Truly amazing - this equipment can copy any part of just about anything.
It creates a 3D copy machine of old parts etc.
And it’s American made…
David,
That is pretty neat.
Now you are getting the idea. Something we will all find interesting.
Ralph
I am trying.
This is a development of a technology that has been around for many years, but fortunately, is now within reach of the masses and more versatile. The original technology was extremely expensive and took several days to build up a small item in wax only. From memory, a simple wax buildup about the size of an egg, cost around $5000 and took several days to composite. Reminds one of the morph technology ‘invented’ for a Michael Jackson song that showed faces morphing into each other. Cost at the time to accomplish was over $400,000, but is now commonplace technology and available as a home PC programme.
This technology will revolutionise the industry, but one wonders as to its use in pirate cloning.
My dentist used something similar to create my latest crown. It was done in-house while I watched. 'Way cool! Much less expensive than having the lab do it.
I have been wondering if the same process could be used with copper, brass, aluminum or steel wire.
Tim said:
“This technology will revolutionize the industry, but one wonders as to its use in pirate cloning.”
I think it would come in handy if your “Talk Like a Pirate Day” party was poorly attended.
Arrrrr.
Joe
I have one friend who is a manager in a manufacturering plant that just got a “3 D printer” for the modeling shop. He says its really amazing and will speed up their process.
Another friend is a high school senior whose tech lab just got a “3 D printer” through a grant. As he is applying to various tech colleges (MIT, etc) he was very excited about this equipment.
This is really cool stuff. I think we’ll see more and more come down the pike. I’d sure love to have one in my shop so I could brag ab out having a $15K machine tha could churn out various pieces for model rr’ing and RC flying models!!!
Dave
David Hill said:Looks to me like all it makes is the pattern. Then you can cast or machine the part from that.
I have been wondering if the same process could be used with copper, brass, aluminum or steel wire.
If we would have that machine at the last foundry I worked for…
Thats the same one that Bob posted on a week or so ago.
If i had one of those I might beable to build some of the stuff you guys do.
Just think of the things Bruce, Vic and the others would start to make.
John Bouck said:David Hill said:Looks to me like all it makes is the pattern. Then you can cast or machine the part from that.
I have been wondering if the same process could be used with copper, brass, aluminum or steel wire.If we would have that machine at the last foundry I worked for…
It makes the pattern…if your item is metal. If you are scanning a plastic item…you are duplicating it.
To use copper, aluminum or steel wire in the same process would truly be amazing. It would certainly require much higher temperatures in the pattern maker.
Ralph
What about switch parts, frogs, guard rails, and points? As to metal, too much heat is required. You use a CNC machine to do the metal work. My son works for a major maker of aircraft parts, i.e. wing spars for Boeing and Airbus using rather large CNC machines. Also, a while back we had a local man who made fuel bunkers for Bachmann Locos using a very similar system.
Yes it is a wave of the future, make a model out of whatever and scan it in and then send to the CNC machines to make as many as you what.
Paul
I’ve always thought this could be the wave of the future for commercial figure manufacturing. Use a 3D body scanner like they use in Hollywood to scan people dressed in period outfits, then use the 3D “printer” to make a master for the injection molds.
Ray Dunakin said:I'm wondering if, like on some photocopiers, you could change the scale. For example, using a highly detailed HO brass engine to make a copy in 1:29 scale. I realize there may be copyright issues here which would need to be resolved, but it definitely could have a significant impact on lowering the prices of molds for manufactures of G Scale locos and rolling stock.
I've always thought this could be the wave of the future for commercial figure manufacturing. Use a 3D body scanner like they use in Hollywood to scan people dressed in period outfits, then use the 3D "printer" to make a master for the injection molds.