Posted on 01/17/2014 1:49:42 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
One day a 3D printer, using a mix of materials, will be able to create body armor for U.S. soldiers that is more lightweight and stronger than anything could be made with traditional manufacturing and materials today.
That's the word from researchers at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, who are working to revolutionize 3D printing, as well as the way that companies build products ranging from jet engines and satellites to football helmets.
Scientists at the laboratory, a federally funded center in Livermore, Calif., that focuses on national security research, are working on architecting new materials to be used in a process called additive manufacturing, more commonly known as 3D printing, and developing a technique for building multiple materials into the same product.
They're also studying the physics and chemistry at the base of the process in order to better understand how manufactured parts will stand up to conditions such as heat and stress, so they can predict a product's behaviors and performance.....
(Excerpt) Read more at computerworld.com ...
While I appreciate the technology, government research facilities seem preoccupied with 3-D printing the jackboot that will crush the face of freedom forever.
This 3d printing stuff is kind of a joke.
Will it work? Yes
Can you just imagine something and conjure it up? No
You still have to know how to make it by hand AND you need to learn programing and CAD skills.
Once the data parameters are input and the source materials are acquired and loaded I guess you can mash a button, and viola!
I like that they are approaching the task of multiple materials.
3-D ping.
Is the first batch for IRS, TSA, FEMA, Homeland Security, or IRS?
“Once the data parameters are input and the source materials are acquired and loaded I guess you can mash a button, and viola!”
It’s not that simple, of course. The material being “printed” needs to have physical properties that match the application. Right now they are working with stuff that is good enough to model parts that would ordinarily be cast, forged or stamped. But those parts are not strong or durable enough to last, and it’s not clear that you could make them fast enough for mass-production from this method.
3-D Printing might become a valuable tool for development labs. But you’re not going to build anything meaningful with it until the materials technology catches up.
You can 3-D print a viola?
It can save lots of time in manhours but it is not a mindless process.
I think a lot of people think you just will ask for something and mash a button, like Star Trek dinners.
There is a violin in there so .... maybe. Perhaps with a big enough printer.
3d printing does seem to be a good method to make one of molds for short production runs for proof of concept.
“3d printing does seem to be a good method to make one of molds for short production runs for proof of concept.”
Making what is, in effect, temporary tooling is one of the more powerful tasks that you can do with 3-D printing. Making a mold or a die that will last from a few to perhaps a couple dozen cycles (before wearing out). But again, it’s all shake ‘n back. Might work for aircraft work where the entire production run is only a couple hundred aircraft, plus spares. But you’re not going to make automobiles that way.
Adobe Adds 3D Printing to Photoshop
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3112876/posts
bump
I’m tooling up to do some light manufacturing. 3d printer mass production costs will unlikely be cheap. however, they are great for prototyping.
More tools for us.
Best wishes on your endeavor.
Hubba-hubba.
A hearty thank you for the wish. Not my first time doing something like this so things should work out. It is hard to get over the adrenaline rush, so here I am again.
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