3D printer?

Diver3284

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I saw a segment on the Discovery Channel about using a 3D printer to make some ornamental pieces that would otherwise have had to be cast in some kind of metal. I believe the machines can be set up (or manufactured) to use different kinds of metal, including titanium and aluminium. I also see that the prices of these devices are falling rapidly and a useful one can be bought for about $10k today, so in 12 months time they will probably be about for 1/2 to 1/3 of that. Is anyone aware of anybody using one, or contemplating the use of one for parts that are hard to find, or difficult, and hence expensive to machine today?

How about a 3D printed, alloy Interstate fuel tank? :eek:
 
I've looked into it for non-metal tanks but its not cost effective yet, especially for size of gas tanks. Whole cycles and cars done a few years ago, some aiming to market. Contact some 3D's places and see estimate ya get. Would be cat's meow to fab up a crazy cool chopper.
 
It would probably be more cost effective to start small.
Plastic parts - reproduction switches, ect........

With a 3d printer and a plotter/digitizer, a person could make some pretty nice knockoff parts.
 
at the moment, i think its a very slow process to make it worthwhile , but apparently in the near future if not now they will be getting faster production I read somewhere, I remember conversing with a guy on Ebay who was 3D printing speedo drive gears for the front wheel of some Honda scooter, I dont know what they cost him to make but he was asking around $30 or more I think, but the price of printers now is very low, my biggest worry would be programming the thing. I had thought about printing the 750 taillight fairings for 750's , but for now I'll be using fiberglass to manufacture.
 
Possibilities are endless with 3D printers, spotted a titanium conrod for a Commando that was produced , up for some testing before trying
Regards Mike
 
Does anybody really think a part made from powdered metal can be as strong as a forging, or one made from milling or turning a billet? Perhaps a 3D part may be as strong as a pot metal casting, or the equivalent made from plastic, but otherwise....., IMO, no. Then, there is the question of heat treating to give the part wear resistance. 3D printing will be limited to producing mock-ups and ornamental type parts for the near future.

Slick
 
texasSlick said:
Does anybody really think a part made from powdered metal can be as strong as a forging, or one made from milling or turning a billet? Perhaps a 3D part may be as strong as a pot metal casting, or the equivalent made from plastic, but otherwise....., IMO, no. Then, there is the question of heat treating to give the part wear resistance. 3D printing will be limited to producing mock-ups and ornamental type parts for the near future.

Slick
Click to expand...

[video]http://youtu.be/u7ZYKMBDm4M[/video]

You sure about that?
 
slicks right. Material selection and treatment can be just as important, if not more important than physical dimensions. This isn't to say that it will never happen, just that it seems highly unlikely and/or a long way off, at the moment.
For details such as tail light bits, odd brackets etc 3D printers may be o.k., given size (length x width x height) constraints.
Given time, complex highly stressed components will happen, but I think that no-one currently involved with classic Nortons will be around to see it.
cheers
wakeup
 
Turbine blades are being printed now but we couldn't afford a single blade but in general printed metal parts have same issues as any welded up part so main advantage is the complexity allowed in stuff surface finish or interference fit under high load ain't needed. Jay Leno introduced printing parts in one of his restorations video's a few years ago for examples of its usefulness. I'm holding out for directed crystal growth shaping instead of thermal bonding powder or weld droplets. Am keeping eye on body part replacement printing.

https://us.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search? ... %20machine
 
The Model 1911 3D printed by Solid Concepts has had a whopping 50 rounds put thru it. 25,000 rounds is considered useful life for the John Browning design.

The 45 ACP cartridge develops a whopping 21,000 psi chamber pressure. Anyone want to shoulder a 30/06 (chamber pressure 60,000 psi) made with a bolt and receiver of 3D printed metal, and squeeze one off? Not me, ....the bolt going thru my eye socket will hurt!

I am sure the technology will improve, but at present, the sintered powdered metal has little more strength than cast metal. There are many useful parts that can be made, as long as strength and wear are not prime considerations.

Slick
 
You dont need to buy a printer to experiment. Using Google Sketchup you can design/create your own objects and send the file to Shapeways.com where they will print it for you
 
3D printer might be good for making something to be used as the core in the lost wax casting process ? Could make some very nice bronze figurines.
 
acotrel said:
3D printer might be good for making something to be used as the core in the lost wax casting process ? Could make some very nice bronze figurines.
Click to expand...

The latest printers can print bronze.
 
There is always the matter of grain structure with any metal part. The most disgusting is grey cast iron. If you watch a tensile test, the test piece usually pulls apart like a dry turd. If there is melting involved in the 3D printer, I would have less reservation. I spent most of my life as an industrial chemist developing materials for use in gun barrels and rocket motors and other defence equipment. There is probably a big leap between what comes off a 3D printer and what is needed for any sort of performance under impact, load or repeated stress cycles.
I'd like to see a jet engine in full scream while fitted with a titanium turbine blade off a 3D printer. If you've ever tried to bend one - they are something else.
That hand gun interests me. I was involved in investigations where members of gun crews were killed. Some people have got no idea what it is like to stand behind a 5 inch gun when it is fired. Sorry, I've got a very sick sense of humour. The funniest one was the rocket motor which disappeared while on the test rig. The slo-mo movie showed the motor unwinding, however my mate was watching it through the viewing port of the blast wall and it just disappeared.
 
Printed guns will never amount to much but media hype and cool designs that can fire but not very well very long. I'm considering to have special manifolds printed in hi temp structural plastic as would be cost effective compared to casting or machining and can incorporate features only 3D allows. Shoot 3D carbs and sharing programs might b e all the rage next couple decades. Frames with suspension and twist compliance built in. Making a mold for a casting is more vintage use I can see. Powerful things can always fail in powerful ways. Printed body armor is pretty cool use I may try ordering someday. I've imagined a printed on space suit that only needs helmet pressurized.
 
In the near future we will see replacement parts being printed. If you think that the technology won't improve to where 99% of the parts on your Norton can't be printed you are delusional. Now whether we see it before some of you guys "retire" that is yet to be seen.
 
What I want is a scanner here in Australia which will help deliver me to a 3D printer at the Goodwood Revival. So I'd arrive as fresh as a daisy, for minimal cost. 'Beam me up, Scotty' ?
I like the concept of the autonomous motorcycle. I 'll get Valentino Rossi to develop the training set for the computer, then get the bike to take me on a hot lap of the IOM.
 
texasSlick said:
3D printing will be limited to producing mock-ups and ornamental type parts for the near future.
Click to expand...

Hist! Don't let those poor engines hear that who are already running laser-sintered alu heads and blocks instead of castings! In the end if these poor things learn that they won't work maybe they stop working..... :mrgreen:


Tim
 
swooshdave said:
In the near future we will see replacement parts being printed. If you think that the technology won't improve to where 99% of the parts on your Norton can't be printed you are delusional. Now whether we see it before some of you guys "retire" that is yet to be seen.
Click to expand...

Any die cast pot metal part could be replaced with present technology 3D printing.

Any cast metal part can be made from sintered metal if the part does not have high tensile or shear stress loads.

Any sheet metal part could be made with sintered metal, but would it stand up to vibration, or would it fracture?

Parts requiring strength are not cast....they are made from forgings or rolled, then milled stock. Forging and rolling imparts a directional "grain" to the metal which gives it the required strength. That grain is missing in sintered metal.

Whether technology can over-come that strength limitation is a matter of conjecture, but I would not look for it to happen soon.

I think technology may impart a wear resistant surface to printed parts before achieving strength. We shall see...

Achieving dimensional exactness is one thing...achieving metallurgical properties, such as wear, corrosion, and strength, is another.

Slick
 
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