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Old 11-18-2014 | 03:42 AM
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Mark Vandervelden
 
Joined: Jul 2012
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From: Bournmouth UNITED KINGDOM
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That's fantastic, I thought 3D printing was only possible in plastic/polymers not in exotic alloys!. Now we all realise that achieving 33.000 rpm is pitiful but its early days. Its taken about 15years for our commercial 112mm dia turbines to be developed from 19lbs to 45lbs+ thrust in the same size can. Now with rapid prototyping were will it all end, perhaps readily available multi stage axil flow and compact turbo fans, who knows . I realise that turbines wont be turned out like sausages any time soon, the investment on these hi-tech 3D printers is vast but not so long ago 2D colour printers were silly expensive, now you can pick one up for just a few quid at the supermarket!. Technology seems to be progressing at a exponential rate, those flying cars may be just round the corner, I can hardly wait.
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