3D Printing

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Exactly, Amy

Miracles are looking possible!

Bob

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

I know what you mean and it is great for other applications, but there really is zero point in calling yourself a model builder if you just stick a picture in a computer/printer, press a button and go out shopping. On your return, you take out the completed model, go off to the local model club and say "Look what I made this morning!"

Bob

[David WooleyParticipant @davidwooley82563]

Bob years ago when PE first arrived on the scene the same questions were raised as to whether a scratch built model containing PE could be considered scratch built even if the model builder prepared all of the CAD for the process . The same applies to 3D . I prefer to have a go and scratch build , warts and all but I see no contradiction if a modeller researched a fitting worked it through on CAD and let the machine produce the goods. However to reach the standard of reproduction to match a well developed CAD drawing the printer would be much more expensive than what is presently available to the general public. There will always be modellers that will scratch build the finest of parts because that's where the enjoyment is but I see no problem in 3D production for masters or items being made available direct from that process if that's what modellers want . Sadly the skill base is diminishing and acquiring new skills is harder than it was therefor technology will fill the void .

Dave Wooley

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Dave

I have no doubt at all that you are correct, although I have no idea what PE is! Model makers of the future will probably just design it their models paper and print them out! Not for me though. I have become so much a minority builder, I am hardly producing anything of late. When I take completed models to the local model shipbuilders society, there is little interest shown in them beyond the odd casual glance.

The most popular statements are "I haven't the time" – "I could never do that" – "my eyesight is not good enough!"

Bob

[David WooleyParticipant @davidwooley82563]

Hi Bob PE is photo etch brass or nickel silver and super fine detail can be replicated at all scales , I;m slightly hung up with my trusty soldering iron and gain much enjoyment from making a part and disposing of said part to the trusty trash can which I can say fills up rapidly until I get the job the way I want it to be. PE can alleviate all that stress and I do find it useful . There are quite a number of scratch builders into the 1:700 and below attend the International model show at Telford , many from overseas and I will be the first to admit I have passed the comment "I could never do that" but it is perfectly true I haven't the inclination but I do admire the level of skill and techniques and I look,, listen and above all else learn a thing or two .

Dave Wooley

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Ahhh – I do use etched brass, but I do then myself It is only simple etchings for steering wheels about 1/8 inch diameter. Commercial etchings never seem to be at my scale 1:384 and I don't know if I would use them if they were, on account of the cost!

Bob

[mike farrellParticipant @mikefarrell21522]

Hi All , Well there has been a few comments ref. these printer things and until today I had not seen one in real time use . I had been searching for a laser cutter when I was directed to a local training workshop . Yes I can cut your window frames . Whilst explaining what I required I heard a constant buzzing , yes a 3d printer . Can you make window frames on that machine ? yes but not to the standard you will require . He showed me an example of what it could do but when he got down to a window frame 40x 60mm it was pure rubbish ,finish very poor and 6 minutes to complete so for our interest its a long way to go . For Bobs quality of work ,for me never

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

They probably will be able to do it eventually, but it would have to be something along the lines of the old science fiction movie "The Fly" where the object was broken down into individual molecules and then re-assembled elsewhere. For those who haven't seen the film, a fly got in the booth with the scientist and they got mixed up in cyberspace and when he emerged, he had a large fly's head, whilst the fly had a tiny human head – horrible mess!

Anyway, if they do manage it eventually, copyright may well come into the equation!

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

The Chinese are now producing full size houses on giant 3D printing machines!

According to today`s news, they can produce TEN houses in one day!

See here….

**LINK**

Just what our housing market needs, having read that it will take 45 years to save up the deposit on a house in the UK!

The possibilities are endless and very exciting!

Bob

[hutchParticipant @hutch73959]

Hi Guys

My Paddle wheels were 3dprinter on a machine that had two nozzles and two reels of plastic {like a reel of fishing line} one is a white plastic and the other is a black plastic this black plastic is washed away after the item is finished being made.

I hope this helps,

Cheers,

Hutch

from the great down under

[Martin Field 1Participant @martinfield1]

3D printing is only the latest kind of rapid prototyping, which was developed years ago. I remember the first machine being on Tomorrow's World. I have used SLS, STL, and various other methods and refinements.

The material is mainly a nylon type junk which can't be sanded or filed, only filled with thick primer and laboriously rubbed down. That is for the affordable resolution.

However if you can afford to re-mortgage your house, you CAN get fidelity way beyond what you or I could make.

And I'm pretty good, if I do say so myself. But I couldn't make a single air cooled cylinder an 1/8th" diameter with every scale fin, every head nut and the name Kinner in the top of one rocker cover! And neither could you. But, Paul Fisher, who had one cylinder done for his 1/32nd scale Ryan trainer's radial engine described that one 3 D print as "ruinously expensive".

And that, gentlemen and lady, is what will enable we model makers to survive a lot longer than you might think.

And anyway, can't print wood can it??

Martin

[hutchParticipant @hutch73959]

Hi

I have found that my paddle wheels made on the 3d printer are of a high standard.very thin and quite delicate and very robust and only need a primer coat then a top coat

At $20.00 AUD for the Cad drawings and $32.50 each for the two paddles.

If the finish is not what you want just paint it with Acetone this will soften the PVA surface and this can give a smooth finish mind you the thickness of the PVA as its laid down in the printer is the main factor the thinner the layer the better.

Hutch.

[Martin Field 1Participant @martinfield1]

Hutch, I think you'll find the material isn't PVA. And acetone is not something I'd ever go near again having washed some GRP mouldings in the stuff when I worked at Toyota's design studio in Belgium. I was ill for a fortnight.

Of course, you can go to thinner layer (higher resolution), but because that increases machine time it increases the costs parabolically!

There are some uses where the ghastly ridged finish doesn't matter, like slot car chassis, where the method id popular, but unless you have a LOT of money, it's no good for a finished item that is on show. Some people are prepared to fill, smooth, sand , paint, etc. But I'm not, as none of the prints are exactly cheap anyway.

I think there's a lot of inverted snobbery about this. The techie fans can't wait to show off something a machine has made…..badly.

And as Ruskin said (more or less) "such people will always be these peoples' lawful victim".

You could paraphrase another saying…."Crap is made where good men accept mediocrity".

Martin

[hutchParticipant @hutch73959]

Hi Martin,

PVA and PLA is the main material used in Australia. as I said before my paddle wheels are made with PVA and the only thing i have to do is under coat and top coat paint them using a air brush, I do have a spray booth with a exhaust fan.The Stratays 3Dprinter is about the size of a home fridge/freezer.don't know the resolution of the layers.but I think its 0.1 mm.

As for the Acetone if its used out doors its OK do not use it in a confined spaces .I have been using it to glue my model rescue boat that is made from PVA drain pipe too.

Mind you we are heading towards winter down here, at the moment its only 22/23c during the daytime 12/13c at night.it will get down to 14c day and 7c night later on.

Hutch.

[Martin Field 1Participant @martinfield1]

Only 23C?? Jeez, we have that at the moment here and it's almost too warm for me.

Isn't drain pipe PVC? I assumed PVA was just lousy wood glue.

If you are lucky enough to get a good res. on your paddle wheels, such that a good coat of paint smooths the strata lines out, then I'd say they were as good a use for 3D printing as any as they must be very tedious to make.

Martin

[hutchParticipant @hutch73959]

HI Martin,

Sorry I got that wrong for some reason I keep on putting PVA wood glue instead of PVC drain pipe.

Its going to be 26c today and that is very nice and warm.I like the temp to be at lest 28/30cmind you we can have up to 40cplus in the summer but the humidly is very low with it.

[Martin Field 1Participant @martinfield1]

Hutch,

so many materials begin with a P, it's easy to type the wrong 'un!

26 C would be very uncomfortable for me. Fortunately where we are there's always a breeze which is a blessing in hot weather. How very British of me!

Cheers,

Martin

[hutchParticipant @hutch73959]

Hi Martin,

It only takes 3 months to get use to the heat, I did when I came to Australia from the UK in 1960 as 10 pound pom!!

Did live in Sydney for 25years did not like the humidity so we moved to Adelaide 27 years ago much better weather.

The Great Eastern model I am building [hence the paddle wheels] 1.200 scale is coming along quite nicely.

Have covered and under coated the hull, when I get back in July going on a cruise for 55days Sydney to Southhampton. will fit the paddle tank drive,pulleys,belts, R/C ,and speed control.

The rudder, rudder servo,prop,and drive motor are already installed.

Cheers,

Hutch

[Martin Field 1Participant @martinfield1]

That's a big job, I would think.

My brother is now naturalised Aussie. He also got used to the heat. Lives in Perth now. He loves it, but not for me!

Good luck with the Great Eastern.

Martin

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