Who needs a kit? Who needs paper?

[Kmot]

Rapid 3D prototyping machines are science fiction brought to life. I have read that it will be maybe two years or less that there will be 'consumer' versions available for under $2000 bucks. Imagine the possibilites! :cool:

http://www.zcorp.com/products/450video.asp

Watch the video and blow your mind!

[sleb]

Totally Incredible!! Amazing what it can do.
Steve :)

[Kmot]

One available now:

http://www.desktopfactory.com/

Eventually, sub $1000 price! Watch the video:

http://www.desktopfactory.com/our_product/cnn_money.html

[der kapitan]

One available now:

http://www.desktopfactory.com/

Eventually, sub $1000 price! Watch the video:

http://www.desktopfactory.com/our_product/cnn_money.html
Gee Tom, this stuff may even wean you away from Wal-Mart---. :D

[rpage]

check out this link at zcorp. if the image doesnt show, look thru the examples. seems someone has built a model boat with this thing :D

http://www.zcorp.com/news/gallerydetail310.asp?ID=23

[papower]

I will be able make the 1/4 scale chris craft fittings that I need. Heck, I would replace all of the crappy dumas stuff with new "printed" then chromed parts. I would buy one for 1k.
Bruce

[Greg_Vincent]

Amazing.

Reminds me of a small table top device I saw on the new "Mission: Impossible" series back in the 90s, they used it to make an exact copy of a small bottle (in about 30 seconds). Or the wax "souvenir" makers I saw on trips to Florida as a kid in the 70s! Except they always made the same thing...

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

I have had my eye on Zcorp for years, ...
Was waiting for the prices to come down, and the "strata" resolutions to become finer... Look at the "rubber duck or teapot" in the images at Desktopfactory, and you can see what I mean.
http://www.desktopfactory.com/our_product/

However, I think it would take me longer to learn 3d CAD than to build the actual part!!

:D :D :D

[rpage]

At zcorp, click on that boat example and download the 12 meg image. the detail on their machines is pretty nice. I think 400dpi and then one of the larger models is 600dpi. (I think)

Still would be loads of fun to have one of those machines :D

[Kmot]

Gee Tom, this stuff may even wean you away from Wal-Mart---. :D
I will never be able to buy one, even a cheap one. But, I can forsee someday soon these machines being at Kinkos. Bring your file, and 3D print your parts. :cool:

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

Tarsier on Modelwarships.com BBS is doing that for his Columbia River Pilot boat.
He models some of his details in Rhino3d and then has them printed.
Some good weathering info in his thread also.

http://www.shipmodels.info/mwphpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=8884

He had some issues with the graininess of the z-corp "powder" printers
See the fourth post here...
http://www.shipmodels.info/mwphpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=8884&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=90

I posted a while back to see if he could get some Radar printed at scale for me, but he did not reply... :o

[toesup]

But, I can forsee someday soon these machines being at Kinkos. Bring your file, and 3D print your parts. :cool:

I like the idea, for those little parts that take time to construct from ply, Ali, bits of dowel etc.. just 'print them out in 3D.. :eek:

But is it still 'building' i wonder?.. does it become more like assembling a plastic kit rather than the modelling we know?.. and love?..

[rpage]

toesup

if you are creating the object in say a 3dcad program and then printing it, I would say it is building. If you are picking pieces from model kits, then I think that line gets blured. All I know is, I would go thru a whole bunch of powder if I owned one of those printers :)

[LtDoc]

toesup,
Is it still "building"? Hmm, I'm not sure. Is using a power saw 'less' building than using a hand saw/drill/sander? Beats me, but I know which I'd rather use! At my stage in life, and with my income, I seriously doubt if I'll have to worry about getting one of those "3d printers"... but I'd sure love to have one!
- 'Doc


(And with the way the price of printer ink has gone, wonder what that powder would cost? - LOL)

[Kmot]

I always considered that I "built" plastic models.

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

I know a few that would define it as Assembly vs Building.
They make the distinction of Kit Assembly, and Scratch Building.

:p

[tsenecal]

http://www.fabathome.org/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page

http://www.kobask8.com/servlet/Categories?category=Fab%40Home

[Kmot]

Semantics. A kit doesn't assemble itself! :rolleyes: :p