how soon
02GF74 - 13/8/13 at 07:22 PM
before 3D printing is scale up to do a full size car body shell?
http://blog.stratasys.com/2012/06/04/worlds-smallest-3d-printed-car-moving-doors-wheels/?utm_source=outbrain&utm_medium=widget&utm_campaign=St
ratasys_file&obref=ssys_list
onenastyviper - 13/8/13 at 07:35 PM
In theory, doable now - just question of money required to produce XYZ platform big enough.
Also, the better printers have a heated envelope to ensure that the plastic layers fuse together so would just have to be "big enough".
The other problem is speed - at a typical layer thickness of 0.25mm, it will take a while to "print" out the shell.
Unless you use multiple print heads...
Edit: Thinking a bit more... 3d printers are nothing more than another tool. Just because they can do something does not necessarily mean that they
should be used for everything...but it is fun when someone thinks completely out of the box and proves a technology.
[Edited on 13/8/13 by onenastyviper]
Slimy38 - 13/8/13 at 08:08 PM
Erm, someone already is doing that? This was posted a week or so ago;
http://www.replicadb4.com/
Although it's probably not the sort of thing you're talking about, this is more like a huge jigsaw puzzle!
The only limit I see of 3d printing is the materials available. For example, you can download a 3d picture of a teapot that can be printed out. You
can't use it though, the plastic melts at temperatures below the boiling point of water!
nick205 - 13/8/13 at 09:23 PM
quote:
Originally posted by onenastyviper
Also, the better printers have a heated envelope to ensure that the plastic layers fuse together so would just have to be "big enough".
[Edited on 13/8/13 by onenastyviper]
This is a very key feature to achieving good parts from 3D printing. The likes of the £700 kit from Maplin will IMHO disappoint most users with the
weakness of the finished part - they will de-laminate easily.
One of my customers recently invested £30k in the technology and after 3-4 months experience is achieving very good results. The learning curve
includes...
1. Designing your part to suit the process (same applies to any manufacturing process)
2. Orientating the part during the build process to achieve the best strength/finish/tolerance compromise (it is always a compromise)
3. Correctly "washing" the parts and removing the support material to reveal the finished parts without damaging them
4. Maximising the build cycle to get the most output for material used and time spent
That said, they are now getting very good parts from the machine and expect the machine to repay itself within 12-18 months.
For many rapid prototyping and/or low volume tasks there are more established process such as SLA and SLS (even CNC machining) that offer
better/different characteristics for similar machine investment/part cost (on a professional cost scale).
[Edited on 13/8/13 by nick205]
jossey - 13/8/13 at 09:29 PM
We discussed that link last month
The db4 printing...
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=184013
mcerd1 - 14/8/13 at 07:36 AM
quote:
Originally posted by nick205
For many rapid prototyping and/or low volume tasks there are more established process such as SLA and SLS (even CNC machining) that offer
better/different characteristics for similar machine investment/part cost (on a professional cost scale).
as you say even the models are compromised when it comes to strength/toughness - even the metal ones are never going to be able to give you much more
strength than normal weld metal and thats not quite as strong as billet and a lot less tough 
btw what happened to the cheaper 3D printers that used starch powder and coloured glue ?
or the other ones that built up a laminated paper block ?
mcerd1 - 14/8/13 at 07:39 AM
quote:
Originally posted by 02GF74
before 3D printing is scale up to do a full size car body shell?
its been done hundreds of times (1 panel at a time) for concept cars the this one:
Ninehigh - 14/8/13 at 07:43 AM
I'm sure I remember one that printed metal, I heard about it for printing out of manufacture parts for vintage cars. The article mentioned a
scanner too so you could bring the broken part and they can recreate a fixed part in the case that a whole item wasn't even a thing
Mr Whippy - 14/8/13 at 04:47 PM
Ten years from now this will be common place, 20 years from now they'll be mass unemployment all round the world as factory's will just be
robots and printers. We'll look back at the good old days when things were actually built
[Edited on 14/8/13 by Mr Whippy]
02GF74 - 14/8/13 at 07:00 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
Ten years from now this will be common place, 20 years from now they'll be mass unemployment all round the world as factory's will just be
robots and printers. We'll look back at the good old days when things were actually built
I am sure you are right, it'll be exaclty like the paperless office touted 20 years ago yet moire paper is consume than ever before. 
A computer program could be written to be clever enough to desgin and 3D print faster computers that in turn can design better 3D printers that can
make faster and better computers to design and 3D print faster computers that in turn can design better 3D printers that can make faster and better
computers to design and 3D print faster computers that in turn can design better 3D printers that can make faster and better computers to design and
3D print faster computers that in turn can design better 3D printers that can make faster and better computers to design and 3D print faster computers
that in turn can design better 3D printers that can make faster and better computers to design and 3D print faster computers that in turn can design
better 3D printers that can make faster and better computers to design and 3D print faster computers that in turn can design better 3D printers that
can make faster and better computers to design and 3D print faster computers that in turn can design better 3D printers that can make faster and
better computers to design and 3D print faster computers that in turn can design better 3D printers that can make faster and better computers to
design and 3D print faster computers that in turn can design better 3D printers that can make faster and better computers to design 
onenastyviper - 14/8/13 at 07:04 PM
quote:
Originally posted by 02GF74
quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
Ten years from now this will be common place, 20 years from now they'll be mass unemployment all round the world as factory's will just be
robots and printers. We'll look back at the good old days when things were actually built
I am sure you are right, it'll be exaclty like the paperless office touted 20 years ago yet moire paper is consume than ever before.
A computer program could be written to be clever enough to desgin and 3D print faster computers that in turn can design better 3D printers that can
make faster and better computers to design and 3D print faster computers that in turn can design better 3D printers that can make faster and better
computers to design and 3D print faster computers that in turn can design better 3D printers that can make faster and better computers to design and
3D print faster computers that in turn can design better 3D printers that can make faster and better computers to design and 3D print faster computers
that in turn can design better 3D printers that can make faster and better computers to design and 3D print faster computers that in turn can design
better 3D printers that can make faster and better computers to design and 3D print faster computers that in turn can design better 3D printers that
can make faster and better computers to design and 3D print faster computers that in turn can design better 3D printers that can make faster and
better computers to design and 3D print faster computers that in turn can design better 3D printers that can make faster and better computers to
design and 3D print faster computers that in turn can design better 3D printers that can make faster and better computers to design
Don't worry, we will be bankrupt long before then
Ninehigh - 14/8/13 at 09:58 PM
quote:
Originally posted by onenastyviper
quote:
Originally posted by 02GF74
quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
Ten years from now this will be common place, 20 years from now they'll be mass unemployment all round the world as factory's will just be
robots and printers. We'll look back at the good old days when things were actually built
I am sure you are right, it'll be exaclty like the paperless office touted 20 years ago yet moire paper is consume than ever before.
A computer program could be written to be clever enough to desgin and 3D print faster computers that in turn can design better 3D printers that can
make faster and better computers to design and 3D print faster computers that in turn can design better 3D printers that can make faster and better
computers to design and 3D print faster computers that in turn can design better 3D printers that can make faster and better computers to design and
3D print faster computers that in turn can design better 3D printers that can make faster and better computers to design and 3D print faster computers
that in turn can design better 3D printers that can make faster and better computers to design and 3D print faster computers that in turn can design
better 3D printers that can make faster and better computers to design and 3D print faster computers that in turn can design better 3D printers that
can make faster and better computers to design and 3D print faster computers that in turn can design better 3D printers that can make faster and
better computers to design and 3D print faster computers that in turn can design better 3D printers that can make faster and better computers to
design and 3D print faster computers that in turn can design better 3D printers that can make faster and better computers to design
Don't worry, we will be bankrupt long before then
As in 2 years ago?
Alan B - 14/8/13 at 10:02 PM
quote:
Originally posted by onenastyviper
In theory, doable now - just question of money required to produce XYZ platform big enough..................... Just because they can do something
does not necessarily mean that they should be used for everything...but it is fun when someone thinks completely out of the box and proves a
technology.
I just started a new job here....
linky
We definitely have big enough platforms......
Agree with "just because you can, doesn't mean you should" viewpoint....I love 3D printing and have had many parts done that way, but
it's definitely horses for courses and it certainly won't take over all manufacturing as some people would lead you to believe.
Alan