So 3D printers...

**KHRZ** · 01-25-2012, 04:07 AM #1

Been hearing a lot of these recently, how they will revolutionize by letting you print spare car parts and jeans etc. in the coming years. So what I've seem from images so far, is they can produce stuff in plastic. Also I saw some video of one working layer by layer, spraying it on from a tube.

So can someone answer how is this even close to making car parts/jeans? Are they more advanced than I think, or are just the steps already tailored out for development to be done?

**DacoTaco** · (This post was last modified: 01-25-2012, 05:03 AM by DacoTaco.)

doubtfull they will do what you hope.

at this time the size is limited and the material. mostly plastic parts can only be done atm as for metal to get liquid you need extreme tepratures...

also, the best thing to a commercial 3D printer is the makerbot which is very limited in size

***Shonumi*** · 01-25-2012, 05:52 AM #3

From what I've seen, many 3D printers only use one material at a time. Some car parts could be made, but I wouldn't trust it for anything more than a plastic door-handle. I know nothing about the quality of 3D printing, but I wouldn't replace crucial parts of my car with it just yet. Jeans? Don't think it's possible with today's tech, unless you want a pair of jeans that's strictly metal or plastic, have the patience to create an accurate enough model, and own a very complex 3D printer. But hey, that's what the future is for. We'll get there, someday.

Right now, 3D printing is mainly used for rapid prototyping. Think small pre-production units. It's also great for people who want to make their own toys. I'm trying to learn modeling so I can make my own SSBB trophies Smile

Shapeways lets you turn 3D models into real items, and they do several materials: stainless steel, glass, aluminum, ceramics, just to name few. Big items, however, quickly get expensive.

scummos · (This post was last modified: 01-25-2012, 10:16 AM by scummos.)

"Printing" metal parts sounds weird. How should that work? There's other machines for that, they're pretty elaborate, but cannot be considered printers.

For 3D printers, they mostly use plastic, or some colored gypsum stuff afaik. The parts they create can be considered models and are of no practical use, really. They're just prototypes to hold in your hands. I also wouldn't expect this to change somewhere within near future (which means, fifty years).

01-27-2012, 10:40 AM #5

Why would you want a 3D Printer? That would suck...

**DacoTaco** · 01-27-2012, 05:31 PM #6

(01-27-2012, 10:40 AM)aruzo Wrote: Why would you want a 3D Printer? That would suck...

3D printing helps out alot in modeling worlds. let alone it would be great to make something and print it 3D. the things you could make...

**Zee530** · 01-28-2012, 07:10 AM #7

Well techrepublic says a stable 3D printer should be in the market between 7-10 years from now

**DacoTaco** · 01-28-2012, 07:19 AM #8

(01-28-2012, 07:10 AM)Zee530 Wrote: Well techrepublic says a stable 3D printer should be in the market between 7-10 years from now

so according to them the makerbot isn't stable? Confused

**Zee530** · 01-28-2012, 07:36 AM #9

They're mostly talking of a cheap and easy one for home and small-scale commercial use, here's a link to some other stuff too

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/hiner/five-future-technologies-i-cant-wait-for/9174?tag=nl.e101

**DacoTaco** · 02-17-2012, 05:37 PM **#10**

(01-28-2012, 07:36 AM)Zee530 Wrote: They're mostly talking of a cheap and easy one for home and small-scale commercial use, here's a link to some other stuff too

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/hiner/five-future-technologies-i-cant-wait-for/9174?tag=nl.e101

again, the makerbot is like, 1k in price last i checked (which is peanuts compared to the commercial ones) and can do 3D printing at home....