For the rich modeler!

[DEATH ANGELS]

I dont want to wate for access to one. I do have 2 items made on the 3d printer. These two statues are exact renditions of avitars from time wasted playing World of Warcrap. Both were gifts but the run about $120.00usd each at last check. The statues are about 5 inches tall, arrived sealed in glass domes (the fogging in the photos), color is part of the printing process. "Grains" appear about .1mm or less with color print as fine or even finer. Appears only the program limits the complexity.

[dansls1]

Cool technology with some amazing real world potential applications - but is it really modelling?

[pahorace]

The 3D printer is now a reality!
For now it is expensive in terms of money.
In my opinion, needs to be managed.
As has happened for the computer and digital technology has opened the door to innovative solutions also in the hobby sector.

Orazio

[rickstef]

Originally Posted by dansls1

but is it really modelling?

It really fits in the realm of rapid prototyping, and if you reason far enough, it is a model.
It is modeling, but not in the form we are used to, but it is making a representative sample of something real or imagined

just done in a manner that we normally do not have access to.

I have seen some of these z-printers "print out" some pretty detailed topographic models of terrain, based on the Shuttle Radar Mapping mission about 10 years ago, I can only imagine what the resolution now is.

Rick

[cdavenport]

About 25 years ago, the aviation industry developed a process called stereolithography where a computer generated part is created by lasing a liquid polymer 1/1000 of an inch at a time. This newest invention seems to be a logical progression. Industry uses this process for rapid prototyping. What once took weeks to create by hand can be done in hours.

Amazingly, this system can produce solid objects with interior voids of any shape something that was, heretofore, impossible to do.

[cdavenport]

Originally Posted by dansls1

Cool technology with some amazing real world potential applications - but is it really modelling?

Think "Kooklik." Imagine purchasing a kit made in this manner....probably prohibitively expensive, but as a master for molds...well worth the investment.

[ghshinn]

Originally Posted by cdavenport

About 25 years ago, the aviation industry developed a process called stereolithography where a computer generated part is created by lasing a liquid polymer 1/1000 of an inch at a time. This newest invention seems to be a logical progression. Industry uses this process for rapid prototyping. What once took weeks to create by hand can be done in hours.

Amazingly, this system can produce solid objects with interior voids of any shape something that was, heretofore, impossible to do.

By "interior voids" I assume you mean hollow. I've seen a couple of things that were hollow, and also a few products that had a cross hatching interior to give strength, but not add weight.

Garland

[Stev0]

I could create a ball and socket joint that would be impossible outside the digital realm if that gives anyone an idea of how powerful a tool like this can be.

If these machines could manipulate carbon on a molecular level. Many of today's problems can be solved. (most likely to be replaced by newer problems).

[cdavenport]

Originally Posted by Stev0

I could create a ball and socket joint that would be impossible outside the digital realm if that gives anyone an idea of how powerful a tool like this can be.

If these machines could manipulate carbon on a molecular level. Many of today's problems can be solved. (most likely to be replaced by newer problems).

StevO: you hit the nail on the head. We could start a thread discussion on things we do today because of technology that were outside the realm of possibility only yesterday...like having a worldwide network of friends with whom you can maintain almost instantaneous contact. Regarding your idea, we really want to manipulate it and other elements at the atomic level...some of which is being done as we type.

[Paperwarrior]

That is amazing! I think it is interesting that it can make the moving parts within the reproduction. I'm impressed.