Make your own parts . . .

[Foxer]

Creating the 3D mesh that these printers would use to "just print a body" is not for the casual user. The 3D programs themselves are upwards of $3000 though there are some cheaper alternates than the usual. I've used 3D Studio Max since 1992 and have collected car meshes since the start. I've modified them but I never had the time to really learn how to make a full mesh.

There are many car meshes available and expect to pay at least $100 for them. They all probably would need some adjustment to interact with the printer. That makes resin still considerable cheaper not even considering the hardware/software costs.

Still, I LOVE the idea of just printing out a Bugatti Atlantic to sacrifice as a rat rod build!

[my66s55]

Why couldn't a person still scratch build if they wanted? Imagine this. You want to make that Bugatti. You could buy a die cast one and resin cast it. The last time I checked, it cost me about $50 to do this with a promo and yes, I had to learn how to do it. Instead you take a webcam (demo on utube)or iPhone and take a 3D picture scan of what you want to make. This will cost you $.99 using the iPhone. Then you put the picture into 3d software on you computer, turn on the 3d printer and go have a cup of coffee. Check this out:http://www.trimensional.com/,http://www.geek.com/articles/mobile/trimensional-a-3d-scanner-for-iphone-using-just-an-app-2011016/. By the way, my 3D software didn't cost me anything. Blender 3D software is very good and open source plus cross platform. With the open source community involved in the development of these printers, it won't take long for progress. They are now printing with metal and making circuit boards complete with solder. To learn about open source go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_source.

[Foxer]

That 3d iphone app is pretty interesting, Doug! It may not work for a full size car, but it predicts things to come. I've wanted a 3D full body scanner for 30 years.

[Chuck Doan]

Here is an album of a 1/2" scale gas pump done using 3D printing:

http://public.fotki.com/ChuckDoan/model_projects/12-scale-gas-pump/?show_vi=1

It is an interesting technology and it will only get better and more affordable. More practical materials are showing up regularly. Owning a machine is less likely for most of us (plus they get obsolete real fast), but using a printing service is getting easier all the time. The hard part is making the computer models however, there is very affordable software like Sketch-up that can create the STL files needed for printing. I imagine we will see more services offering to do the computer models for us too.

I have only tried it a couple of times and found it to be a great way to make parts I could never do because of lack of skill and/or having the needed tools.

The philosophical arguments and comparisons to scratch building and hand crafting are probably similar to any of the areas where computers have replaced hand work such as CNC machining and those animation cells (and almost everything else!)

[shucky]

Thats just it. Printing 3D parts does nothing for your building skills. Some have already proven that here and other forums.

[Chuck Doan]

Yes, it is nothing like hand scratchbuilding and should not be compared to that. It is more akin to assembling a kit that you design yourself. Careful assembly and finish still pays off.

Edited July 12, 2011 by Chuck Doan

[sjordan2]

Yes, it is nothing like hand scratchbuilding and should not be compared to that. It is more akin to assembling a kit that you design yourself. Careful assembly and finish still pays off.

Agreed. For creating or duplicating parts without the need for outside suppliers who provide indeterminate quality, and for making parts you are satisfied with, it will be a huge asset. And if you're a computer engineering whiz, you can conceive what's never been seen before in a high-quality way. Until some kit maker comes up with a way to meet the total detail needs of the advanced or typical styrene kit builder (and without scaring away people who don't need 1000 parts for a satisfying build), I don't see scratchbuilding ever going away.

But I think this process will become a great new tool for avid builders, and should be relied on, perhaps more than I am aware of, to help companies like Revell, Round 2, etc., add greater accuracy and manufacturing speed to their products.