JesseJames Posted January 13, 2012 Posted January 13, 2012 I'm not sure if I'm missing something in this video but how is this a printer?
jbwelda Posted January 13, 2012 Posted January 13, 2012 (edited) the confusion probably is due to the fact most people think of "printer" as something that prints in only two dimensions. this new technology prints in three dimensions...not on paper but in essence in the air, because printing on paper is only two dimensional. go to the big boyz forum and search for TDR Innovations. thats what they use, only on an industrial scale. this vid you posted is for a consumer level three D printer. a magnum leap much like the leap from mainframes to processing power on the desktop Edited January 13, 2012 by jbwelda
jeff ewaskey Posted January 13, 2012 Posted January 13, 2012 As a matter of fact, comedian Jeff Dunham used one to create one of his most recent puppets.
slotbaker Posted January 13, 2012 Posted January 13, 2012 3D Printing is latest technology for a process that has been around for many (about 25) years, and previously known in the trade as 'Rapid Prototyping' With the progress in technology and miniaturization of the process, it has been improved to the point where these personal units are now available, and just known as 'printers'. I agree that it is a misleading term, compared to the things that we currently know a the humble printer.
JesseJames Posted January 13, 2012 Author Posted January 13, 2012 (edited) They are too cool. Kinda like a mini desktop Cnc machine but for plastic! I've found a more affordable models, meant for domestic use I believe... called Makerbots. I imagine they are quite complicated to operate and the plastic must be expensive! Edited January 13, 2012 by JesseJames
jbwelda Posted January 13, 2012 Posted January 13, 2012 and i think if you really checked out the low line ones, they might not make parts up to your standard for quality. especially on things like tight, parallel fins on an engine sideplate. the resolution wont be near what the more expensive ones (like probably half a million $, just a guess) can do. but just give it time because i think in 5 years or less these printers, if they really catch on, might be high resolution and on the desktop for a reasonable price.
slotbaker Posted January 13, 2012 Posted January 13, 2012 (edited) That's true. The Rapid Prototype units gave a resolution of about 0.010", which meant that the material (wax in those days) was laid down in an X/Y plane in layers of 0.010" thick. This resulted in the part having lots of small steps on the compound surfaces that required post op smoothing to achieve the final finish. Like most things, the more definition you want usually equates to more $s So, what ever resolution is specified for the machine relates to how fine the surface finish will be. The smaller the number, the better the surface finish, and the more $s you would expect to pay. Edited January 13, 2012 by slotbaker
Harry P. Posted January 13, 2012 Posted January 13, 2012 One day not too far away these 3D printers will be as cheap and common as a "normal" 2D printer is. We'll be outputting our own model kits right on our desktop. On a recent episode of "This Old House," the architectural model they were showing was done on a 3D printer...the model was fully detailed inside and out. Wall colors, doors and windows, stairways, the works. It was amazing to think how that model was made, compared to the old-fashioned way of actually cutting out pieces of fomecore and literally building the model piece by piece.
Darin Bastedo Posted January 13, 2012 Posted January 13, 2012 One day not too far away these 3D printers will be as cheap and common as a "normal" 2D printer is. We'll be outputting our own model kits right on our desktop. I don't think it will work quite like that. Before you can print with one of These you have to design the model in the computer. Just like scratch-building, resin casting, photo-etching, decal printing etc. all technologies available to us now, the thing holding back the average modeler is the abilty to design the original part or artwork.
Erik Smith Posted January 13, 2012 Posted January 13, 2012 I don't think it will work quite like that. Before you can print with one of These you have to design the model in the computer. Just like scratch-building, resin casting, photo-etching, decal printing etc. all technologies available to us now, the thing holding back the average modeler is the abilty to design the original part or artwork. You'll be able to buy the files, download, and print away!
Casey Posted January 13, 2012 Posted January 13, 2012 You'll be able to buy the files, download, and print away! I don't think it will be that easy, and I don't think injection molded kits are going away, even after 3D printing becomes more affordable. Kits still need to be sanded, assembled, and painted, so that's not going to change with 3D printing. The skills of the end user will determine how well the model turns out, not how the model is delivered or made.
Skydime Posted January 13, 2012 Posted January 13, 2012 (edited) I don't think it will be that easy, and I don't think injection molded kits are going away, even after 3D printing becomes more affordable. Kits still need to be sanded, assembled, and painted, so that's not going to change with 3D printing. The skills of the end user will determine how well the model turns out, not how the model is delivered or made. But wouldn't it be nice for those kits we all have on our wish lists that we know will probably never get made. And imagine the possibilities with a 3d scanner to boot. We could all cast those parts we wish we had 10 or 12 sets of on hand at all times. Edited January 13, 2012 by Skydime
patami Posted January 13, 2012 Posted January 13, 2012 But wouldn't it be nice for those kits we all have on our wish lists that we know will probably never get made. And imagine the possibilities with a 3d scanner to boot. We could all cast those parts we wish we had 10 or 12 sets of on hand at all times. Thats true. We would just have to learn 3 D desing and then fire away that model that holy grail on our wishlist. Would be nice.
Dr. Cranky Posted January 13, 2012 Posted January 13, 2012 One day not too far away these 3D printers will be as cheap and common as a "normal" 2D printer is. We'll be outputting our own model kits right on our desktop. And that day is hopefully arriving soon. Once the price plummets, we'll begin to see more and more models built with them. Of course, paint is not included! LOL!
randx0 Posted January 13, 2012 Posted January 13, 2012 you can even build your own 3d printer .I forgot the name of the movement ,however their goal is to make 3d printers that make themselves so ervryone can use the technology and related programs.
Harry P. Posted January 13, 2012 Posted January 13, 2012 You'll be able to buy the files, download, and print away! Exactly. A "model kit" would be a digital file with all the info for the printer on it. Companies could even offer downloads of "kits" on their websites. The customer downloads the file, prints the parts out on their desktop 3D printer, and there's your model kit, ready to assemble! It's going to happen, just as technology is changing the music industry. The appearance of digital music files (mp3) changed the whole way the music business operates. No more factories churning out physical CDs and the associated packaging, which then have to be distributed to retailers, which then have to be bought by consumers. You want the latest work from your favorite band? All you have to do is download the digital files and you have it, ready to go into your ipod or whatever. Same thing is happening to movies. Remember the corner "video store?" A rapidly disappearing thing of the past. Now you download movies directly to your computer. The future of model kits is going to go the same way.
Casey Posted January 13, 2012 Posted January 13, 2012 The future of model kits is going to go the same way. I'm not so sure it will be the same as with the music recording industry. Many things I can see being similar, but unless older kits are somehow scanned and the data sold, the only thing available as a printable file will be new kits. I'm not sure how it works with digital recordings, but how would Revell control how many kits one produces from each download? Say you buy the Revelll 1/8 scale '70 Plymouth Superbird kit (NOW I have Harry's attention! ) in 2021 for $150.00 and wish to print out three complete kits? Must you purchase three kits, or can you print unlimited copies from the single file you purchased? While it would be great to instantly print a 3D model kit at your desk, I suspect the great things of the future will take longer to arrive and be not quite as perfect as people hope and anticipate they will be. We are still waiting on those flying cars from the '50s.
LAone Posted January 13, 2012 Posted January 13, 2012 yeah for only a mear 14,900.00 this can be yours!
GMP440 Posted January 13, 2012 Posted January 13, 2012 Amazing technology. This definetly would revolutionize the resin casting industry.
Agent G Posted January 13, 2012 Posted January 13, 2012 I can see this starting in the aftermarket, Parts Pack anyone? The files will become more and more complex, resulting in the consumer purchasing a bigger better computer, printer, et al. The economic growth potential in our hobby, as well as the related computer and printer industries, will be enormous. It can be a win win situation for all. G
Harry P. Posted January 13, 2012 Posted January 13, 2012 I'm not so sure it will be the same as with the music recording industry. Many things I can see being similar, but unless older kits are somehow scanned and the data sold, the only thing available as a printable file will be new kits. I'm not sure how it works with digital recordings, but how would Revell control how many kits one produces from each download? Say you buy the Revelll 1/8 scale '70 Plymouth Superbird kit (NOW I have Harry's attention! ) in 2021 for $150.00 and wish to print out three complete kits? Must you purchase three kits, or can you print unlimited copies from the single file you purchased? While it would be great to instantly print a 3D model kit at your desk, I suspect the great things of the future will take longer to arrive and be not quite as perfect as people hope and anticipate they will be. We are still waiting on those flying cars from the '50s. The details will be worked out. It's easy enough to set up a website download center and control the number of downloads from a given IP address. There are probably other ways to control downloads, too... and if they don't exist now, they will in the future. This 3D output technology is going to be big, not just in the world of model cars. I see all sorts of applications in both the consumer and industrial/commercial area. It seems like a natural for the model companies. They wouldn't need factories, injection-molding machines, packaging, shipping, etc. They sell us a download that includes the parts data, the decal sheets and the instructions. Since there would be no more need to cut tooling, that whole process (and the cost associated) is eliminated. Theoretically the model companies cound produce far more kits for less money than they can produce now using current technology and current production costs. We could see new releases monthly (or even more often), not yearly. Let's say I buy that 1/8 Superbird and somehow I mess up a part (or break it or lose it). No more writing to the model company asking for a replacement, or posting a "part wanted" thread here. I just go to my digital kit file, look up the part number of the piece I need, and print out a replacement piece. If I mess up the paint job, I don't have to bother with stripping the paint... I just toss the body and print myself a new one! It's a win-win for the model compaies and the consumer. The companies can produce and sell kits for much less money than it costs them now, because they no longer have to produce, package and ship actual, physical kits; they just have to produce the digital files. And the convenience for the consumer would be fantastic. I'm almost positive that it's going to be the way we buy models in the not-too-distant future.
MikeMc Posted January 13, 2012 Posted January 13, 2012 Harry hit it dead on. I can buy 3D cad files from a stock house...so what is the difference...??? In 1980 I had a blazing Tandy sx1000 computer...upgraded to a 2 mg hard card, even had a "stick" Vanna White in the game area. Now the same game draws Vanna in 3D and she's got curves, and everything looks real. It's just getting things faster and smaller, and soon we will be able to buy the files and not kits
sjordan2 Posted January 13, 2012 Posted January 13, 2012 It strikes me that Rapid Prototyping / 3D printing is still a long way off for the individual modeler, though it will come. In the interim, I would think the next step is for independent companies such as HobbyTown USA or somebody like Revell to offer the 3D printing process as a per-order customer service, in a far more widespread manner than we have now. A similar example would be that Amazon currently offers a number of videos duplicated on DVDs on a custom, per-order basis.
mikemodeler Posted January 13, 2012 Posted January 13, 2012 Just think how much easier this technology will make it for us when we go to swap meets to sell our unwanted kits! No more lugging boxes and boxes of kits, instead just a bunch of DVDs and that will be it! Seriously, I think this is good news because the money previously spent on tooling by the model companies can be directed towards new subjects. Imagine the possibilities like a new Ford Super Duty for example. With this technology you might be able to select cab configuration, bed type, wheels and tires, etc.! I could build a standard cab 2wd dump truck and Harry could build a 4wd crew cab dually pickup. I could even see a point where if the "printer" was still pricy and out of reach for most modelers, a hobby shop could have one and you stop in and they create the kit you want while you shop! This could serve as a whole new revival of the hobby because it involves computers and technology that the younger generation are drawn to and it might allow for kits to be created that would otherwise never see the light of day. I am anxious to know what is Revell's and other model manufacturers take on this technology is. Do they view it as the future of their business or the end of it? It could make for a great magazine article Harry!
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