Hmm, a 3-d printer for $1600 . . . . interesting way to prototype.

Dear V-8 Buick leading edgers,

Definitely not the usual sort of thing we think about when it comes to tools for working on cars, but I got an email advertising from Radio Shack that includes a new design for a 3-d printer from a company called Afinia that I wasn't aware of at least:

http://www.afinia.com/3d-printers

Radio Shack (and presume others) are selling this printer for $1600:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/i...LetsPlay&utm_medium=email&utm_source=09202013

That's way to rich for my blood and it isn't like I have any obvious use for it either. However, some guys on this board have the ability to cast small parts. Anyone who has this ability and is comfortable with CADD could easily produce unique products very easily. This might be a savvy purchase for either someone with a small business or someone wanting to start up a small business catering to the classic car owner.

So just a quick pointer here. If this sort of technology get cheaper as other high-tech has, perhaps we all be able to afford one in a few years.

Cheers, Edouard :beer

 

I've been watching these things for a while now, but like you said its a lot of money to print up a few small parts. I like the makerbot stuff, they can do fairly large parts and now have a 3d scanner as well so you can scan parts then print new ones. They also use ABS plastic which is heat resistant, many use PLA which is not. The catch of course is that for the price point for an average guy like you or I to get into it the quality isn't that great yet. I've seen a few parts made, its pretty neat for sure, you can almost see the layers, and there are small parts you could make but for the money easier just to buy them at this point. Also if you wish to make parts from scratch you need some basic cad ability...but it won't be long before this is huge.

The real high end machines of course do great stuff but only a real company can afford that stuff at 250,000.00 and up etc...clothing, shoes, toys, medical parts (skull parts, bones, etc) are all being made of various metals including metal. No assembly required. There is even a company using organic material trying to grow new organs...where this will all end who knows. Pick the right company to invest in, buying one of these would be no worry in a few years...

One thing you can do is the cad work yourself and farm out the actual printing to a local company (in any material). Of course I'm talking car parts, plenty of people are making money making toys and other various things already...

http://store.makerbot.com/replicator2x.html

 

I hope the scanners and printers keep coming down in price then some of the low volume pieces for our Buick s and others might get made in small runs.:shock: Here's HOPING!

 

They will, I remember when a good inkjet printer cost 800.00.....

 

I remember when a good nine pin dot-matrix printer cost 800.00...

 

Hear, hear! Ain't that the truth. I still vaguely remember the best techniques for tearing the tractor feed off multiple pages at once. And I mean vaguely!

I've been impressed in the last few years seeing 3D printing going from exclusive to commonplace, for some it's a great investment becoming more in reach than before.

Devon

 

Careful you are dating yourself....:grin:

 

Technology is crazy and it will continue to advance at a blistering pace.

Abundance by Peter Diamondis is a book that talks a lot about some of this stuff. I found it very interesting. He spends some time talking about 3D printing, robotics, artificial intelligence, and a lot of other topics.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abundance:_The_Future_Is_Better_Than_You_Think

 

Don't I know it. That was also back when you'd pay at least $400 for a 20 megabyte hard drive.

I do also remember watching the printer roll down the steps of the UPS truck and onto the ground. Thanks UPS for taking such care.

 

Well SOME things never change...