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Author Topic: Is this a game changing piece of tech?  (Read 897 times)

just Warren

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Is this a game changing piece of tech?
« on: September 21, 2013, 10:19:34 PM »

Inclosed milling machine/3D printer.

This one is limited but they are looking to make one that can mill steel. I wonder what that could be used for.

http://www.gizmag.com/mebotics-microfactory/29065/
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Brad Johnson

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Re: Is this a game changing piece of tech?
« Reply #1 on: September 21, 2013, 10:32:25 PM »
Quote from: Warren on September 21, 2013, 10:19:34 PM
Inclosed milling machine/3D printer.

This one is limited but they are looking to make one that can mill steel. I wonder what that could be used for.

http://www.gizmag.com/mebotics-microfactory/29065/


I think it's pretty cool.

Brad
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AJ Dual

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Re: Is this a game changing piece of tech?
« Reply #2 on: September 21, 2013, 10:54:17 PM »
Awesome!

Now I can make a metal AR-lower, and Tapco-*expletive blah blah* it at the very same time.  :lol:
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Northwoods

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Re: Is this a game changing piece of tech?
« Reply #3 on: September 22, 2013, 12:00:47 AM »
Cool?  Heck yeah!
Game changer?  Not so much.

The 3D printers were the game changers.  Especially now that the original patents are expiring the ability of that tech to take off is unleashed. 

This is just an innovation putting one new game changer (3D printer) with an old game changer (CNC milling machine).
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RevDisk

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Re: Is this a game changing piece of tech?
« Reply #4 on: September 23, 2013, 01:40:06 PM »

Short version? No.

The CNC part is more important than the 3D printing part. A cheap, accurate, easy to use desktop CNC machine is ultimately more useful than yet another 3D printer. A cheap, accurate, easy to use laser sintering machine will be zOMGWTFBBQ game changing. Thermoplastic? Useful for prototypes, toys, models, etc. But low strength and operating temperatures. Laser sintering can actually make useful tools and sturdy objects.


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MechAg94

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Re: Is this a game changing piece of tech?
« Reply #5 on: September 23, 2013, 03:41:54 PM »
Either way, it would be interesting to get the parts drawings for your gun or a gun and be able to reproduce all the small parts when needed.  With a few extra machines, a small group of garage shops could potentially set up a fair amount of arms production.
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AJ Dual

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Re: Is this a game changing piece of tech?
« Reply #6 on: September 23, 2013, 04:42:25 PM »
I'm going to wager someone is working on a binary epoxy resin/hardener printer, which would have the advantage of not needing a heated element, have a more rigid and higher strength product than ABS. It could be higher resolution, maybe even 2500dpi like the best ink jets, and perhaps also do stuff like alter the grain or deposit size to fit certain structural needs, or just go into "gush mode" and fill entire voids in objects with epoxy.

The main thing would be finding a chemistry that hardens really fast, is not too toxic, and isn't super exotic/expensive.
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charby

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Re: Is this a game changing piece of tech?
« Reply #7 on: September 23, 2013, 06:07:54 PM »
Quote from: AJ Dual on September 23, 2013, 04:42:25 PM
The main thing would be finding a chemistry that hardens really fast, is not too toxic, and isn't super exotic/expensive.

The ones I have worked with in the past were extremely exothermic.
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CNYCacher

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Re: Is this a game changing piece of tech?
« Reply #8 on: September 24, 2013, 12:29:06 AM »
I've been wondering lately if a 3d printer that uses glass instead of plastic would be possible
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