3D Printing

ScumLord · 04-02-2013 07:36PM

Matt Simis wrote: »

Aside from media hype and some people cashing in on it, why would you expect it to replace mass production technology and industry? IMO, thats not what its for.

I spoke to a jeweler and they currently have a multiple layer rubber molding process, posting away moulds, getting them back, testing with customer etc... a whole chunk of that process could be replaced with rapid (and its a lot more rapid than the many layers and geographic elements of traditional prototyping) 3D printing.

It's good for that if it's important to see what the finished article looks like.

Smaller pieces are obvious too, such as gears for Sunblinds, snaps, switches, custom facia's for radios etc etc.

All those things are extremely easy to make currently though. It's as easy to mold 100 gears as it would be to print one. It'll take them a while before they can make something like a working gear though. They need strength which can be guaranteed through the manufacturing process. Most metal 3D printing is too fragile and I don't see it being able to produce hardened steel any time soon.

There certainly is a niche market but people are promoting it as a new manufacturing process and while it technically is, it's not a real challenge to current manufacturing techniques and won't be productive for a while yet.

BattleCorp · 04-02-2013 07:52PM

3d printers will really come into their own when they are combined with nano technology in the future.

If we get nanotechnology to the stage where we can manipulate atoms easily, then the 3d printer will be able to make anything, food, metals, human tissue, etc.

Imagine, a block of raw material with lots of different elements in it. It could be changed to anything inside the 3d printer when combined with nanotechnology.

I know we aren't at that stage yet but do you think many people thought in the early years of computers that we'd be where we are now so fast?

Capt'n Midnight · 05-02-2013 12:11AM

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/02/04/ten_3d_printers/ - round up of some 3D printers

Capt'n Midnight · 05-02-2013 12:15AM

BattleCorp wrote: »

3d printers will really come into their own when they are combined with nano technology in the future.

already done http://www.gizmag.com/two-photon-lithography-fast-3d-printer/21800/

As can be seen in the video below, the printer is currently pretty darn good at building things such as tiny race car models - it can make one that's a mere 285 micrometers long in just four minutes.

If we get nanotechnology to the stage where we can manipulate atoms easily, then the 3d printer will be able to make anything, food, metals, human tissue, etc.

the energy costs would be enormous for manipulating atoms unless you are talking a few monolayers

human tissue is already being done, print collagen protein for the shape and spray cells on it , you can even leave room for blood vessels

CrazyRabbit · 05-02-2013 02:12AM

It's like them computer things. I doubt there will ever be a need for more than 10 of them in the world.

Capt'n Midnight · 05-02-2013 02:40AM

CrazyRabbit wrote: »

It's like them computer things. I doubt there will ever be a need for more than 10 of them in the world.

technically speaking you really only need one really good one.

no prizes for guessing what's the first thing you make with it :pac:

K-9 · 05-02-2013 03:08AM

I reember reading a thread on Boards about this and unsubscribing because I couldn't comprehend it.

QI showed an example of it. I thought this is impossible stuff, theory nonsense, and then QI puts it into reality.

It's either a hoax or world domination, 3D printing is the next facebook, the masses will surely find a way to dumb 3D printing down.

fenris · 05-02-2013 12:51PM

The best guess that I have come across about the future with 3D printing including bio printing is in

"Rule 34" by Charles Stross

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rule-34-Charles-Stross/dp/1841497746/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1360064784&sr=1-1

A great book, but he has actually though a lot of the 3d printing stuff through, government control of feedstock material, black market in feedstock, home made 3d printers without the government copyright safeguards/monitoring, registration, specialist cops to track down unlicensed printers and of course everything "rule 34" moving from 'dinternet to real life.

Is it too soon to start looking for a 3d printing forum yet?

Blisterman · 05-02-2013 01:23PM

ScumLord wrote: »

I love 3D printing but I don't know how it's ever going to realistically replace any standard manufacturing methods. It just takes to long, in the time it takes to produce one part standard techniques would have produced hundreds. It's never going to be fast enough to be used in manufacturing.

Even for prototyping it's a bit of a novelty.

I have no doubt they'll get to the stage were a printer can produce workable parts and it could be really useful for communities that are isolated. A ship could carry enough materials to replace one or two crucial systems. It would be ideal for space too.

Introducing some of the aspects of 3D printing into the current production lines might speed things up and more than likely eliminate more humans for the workplace.

Well, at the minute, you have to factor in the time it takes to ship etc.

Plus, if it's only a matter of minutes to print an object, then I don't think time will be a big issue for a consumer. People already generally prefer their coffee and sandwiches etc to be made in front of them, than to buy pre-packaged ones, and if they could afford it, most people would prefer bespoke tailored clothes to off the shelf, made in sweatshop ones.

As 3d printing and other automated production methods become faster, the price premium for bespoke products over mass produced ones will gradually decrease to the point where it's negligible.

fenris · 05-02-2013 02:05PM

I am having serious thoughts about a delta robot based printer like the

Deltamaker http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/deltamaker/deltamaker-an-elegant-3d-printer-0

or more likely

Rostock http://reprap.org/wiki/Rostock

The Delta robot design just seems to make more sense and has a higher resolution, also in the future you could probably start to pivot the extruder head. The concept has been used for "pick and place" in manufacturing for years and is well thought/ironed out in terms of rigidity and lowering the moving mass of the head.

Besides it looks cooler!

cerebus · 06-02-2013 01:00AM

ScumLord wrote: »

I love 3D printing but I don't know how it's ever going to realistically replace any standard manufacturing methods.

I think it already is replacing standard manufacturing methods in places where it adds value - usually limited production runs, or parts that are hard to manufacture in traditional ways. Some examples:

GE Jet Engines - 3D printing jet engine turbine blades, supposed to be saving $25k per engine: http://www.businessinsider.com/ge-buys-3d-printing-company-to-make-parts-for-jet-engines-2012-11

Boeing has parts flying on various military products that are 3D printed. They say over 20000 parts that were built this way are on various platforms: http://www.businessweek.com/technology/3d-printing-coming-to-the-manufacturing-spaceand-outer-space-01092012.html

Pratt and Whitney and Boeing are mentioned in this story from the WSJ (might be subscriber only) - P&W making turbine blades, Boeing described as building over 300 different types of parts for production planes using 3D printing (example they give is air ducting that was very complicated to manufacture in a traditional manner): http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303933404577505080296858896.html

Pottler · 06-02-2013 01:25AM

Jasus, the way this technology is evolving so fast, soon people will be able to have a printer in their own homes that can reproduce words on a page just like newspapers.

This is mindblowing stuff. I'm sick to death of writing down interesting stuff I see on my computer screen. Someday even pictures might be possible. I'm not sure if I can keep up with all this new gear.

mbur · 06-02-2013 01:30AM

This looks promising 3D printing with stem cells A more readable article here

I wonder how long before we will go to the dentist to get living replacement teeth.

Capt'n Midnight · 06-02-2013 02:35PM

mbur wrote: »

I wonder how long before we will go to the dentist to get living replacement teeth.

that would be cool all right

meanwhile all the non-mammals just keep growing replacements

Don't know if tooth shape is determined genetically or by environment, the problem with mammals is their teeth interlock , so while it would be nice to implant a few cells to start a new tooth 3D printing might be the only way to get the shape right ?

68 lost souls · 06-02-2013 02:54PM

Another great book which looks in part at 3d printing is Makers: the new industrial revolution. Its a very good read. http://www.amazon.com/Makers-The-New-Industrial-Revolution/dp/0307720950

_Whimsical_ · 06-02-2013 03:00PM

If it hasn't been posted already this video is worth a look http://www.ted.com/talks/anthony_atala_printing_a_human_kidney.html

It's a TED talk from last year on the successful 3d printing of a human kidney. They used a cartridge of cell lines and an ordinary 3d printer. In the video you can actually see it being printed in the background. It is mind blowing.

Obviously these organs aren't being used in clinical settings for transplantation at this point but as the technology improves and it becomes possible to lay down functioning vasculature it will be a possibility.

TheUsual · 06-02-2013 08:44PM

It would be a very handy thing to have on a robot misson to the Moon or Mars.
Build a moon-base over decades instead of flying all the raw materials there, you would still need small processors for metal and alloys.

Antar Bolaeisk · 06-02-2013 09:12PM

TheUsual wrote: »

It would be a very handy thing to have on a robot misson to the Moon or Mars.
Build a moon-base over decades instead of flying all the raw materials there, you would still need small processors for metal and alloys.

The ESA are planning to send a couple of these things to the moon to do exactly that. Apparently the surface covering the moon is an ideal substance to be used for the process.

Capt'n Midnight · 06-02-2013 09:19PM

TheUsual wrote: »

It would be a very handy thing to have on a robot misson to the Moon or Mars.
Build a moon-base over decades instead of flying all the raw materials there, you would still need small processors for metal and alloys.

solar furnace using lenses and mirrors

the vacuum means less heat loss through gasses

IIRC you native iron exists so you should be able to collect it with a magnet

but how do you capture energy ?

TheUsual · 07-02-2013 12:08AM

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

solar furnace using lenses and mirrors
the vacuum means less heat loss through gasses
IIRC you native iron exists so you should be able to collect it with a magnet

but how do you capture energy ?

I have seen you on the Nuclear power in Ireland thread so I know you won't like this !! :pac:

Nuclear. Endless power, no people, no atmosphere.

Capt'n Midnight · 07-02-2013 02:23AM

TheUsual wrote: »

I have seen you on the Nuclear power in Ireland thread so I know you won't like this !! :pac:

Nuclear. Endless power, no people, no atmosphere.

And the budget to do it safely.

I've no problem with the use of NASA's radioisotope thermal generators.

But Stirling / Photovoltaic would be better on the Moon. Really depends on where you locate the base. Near the poles where you can have external sunshine on some peaks. Or use orbital mirrors.

Amalgam · 11-02-2013 05:47PM

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

solar furnace using lenses and mirrors

Talking of which..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptUj8JRAYu8

A YouTube mirror of Markus Kayser's Vimeo clip. A 3D printing 'solar sinter' in the middle of a desert.

Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/25401444

This has been around since 2011, but has resurfaced due to discussions about Lunar base printing.

Capt'n Midnight · 11-02-2013 06:25PM

Amalgam wrote: »

This has been around since 2011, but has resurfaced due to discussions about Lunar base printing.

I liked the sugar printer too

holystungun9 · 11-02-2013 06:43PM

If my friend 3d prints off Viagra from the Internet will it work?

26-09-2013 05:50PM

I wonder if Sampson & Goliath could be converted to 3D printers?

3D Printing

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