Mark
Like you I hoped that this would provide a cheap method of rapid development using solid models. I draw parts in Solidworks and it is simple to generate a stl file that these processes can use. The cost is just crazy. Recently one firm I asked for a quote for a mild steel part that was 50mm X50mm in a complicated shape with splines and 2 helixes cut into it. One firm quoted a minimum cost of £1,000 for one part. Another quoted £500 and after moaning to them about unrealistic pricing I had to spend 2 days in my workshop using my lathe and CNC mill making the part. It seemed to me that a reasonable cost would be £50-100 by sintering. For companies like GE and BAE systems they do not have to make items to a low cost base like small engineering businesses.
I guess the capital cost for the equipment needed is very high and hence the high pricing. Also the metal powder used is expensive.
John
Last edited by Jgwright; 11-18-2014 at 07:27 AM.