Replicate any part! Cool video

MikeWA
MikeWA Senior Contributor
edited November -1 in HUDSON
3D "printer" makes real objects

About the coolest thing I've seen for awhile. The guy makes a real, functioning crescent wrench out of composite, by scanning the original. It actually works!

Think of the applications in the old car hobby- replicate one-of-a-kind parts. There is also a process to chrome plate most anything, but I can't remember where I saw it.

Comments

  • Aaron D. IL
    Aaron D. IL Senior Contributor
    That's exactly the kind of thing the old car hobby is going to need in order to keep going. at least when it comes to cars past a certain age. Jay Leno actually did a presentation on the same thing.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    While working with the Department of Defense, I routinely provided this technology to contractors with whom we were doing business.

    The printer allowed the DoD to obtain replacement parts which were no longer made or the cost to replicate exceeded the cost of using the printer. The most important part of this technology is the capability to capture digital files which then allow input into a manufacturing process. i.e. revese engineering.

    In addition to the replacement parts, the technology was used to manufacture scale parts which were then fitted to scale models of aircraft we were planning to modify. These actions allows rapid prototyping and the fit check of final designs without the cost and schedule impacts which normally impact this type of work.

    The cost benefit for this technology is huge when it is applied to space and aerospace industries.
  • stev1955
    stev1955 Expert Adviser
    Awesome.
  • Browniepetersen
    Browniepetersen Senior Contributor
    We used this technology in the aerospace shop where I worked. As stated in the previous posts it is light years ahead of any model concepts that were previously available. The unit we used would fire hot wax onto a plate and in a short time you would have a "perfect" (well, as perfect as the engineering was)Part. Once we were sure the part was what we wanted we would send it out to the shop to be built. Our machine shop was state of the art and in a few days the part would clear inspection and we were ready to build. Great technology....

    Now lets talk cost!!!!

    I need a few door handles for the inside of my Hudson. I send in an old handle and a shop makes me one for about $500 a pop. That would most likely pay for the engineer to draw the drawings and maybe part of the cost of programing the model making computer.

    As great as the technology is I am not sure I can handle the cost....
  • SuperDave
    SuperDave Senior Contributor
    Browniepetersen wrote:
    We used this technology in the aerospace shop where I worked. As stated in the previous posts it is light years ahead of any model concepts that were previously available. The unit we used would fire hot wax onto a plate and in a short time you would have a "perfect" (well, as perfect as the engineering was)Part. Once we were sure the part was what we wanted we would send it out to the shop to be built. Our machine shop was state of the art and in a few days the part would clear inspection and we were ready to build. Great technology....

    Now lets talk cost!!!!

    I need a few door handles for the inside of my Hudson. I send in an old handle and a shop makes me one for about $500 a pop. That would most likely pay for the engineer to draw the drawings and maybe part of the cost of programing the model making computer.

    As great as the technology is I am not sure I can handle the cost....

    Send one of those copy machines to China and in a short time we can all have one in our shop Via Harbour Freight!
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