Maybe. I've not yet seen metal parts from 3D printers, but have used its predecessor process: PM parts in steel, bronze and stainless alloys. They are pretty uniformly lower in strength properties than their wrought counterparts, unless infiltrated (e.g. copper into steel/stainless alloys). The infiltration tends to alter the chemistry to the point that corrosion resistant parts are no longer quite so resistant. Similarly, plastics from additive machines do not perform as well as their molded counterparts in strength. For mockups, prototypes, or purely decorative features, ie. applications where the lower strength and brittle behavior can be managed to an acceptalbe level, they do ok. But people predicting a "print your own engine", or car, or gun, etc. are extrapolating to an endpoint I just can't see from here.
One of the smarter uses of the technology is to print forms in wax, which can then be used for an investment casting, with a bit of effort.
As a maker** of fine jewelry for a hobby, I foresee the demise of the true craftsman in small, intricate work. Solidworks and a 3-D printer shorten the idea-to-mold time by orders of magnitude. Mistakes, judgement errors, size changes, and trial prototypes that turn out just plain ugly are almost trivial in terms of wasted effort (and wasted gold or platinum).
I think this will apply to lots of other small work.
**Notice that I wrote "maker," not "creator." My wife and sister are the designers and sketchers. I wish I had that talent, but for now I'm happy being the one who gets to make the castings.
Best to you,
Goober Dave
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Currently there are a good few 3D printed parts in Formula 1 cars, as basically parts can be produced that could not be made in any other way.
As has been mentioned it is becoming more common in producing max parts for the jewellery business and a big advantage is parts can be made in different parts of the world rather than relying on the skill and interpretation of the sculptor.
If and when it becomes a main stream way of making “budget” products I don’t know but it is hard to see that it won’t become more widely used as the technology develops and parts will be designed specifically to be 3D printed.
Does anyone know what the cost (materials only) is to make say a comb in one of these? Sort of interested in the comparison for something like a vending machine.
When I was younger, very young, there was a plastic molding machine at a dinsour exibit. One would put in your money, and the machine would mold and despence a plasitc dinsour. They looked simular to the dinsours that were roaming wild.
"When I was younger, very young, there was a plastic molding machine at a dinsour exibit. One would put in your money, and the machine would mold and despence a plasitc dinsour. They looked simular to the dinsours that were roaming wild."
Exactly HOW OLD are you?
John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA Siemens PLM: UG/NX Museum:
To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
The material to print is usually PLA or ABS, and the filaments are bout 20$/kg. You mostly print hollow, or with 10 - 20% infill for strength, so material cost is really small.
Isen't there some kimd of trademark on most kids toys? Besides that, kids toys would be a good application in a vending application. I was thinking something like combs, ice scrapers, cell phone shells, and the like.
Another possible application might be plastic gears for power tools, copiers, and other power, and office machines.
If some one could do larger parts like air dams for cars, then it could reduce car parts inventorys.
I think one day in my lifetime, we'll see a printer in every home, right beside the microwave oven. Maybe not this decade, but probably the next. Need a baby toy? You grab design plans off the internet, plug them into the printer, and hit 'go.' I think they'll be quite common for simple items, such as an iPhone case.
One mod for printers like mine is a syringe-style extruder for making layer-by-layer edible confection designs (marzipan, etc). Seems like it could be a cool way to make custom cake toppers, but it might be even better if there were a semi-hard candy filament that could be printed by the usual method instead.
There are also wood/polymer composite materials on the market, if you want to make a "wooden" part. I haven't figured out why I'd want to do that yet.
Wood polymer composites are more about recycling and the appearance of being ecologically responsible, unless of course you consider plywood and chipboard as wood polymer composites.
Regards
Pat
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One thing about using wood is it might be easer to drill and cut after it is made. For something like a simulated wood handle for travel bags. All you would need is a grain look.
One application maybe wood dowls for between pieces of wood. The polymer would make it better for hammering into the drilled hole. And with them being printed, you don't need to keep so many sizes in stock. You could use the same printer to print drawer pulls, and polymer screws (for the pulls), as well as drawer slides, casters, etc.
There you go, furnish your home from a stack of lumber, wood saws, etc., a 3d printer, and wood glue.
