When I wrote yesterday about the Honda RC174 replica being built, I noted one of the problems in doing so was the lack of drawings. To complete the project, they needed an original and took photos, measurements and X ray images to get all of the necessary information to duplicate what Honda had done. However, once done, you have the raw input data for today’s technology to do it again.
This is exactly the point I brought up some time back in my post on perpetual motorcycles. If you can get all of the input data for today’s advanced computer controlled manufacturing, you have the ability to produce a machine forever. There is no longer any reason for a part to become unavailable, like a book in a computer that never goes out of print because you can print one on demand, once a blueprint is in a computer you can manufacture on demand.
Over at Make, they have story about industrial archeology where CAD is being used to create 3D images of old machinery that is long gone or perhaps, never even existed except as a sketch. But once it’s in the CAD software, using one of the rapid prototype machines to produce a solid part is now possible. There is even a company with a machine using EBM (electron beam melting) to produce parts that are more than a prototype, they’re actually usable replacement parts.
We are getting so close to manufacturing on demand or rapid manufacturing, that any gearhead should be getting all tingly inside thinking about the possibilities. Depending on the size and complexity of the parts involved, which will determine the size and expense of the necessary machinery, we could see an explosion of smaller shops turning out whatever parts and pieces they want.
Quite a few years ago I remember when desktop publishing was just starting and it was the combination of an Apple laser printer and Aldus Pagemaker software that turned anyone into a newsletter publisher, The Kneeslider was originally in print! 🙂 , after a while the printers and software rapidly improved until everyone was a desktop publisher to varying degrees of success. While the cost of rapid prototype or electron beam melting equipment is going to slow that sort of thing down a bit, the profit potential in this area will find many companies moving quickly in this direction.
I have been amazed at the speed this has all been developing since I first heard of it. We are going to see this become commonplace much sooner than you or I might think and I can’t wait.
Gould Studios 3D prints
CAD to Metal – Electron Beam Melting via Gizmag
The Kneeslider: rapid prototypes
The Kneeslider: rapid prototypes and computer graphics
The Kneeslider: motorcycle fab labs
todd says
Much like the current state of digital music archives i can imagine Honda putting copyrights on all of their compoonents so that you cannot make a copy for yourself or even input its geometry to a 3D cad file for later retreival. At some point the manufacturers will begin implanting microtransmitters in each component so that it will disrupt the 3D measurement process unless you pay for an access code and reproduction licensing. I can just imagine all of the parts houses will become like Blockbuster, we’ll go down to the dealership to buy a replacement part, go home and “pirate” the 3D data and later return the part because “we didn’t need it afterall”. I look at this and see a whole can of worms. I’m still excited nonetheless. Thanks for the update on the tech.
-todd
Prester John says
“Tea, Earl Gray, hot.”
“Motorcycle, Moto Guzzi Falco, red.”
Tom
Allen says
Being a mechanical designer and using CAD programs daily, I don’t see how any manufacturer can stop people from copying parts. All you need is the part to take measurements from.
Allen
coho says
And if the dealer has an EBM machine, “Back Order” will disappear from the motorcyclist’s lexicon.
I once saw a show on PBS where they used CAD and a rapid prototyper that cut with water, they emailed a bicycle.
(And the name, “Electron Beam Melting”, how cool is that?)
Dave Sullivan says
The problem with copying parts is it is easy to get the geometry from an existing part or drawing, but not allways possible to get the material spec and process right. For example, a forged steel crankshaft gains a lot of its strength and durability from the grain flow imparted in the manufacturing process and the surface hardening capability of the chosen steel grade. If this part were to be copied using a rapid prototype process, it would fail very quickly in service.