Anyone Attempting to Build a Serenity Model Discussion
POSTED BY: bkeating
UPDATED: Friday, November 18, 2005 21:21
VIEWED: 10447
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SMAUG
I am obviously not as experienced as you with the rapid prototyping since I have not done any parts at all. I wish I was good at that stuff. That is why I buy lotto tickets so I could buy my own machine 
It is a very useful tool that I can see using in the future.
I can't wait to see your progress.
Alex
Styrofoam Guy
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Quote:
It is a very useful tool that I can see using in the future.
I don't think it's going to be THAT long before small desktop 3d printers will be rather affordable. If you consider that RP machines cost a couple million 10+ years ago. Then 5-10 years ago they were 500K. Now there are machines that are below 30K. I actually just read an article yesterday where someone was working on making a RP machine that can PRINT copies of itself!!!!
Talk about science fiction!! So if it works, once the first one is made.. making additional ones will simply be a matter of raw material and printing time! I wouldn't be suprised if in the next 5 years we see a desktop 3D printer within the 2-5K range. Of course its build volume will be smaller than the more expensive machines and it won't be the fastest printer in the world.. but at that price point it will certainly be within the reach of the prosumer/hobbiest, and I think the price will only continue to drop from that. I am actually suprised it's not dropping even faster. There are different RP technologies.. but the most basic one (glue/poweder machines) aren't THAT much more complicated than an inkjet printer. Actually one model from one manufacturer that I witnessed a demonstration actually uses HP printheads. You put in a new HP printhead and the machine blows out the black ink and then replaces it with the "glue" that it uses and that is how it prints.
For those of you that have never seen this technology before. Imagine if you have your inkjet printer print the letter "A" on a sheet of paper.. now have it print that letter A over and over again exactly on top of itself, thousands of times and with each pass the inkjet head moves up (or the paper moves down) the thickness of one layer of ink. Now if the ink would hold its form.. you can imagine how that character "A" would start to build itself up into a 3D object.. one tiny layer at a time. This is basically how one (of the few) RP technologies work.
Another amazing thing about it is that working "machines" can be printed and come out of the printer with no assembly required. I have seen machine with gears and all kinds of working parts.. that actually turned and worked.. right out of the machine!!!
It's pretty amazing. Another side note.. I also know there is one researcher who is building a machine on a LARGE scale... and it uses concrete to build with. The idea is to be able to build the structure of a home or building.. in a single day. So basically it would be like pouring the foundation, and framing a house. All in one day. All the cutouts and stuff for electrical/HVAC would be in place.. and your are not limited by shape. The machine can create vaulted ceiling.. domes... just about any shape you can dream up (doesn't mean it's structurally sound though
) and will be able to do an entire typcial sized home in one day. You then just go in and finish it... meaning flooring/drywall/etc. Of course if there are any walls/floors that you don't mind being concrete.. you can leave them like that.. either bare or painted. But basically it takes the entire foundation/framing of a structure and can do it in one day!!! It's amazing to see his prototype machine in action!! This guy is even working with NASA.. because they see the possibility of dumping one of these machines off on another planet... having it dig into the ground for it's raw materials.. and then "print" out a spacebase all on it's own!! But anyway... don't mean to ramble on.. but it's just such an amazing technology.. it does seem like science fiction!!
I have the engine modeled.. and am working on the "wing". So when I get a little more done than that I will try to post my progress..
Smaug..
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SMAUG
No worries as I like reading about this stuff. Yeah I am waiting for that day when I can get a desktop model. For me there will be a tang of regret.
I am used to doing things with my hands and this process will make that skill less important. Similar to how CG has replaced a lot of the model builders for the SFX industry.
I do recall the small roland scanner and CNC milling machine. However that was ages ago and before I had enough funds to purchase one.
I am also surprised that the technology has not become affordable yet. Maybe it is a conspiracy like the oil industries stopping the electric cars from being mass produced 
I have an inkjet printer that can print on DVDs. This means it has to accurately raise and lower the print head. All the technology is there. The only thing that maybe holding it back is the fact that there may not be enough practical applications to develop the technology.
Most people do not need to print out 3D items. Maybe one day
Tea… Earl Grey…Hot…
Alex
Styrofoam Guy
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Greetings All :-D
For all that are interested, I've just started a Serenity Model Group :-D
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Modelling_Serenity/
Cheers
ME
"Ah, the pitter patter of tiny feet in huge combat boots"
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