Jay Leno spot on a parts printer

[Kelvrick]

marked

 

[Squisher]

Being one that has done a ton of machining in my time, that is pretty amazing. It is hard to believe it could reproduce meshing gears.

 

[Rudee]

That fact that you can duplicate the parts in plastic is impressive, but I would be far more impressed if you could duplicate the parts in metal instead of having to give the plastic parts to a machinist and hope the machinist gets it right.

 

[Newbian]

Originally posted by: Rudee
That fact that you can duplicate the parts in plastic is impressive, but I would be far more impressed if you could duplicate the parts in metal instead of having to give the plastic parts to a machinist and hope the machinist gets it right.

Well I am sure there are parts like that but being able to cut metal would jack the price up a bunch.

I remember seeing something like that in American Chopper.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: Rudee
That fact that you can duplicate the parts in plastic is impressive, but I would be far more impressed if you could duplicate the parts in metal instead of having to give the plastic parts to a machinist and hope the machinist gets it right.

No you just hook it up to a CNC machine to cut form metal. The plastic was just for fit and also probable quicker to make sure it works.

 

[thescreensavers]

He called it a PC! omg

 

[Bulk Beef]

That is cool as fuck. The TZ gas tank sitting on the workbench is a nice touch, too.

 

[Alone]

What the shit? :shocked:

 

[halik]

rapid prototyping = awesome!

edit: wow interconnected pieces prototyped in place... holy shit

 

[Yzzim]

Originally posted by: Leros
So that can scan into the object as well (not just the surface visible edges)?

Yeah, I don't understand that part.

 

[vonmises]

They've done interconnecting parts for years. Freshman year of high school(8 years ago) my teacher had ball bearing made on one of these machines that would actually spin. It was cool at the time. At my last job we got one that uses a powder and glue to make parts. Its the same one used by Figureprints (they make WoW characters) One of the first things we made was a half scale blade it was amazing the detail it could do. Nothing really held together, but the heat sinks and there springs were all clearly there.

 

[venkman]

EARLY REPLICATOR!!!!!

ZOMG!!! STAR TREK IS REAL!!!!! :Q :Q :Q:Q :Q

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Homerboy
The 3d printer isn't that "new"... MSOE has had one on campus for nearly 20yrs now:
http://www.rpc.msoe.edu/

The 3D scanner though, for under $3k? wow.

QFT...it's the pricepoints now making it 'easily' obtainable.

CNC used to cost a lot more as well.

 

[cKGunslinger]

Sweet! A dancing Oreo!

 

[Minjin]

Nothing new here except the smaller and cheaper part. Still very cool stuff.

 

[mrSHEiK124]

Originally posted by: Yzzim

Originally posted by: Leros
So that can scan into the object as well (not just the surface visible edges)?

Yeah, I don't understand that part.

 

[Bignate603]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: Rudee
That fact that you can duplicate the parts in plastic is impressive, but I would be far more impressed if you could duplicate the parts in metal instead of having to give the plastic parts to a machinist and hope the machinist gets it right.

No you just hook it up to a CNC machine to cut form metal. The plastic was just for fit and also probable quicker to make sure it works.

Exactly. You can easily take this model and make it out of steel, aluminum, titanium, or whatever you want. You could even have it cast to make it really authentic.

Nothing that they are showing here is new tech, its the price and easy of use that's amazing.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: Bignate603

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: Rudee
That fact that you can duplicate the parts in plastic is impressive, but I would be far more impressed if you could duplicate the parts in metal instead of having to give the plastic parts to a machinist and hope the machinist gets it right.

No you just hook it up to a CNC machine to cut form metal. The plastic was just for fit and also probable quicker to make sure it works.

Exactly. You can easily take this model and make it out of steel, aluminum, titanium, or whatever you want. You could even have it cast to make it really authentic.

Nothing that they are showing here is new tech, its the price and easy of use that's amazing.

The biggest thing as far as metal parts are concerned:

rapid prototype > check fit > make mould with prototype > cast in metal

 

[Kaido]

We used a machine like this at my previous job. Design in CAD, send to the printer, voila! A few years ago they even started offering rubber "ink", so we could "print" flexible materials like weather-sealing gaskets, not just plastic parts. The nice thing is, it makes a very durable model, so you can sand it down, paint it, and present a glossy showpiece to customers for presentations.

I can't wait for iTunes to start offering 3D Ninja Turtle action figure models for $1.99 to download and print to your 3D HP printer

 

[OulOat]

Unfortunately, I don't think this can keep old cars/machines running forever. Parts get worn down from use; this machine will copy the wear. Also, if a part totally get destroyed, good luck piecing it together. Of course, if you are proactive and copy a working machine, then you are in pretty good shape.

 

[knawlejj]

This past January I took a "J-Term" class for my college (Business Tours) and one of the places we went was Saris Cycling which makes bike racks, trainers, and other accessories for cycling enthusiasts. While my group toured the place, up in the engineering section they had a scanner and printer exactly like that to make parts for their products. We were told it was mostly just used for prototypes, but in the long run it saves a ton of money on overhead costs.

 

[Q]

That is unbelievable. Simply amazing

 

[Mo0o]

The fact that it can do articulating parts using that soluble scaffold is the most amazing part of that machine in my opinion

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: OulOat
Unfortunately, I don't think this can keep old cars/machines running forever. Parts get worn down from use; this machine will copy the wear. Also, if a part totally get destroyed, good luck piecing it together. Of course, if you are proactive and copy a working machine, then you are in pretty good shape.

That'd be a nice future business - 3D plans for 3D printers. If they could do a cheap at-home casting system for molds and whatnot, that'd just be crazy cool