3D Printers - Bringing Computer Designs To Life

[Xzin]

Not really specifically boxing related but I am contemplating the purchase of a 3d printer for an upcoming business venture of mine.

These machines historically run $24k and up although there are some machines that will be breaking the $10k barrier soon. This is very exciting stuff to see - and will only get cheaper. My interest lies more in the professional market for this application - however - I suppose I could produce a few one off items for myself or a few friends.

For example: X-keys has a matrix board. If you purchase keyswitches, you can arrange your keys however you would like - think Ergodex but fixed only once. Basically a custom laid out X-keys. In fact, with the right machine, I could create a custom "xkeys" in any shape or key arrangement one could imagine. I may need a laser cut metal retention sublayer for the keys but the shell could be easily "printed" on one of these machines.

Now - the parts produced on these machines are not cheap but some machines can output functional ABS plastic prototypes - with the same characteristics as a production injected molded part. Heck, you could even produce injection mold molds with some machines. But I am not looking to get into the business of selling custom keyboards.

Anyway - my point is really, does anybody work with any of these machines? I would love to chat with you about some of the real world issues that crop up. I am specifically looking at 3D Systems, Stratasys and Objet's solutions. Think SLS and Polyjet over Zcorps powder offerings or Dimention's ABS stuff.

[Texic]

I've seen these around online and some cheaper versions for only a few hundred dollars. It would be fun to have one just to play with imo. Being able to make parts for yourself would be awesome too. Theres so many uses for something like this it will be cool when they get to a point where home users could have one for a reasonable price.

[Xzin]

The cheapest machine on the market today runs about $24,000 retail in USD. The highest exceed a million dollars.

There will be two $5000 - $10000 machines on the market relatively soon.

They are as of yet not available though and they are smaller and of lower resolution.

They also use different materials and tend to be much rougher.



Also keep in mind that most are limited to plastic type materials (or wax or epoxy + plaster of paris). Don't expect to print out fully functioning anything off of the Internet anytime soon.

As cool as that would be

[Bradster]

If you get this printer can we make requests? If it doesnt come with ridiculously large hooters take me off your mailing list! :lol:

[Xzin]

Sure. Most places charge $25 - $40 per cubic inch of volume. Take l x w x h x $30 and we can talk.

[Xzin]

So I could do a 7" x 4" x 3" action figure in a single color for $2,520.

It would take about a day to build. Any takers

WTB affordable, high quality 3d printing

[l0de]

I'm a sculptor and I looked into it about 5 years ago and found it to be completely unfeasable. There's a pretty neat foam-extrusion artwork piece in the sudbury sculpture garden (outside of boston) that was done with a 3d printer in about a hundred different parts, glued together, coated with fiberglass then covered with a coat of iron oxide. Looks pretty good!

[Djarid]

I was considering playing with http://reprap.org/bin/view/Main/WebHome fairly recently... at least once they release the plans!!

open source rapid prototyper / 3d printer call it what you will.

they reckon you can make it for $400 but it isn't quite professional level

[Wilbur]

I was considering playing with http://reprap.org/bin/view/Main/WebHome fairly recently... at least once they release the plans!!

open source rapid prototyper / 3d printer call it what you will.

they reckon you can make it for $400 but it isn't quite professional level

This is perhaps the coolest thing I think I've seen on this site! It looks completely amazing, I want to make one now :-(

[Xzin]

The Fab @ Home project appears to be a bit more developed:

http://www.fabathome.org/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page

A bit more expensive though but still very much in the "affordable" range when it comes to these things.