RE: Who has a 3D printer?...
 

Has anyone seen the new magnesium 3d printers that NASA were using? They're able to make fully enclosed boosters without having to machine parts independently to bolt together :)

It won't be long before it's a way of life, considering the 3D printed organs they're doing in the UK etc!

RE: Who has a 3D printer?...
 

I foresee a day when RCU will have a special thread for people to share printer files of scale parts. That will be really cool.

RE: Who has a 3D printer?...
 

I agree, that day will come sooner than we may think.
This is great for sensible non fanatical people, the big issue as I see it, is abuse.
When you can email a file for a bomb mechanism or a credible gun?? Where does it end?
You suddenly do away with border controls!
You can effectively ‘beam’ a weapon to someone with the right machine type.
It has the possibility to change everything...no more shipping of parts worldwide...just order, pay and download the file to your printer.
Great you may say...true but what about the people employed in manufacturing, shipping, deliveries etc.?
No duty, no customs! The potential is far reaching.
I remember discussing this with universities 10 years ago, I know at that time the US and UK military were considering such systems. Why carry spare parts? Just a machine, raw material and download the file.
The Space station or deep space travel are other prime examples of use, all you need to carry is raw materials and have a machine with a library of spares....job done!.
Paul G

RE: Who has a 3D printer?...
 

I was involved to some degree in the early stages of Airbus’s involvement with this technology.
They were looking at a 2 metre bed machine to sinter titanium, this would make UC legs and parts, the saving was dramatic. I am not sure where they got to on it as i moved to a different project.

Here is a company that (in my opinion) leads the world in DMS (Direct Metal Sintering).
Materials such as Titanium, aluminium, steel, Cobolt chrome...all possible.

[link=http://www.eos.info/additive_manufacturing/for_your_engineering]Try Here[/link]

Paul G