his way to an aston martin.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/car-manufacturers/aston-martin/10219578/Using-a-3D-printer-to-build-a-car.html

[no_such_reality]

It has potential but needs serious modifications. At present printing something as simple as a smart phone case takes close to two hours.

[livinincali]

Here’s a local company (right here in san diego) that used kickstarter to build 3d printers for about $500 each.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1682938109/robo-3d-printer/posts

[moneymaker]

The day one of these replicators can reproduce itself will be a day that will go down in history.

[all]

At 2012 SXSW some guys brought one to a bar, printing shot glasses and doing shots.

[FlyerInHi]

I won’t have one. I’d rather buy the parts premade for me at better equality. Hell, I don’t even have a color printer. I can send out for the pics I want for cheaper and better quality.

Wouldn’t it be better to upload your design to a company that has an industrial 3D printer and have them ship it back you? They can maintain the machine.

[moneymaker]

Perhaps, I think the real benefit is to have the item right away and not have to pay shipping, particularly small items. Everyone knows how the stealership gouges for little plastic parts. I do think 3d scanning will also be big, perhaps small magnets can be glued to the item to be scanned and then it can be suspended in a magnetic field while getting scanned. So I could glue the broken piece together (may have to tape), use some e-6000 glue to attach magnets then scan and replicate.

[The-Shoveler]

Yep I guess for home use normally expensive Small plastic parts would be a good use or for those who live out in the sticks like me even common plastic parts needed to fix stuff would be good.

But really
I think the elephant in the room is local shops with industrial grade metal capable 3d printers are going to be the most disruptive application of the tech.
Can you imagine a Home depot in say the size of a strip mall store or auto-parts store where you could just download the idem you want and then go pick it up or have it shipped.

I could see custom Auto Manufactures popping up like flower shops one day.

Hmmm come to think of it maybe not Home Depot, cement bricks stuff like that is not going to work well.

[The-Shoveler]

I could see an open source Sports car that would take on the best BMW’s etc… that could be assembled maybe for 20K or less.

Man this is going to be a wild ride,

[CA renter]

[quote=moneymaker]Perhaps, I think the real benefit is to have the item right away and not have to pay shipping, particularly small items. Everyone knows how the stealership gouges for little plastic parts. I do think 3d scanning will also be big, perhaps small magnets can be glued to the item to be scanned and then it can be suspended in a magnetic field while getting scanned. So I could glue the broken piece together (may have to tape), use some e-6000 glue to attach magnets then scan and replicate.[/quote]

This is already being used in the medical field. Pretty cool stuff.

“Anatomical Model or Medical Model Making, for Dental Implants, Orthopaedic Implants, and Surgical Planning. Anatomical models are precise three-dimensional replicas of an imaged area, derived from CT, MRI or surface scan data from any source.”

http://www.cavendishimaging.com/anatomical-models/

[dumbrenter]

They are taking away yer jobs!

[ucodegen]

[quote=The-Shoveler]I could see an open source Sports car that would take on the best BMW’s etc… that could be assembled maybe for 20K or less.

Man this is going to be a wild ride,[/quote]Some Shelby Cobra kits come in at about $36,000. Some cost more.. depends upon quality, authenticity. Factory 5 Mk4 is about $20,000 + cost of upgrades + engine and trans.

Caterham kits start from around $29,580 not including engine/transmission – which you might be able to get from junk yard. (some people drop V8s in these) http://www.uscaterham.com/showroom/classic.html

Both of these can be SB 100’d in California in terms of emissions.

To build one of these.. you’ll need to have an empty, free of junk, 2 car garage. (that is the amount of room you need).

[Author]

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