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March 28, 2011 3:48 p.m. fritzsch New Reader

To those interested in 3d printing here is an interesting article of what can be done. I see it as a short matter of time before prices and availability is accessible to the public and interested individuals. Larger machines, such as the one necessary to build that bicycle, allows for some really cool things to be made. I know Joey M wanted some really rare special heads built and when his type of technology is available imagine what all we could make for our cars.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1368113/Go-print-bike-The-technolog...
March 28, 2011 4:15 p.m. ReverendDexter SuperDork

Huh. Says that the moving parts are all built together, even has bearings and the like. How does that work?
March 28, 2011 7:10 p.m. fritzsch New Reader

For this type of technology (selective laser sintering) you are able to design moving parts into something to be built. On a 3D CAD model you would just design very tight tolerance for axle and wheel etc so it would allow rotation but no other type of motion. Granted since its all made of nylon its probably not as efficient as it could be.
March 28, 2011 7:23 p.m. JoeyM SuperDork

fritzsch wrote:

I know Joey M wanted some really rare special heads built and when his type of technology is available imagine what all we could make for our cars.

Yup....a crossflow DOHC upper for an L24 block (240z), just like OS Giken used to make.

http://forums.hybridz.org/index.php/topic/11187-os-giken-dohc-datsun-head/
March 28, 2011 8:02 p.m. fritzsch New Reader

Joey do you know what the temperatures in something like that reach? at the hottest point?
March 28, 2011 8:20 p.m. Jamesc2123 Reader

Another way for moving parts to be made is to print using a second,"filler" material in between the two parts that, is designed to dissolve or be removed later, freeing up the two pieces to move however they were designed. A fellow technology ("shop", if you really must) teacher of mine has an adjustable wrench made this way, first printed in a two material block, then chemically dissolved the filler material, leaving only the functional parts.

The coolest part of this technology is that soon it will become possible to do the same thing with metal instead of plastic, which will then allow all kinds of awesome homemade printed awesomeness...not to mention game-changing industry processes.
March 28, 2011 8:46 p.m. fritzsch New Reader

James is right, that is another way to do it. In the lab where I work we have a machine that uses two materials, one support material which is removed by hand or water jetting, and the model material. However this technology I think is impossible for metal since usually it involves special liquid resin which is cured and solidified by UV light and I am pretty sure you can't liquify and harden metal in that way. It would also require absurdly high temperatures lol. Selective Laser Sintering which was sort of described in the article above does allow for moving metal parts if you have the proper machine for it, obviously sintering metal requires a more powerful laser than sintering nylon. Its sort of like everything from GM...GAME CHANGER
March 29, 2011 8:22 a.m. DILYSI Dave SuperDork

It is already available in metal.

It is very cool.

It is VERY expensive.

If someone with one of these metal sintering laser gizmos wants to sponsor me by way of building a turbo manifold in stainless (or titanium) then I'll be happy to let you decorate my car however you would like.
March 29, 2011 11:33 a.m. JoeyM SuperDork

fritzsch wrote:

Joey do you know what the temperatures in something like that reach? at the hottest point?

No idea....I'll try to find out. What's the highest temperature you think current 3-D printed materials can survive?
March 29, 2011 1:41 p.m. MadScientistMatt Dork

JoeyM wrote:

fritzsch wrote:

Joey do you know what the temperatures in something like that reach? at the hottest point?

No idea....I'll try to find out. What's the highest temperature you think current 3-D printed materials can survive?

SLS-made steel parts should have the same melting point as conventional steel. If it's not hot enough, you could always use the 3D printer to make a wax pattern and use that for lost wax casting. That process could get you an Inconel part if you wanted.

I still think if you want a one-off duplicate of that cylinder head, you're better off having a pattern CNC'ed out of wax, and casting it. 3D printing is a means to an end, and there are a lot of other options for making a one-off part from a CAD file these days.
March 29, 2011 3:28 p.m. 4cylndrfury SuperDork

Yep, joey, They have the technology...it can be done
March 29, 2011 3:29 p.m. 4cylndrfury SuperDork

more fun...

http://directmetallasersintering.blogspot.com/
March 29, 2011 4:03 p.m. JoeyM SuperDork

[sigh] Now about that lottery thread......