3D printing, dream ironically fleshed out :)

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

After much talk here, the plunge was finally taken and this fine beast was purchased a few months back, as part of a commercial joint venture with LeMaudit. After talking me into throwing all that money at Sherline I suppose it was a logical step . It is based in Canada and we are open for business.

I don't mean this as an advert, and to be honest the prices (based on the material cost and the time it takes for a part to be printed) would be beyond what most people on this forum might consider reasonable, but I wanted to showcase the capabilities of this amazing device.

I attached pictures of some samples in the form of the following:

1) a foregrip with rails and flashlight holder for a Phenom paintball marker which LeMaudit designed from scratch using solidworks, made up of multiple interlocking parts

2) a business card holder made of two parts with a magnetic lock. In order to give an idea of pricing, this would be in the region of $150 - obviously too much to actually use the printer for manufacturing, but reasonable for one-off prototyping. The material is ABSplus, quite hardwearing stuff and available in a range of colours.

3) A small house from an architect's 3D model

[POLAND_SPUD]

wow I didn't see that coming

Amazing!
....though it would probably be cheaper to mill that angled grip out of aluminim block

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

....though it would probably be cheaper to mill that angled grip out of aluminim block

It would be cheaper to injection mould it - but first you need your pre-production prototype, and that's where the printer comes in

[POLAND_SPUD]

It would be cheaper to injection mould it - but first you need your pre-production prototype, and that's where the printer comes in

I know I know... just wanted to be a dick
lol almost as in they told me I could be anything...


Someone will ask this sooner or later so it might as well be me... Are we going to see anything spud related made with it ??

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

I know I know... just wanted to be a dick

Never fails

Someone will ask this sooner or later so it might as well be me... Are we going to see anything spud related made with it ??

Defintiely in the projectile launching sphere, the idea is to offer a 3D printing service but at the same time develop and manufacture stuff for the milsim market, possible more hardcore later on. A first project is in the works which you will doubtless hear more about in the near future.

[Jimmy K]

You may want to stay tuned to a few research projects at the University of Alabama - I know of a friend testing the mechanical properties of ABS thermoplastic set by means of a Dimension Elite 3D printer. He is basically testing the practical limits of the machine and the material.

On top of that, I am currently developing a modular system for retrofitting (sort-of) 3D printers to accept a titanium slurry extruder whose extrusions can then be vitrified, sintered, and polished for production-grade parts without post-processing. The stuff looks very promising.

[LeMaudit]

I've learn so much from you guys, that for sure you'll see launching devices announcements here way before other forums
I was away from Spudfiles since a few months, sorry, I surely missed some fun, but there's so many things to do when a business is starting...

About projectile launching, we would aim for something safe yet fun, Paintball and Airsoft seem two markets that offer that kind of fun for us. But my taste for weapon replica (and JSR as well) will address the milsim market in priority. And possibly military/police training devices.

We have so many projects it's insane, but a couple should be lauched soon hopefully. Watch this topic

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

On top of that, I am currently developing a modular system for retrofitting (sort-of) 3D printers to accept a titanium slurry extruder whose extrusions can then be vitrified, sintered, and polished for production-grade parts without post-processing. The stuff looks very promising.

Fantastic, the technology is certainly in its infancy and has a very bright future!

[al-xg]

It would be cheaper to injection mould it -

Mmm, considering tooling costs ? You'd need to be making a lot of them for it to be worth while.


I'm assuming this one is of the "ink jet" type ?


I've had a few parts printed through SLS for work, very useful stuff.

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

Mmm, considering tooling costs ? You'd need to be making a lot of them for it to be worth while.

Yeah, I was assuming mass production which is the sort of work that would justify having a printed prototype.

I'm assuming this one is of the "ink jet" type ?

yep, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fused_deposition_modeling

[ramses]

On top of that, I am currently developing a modular system for retrofitting (sort-of) 3D printers to accept a titanium slurry extruder whose extrusions can then be vitrified, sintered, and polished for production-grade parts without post-processing. The stuff looks very promising.

Interesting, what is the thermoplastic that will suspend the titanium? volumetric concentration of titanium in the slurry (90% by volume?) Expected strength of finished material, which is probably speculative at best.

[Jimmy K]

ramses -

Unfortunately, because of how the research is funded and who the research is for, I cannot give details.

I can, however, say that the support material is not breakaway OR soluble thermoplastic (or even any type of plastic polymer, for that matter).

I know that what I just said will certainly not answer any of your questions, but that's really all I can say. My apologies.

[mattyzip77]

Let me get this right, you just put all your dimensions in via cad, and it spits out the finished product?? Like when they make those masks in mission impossible?? Are you shitting me???

[LeMaudit]

you just put all your dimensions in via cad, and it spits out the finished product??

Basically... yes
And best of it, the complexity doesn't matter. If you draw your piece functional, with some play and axis and interlocking stuff... it's printed just like that.
But unlike the Hollywood version, it takes hours, not seconds to get the final product.

[mattyzip77]

WOW, I had no idea they had things so advanced!! Totally bad ass. So how long did the business card holder thingy take?? Im just curious?? I cant wait to see more produced from this most awesome piece of art!!!!