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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Dec 17, 2018 10:50:41 GMT -5
Should open open up a whole bunch of possibilities for items that could not be manufactured before. It is not cost effective yet but it does provide a solution to some previously impossible items.
They are using them and teaching about them in our high schools. I know kids that are printing and selling custom phone cases and other do-hickeys they design. In the school program the kids purchase a kit with the parts that can't be printed and then print the remaining plastic parts and build there own printers.
Chuck
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 17, 2018 10:52:07 GMT -5
Should open open up a whole bunch of possibilities for items that could not be manufactured before. It is not cost effective yet but it does provide a solution to some previously impossible items. They are using them and teaching about them in our high schools. I know kids that are printing and selling custom phone cases and other do-hickeys they design. In the school program the kids purchase a kit with the parts that can't be printed and then print the remaining plastic parts and build there own printers. Chuck That is really cool!!! That would have been a sweet class for the grandkids. That sounds like a really good school!
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Post by Rockoonz on Dec 17, 2018 23:18:47 GMT -5
I took a class years ago for one of the early machines. They printed a blob out od 2 materials and then you used washing soda to remove the filler. Who would have guessed how far it's come?
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NRG
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,687
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Post by NRG on Dec 18, 2018 10:00:14 GMT -5
3D plastic printers are really cool toys. In the automotive world we are starting to see more and more about 3D metal printers. They are producing parts and tooling for cars that could never be machined with traditional methods. They can 3D print Aluminum, Standard Steel, Stainless steel and H-13 hardened steel parts now. Chuck Laser sintered? I saw my first 3D printer in 1984 at the Guggenheim Festival. They printed chains and balls in cages. The method was uv laser cure of a liquid resin. The lasers even then had sub micron precision. The resin would cure only at the intersection of all three lasers. Awesome feat for 35 years ago. Cost? $250,000 seemed expensive then. Seems cheap now.
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NRG
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,687
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Post by NRG on Dec 18, 2018 10:07:20 GMT -5
This is my 3D printed "Klein Bottle - opener". It was printed at Shapeways in stainless steel. The sintered material then dipped in bronze. The artist is Bathsheba Grossman. She has a lot of very interesting pieces for your viewing pleasure.
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