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US military invests in 3D printing on the frontline
De Zeen ^ | 12 Nov 2012 | De Zeen

Posted on 11/15/2012 7:39:19 AM PST by Theoria

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1 posted on 11/15/2012 7:39:22 AM PST by Theoria
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To: Theoria
US military invests in 3D printing on the frontline

I'm going to print up some extra ammo and then hop in my Chevy Volt to go fight the taliban. /s

May be viable some day, but with a $16 Trillion debt I think it would be best if we let private industry perfect it first.

2 posted on 11/15/2012 7:44:11 AM PST by The Sons of Liberty (Remember the Heroic SEALs of Benghazi and DEMAND a Full Accounting!!!!)
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To: Theoria

-—yeah—quick, somebody send me the app allowing .223, .308, 9 mm and .45AACP to be run off on my state of the art Canon Pixma-—(sarc)


3 posted on 11/15/2012 7:48:08 AM PST by rellimpank (--don't believe anything the media or government says about firearms or explosives--)
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To: Theoria

See if it will print of some “Rules of Engagement” to allow us to win the fight...


4 posted on 11/15/2012 7:50:24 AM PST by 2banana (My common ground with terrorists - they want to die for islam and we want to kill them)
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To: 2banana

Perhaps a ‘Declaration of War’ is in the feed tray as well.


5 posted on 11/15/2012 7:51:30 AM PST by Theoria (Romney is a Pyrrhic victory.)
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To: Theoria

Saw these years ago.


6 posted on 11/15/2012 7:52:51 AM PST by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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To: The Sons of Liberty

3D printing works good for cheap plastic pieces that break. Right now that’s about it.


7 posted on 11/15/2012 7:53:09 AM PST by BipolarBob (The first thirty years of my childhood were horrible.)
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In a perfect world, you could rent time on a 3D printer and print your own(3D printer).


8 posted on 11/15/2012 7:54:20 AM PST by RBStealth
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To: BipolarBob

Can someone explain 3-D printing to me. I’ve read various articles on it, but I don’t see a big difference between current molds, dies, and other older devices used in manufacturing.
There must be something I’m missing.


9 posted on 11/15/2012 7:57:19 AM PST by jayrunner
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To: BipolarBob
3D printing works good for cheap plastic pieces that break. Right now that’s about it.

That's just not true. 3D printing produces strong, lightweight parts that can see long-term use under harsh field conditions.

BTDT.

10 posted on 11/15/2012 7:57:42 AM PST by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilization is Aborting, Buggering, and Contracepting itself out of existence.)
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To: jayrunner

3-D printing is additive - you’re not taking a block of material and machining it down, and you’re not making a mold.

You can build very complex shapes more easily, and with a smaller and cheaper machine, than milling something down subtractively.


11 posted on 11/15/2012 8:04:54 AM PST by Strategerist
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To: jayrunner
I don’t see a big difference between current molds, dies, and other older devices used in manufacturing

The biggest advantage I see is the ability to make changes with only software, add thickness to a place discovered after use to be a weak link.

Also if economic to produce, low volume items cost little more than high volume items.

12 posted on 11/15/2012 8:07:25 AM PST by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: jayrunner
I don’t see a big difference between current molds, dies, and other older devices used in manufacturing

The biggest advantage I see is the ability to make changes with only software, add thickness to a place discovered after use to be a weak link.

Also if economic to produce, low volume items cost little more than high volume items.

13 posted on 11/15/2012 8:08:34 AM PST by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: Strategerist

Thank you for the explanations re 3-D printing.


14 posted on 11/15/2012 8:25:42 AM PST by jayrunner
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To: Theoria

The printers will be cheap but the “ink” will be super expensive following the HP business model.


15 posted on 11/15/2012 9:58:38 AM PST by gunnut
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To: gunnut
The printers will be cheap but the “ink” will be super expensive following the HP business model.

My ink cost more that what I paid for the printer

16 posted on 11/15/2012 10:10:00 AM PST by piroque ("In times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act")
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To: jayrunner
3-D printing is also known as rapid prototyping.

It's a fast and easy way to make one of something, rather than having to create molds or dies.

But if you want to make 1,000, then molds or dies are the only way to go.

17 posted on 11/15/2012 10:34:26 AM PST by Yo-Yo (Is the /sarc tag really necessary?)
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To: Theoria; Revolting cat!; Slings and Arrows

How soon before someone is caught making some 3-D printed porn?


18 posted on 11/15/2012 12:58:24 PM PST by a fool in paradise (America 2013 - STUCK ON STUPID)
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To: gunnut

How frequently will these printers jam?


19 posted on 11/15/2012 1:04:37 PM PST by a fool in paradise (America 2013 - STUCK ON STUPID)
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To: a fool in paradise

I expect it to happen before they get caught for cloning people for sex slaves.


20 posted on 11/15/2012 1:11:26 PM PST by Theoria (Romney is a Pyrrhic victory.)
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