nytimes.com— New 3-D printers that transform three-dimensional plans online into solid objects could be in homes much sooner than you think.
May 7, 2007View in Crawl 4
Actually, I have reason to believe HP is working on something similar in their Ink-Jet division. Their 2D technology is already much finer than this application would require - they have the manufacturing facilities all warmed up in Singapore. All they need to do is develop the plastic-printing thermal head, and add a z-axis.
I've run some prototype pieces trying to get good results for Warhammer 40K size figures. Here are the pros/cons for the three major techniques:- Z-Corp - Starch+Superglue+InkJet colors - Full color (no painting!) figures, but too fragile a material for many pieces. Swords, spears, etc. are too fine and unsupported to fab correctly. More leeway in 3D file acceptance.- FDM - Like a very fine hot glue gun - Monochrome pieces - Too low resolution and the surface is "grainy", if you dip it in something to dissolve it a little bit and get a smoother texture you'll end up losing all surface details (like noses). Comparatively cheap.- Laser Sintering - Lasers cook plastics in specific patterns to create figures. Higher detail. Monochrome. Expensive. If you have a 3d model file, send it to me and I can give you a better idea of what it would take. mike [at] fabjectory.com.
This guy would have had us give up on home printers because dot matrix sucked, aviation because early planes were so dangerous, computers (because why would anybody need a computer in the house?).Its a fairly new evolving field, just because they suck now doesn't mean they will in the future.
jaknMay 7, 2007
Actually, I have reason to believe HP is working on something similar in their Ink-Jet division. Their 2D technology is already much finer than this application would require - they have the manufacturing facilities all warmed up in Singapore. All they need to do is develop the plastic-printing thermal head, and add a z-axis.
michaelbuckbeeMay 7, 2007
I've run some prototype pieces trying to get good results for Warhammer 40K size figures. Here are the pros/cons for the three major techniques:- Z-Corp - Starch+Superglue+InkJet colors - Full color (no painting!) figures, but too fragile a material for many pieces. Swords, spears, etc. are too fine and unsupported to fab correctly. More leeway in 3D file acceptance.- FDM - Like a very fine hot glue gun - Monochrome pieces - Too low resolution and the surface is "grainy", if you dip it in something to dissolve it a little bit and get a smoother texture you'll end up losing all surface details (like noses). Comparatively cheap.- Laser Sintering - Lasers cook plastics in specific patterns to create figures. Higher detail. Monochrome. Expensive. If you have a 3d model file, send it to me and I can give you a better idea of what it would take. mike [at] fabjectory.com.
statixMay 7, 2007
email you at 330.329.8016 eh? i thought we stopped using IP addresses in the sender field ;)
roflmywaffleMay 8, 2007
I have a 3D printer, its called an AutoCAD
hyperhackerMay 8, 2007
thcobbs, you don't generally engage in intercourse with porn. At least, nobody I know does.
hyperhackerMay 8, 2007
Now THERE'S a use for them. I wanna print myself up a Midna or something.
dacheetahMay 8, 2007
If this 3D printer becomes standard, like current home ink-jets, I want the 3D equivalent of this:<a class="user" href="http://h41186.www4.hp.com/country/us/en/pdp/designjet/10000S-summary.html?jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN">http://h41186.www4.hp.com/country/us/en/pdp/designjet/10000S-summary.html?jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN</a>
willcode4beerMay 8, 2007
This guy would have had us give up on home printers because dot matrix sucked, aviation because early planes were so dangerous, computers (because why would anybody need a computer in the house?).Its a fairly new evolving field, just because they suck now doesn't mean they will in the future.
h2g242May 29, 2007
some people can get email on their phones. ever think of that?