wow this is crazy

[jeff967]

3D Printer

[bigsbybender]

I heard that TV's Jay Leno has invested in this technology to help him in the restoration of his rare and exotic Automobiles. Since some of the vehicles that he owns are possibly the last one in existence, he uses the 3D printer to make a composite part that he can then take to a machinist or foundry to make a proper replica. Just like using photoshop you can graphically "fix" a broken part to make it look like it should, print it, then take it to a fabricator to copy.

I saw where he had a missing door handle on one car and could not locate a replacement, so he took the handle off the opposite side, scanned it, reversed the image (as it would be the mirror image on the other side of the car) and printed it. The printed part fit perfectly so he took it to a fabricator to have a perfect door handle using the printed model as a guide.

The system costs millions of dollars, but it's for real! 10-20 years down the road, we may be purchasing printed items regularly as costs go down!

j.

[Shrapnel]

Now, THAT is interesting... Somehow though, I don't think it's even remotely ready for prime-time in recreating our favorite electronics. It would be cool though if it could.

[EL34]

yeah, that company, Zcorp has several models
The smallest model is non color and goes for about $15,000
That is the nicest design of all the 3D printers that I have seen.
The material plus a resign can make super hard items.
BTW, that company is privately held, so you can't buy stock in that company.

I still can't grasp how gears and things come out and can be rotated.
I can't fathom how the machine can make a shaft and an item that can spin on the shaft.

There are DIY plans on the web for 3D printers
Most squirt something like a hot glue material through a fine nozzle to build up the 3D model.
That type of machine is mostly used to make items so you can make molds from the items.

The DIY machines that I have seen are basically a home made CNC machine.
The Z axis is a floor that goes down as the overhead nozzle squirts out hot plastic in a very fine bead.