Comments on: Rapid prototypes http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2005/12/11/rapid-prototypes/ Motorcycle News for Positive People Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:51:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: dave http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2005/12/11/rapid-prototypes/#comment-5083 dave Wed, 14 Dec 2005 16:49:41 +0000 /?p=743#comment-5083 Nice to see you've posted this tech. for the masses to see, and possibly better understand.. It's very interesting equipment. Several parts on our Wraith motorcycle were prototyped in this fashion, and then actually put together to verify fitment, etc... Then we either laser-scan the finished product, or simply convert the files over to 3-axis machine tool programs.. The cool thing about it, is we can have guys 'draw' this stuff in SolidWorks, and then just burn it to a disc, and make a part in just a few hours, to verify design. Only problem is expense. This is not cheap tech. We like to think of it as a star-trek replicator as well.. We ask for a part, the machine spits it out... Ain't technology cool? dave Nice to see you’ve posted this tech. for the masses to see, and possibly better understand.. It’s very interesting equipment. Several parts on our Wraith motorcycle were prototyped in this fashion, and then actually put together to verify fitment, etc… Then we either laser-scan the finished product, or simply convert the files over to 3-axis machine tool programs.. The cool thing about it, is we can have guys ‘draw’ this stuff in SolidWorks, and then just burn it to a disc, and make a part in just a few hours, to verify design. Only problem is expense. This is not cheap tech.

We like to think of it as a star-trek replicator as well.. We ask for a part, the machine spits it out… Ain’t technology cool?

dave

]]> By: todd http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2005/12/11/rapid-prototypes/#comment-5023 todd Tue, 13 Dec 2005 21:20:41 +0000 /?p=743#comment-5023 the current technology is for prototyping or visual models only. Usually (as in the photo) the material used is a somewhat fragile resin that wouldn't last in consumer applications. There are machines that print out ABS or even powdered metal components that are actually used in production. The process for these parts is still pretty expensive considering the amount of time it takes to print a part. The sample gun and its components probably took around 20 hours to "grow". That is fine if you only need to make one or two parts as sometimes machining is too complicated or nearly impossible. In the case of a gun though, machining the parts from steel is necessary to its function. The more promising application for these processes is the ability to create molds or even dies for repetitive, conventional casting or injection molding processes. There is quite a push in the industry by a few leaders to create "personal" 3D printers for under $1000 in the next coulple of years. It's very Star-Trek Replicator to think that in the future one could download or create from scratch the 3D files required to print out almost anything he would wish. I can't wait. the current technology is for prototyping or visual models only. Usually (as in the photo) the material used is a somewhat fragile resin that wouldn’t last in consumer applications. There are machines that print out ABS or even powdered metal components that are actually used in production. The process for these parts is still pretty expensive considering the amount of time it takes to print a part. The sample gun and its components probably took around 20 hours to “grow”. That is fine if you only need to make one or two parts as sometimes machining is too complicated or nearly impossible. In the case of a gun though, machining the parts from steel is necessary to its function. The more promising application for these processes is the ability to create molds or even dies for repetitive, conventional casting or injection molding processes. There is quite a push in the industry by a few leaders to create “personal” 3D printers for under $1000 in the next coulple of years. It’s very Star-Trek Replicator to think that in the future one could download or create from scratch the 3D files required to print out almost anything he would wish. I can’t wait.

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