Is this for real?

[Casey]

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!

How is that different than printing a duplicate kit, one part at a time? Then doing it over, and over again? I think controlling how the file is used is still something that will not be easy for Revell and others, but I'm sure they'll eventually figure it out.

Then there's the issue of quality. 3D Printers (and the medium in/from which the actual parts are made) will no doubt vary, so what happens when someone buys the Lexmark $19.99 printer equivalent in 3D printers, prints out a new 1/8 Revell Superbird, and it's really lacking in the accuracy and quality department because of the poor printer resolution? Yes, it's ultimately up to the end used to make what's delivered inside the box a nice model, but at least with a complete injection molded styrene kit you get a nicely engineered, accurate model of consistent quality. Can we say that about 3D printing? Is Revell going to be pleased to see their product (the developed kit on digital form) presented as a low quality model?

[Harry P.]

Then there's the issue of quality. 3D Printers (and the medium in/from which the actual parts are made) will no doubt vary, so what happens when someone buys the Lexmark $19.99 printer equivalent in 3D printers, prints out a new 1/8 Revell Superbird, and it's really lacking in the accuracy and quality department because of the poor printer resolution? Yes, it's ultimately up to the end used to make what's delivered inside the box a nice model, but at least with a complete injection molded styrene kit you get a nicely engineered, accurate model of consistent quality. Can we say that about 3D printing? Is Revell going to be pleased to see their product (the developed kit on digital form) presented as a low quality model?

If you print out your digital photos on a crummy printer, is that the camera manufacturer's problem?

If you buy a movie on DVD and play it on a crummy TV, is that the DVD manufacturer's fault?

If you buy a kit in digital file form, the model company has made their sale. If you decide to print out that file on a low-quality printer, it's not the fault of the company that sold you the file.

[Dr. Cranky]

Crappy printer = flash, dings and dents? Warped parts, etc . . . maybe. Very interesting. The future is so bright I might have to wear a welder's helmet!

[SoCalCarCulture]

Why do you guys look at details that you may think haven't been worked out when you don't fully understand the technology?

Why not look forward with ideas on how to use these and let the engineers solve the ability to do what you can dream?

Seeing one of the higher end machines in use and observing the final product is believing!

[Casey]

If you print out your digital photos on a crummy printer, is that the camera manufacturer's problem?

If you buy a movie on DVD and play it on a crummy TV, is that the DVD manufacturer's fault?

If you buy a kit in digital file form, the model company has made their sale. If you decide to print out that file on a low-quality printer, it's not the fault of the company that sold you the file.

I'm not blaming them or trying to find fault, but you have to take into account the manufacturer's desire to have it's product represented in a quality manner- something they can control making the kit's contents themselves. I'm not buying into the "all they want is the money from the sale" argument, either.

[Casey]

Why do you guys look at details that you may think haven't been worked out when you don't fully understand the technology?

Why not look forward with ideas on how to use these and let the engineers solve the ability to do what you can dream?

Seeing one of the higher end machines in use and observing the final product is believing!

Because we enjoy discussing something which might be very near and dear to our hearts in a few years.

Please fully explain the technology to us so that we can better understand it.

[SoCalCarCulture]

Please fully explain the technology to us so that we can better understand it.

Do your research, I was questioning the naysayers who haven't, not looking for comments like yours.

[Casey]

Do your research, I was questioning the naysayers who haven't, not looking for comments like yours.

No need to get sour. I'm asking you to share what you you know since you obviously have experience and more knowledge regarding RP technology.

I don't see what's wrong with debating what the future will hold regarding 3D printing, and if you have information which answers the questions, why not share it?

[Chief Joseph]

I don't see what's wrong with debating what the future will hold regarding 3D printing

The future is happening right now, Casey! All the major model companies (like almost all manufactureing) are using 3D printing to help design their products. The technology is very popular in the science fiction, rail, and military modeling aftermarket, too. Right now it's being used to create high-quality masters for resin casting since the cost to produce resin parts from rubber molds is dramatically less than the current cost to directly print a 3D part. The gap is getting smaller as the technology is refined and becomes more widespread. The real key to quality is the model that's used to generate the part. 3D modeling has a fairly steep learning curve and the same methods used for video game models is much different than modeling objects for printing. I have done some work with the fellow who recently started Industria Mechanika (http://industriamechanika.com/blog/) and ALL of his new kits are being created with 3D printing and then cast in resin for the final product. The 3D printed parts are not quite perfect as they come from the machine and need a little hand-finishing before they can be molded. As the machines become better, less hand-finishing is needed. The current crop of desktop printers can produce some interesting parts, but they are very coarse and require a lot of work to turn them into something that's useable on a model.

There are some internet startups that provide a marketplace for 3D models to be bought and sold; Shapeways (www.shapeways.com) is probably the best-known of these outfits. I know some guys who have dabbled with the Shapeways marketplace service, and so far it's nothing to really get crazy about because affordable parts are really small. Until there is a huge leap in the quality of desktop 3D printers, the average modeler will probably just be purchasing resin parts made from 3D masters. Before long, the cost to commercially print parts will be cheap enough allow us to order larger models from a printing service and have them printed on-demand and shipped to us. The last step, which is still a few years away to get high quality parts, will be us purchasing the rights to print a model at home for our own use. I imagine some sort of copy-protection scheme will be built into the digital files and the machines to prevent people from sharing the files they buy. I can imagine companies like Tamiya and Revell of Germany offering new models for sale online that we can print at home. Toyota and other car makers might even bypass traditional model companies and offer models of their cars directly. Whether the model companies will go back and re-create their older plastic models as 3D printer-friendly models is a big question. As always, the market will dictate what will be available. If you want a very specific model, then it will probably still be up to the individual to either create the digital model for 3D printing or make the model the old-fashioned way.

The old CNC-based technology is still going strong in spite of the competition from 3D printing. You can't print an aluminum part just yet

[Agent G]

When discussing faster than light travel, Einstein's theories were mentioned as the reason it will never be achieved . When asked for confirmation, Hawking mentioned something like "Maybe so, but I'm still working on it."

Don't discount anything.

G

[mikemodeler]

I saw an episode of "My Classic Car" on Speed recently where they were visiting Jay Leno's garage and they had some type of RP technology that they used to create replacement parts for some of the cars they were working on. Considering Jay's taste in cars, I can imagine that this technology is extremely helpful and a tremendous cost savings for the guys in the shop.

If the kit manufacturers can use this technology to get kits to market faster and cheaper, then I am excited for what the future holds!

[SoCalCarCulture]

I saw an episode of "My Classic Car" on Speed recently where they were visiting Jay Leno's garage and they had some type of RP technology that they used to create replacement parts for some of the cars they were working on. Considering Jay's taste in cars, I can imagine that this technology is extremely helpful and a tremendous cost savings for the guys in the shop.

Jay has had that for a while, I was at his garage a couple years ago and Bernard (His mechanic/right hand/guru) was explaining that one of the things they use it for the the most is to replicate water pumps. They can do a 3d scan on the old pump and then create a new one, adding any missing pieces along the way, they can then test fit it and machine it to fit, after that the send the printed version out as a master to cast a new one and offer the parts for sale to other restorers that need that particular part. What a great way to preserve truly antique cars!

They had a sample to show people what was possible, it was a crescent wrench that was just like the original except it was printed in a resin material, everything worked on it!

[Harry P.]

The technology today is sort of in the "Model T" stage. It will be refined, costs will drop dramatically, and soon 3D printing will be as common and cheap as cell phones and ipods are today.

This technology is going to explode, and I am sure the model kit industry is going to be fundamentally changed forever by it.

[Agent G]

This technology is going to explode, and I am sure the model kit industry is going to be fundamentally changed forever by it.

Exactly, and I want to be there.

G

[Harry P.]

Exactly, and I want to be there.

G

Stick around. It won't be very long.

[sjordan2]

How about printing out human organs for transplant? Several months ago, I saw a video about printing out human cells using this process. If anyone's interested, the following link is 20-30 minutes long.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2011/07/09/ted.anthony.atala.TED

Edited January 15, 2012 by sjordan2

[mcandela]

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.

I'll get one when they go on sale in BEST BUY!! Right now, still going to support the vendors we have bought from in the past. It's going to take a while before the price comes really down.