What’s Next after CNC —-3D printing?

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What’s Next after CNC —-3D printing?

This topic has 26 replies, 13 voices, and was last updated 12 August 2011 at 07:19 by Redpiperbob.

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17 May 2011 at 08:22 #68658
Paul Boscott
Participant
@paulboscott25817
>>

How long before these become available to the home constructor?

I found this after seeing the “3D creation Lab” stand at The Harrogate show

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jt3EGgtSAUc
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17 May 2011 at 08:22 #14948
Paul Boscott
Participant
@paulboscott25817
17 May 2011 at 08:42 #68659
John Stevenson 1
Participant
@johnstevenson1
They are out now at home shop level, do a search for RepRap on Google or Youtube.

Like CNC, in fact you need CNC to operate them, they generate their own following as regards forums and blogs.

Again like CNC some of the users are more interested in these machines as a hobby, the MK I making the MK II etc, instead of what can actually be produced on them.

Many will look at these and discount them on the fact that they are slow and the materials used for the finished project are not suitable for use but there are trades where the materials can be used for a starter in other applications.

One example is lost wax casting where the part is so intricate or hollow that it cannot be machined by normal methods. I can see the jewellery industry taking these on board, the ability to do intricate jewellery in multiple copies.

John S.
17 May 2011 at 08:54 #68660
blowlamp
Participant
@blowlamp
They’re already avaiable here http://www.bitsfrombytes.com/ and I think some people are building their own by utilising defunct plotters and printers etc.

Some ‘printed’ parts are shown here too http://moi3d.com/forum/messages.php?webtag=MOI&msg=4048.1

http://forum.punchcad.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=3870&d=1305270158

It won’t be long before they become relatively commonplace, in my opinion.

Martin.

Edited By blowlamp on 17/05/2011 08:56:12

Edited By blowlamp on 17/05/2011 09:01:08
10 August 2011 at 10:12 #73109
ronald smack
Participant
@ronaldsmack64157
Nice video! I do not know much about this, but i think it deserves some attention. The details are really helpful. Thanks for sharing the valuable information.

3d printing | 3d printing service
10 August 2011 at 10:50 #73110
ady
Participant
@ady
Most of these things show people smiling while they lean against something which looks like a coffee machine.

Here’s one that shows the basic processes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZboxMsSz5Aw

What this reminds me of is the replicator in Star Trek.
10 August 2011 at 13:16 #73115
John McNamara
Participant
@johnmcnamara74883
Hi All

This is the way of the future and it won’t be long before a home builder completes one. More difficult than hot melted plastic yes but not impossible. A 200 watt laser is enough. (And enough to blind you so safety interlocks and procedures are essential). Unlike the plastic parts fron say Rep Rap machines these parts have properties similar to the parent metal. Metal powders are not that expensive. particularly when you consider there is no waste.

Sintered metal the old way (Metal powder with or without a ceramic binder pressed under extreme pressure in a die then fused in a furnace) has been around for years. A typical car has hundreds of parts made from it.

Google search for Laser sintering metal powders.

Ah Ha… A few are trying already

Google search for do it yourself DIY laser sinter

The UK leads here

http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2011-07/uk-engineers-print-and-fly-worlds-first-working-3-d-printed-aircraft

Cheers

John

Edited By John McNamara on 10/08/2011 13:37:14
10 August 2011 at 13:46 #73118
John Stevenson 1
Participant
@johnstevenson1
Art Fenerty who wrote the Mach 3 CNC program is working on a simple version using a pretty standard printer which has been altered.

As others have said it’s not that new but someone like Art will put a lot into an effort like this.

He has a very good track record, Mach3 and then Gearotic.

John S.
10 August 2011 at 16:36 #73123
Silverback
Participant
@silverback
First posting on the forum!

On a commercial basis this technology is being explored as a serious alternative to thermoplastic injection moulding for short run (<1,000 parts) and designs previously not feasible with current mould toolmaking technology.

GC
10 August 2011 at 16:48 #73124
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
Posted by Paul Boscott on 17/05/2011 08:22:03:

>>

How long before these become available to the home constructor?

Well the Guy that runs another model steam forum is expecting delivery of his any day now. He’s also part way through drawing up a 3 ft high bottle engien and will use the CAD drawings to make patterns to cast the parts from.

He hopes at a later dat to market the engien in various scales, the beuty of the system is that with a click of a button the patterns can be made whatever size within reason someone wants.

Jason
10 August 2011 at 19:42 #73140
Jim Nolan
Participant
@jimnolan76764
The Achilles heel of all these entry level systems is resolution. The demo stuff on show at Harrogate was probably OK if you wanted a sand cast type finish. But it would not hold a candle to the best lost wax or investment casting.

Most of the stuff I saw at Harrogate I think was using Z corp. machines which are probably the cheapest method out there for commercial rapid prototyping. Which give an acceptable resolution and finish. They are also probably the cheapest commercial type machine for a start up business. When you get into high resolution prototyping the cost rise dramatically but so dose the quality.

The home based machines while exciting and a step in the right direction have a long way to go before we get to the point where home paper printers are now compared to there commercial cousins.

But roll on the day it will save me a fortune

Jim
11 August 2011 at 01:34 #73161
Gone Away
Participant
@goneaway
Posted by John Stevenson on 17/05/2011 08:42:50:

They are out now at home shop level, do a search for RepRap on Google or Youtube.

Many will look at these and discount them on the fact that they are slow and the materials used for the finished project are not suitable for use but there are trades where the materials can be used for a starter in other applications.

These (Repraps) are not like the early STL printers, John. The materials used for printing parts on those certainly were good for space models but not much else. Usually much too weak/brittle (also expensive)

But the current generation of Reprap machines uses ABS as a printing material which certainly is useful in many practical applications. In fact the plastic parts for a Reprap are usually made on another Reprap. Once you get hold of a set of those parts (eBay) the rest of it is pretty simple stuff … threaded rod and nuts, toothed belts, small stepper motors etc. (although getting small quantities of PTFE rod and PEEK is and high temp thermistors is not without its problems – at least in my neck of the woods).

I’m in the final stages of building one – just doing the extruder which is the tricky bit.

Edited By Sid Herbage on 11/08/2011 01:34:51

Edited By Sid Herbage on 11/08/2011 01:35:21
11 August 2011 at 06:45 #73167
Redpiperbob
Participant
@redpiperbob16487
Hi All

Here is a picture of the Pruasa 3D printer that I am building I am at the stage of getting the flow rate correct.

Bob
11 August 2011 at 14:22 #73196
Gone Away
Participant
@goneaway
Prusa is the one I’m building. It’s just the (Wade’s) extruder that I need to finish up. The nozzle is done (with its 0.5mm hole!) I now have the piece of PEEK which I need to machine. The PTFE rod is still on order though.

I’m in Canada and haven’t managed to source the specified Thermistor. RS in the UK has it but the shipping is prohibitive. I’d like to buy a few in case I want to experiment with extruders. I have found an axial version which I think I can use …. I’d just drill the Thermistor hole all the way through the heater block and bring the leads out both sides.

What are you using for electronics?

Since you’re farther ahead than me, I might take the liberty of contacting you by PM if I need advice if that’s OK with you?
11 August 2011 at 15:10 #73197
David Southwell ARPS
Participant
@davidsouthwellarps
Hi

Good luck with that — bear in mind that on extrusion you get a shrinkage of at least between 0.3% & 0.6% using ABS. The shrinkage also varies depending upon the depth of the layer and how many times the ABS has previously been extruded and cooled. Shrinkage also varies depending upon additives (including the color) in the particular ABS spec.This means a piece extruded in one colour may not come out exactly the same size if you change color. Shrinkage also varies in the part of a layer that is closest to a previous layer from that that is further away..hence you can usually see & feel the individual layers. ABS is certainly an improvement

David
11 August 2011 at 15:56 #73198
David Southwell ARPS
Participant
@davidsouthwellarps
PS I should also have mentioned that it is possible for ABS to change dimension with ageing.
11 August 2011 at 16:13 #73199
John Stevenson 1
Participant
@johnstevenson1
Sid, Whats the RS part number ?

Reason I ask is i bought some a while ago for a heated platten on a printing machine and I reckon there are still some left?

Edited By John Stevenson on 11/08/2011 16:14:34
11 August 2011 at 17:59 #73207
David Southwell ARPS
Participant
@davidsouthwellarps
Posted by John Stevenson on 11/08/2011 16:13:03:

Sid, Whats the RS part number ?

DAVID: The usual one is: http://uk.rs-online.com/web/5288592.html

Edited By David Southwell ARPS on 11/08/2011 18:00:00
11 August 2011 at 18:12 #73208
David Clark 13
Participant
@davidclark13
The last post appears corrupted.

Try this.

regards David

Edited By David Clark 1 on 11/08/2011 18:13:36
11 August 2011 at 18:21 #73209
Gone Away
Participant
@goneaway
Posted by John Stevenson on 11/08/2011 16:13:03:

Sid, Whats the RS part number ?

484-0183 seems to be the one that best fits the particular design I’m working to.

(hey – I managed to answer that all on my own!)
11 August 2011 at 18:40 #73210
David Clark 13
Participant
@davidclark13
Hi Sid

No need to make comments.

Stick to the point.

regards David
11 August 2011 at 20:07 #73214
Gone Away
Participant
@goneaway
Hi David C,

The (very mild compared with much on these forums that goes unmoderated) comment wasn’t aimed at you, but at the person who, against all accepted forum etiquette (and in-person discussion if it comes to that), pre-empted me on a question that was asked specifically and solely of me.

That is normally considered rude, boorish and often smacks of hubris.

I cannot believe that you jumped on this in this fashion.
11 August 2011 at 20:14 #73215
David Clark 13
Participant
@davidclark13
Hi Sid

I know who it was aimed at but that is imaterial. All comments that I spot like that will be edited out and repeat offences will result in a period of suspension.

Also, in future, when threads get hijacked just so people can have a bit of fun, that thread will change to a moderated thread.

I am getting to many complaints from people.

The only way to stop them is to stamp on them all equally.

regards David
11 August 2011 at 21:13 #73219
John Stevenson 1
Participant
@johnstevenson1
Sid, check your messages, top left.

John S.
12 August 2011 at 01:56 #73225
Gone Away
Participant
@goneaway
Posted by David Clark 1 on 11/08/2011 20:14:45:

All comments that I spot like that will be edited out and repeat offences will result in a period of suspension.

The only way to stop them is to stamp on them all equally.

If the moderation level has been changed that radically (and it is a pretty radical change if you are going after the comment I made) perhaps it would have been better to draw attention to it in a formal announcement lest the first people to feel the brunt of it feel they are being singled out.

I’ll watch for the “equal stamping” with bated breath. If you’re stamping on all comments (asides) that are as mild and innocuous as mine was, I don’t envy you the task.
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