3D printer that replicates parts? Oh joy!

[DeLuSioNal29]

Imagine if it could be used to replicate NOS arcade items!  The possibilities are endless!



DeLuSioNaL29

[DCsegaDH]

Cool video, this could be useful.

[lilshawn]

the option of color is interesting... usually they are just plain white.

you could hit it with some paint and it would look good too.

[Beley]

Neat video, but i dont like how they imply that they replicated that wrench, the one they printed is a completely different design to the one they scanned. ie bottom jaw a different shape, recessed part in handle completely different and a D-ring on the end instead of a hole on the original.  Having said that,  still looks like a very capable machine.

[ChadTower]

Huh.  That's a short drive from me.

[emphatic]

Don't stop there: http://www.shapeways.com/

Available materials: http://www.shapeways.com/materials/

Finished arcade parts: http://www.shapeways.com/search?dos=1&shapewaysSearch=sanwa&submit.x=0&submit.y=0

[RayB]

The problem with Shapeways is materials cost for solid objects. For more decorative and large items, the way to keep cost down is making the object hollow, but then you lose strength.

[Ed_McCarron]

Buddy of mine works at a place that has one of the Z-Corp machines.  He got bored one day.

[Donkey_Kong]

Ed, I don't believe those are microwave safe. fyi

[Generic Eric]

Needs more Star Wars yoke gears...

[scofthe7seas]

Neat video, but i dont like how they imply that they replicated that wrench, the one they printed is a completely different design to the one they scanned. ie bottom jaw a different shape, recessed part in handle completely different and a D-ring on the end instead of a hole on the original.  Having said that,  still looks like a very capable machine.

The dude that presented the video has a response attached where he clears up that the way it was edited didn't show the two separate parts of the tech. One tech is to scan objects with detail, but the software couldn't know the inner workings of the wrench. The other part is the printing, where they already had a 3d model of a working wrench. It was just edited to make it seem like they were the same, and the guy seems a bit pissed that it was.
I just assumed they manipulated the model to make it functional.

[Donkey_Kong]

It's so weird there is a machine that can actually do that, though. Whats next?

[Nephasth]

...but the software couldn't know the inner workings of the wrench.

The inner workings of wrenches can be pretty complicated.

[lilshawn]

I still like the idea that If say, I break the handle off of my coffee maker pot, I could go to the manufacture website, pay for a "new" handles plans and print it out.

And then we will buy them on itunes for 99 cents.

[Corbo]

Need a new car?  Can't afford a Ferrari? Well you can now with a 3D printer and your friendly Torrent sharing website.

Except when Epson and HP get this tech out the door the Ink will cost more than Lunar Unicorn tears.

[lilshawn]

Need a new car?  Can't afford a Ferrari? Well you can now with a 3D printer and your friendly Torrent sharing website.

no doubt. 

Except when Epson and HP get this tech out the door the Ink will cost more than Lunar Unicorn tears.

until one of those companies makes a cartridge refill kit.

[danny_galaga]

Need a new car?  Can't afford a Ferrari? Well you can now with a 3D printer and your friendly Torrent sharing website.

no doubt. 

Except when Epson and HP get this tech out the door the Ink will cost more than Lunar Unicorn tears.

until one of those companies makes a cartridge refill kit.

And then when you go to refill it, it sprays ink everywhere, causing you to swear and just throw the printer away when the ink runs out...

[lilshawn]

[ChadTower]

I still like the idea that If say, I break the handle off of my coffee maker pot, I could go to the manufacture website, pay for a "new" handles plans and print it out.

We have been able to buy parts for nearly anything for decades.  Customer service phone lines and now manufacturer websites are your friend here.  I buy parts for all sorts of things all the time.

[scofthe7seas]

...but the software couldn't know the inner workings of the wrench.

The inner workings of wrenches can be pretty complicated.

The inner working of a baby rattle aren't complicated, but a scanning machine couldn't figure that out either. It's a surface scanner, not an X-ray.

Also, I don't think the tech is all that advanced. The polymer they use is the big deal. The tech is essentially creating layers of the objects at a very fine level, and layer by layer the polymer is combined with an adhesive in the shape of the object. Kind of like a CT scan works on the brain. They model faces this way in movies for CG effects.

It IS pretty cool, but the guy also pointed out that he DID break the wrench when he used it as hard as he could. However, it absolutely could be used for star wars yokes. You could even get the insignias and colors built in.

[Dartful Dodger]

...but the software couldn't know the inner workings of the wrench.

The inner workings of wrenches can be pretty complicated.

The inner working of a baby rattle aren't complicated, but a scanning machine couldn't figure that out either. It's a surface scanner, not an X-ray.

If someone needs an x-ray to find out what's inside of a wrench, they shouldn't be making wrenches.

What's on the surface of a wrench is what's inside of it.

[scofthe7seas]

If someone needs an x-ray to find out what's inside of a wrench, they shouldn't be making wrenches.

What's on the surface of a wrench is what's inside of it.

That's not true. The wrench in question is a crescent wrench. The worm gear is nestled inside of the main wrench body, and the clamp teeth are also sheathed inside of the wrench. The scanner is only a surface scanner. Even if it could get those details, the model would still have to be manipulated so the pieces aren't fused together.

[wonderalex]

I've used this off and on since 1999.

There are many techniques and technologies for rapid prototyping and 3D printing - each which its advantages and disadvantages.

My favourites are FDM machines like those from Dimension (www.dimensionprinting.com). They tend to use ABS plastics which are very strong and allow for some pretty amazing things. Working springs, gears and some impossible to manufacture shapes to name a few. Full disclosure  - we have one in the office - but they won't let me play with it. 

Typically they (dimension printers) range from 15,000 (desktop) to 35,000 USD (topline - high rez) - the ZCorp printers make very detailed parts, but they're fragile (unless you dip them in what is essentially super-glue) and expensive (50K or more for a ZCorp machine). But there are some DYI kits  - like the MakerBot and RepRap.

And yes - the MakerBot is on my wish list. It will be mine.

Wonderalex

[djm858]

...but the software couldn't know the inner workings of the wrench.

The inner workings of wrenches can be pretty complicated.

The inner working of a baby rattle aren't complicated, but a scanning machine couldn't figure that out either. It's a surface scanner, not an X-ray.

If someone needs an x-ray to find out what's inside of a wrench, they shouldn't be making wrenches.

What's on the surface of a wrench is what's inside of it.

He's not saying it's impossible for a human to figure out a wrench without x-ray, he's talking about software that only uses a surface scanner as input.  When I watched this vid (with no sound cause I'm at work) I knew they had to have left out some step because the scanner couldn't possibly replicate that wrench in full working order.  It can't "see" the details of the thumb screw nor infer logically how it interacts to widen the mouth.

[lilshawn]

if you had just a solid object like a statue or the handle off of an item, you could 3D scan it.

but it's far easier to pull up a CAD drawing of a wrench and print it out than it would be to scan it and then have to go back and cut parts out and stitch the pieces together again. although if you separated the wrench into it's individual parts, then, yes you could just 3D scan it.

it just looks fishy cause of the way the program was put together.... to the white collar guy it's perfectly logical, but to us blue collars, we know better. i imagine they dumbed it down for the average viewer. no big deal.

still cool though.

[Thenasty]

crap... I'll just print a copy of my FAVORITE HOT CHICK just for me 

[scofthe7seas]

i imagine they dumbed it down for the average viewer. no big deal.

Check out the response video posted by the presenter of the video!

And frozen hot-chick statue = creepy.

[Gray_Area]

The ultimate point of this technological trend is to remove the need for tools. Plug and Play everything, at first. Eventually, stuff that repairs itself in, at least, a similar manner as your body does.

[Kevin Mullins]

He's not saying it's impossible for a human to figure out a wrench without x-ray, he's talking about software that only uses a surface scanner as input.  When I watched this vid (with no sound cause I'm at work) I knew they had to have left out some step because the scanner couldn't possibly replicate that wrench in full working order.  It can't "see" the details of the thumb screw nor infer logically how it interacts to widen the mouth.

Exactly. It was just edited for television time restraint purposes. Obviously the wrench that they DID print "works". No way they could just slap a wrench up there, scan it, and print it. What would need done is the wrench would have needed disassembled, each individual part scanned, and then reconstructed in the software to allow for fitment tolerances, etc, etc..... THEN they could print it out as one functional piece. So the total process for a piece with moving parts obviously would take much longer from beginning to end result.
Like several have said already, it's a surface scanner, not an X-Ray. 

Still very cool.....

[SuprSprint]

Eventually, stuff that repairs itself in, at least, a similar manner as your body does.

That will never happen.  Totally messes up the whole planned obsolescence thing....

[Gray_Area]

Eventually, stuff that repairs itself in, at least, a similar manner as your body does.

That will never happen.  Totally messes up the whole planned obsolescence thing....

Nature self-repairs and has planned obsolescence. Which is one reason why it will happen - to avoid death.