Posted on 12/02/2014 8:26:58 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Ping.
HOW MUCH IS FREEREPUBLIC WORTH TO YOU?
If you read FR a lot like me, would it shock you to wake tomorrow and not be able to read it?
Im talking to the members, but I am also talking to those who have not signed in.
I can access FR from work, but I cannot log in.
I can see the breaking news, see the responses and corrections.
I can see silly posts and zots.
I can see my FRiends talking with each other.
When I get home, I can respond and post and interact.
If you are not a FReeper, you can still donate. Just push the button.
$5.00 is perfectly acceptable.
Couldn’t I buy a 3D printer and then print 3D printers to sell at a cheaper price?
Almost.
Now the cat is out of the bag ...
Seems a reasonable conclusion to me
Your printer cannot print wires and control boards yet.
There will be metal, elastomeric, and PC board parts that can’t (yet) be printed. But yes, printing the 3D printer parts that can be printed is one of the popular things to do with one.
Sounds like the plot from Daniel Suarez's novels Daemon and Freedom(tm), both highly recommended.
Not really but close.
3d printers don’t really do circuit boards at the moment and they do not do micro chips. However, with modifications to the 3d printer’s head (3d printing with a Dremel tool) it is possible to etch out circuit boards. That requires significant changes to the head end, the existing electronics, the slicing software, etc to switch between the two “modes”.
Given the cost of pre-built electronics vs the time required .... it is just easier to buy for most.
I have to admit this whole concept is beyond my understanding. I don’t get how a printer can create things like car parts or guns. It is mind blowing to me.
You don’t use 3D printers to make circuits. But you do use inkjet printers or regular gravure or offset printing processes. Printed Electronics has been the next big thing for a decade now. See: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Printed_electronics
bflr
Took me a while to find an article about using printers to print circuit boards. http://www.instructables.com/id/3D-Printing-3D-Print-A-Solderless-Circuit-Board/
This is a different method that using traditional printers to etch circuits. http://www.instructables.com/id/PCB-etching-using-laser-printer/
Here is a picture of the Ultimaker circuit board. http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/121376071237?lpid=82
Note how complex the board is for the cost of $30 to $35. In other words, I could buy the part or spend hours of my time working out the details, finding the right components, printing the board and then solder in the pieces .... or spend $30 ish.
I picked up a small nuclear device the other day for $79.99
60 bucks materials and $5k in labor or $2500 for a finished machine?
I have two 3d printers and I am currently upgrading their performance so I have a fairly good understanding of them. To help explain it to others, I walk them through the following thought exercise.
Think of a ream of regular printer paper - 500 sheets. Now imagine taking each sheet through a “bath” or soaking of glue. As a last step, while the glue is still wet, lay all of the sheets down on top of each other. When it dries, you will have a fairly solid brick.
Ok, now lets modify this process slightly. Imagine that as each sheet is put down, JUST BEFORE it is put down, the excess of the sheet is cut away. Think of our desired object being a butter knife. The normal ream of paper would be very wastefull to cut down all those individual sheets. So instead, I have a nozzel that extrudes, much like expoxy out a small hole (usually 0.4 or 0.35 mm in size) a tiny ribbon of the glue and paper mix.
At each layer, it prints the outline of the object and then fills in the solid parts by going back and forth and laying down the mix of glue and paper. Then when that layer is done, the head lifts just a tiny fraction (0.1 mm) and then extrudes the next layer.
This is how FDM works. There are other techniques but they tend to be more expensive. You still have the limitations of the material be it plastic, chocolate, wax etc. So if you use plastic, you will have a plastic gun. Usable for support parts but not really a good idea for the barrel. However there are other techniques that would allow you to use steel and construct that barrel.
bump for later
Virginia Man Creates a 3-In-1 3D Printer, Laser Engraver, & CNC Machine For Under $250
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/3168748/posts
French Man Developed 3D Metal Printer for Just 600: Capable of printing in steel, titanium and more
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/3162946/posts
A 3D Printer for the Rest of Us: New Matter Builds $199 Device
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/3161213/posts
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