3D printing

[jiimbergin]

If you have not see this technology, you should. It is amazing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZboxM...layer_embedded

3D printing is a form of additive manufacturing technology where a three dimensional object is created by laying down successive layers of material. 3D printers are generally faster, more affordable and easier to use than other additive manufacturing technologies. 3D printers offer product developers the ability to print parts and assemblies made of several materials with different mechanical and physical properties in a single build process. Advanced 3D printing technologies yield models that can serve as product prototypes

[globaleconomicollaps]

Re: 3D printing

you might note in the video that the wrench is made of plastic. This lady makes things in metal that could not otherwise be fabricated:

http://www.bathsheba.com/sculpt/

this is an example:

[zoog]

Re: 3D printing

If you have not see this technology, you should. It is amazing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZboxM...layer_embedded

3D printing is a form of additive manufacturing technology where a three dimensional object is created by laying down successive layers of material. 3D printers are generally faster, more affordable and easier to use than other additive manufacturing technologies. 3D printers offer product developers the ability to print parts and assemblies made of several materials with different mechanical and physical properties in a single build process. Advanced 3D printing technologies yield models that can serve as product prototypes

3D printers have been around for almost ten years. I think the small ones cost around $30,000 - $50,000, so most of us are not going to have one at home for a while.

The part of the video where they scan the wrench and it magically becomes a 3d model in the computer is highly dubious. Compare the metal wrench to the one on screen and the 3d-printed result... The 3d version has a lanyard ring on the end, and appears to have a more open helix on the adjustment screw (the part they colored red). There is technology to 3d scan objects but I don't think it is to that level of sophistication yet. They probably used a wrench model they already had on hand.

Other than that bit of subterfuge, the 3d printing technology is pretty cool.

[thriftyandboringinohio]

Re: 3D printing

3D printers have been around for almost ten years....l.

Longer than that, perhaps 20 years. In 1993 a friend got a patent for taking MRI images of a living bone, including all the complex little cavities inside and all the peculiar details of external shape, and used stereolithography (an early wet-process 3D printing technique) to duplicate it with high fidelity. He was hoping to find a bio-compatible SLA material and replace peoples damaged bones with a drop-in replacement, perfect fit. In 1993.

[Sharky]

Re: 3D printing

3D printers have been around for almost ten years. I think the small ones cost around $30,000 - $50,000, so most of us are not going to have one at home for a while.

Prices are coming down quickly. As an example, check out the RepRap project -- a build-it-yourself 3D printer for under $1K:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RepRap

[c1ue]

Re: 3D printing

Prices are coming down quickly. As an example, check out the RepRap project -- a build-it-yourself 3D printer for under $1K:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RepRap

Hopefully it isn't because the 3D printer companies are copying the printer ink model...

http://www.pcworld.com/article/11472..._printing.html

We found that at the 500-page mark (using replacement cartridges), the total cost for each printer ranked in the same order as the printer's purchase price. But after 3000 pages, the total cost for Lexmark's Z605 added up to $517, a pack-leading figure that belied its $50 bargain purchase price; the $130 Canon i560 had the lowest total cost, at $298.

[Sharky]

Re: 3D printing

Hopefully it isn't because the 3D printer companies are copying the printer ink model...

RepRap can use polylactic acid (PLA) filament as its feedstock. Typical cost is about US$28 for 2 pounds (100m @ 2.9mm diam), in a variety of colors:
http://www.diamondage.co.nz/pla

One cool thing about RepRap is that it's also designed to be capable of nearly entirely replicating itself. It can't do electronics or metal yet, but all of the other pieces can be made by the machine.
http://reprap.org/wiki/Main_Page

[mmr]

Re: 3D printing

Good thing Bernanke doesn't know about this technology, or he might move beyond two-dimensional fiat and try to print more gold reserves.

[shiny!]

Re: 3D printing

Good thing Bernanke doesn't know about this technology, or he might move beyond two-dimensional fiat and try to print more gold reserves.

Made me laugh!

[dcarrigg]

Re: 3D printing

If you have not see this technology, you should. It is amazing!

From XKCD - to keep it light: