Digital Art Zone

I’m not sure how this process differs from others, but a kickstarter campaign is bringing a desktop 3D printer to market for around $3000!
http://formlabs.com/

boingboing says starting price is $2300
http://boingboing.net/2012/09/26/form1-a-new-2300-high-resol.html

The volume is still small (about 5” x 5” x 6.5”) but the process seems seems to allow for extremely high resolution objects and provides a method of support “pegs” that are easy to disconnect (like “pulling apart velcro”)....

Cool, thanks for the info!

holly wetcircuit - 07 November 2012 11:53 AM

I’m not sure how this process differs from others, but a kickstarter campaign is bringing a desktop 3D printer to market for around $3000!
http://formlabs.com/

boingboing says starting price is $2300
http://boingboing.net/2012/09/26/form1-a-new-2300-high-resol.html

The volume is still small (about 5” x 5” x 6.5”) but the process seems seems to allow for extremely high resolution objects and provides a method of support “pegs” that are easy to disconnect (like “pulling apart velcro”)....

Do you think they’ll take payment in old comic books?

People are going to use those things to make guns.

ilnyne - 07 November 2012 05:04 PM

People are going to use those things to make guns.

Actual guns are much cheaper…

Sockratease - 07 November 2012 03:49 PM

holly wetcircuit - 07 November 2012 11:53 AM

I’m not sure how this process differs from others, but a kickstarter campaign is bringing a desktop 3D printer to market for around $3000!
http://formlabs.com/

boingboing says starting price is $2300
http://boingboing.net/2012/09/26/form1-a-new-2300-high-resol.html

The volume is still small (about 5” x 5” x 6.5”) but the process seems seems to allow for extremely high resolution objects and provides a method of support “pegs” that are easy to disconnect (like “pulling apart velcro”)....

Do you think they’ll take payment in old comic books?

I guess that would depend on the book…now wouldn’t it?

I don’t know anyone who would turn down something like a nice copy of Amazing Fantasy #15 or Batman #1…although you’d be able to buy a few more than 1 of those machines with either of those…of course a Superman #1, Detective Comics #27 or Action Comics #1 would get you just about anything you want…

ilnyne - 07 November 2012 05:04 PM

People are going to use those things to make guns.

So…

ilnyne - 07 November 2012 05:04 PM

People are going to use those things to make guns.

Actually, it’s already been done (Google Reprap printed AR 15).

If you don’t mind tinkering a bit and working with open source software, you can get a 3D printer based on the RipRap design (self replicating printer) for around $600 (http://printrbot.com/shop/), some very good quality kits can be found for around $500-600. A good place to see what is currently available is:
http://3dprinting.com/news/what-to-buy-personaldiy-3d-printers-up-to-3500/

Many of the 3D printers based on the RipRap design are capable of making some very nice and very detailed models. If your looking to making high res ultra detailed models, you probably want to go with one of the high end RipRap based printers with metal parts (many are less than $1,000). They really do work, my son got one of the kits and was printing models in less than 5 hours.

Edit - Just thought I’d add that I ran across the printed gun receiver while researching the RipRap printers, not something I would recommend anyone doing with their 3D printer!

For a gobsmacking look at what 3D printers can now do “out of the box”, take a look at this:

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22q7MViXrq4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22q7MViXrq4
[/url]

From about 39 minutes…

ETA: Euh - first time posting on the new forum. Yuck…

Minmi - 08 November 2012 02:13 AM

For a gobsmacking look at what 3D printers can now do “out of the box”, take a look at this:

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22q7MViXrq4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22q7MViXrq4
[/url]

From about 39 minutes…

ETA: Euh - first time posting on the new forum. Yuck…

OMG!!! Working parts and everything! WOW!

Manufacturers have been doing that for decades. Converting “computer aided designs” (CAD) to real stuff using “computer aided manufacturing”. They use machines called CNC machines and other devices to convert 3D stuff to real stuff. It’s how most detailed metal parts for automobiles and other machines are made. 

Instead of spending all of that money on a 3D printer you can convert your Carrara object to a digital file, send it to a CNC company, and they’ll “print” it out for you. But without the limitations that these 3D printing devices have (size, materials, etc.).

The only thing “new” about the concept is limiting it, by having to make it small and affordable and using only cheap plastic so you can use it at home.

But it seems real cool.

3D printing has an edge on CNC machining for small items. Jewelry is a good example.

You can get a 3d print made for far less than you can get something 5 axis machined. That makes it affordable for just about everyone.

If you want to develop something for casting or molding, the “pro” 3d printers produce a much higher surface quality than what is available in “home” models.

Holly’s link is a good example of how far the technology has come in a relatively short period of time with something that is affordable and produces relatively high quality parts. I think we we will see versions of this in a few years that can produce parts with resolution like what you can get on a Polyjet now.

cdordoni - 08 November 2012 08:46 AM

You can get a 3d print made for far less than you can get something 5 axis machined. That makes it affordable for just about everyone..

Absolutely. If you want cheap plastic jewelry, then sure, get a cheap 3D print. But personally I think the practical uses of 3D printers, using only that specific plastic, and limited in size, are extremely limited. Aside from being a cool, whizz bang thing, there aren’t many people who are going to drop a few thousand $$ on a printer that only gives them a small, plastic replica.

And if you’re going to produce stuff to sell, I suspect you’re gonna want a higher volume solution, with different materials. 

Yes, it’s very impressive how they can produce detailed replicas, but I’m just not convinced that it’s very practical for the average person.

Absolutely true. They are not selling to a “home” market. Their ads all imply a smallish design firm. Turtleneck sweater hipsters in a loft with overpriced skinny furniture… and it runs on osX! LOL

The leap here is not to your garage for a home hobbiest, the leap is from the “machine shop” to the office…. I know a ton of production people who build temporary pop-up structures for marketing and events. They are constantly needing to invent some small joint or connector or mounting bracket…. For a group like that, the ability to make prototypes in-house would allow them to evolve faster….

To quickly make mock-ups and such with out spending hours cutting out foam-core and sticking it together only to have to reassemble it at the last minute…yeah, that’s worth $3K, if that’s what I was doing for a living.

The 3d print can be used to make an investment casting for jewelry, using a suitable material that will burn out when fired. So the “print” is not the end result, but just an inexpensive way to produce a positive for casting.

I’m curious to see how this compares to makerbot.

It’s amazing to see machines costing 2-3K producing the same, if not better, results as machines costing 100K a few years ago. It reminds me of the progress inkjet printing made in the 90s-early 2000s. I don’t think we’ll get 3D printers as cheap as inkjet, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see a model under $1000 next year, which will allow hobbyists to afford one.