Whilst frustratingly (been 3 or 4 months now!) laid up and not able to get back to either my metal workshop or the relatively new (and separate wooden shed 'wood' workshop)I have been researching 3D printing and I must admit is is mind blowing what it can do and how it will affect all of our lives! Yes I believe its impact on all of us will be dramatic.
At the hobby level there is a thriving home build printing world with several embryonic new companies and individuals involved. There are also some major players in the commercial sector already saving massive mounts of money with prototyping. Its not just plastics though with the big boy's. Oh no, they even print in metal! Some of the complex mathematical shapes drawn on CAD programs are printing in metal and would be if not impossible to machine, would be prohibitively expensive. There are a couple of video's below that will illustrate some of what I mean but I want to concentrate on what uses I will put my kit to when it arrives in early October (fingers crossed).
Metal printing!....yes printed!
How about printing a working ball bearing? well here is an example......
Finally how about an adjustable spanner that works and no assembly! Straight from the printer.
There are two main uses I see for me in the first instance, one to create patterns for casting aluminum and secondly, printing parts for use in their own right. The plastic filament at present for the home use is either PLA (based on sugar starch) which is recommended for the casting use, or ABS which is the same plastic used in Lego bricks.
Whilst waiting for the kit to arrive I have made several drawings in Alibre 3D CAD of items to printout. These are saved as STL files which are then imported into a great piece of free software called ReplicatorG which cleverly converts the model into slices and then converts that to the GCode required by the printer.
One of the first items I want to printout is a holder for my Proxxon precision drill/grinder and this will then allow me to have a small capacity CNC facility. Exciting times.
If you want to know more about 3D printing the visit my new website http://www.3d-printer-kit.com where I will cover both he build and also experience using the printer.



























