Here is an ariticle about a technology which I think has tremendous potential for model railroading. Link To Article I think this is a glimpse into the not too distant future. Can you imagine being able to make that one of a kind building that you would never have hope of buying off the shelf? No problem! How about that locomotive detail part that doesn’t exist? Just design it and “print” it yourself! For that matter, how about that one of a kind locomotive that doesn’t exist? Do you see where I’m going with this? Hi tech kit-bashing! Once the price comes down, I can see owning one of these. Those among us with Autocad skills could design and sell downloads for products that you can print out in the comfort of your own home. The Walthers catalog could someday be a catalog of downloads. In the meantime does anyone have Jay Leno’s cell phone number?
It is being done already! But the results are still a little disappointing. Take a look at this link!
Here is link to the device mentioned in the article. This is the $750 model, not the $27K model that Jay Leno has in his shop. It looks like it was built in someone’s garage but that’s the same place where Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak got their start. You still need to add the ATX power supply which is a standard desk top PC supply that you can pick up for around $40. The results look a little primitive today but give it some time and there is no doubt in my mind that it will improve and costs will drop once some of the big companies buy in to this.
Hmm this technowlogy looks promising. Now, when the price comes down, many may want one.
I wonder if it will give some manufacturers a run for their money.
It may also make it easier for an inventor to fabricate the parts necessary for a prototype of his/her invention without paying a fortune for a company to do it.
Think of all the plastic parts that break in many things we use today that Voila- you can “print” a replacement for!.
My big question is do you need a Doctorate in Engineering to program/operate teh darn thing??!!
It is certainly a conveniant device for making parts you can’t get. The only problem is that the “printed” plastic is more brittle than your standard injection molded stuff, so you would have to be more careful with what you make. It’s also a very slow process, so I don’t think it would even come close to competing with manufacturers for a very long time.
I see it more as a way to make a master in order to make a mold. That way you can cast the parts in a more durable material. I’ve been tempted by the Cupcake, myself.
I do have a friend that has offered to let me use the 3D printer at his office (at a university), but I don’t want to get him in trouble, since that’s really supposed to be for student and faculty use.
I researched these machines a few years ago for my company and the technology has been around for about 15-20 years. There are two basic problems with them. One is the resolution of the process; the part is printed in layers of .010-.020" per step/layer, thus creating a slight stepping surface. The part has to be smoothed, filled or coated to get a good smooth finish. Second, you need a 3D CAD program to model the parts which are then converted to a special file that the ‘Printer’ can use to generate the layers. These are not cheap CAD programs. The resolution may have gotten better since I was looking at them. The materials that can be used are now much better, such as ABS. I did have some parts made for my customer and we dipped them into an acetone bath that actually smoothed the surface out by slightly dissolving the sharp steps on the part. Very fine detail is not that good either, so I don’t know if you could say model a pilot with fine rivet or bolt head details. It is still a great technology but far from being one that would make acceptable parts for the home modeller.
I was at the Maker Faire last weekend, and there were several groups there with 3D printers, either people with kits or people offering 3D printing services. My take on the state of the market for 3D printers right now is similar to computers in the 70s. There are several high-end versions available to businesses that you might be able to rent some time on, and at the low end are kits which are generally not very useful to people who want to do something more advanced than just fool around with them.
The high-end versions are getting to the resolution where you might start using them for model railroading purposes, but that is still limited to areas where the rough surface isn’t an issue, and it probably doesn’t make much economic sense yet. In my opinion, we’re still years away from them being very useful, but I would say it is only a matter of time.
I think that in 20 years they will be for sale at Wal-Mart.
I’m having a thought: Car sides. I suspect the fluting that Budd had would be a bit blurred, but those of us who can’t scratchbuild to save or lives could do poossibly do pretty well. And all one really has to do is scan in a picture of a ar diagram and jump the picture file into something a little more 3D, but surely that can’t be as hard as trying to v-scale an brake system, would it?
I interviewed an engineer who does 3-D architectural models with this process. Its referred to as rapid prototyping and the detail can be mind blowing. His machines (he has 3) vary by processs and material used - each having a specific purpose and result. Each cost in the neighborhood of $25K.
He has done model railroad parts and a benefit can be reduced up front cost. A good quality single cavity injection mold die can easily pass $50K. But with a good base part from rapid prototyping, that cast can be less than $1000.
Here are some photos I took as part of the interview. Notice the dime for size reference.
The box car was made by first creating a 3-D cad print of a highly detailed model. The process even added the separate details such as grab irons.
I recently looked at the PANTHER made by Bits from Bytes, sold in the USA by Purple Platypus (www.purpleplatypus.com); which is a ready to used 3D printer for under $4000-. Z axis layers down to .004"; X & Y .002" resolution; 12.6 x 11.8 x 7.9 inches printing volume with a single head, 2nd and 3rd heads can be added for multimaterial parts with some loss of printing volume.
.004" is about a 1/3 of an inch HO…
( 3.5mm = 1ft = 12 inches → 1" HO is .0117" )