sweet928

I've just become aware of a technology called 3D printing. You can render a 3D model and print it into a 3D prototype for a few bucks a piece. The technology is a decade or so old, but has become much cheaper lately. Advances have made it possible to not just print models but actually make working parts from a printer! The way it works is printing layer on layer. Some printers can do this with Titanium powder and resins so you can have production level quality with VERY fine tolerance. An article I read predicted a revolution in manufacturing -- as this wipes out tooling costs and is the opposite of mass production.

What a blessing this could be for NLA parts needs. I for one have been searching for a center console bezel for my 79 OB. I read the airline industry is looking to make airline parts with this technology. Not just to save mold costs but rather than mill a block of Titanium or Aluminum -- which wastes 90% of the material -- they can just print the exact piece with 90% less waste.

The article was in the Economist and is very interesting. They made a Stratvairous Violin and it plays! NLA Cam gears made at home for 20-50 bucks! Imagine that.

sweet928

http://www.economist.com/node/181142...ry_id=18114221

http://www.economist.com/node/181143...ry_id=18114327

jeff spahn

I saw one of these in operation at PAK EXPO in Chicago this year. You can get them for "home use" for $7000. Makes parts out of plastic. You could scan a gear, rapid prototype it and take it to a shop to be milled.

hans14914

Its a good tool for visualization, or making a mold for casting, but apart from that its not a sustainable technology for making replacement parts. The average price for a printed part is around $10-15/cubic inch depending on the material used. Also the material is generally only about 75% the strength of standard cast ABS so really not usable as a replacement part.

Not that it isnt a great tool (and if you are interested in it from a hobby perspective, you may want to look into Rep Rap), but wanted to keep people from getting their hopes up too high regarding the technology as it exists now.

Hans

sweet928

I thought the same thing. We were looking at this machine at work. For us it would be a prototype machine. The one we looked at can just to corn starch like dust. About as hard as plaster. However, the article in the Econimist seemed to be saying the technology has progressed beyond prototype uses. I'll re read the article but thought it said they can print Titanium dust as strong as milled. Airplane manufacturers looking to print entire wing sections. Even if that is just a future possibility -- it sounds promissing. At the rate technology moves we could one day have Star Trek "replicators" of sorts.

sweet928

Just re read the article. It clearly says they are printing production parts already.

RKD in OKC

Saw a printer like this when Classic Car visited Jay Leno's Garage. Jay had one and used it to make replacement parts that were NLA for his old cars. It even made assemblies with moving parts.

AO

I disagree, somewhat. I know of a company in germany that uses a 3d prototyper to make some interior parts for MB. I'm sure they're not surface pieces, but still... for low volume production they can be very useful.

But generally, I agree this is not a replacement for molded pieces. It is primarily meant to function as a prototype maker.

BPG_Austin

We had a stratasis system in college years ago. worked well, but is intended for shape/form studies only. Good tool for a design shop to have in-house. CAD something up, 3d print. (picture is worth 1000 words, a model is worth 1000 pictures.) But, limitations are they aren't really Functional. You can 3d print a door ****, but if you drop it, it'll shatter. You can CNC a door *** out of aluminum, plastic.. whatever and its a Functional piece.
I think they're able to use sintered powder for some of these 3d printers now. Solidified with a laser of some kind. I agree the technology is coming along, but it isnt' here yet. If it was I'd be out a job.

svp928

It is also not that inexpensive- the "scans" you get from a laser scanner take a lot of hours to clean up in a CAD program before you get a good solid model for the printer to print, and then it is still fairly expensive. The machines which can sinter titanium or aluminum are very costly, and so are the parts they make. 928 motorsports is making intake manifolds- check his price for those pieces and you will see that big parts are expensive. For small things that are not structural, they do great job, and for prototypes they are great, but so far, they aren't that good for most production parts. That day is coming, but its all here yet.
Your console bezel is a good candidate, but a brake pedal or piston is not....

Randy V

Discussed here extensively in the past. This technology has actually been around for more that 20 years. Originally referred to as 'stereo lithography'.

Here's a good video at Jay Leno's garage:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggvzc...7AA255ACA7E9A9