3D Parts

[Michael2]

I saw a report tonight on the news, where some kid designed & printed up a working handgun on a 3D printer.

Wouldn't it be great to have a 3D printer in your tool box (or shed), and files on your phone for all the parts on your car. Then if you need a spare part, just bluetooth your phone to the printer and print it up.

Imagine how much more stuff Google could sell on the apps store.

I wonder if you can print up a 3D printer for your mates once you have your own.

Or printing up plastic panels with hollow baffles that have more rigidity that aluminium, don't vibrate / resonate, and don't conduct heat. Great for noise & heat insulation, and the colour won't scratch off.

[madmatt]

Yes you can print a 3d printer on a 3d printer. The technology is really exciting and in the future we will be able to print just about anything you want.

[Ranga]

Cool as they are, you realise they only print in plastic? Good for interior bits, but that's about it.

Also, some printers (particularly the reprap) are capable of almost reproducing themselves. At least the plastic bits ;)

[reubsrover]

It's exciting, read a report on the news about a 3D printer for body parts :o only skimmed over it but they said cells had a 90% survival rate I think.

EDIT: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-03/3d-printers-on-track-to-print-body-parts/4666886

[Hall]

Have seen a few demonstration videos showing what can be done. A working shifter. With different coloured parts. A cube in a cube that rattles. See now they can aslo print 3d body parts, organs etc that are made from your own cells so there is no rejection. This is still in the experimental stages but they have made bits of arteries and organs. This leads to the star trek beem me up stuff. Take a 3d scan of you and duplicate it. How long will people be able to live ?
Cheers Hall

[Disco Muppet]

Isn't there someone on the forum with a 3D printer, or at least access to one...
Swear I remember someone printing new parts for their window regulator...

[Mick_Marsh]

There were 3D printers around in the early eighties. The difference is, now they are affordable for home use.
I heard they cost about a grand. I paid that for my A3 bubble jet in the early 90's.
Don't know how much the consumables are.

[isuzutoo-eh]

I regularly use 3D printing (also known as rapid prototyping) in my business, and have had parts printed in stainless steel. The SS is fused into a porous structure and then filled with bronze to make a strong, free machining metal part that can be soldered with ordinary tin/lead solder.
Most of the plastics are not U.V. resistant, break down with heat and the wear properties are not particularly good but materials (and machines) are getting better all the time. The main issue i have is resolution, I require a resolution of around 5 micron, the best commonly available resolution is 16 micron.
Shapeways - Make, buy, and sell products with 3D Printing (http://www.shapeways.com) and www.ponoko.com are two bureaus that will print parts to your design.

[manic]

Cool as they are, you realise they only print in plastic?

Not true, you can print ceramic, sandstone, stainless steel, silver.... and these are just the ones available on shapeaways 3D Printing Materials on Shapeways (http://www.shapeways.com/materials)

I printed a new dash vent for my D90... drew it up in google sketch-up and sent it off for printing on shapeaways. Took about 4 weeks to receive in the post. Good tech. Will be huge when prices come down!

[Blknight.aus]

they also print "sintered" metals so you can at least do custom bushings.

[Michael2]

I recently read of a titanium jaw being printed up for surgery. Not only car parts, but you can get an MRI and store files for all your bones on your phone, in case of accident!

[Disco Muppet]

"You wouldn't download a car"
**** you piracy ad, I so would, and print it too.

[loanrangie]

They can also print in chocolate :cool:.

[Ranga]

I stand corrected... sort of. I was referring to the fact that the only printers I'm aware of for the home consumer market were plastic printers. Although, I was unaware of the metal printers etc, mentioned in this thread. They sound cool :)

[carjunkieanon]

Just spent a while looking through the Gadgets section of Shapeways - Make, buy, and sell products with 3D Printing (http://www.shapeways.com)

My goodness, it's amazing what people do.

Think of the possibilities. Not just to make replacement parts but to make your own modifications. e.g., I hate the front cup holder in the D2, but the middle row cup holder is excellent. I can now just design a slide to fit the middle row holder into the dashboard.

Or....design your own console modules to mount gauges and switches - heck, design your own switches. Design and print your own roof centre console, etc.

if someone has the computer skills the possibilities are endless....think of what you could sell!

[carjunkieanon]

More examples, check out this piece - a lego modification
Gripper finger for Lego Technic by Rob65 on Shapeways (http://www.shapeways.com/model/205103/gripper-finger-for-lego-technic.html?li=productBox-search)

We could make and print custom tools to do the tricky jobs on land rovers.

[CowsGoMoo]

I've got a 3d printer. I've made some "curry hooks" to replace the clips on those elastic mesh storage pockets. Made from ABS plastic. Was going to reprint them in glow in the dark ABS as its hard to see the black ones at night.

Just got some cables today to mod the temperature so I can play with nylon printing. Supposed to very good.