Posted on 05/08/2019 2:45:42 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Come October, the largest 3D printer in the world will be installed at the University of Maine in Orono. One of its first uses will be to print a boat mold that boat builders can use. The substance behind the 3D printing operation will be a wood-based plastic developed at UMaine.
The boat mold is one of the first objectives of a new, bio-based 3D printing program that’s a collaboration between the University of Maine and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The hope is that the initiative could make 3D printing more useful in manufacturing while reinvigorating Maine’s forest products industry by finding new uses for wood-based products.
UMaine and Oak Ridge received $20 million in federal funds for the program, Maine Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King, and Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander said Thursday during an announcement in Washington, D.C. Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Daniel Simmons and Habib Dagher, the founding executive director of UMaine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center, also participated in the announcement.
“The material is nanocellulose, basically a tree ground up to its nano structure. These materials have properties similar to metals,” Dagher said. “We are taking those and putting them in bioplastics so we can make very strong plastics that we can make almost anything with.”
(Excerpt) Read more at bangordailynews.com ...
I’m 3D printing a 2nd me.
With all this extra weight though the costs are running exceedingly over budget!
The hope is that the initiative could make 3D printing more useful in manufacturing while reinvigorating Maine’s forest products industry by finding new uses for wood-based products.
...
So Maine wasn’t cutting down enough trees.
Hmm...I love 3D printing. I’m buying one to start a model railroad business. I’m thinking 3D printing boats will help the Maine boat manufacturing business...(and maybe northeastern boat businesses, too).
I always enjoy a nice 3D printer article from you.
I hope that your wife and you are feeling well these days! :-)
Make mine a Pacific Seacraft Crealock 37.
Based on the comments you are a 3D printer aficionado? Do you have a ping list?
Had to take a peak at images online. Beautiful boat. $120,000 and up and one could be yours.
That's 1/3 the price of the golf course 2nd home I'm saving for so I'll have to pass. But if I were a sailing type I'd be very pleased with such a beauty.
If there is one, I’d like to be on it.
3-D printer is on the list to learn and acquire.
I’m a aficionado but no list.
wood-based plastic = Elmer’s Glue
Jumbo Colored Slime Recipe
https://www.officedepot.com/fm/files/od/tiles/2017/make_slime/elmersmakeslimerecipleswpictures.pdf
Having purchased a 3d printer and learning, I now recommend that you build your own instead of buying. It is a LOT more time, but you will have a far greater knowledge of what can be done.
Several kits out there to get started. A search of Amazon should net all that you need.
Thanks for the advice.
Someday I will get there.
Just be aware that depending on scale, 3d printing may not be as accurate or detailed as you like, and creating certain parts may not be as easy or possible as you think.
(Speaking as someone who has been using his to make model boat parts, it’s not as easy as it looks)
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