3D printer, scale model potential

[Guest]

Just seen this little snippet from Maplin electronics.

An 'affordable' 3D printer setup, (OK, it's still expensive but at £700 it's a mere fraction of the cost they were a few short years ago)

I think this could have real potential for the aftermarket parts area and resin casters with designs but no simple way to make them.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/3d-printer?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm _campaign=13P7-7

[AlanG]

I have something i would like to make with one of these but unfortunetly i do not have the know how or computer skills to program it. I am planning on making a resin cast item though of this same thing. At least i can make my own moulds that way.

Thing is. if i can make the cast mould good enough then i would be able to sell any more of this item i make

[flyjoe180]

I was thinking about 3D printers when they made the news a few months back with the plastic gun story. Imagine the potential to be able to create your entire model kits at home, let alone after market kit parts.

[Gern]

Trouble is though, this technology needs you to be a computer programmer rather than a modeller - and that's a hobby of a whole different colour!

Gern

[Guest]

As I understand it, the idea is to make a 3D model of the object, using one of the various 3D modelling software available. Maya cost several thousands, Cinema 4D (which I used to use) costs a couple of thousand, but there are cheaper ones costing a few hundred. Using such a software does not require computer programming. You typically start with a cube, sphere or whatever and specify it to have a large number of surface polygons. (Virtual objects are just polygons.) Then you select some of them and using a suitable "tool", drag the polygons about, adding more etc. until eventually you get the object that you want.

Its complex and requires 3D visualisation skills and much artistry to get a convincing result.

After the virtual model is finished, you export it in the form of a data set, each point on the model being given a set of 3D XYZ coordinates. This is passed to the software in the 3D printer which then lays down particles on very thin planes (slices), so making the object in fantastic detail (which can have concave recesses). The following is from Wikipedia:

[ATTACH]64530.vB[/ATTACH]

To make individual parts this way for plastic scale models would be too expensive. Therefore, alternatively, the printer could make the moulds (in plastic of course) from which the injection moulds could be made although concave recesses would still be difficult.

At least that is how I think the process can be used. I'm no expert, perhaps someone else here can elaborate or correct.

[ATTACH]65728.IPB[/ATTACH]

[AlanG]

Steve you totally baffled me with gobble-di-gook there so i'll take your word for whatever you were on about lol

[Ian M]

I'm just waiting for the prices to come right down and I'm having one. Got to be the best ever tool for making figures with... And those not produced things that you really need!!!

Ian M