3D Printers

[TomC]

I know that Jay Leno has 3D printers to make new parts for obsolete parts. Maybe we could use 3D printers to make plugs for casting new parts for some of the old obsolete buses. Check this out http://www.google.com/shopping/product/4778166351577031722?lsf=seller:8740,store:16399060128181795247&prds=oid:13245189506870853854&hl=en&ei=Tl6QVN6VMZWxogSQyYJg&cm_mmc=shopping-_-googleads-_-pla-_-205448581&ci_sku=205448581&ci_gpa=pla&ci_src=17588969&gclid=Cj0KEQiAzb-kBRDe49qh9s75m-wBEiQATOxgweWbSIl1O0hMKEYKPlva69x_OAFgqpk2Mk5ND5v-A94aAiem8P8HAQ   Good Luck, TomC

[bobofthenorth]

I was looking at exactly that printer just last night but its pretty small.  There's lots of them on Aliexpress but they look like more of a science project than an assembled printer.  I've got a friend near Calgary who has a couple of them that he uses to make specialty R & D parts but I don't think we could use them to make anything other than maybe light fixtures.  When they're capable of metal printing they'll get my attention more seriously.

[mung]

It would be very possible to make molds on a 3D printer than cast from them.

[Lin]

You mean that you can't just give it a picture of an 8v71? Bummer!

[eagle19952]

http://www.3dsystems.com/case-studies

I was looking at exactly that printer just last night but its pretty small.  There's lots of them on Aliexpress but they look like more of a science project than an assembled printer.  I've got a friend near Calgary who has a couple of them that he uses to make specialty R & D parts but I don't think we could use them to make anything other than maybe light fixtures.  When they're capable of metal printing they'll get my attention more seriously.

[mung]

"You mean that you can't just give it a picture of an 8v71? Bummer!"

They are getting pretty close to that.  I was at a conference at the beginning of the month and there were several vendors showing off their 3D printing for military structure items and building some pretty cool airplane parts right on the show floor.

[muldoonman]

Heck, watching the NASA channel the other night and they have one up there on the Space Station in action building parts for the station.

[bobofthenorth]

http://www.3dsystems.com/case-studies

I didn't ask for a quote but I suspect that equipment is at a price point that isn't going to be accessible to this particular fool.  YMMV.

[TomC]

I saw a CAD/CAM machine take a block of solid aluminum and mill it into a V-8 block. Truly amazing. Good Luck, TomC