Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

ukdave2002 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4267 Location: South Cheshire

I first saw 3D printing at an IT in Engineering trade show about 10 years ago, the printers demonstrated were making prototype components in plastic for the automotive industry. It was fascinating to watch. The printers costs tens of thousands of pounds !!

Now the printers are available for less than £600 and the price is coming down, it struck me they may have a place in our hobby, creating 1 off or low volume unavailable components, switch levers, knobs and brackets etc.

Has anyone experience of using them?....For those who have not seen them there is a bit more detail here

Dave

Roger-hatchy · Joined: 07 Dec 2007 Posts: 2135 Location: Tiptree, Essex

I recall a few years back seeing a video of laser printers in use on an American workshop web site for woodwork, wood turning and other hobbies.
They also had laser cameras to scan and photo the items, one demo was an adjustable spanner.
The laser scanned a complete item as it rotated then made the spanner in plastic, all parts moved and it worked as per the original,
They then showed it in use to replicate a broken car part, the part was 'glued' together, the plastic replica was then used to make a mold to cast a new part then machined and fitted as a new part, so yes it dose have use for our hobby.

dalbuie · Joined: 24 Dec 2007 Posts: 408 Location: Gullane

I remember seeing this earlier in the year and thinking what use it may be for me once the price comes down a bit.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22421185

I remember when photo printers were £750 and now they almost give them away...

peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7215 Location: Edinburgh

ukdave2002 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4267 Location: South Cheshire

kevin2306 · Posted: Sat Oct 05, 2013 7:45 pm Post subject:

There is one at my sons school which he gets to use in tech classes. We are in discussions to copy a 60's esso man keyring that i have (one off so not commericial and a rip off!)
They seem to be versatile and indeed for one off switches (radio knobs etc) seem to be viable?

Kev

Roger-hatchy · Joined: 07 Dec 2007 Posts: 2135 Location: Tiptree, Essex

A question about setting up.

I have a friend who dose a lot of projects for military charities.

We were going to get some models of a Fire control Radar made for my old regiment.
The modeller is retiring and not going to buy any more meterials for the dia casting he dose.
A 3D printer might be ideal as the models could be resin, or the resin 'print' could be used as a blank to make a casting mold.

My question is can the printer be set up with multiple digital photos from a normal digital camera, eg. north south east and west, and nw, ne, etc with measurements, and a meter/yard stick, there are also many photos of the equiptment on line.

ukdave2002 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4267 Location: South Cheshire

No idea about the set up sorry !

I'd imagine you will need to create a 3D drawing, no doubt there are (will) be software packages aimed at the novice?

Just saw this video; apparently NASA is planning to put a 3D printer on the space shuttle, so that they can make some replacement parts as required, rather than having to wait for them or use valuable space for stock...

Dave