A 3D Future ?

[Techno]

Am I getting the wrong end of the stick here....(probably  )

£18 for a single '6mm scale' tank ?.....I thought those 'ran out'....at something between 50p and £1-50.
Or are we talking about a 'master' that a different firm can use to produce multiples and sell themselves ?
(£18 wouldn't be a bad price at that scale if so.....Like I said above, I've seen some other vehicles produced by high quality printers.....Very high price...But those were being produced as 'masters' for a secondary firm to put into production themselves.)

Can't see many (any?) folk being prepared to fork out that sort of money otherwise !.....

Cheers - Phil

[Steve J]

£18 for a single '6mm scale' tank ?.....I thought those 'ran out'....at something between 50p and £1-50.

I'm not sure what Shapeways charge for their basic resin and service, but we have a minimum charge for parts mainly due to the labour involved. I'll give you an idea of the post build processes involded with two different RP systems:

Objet:
- Remove parts from platform with spatula.
- Physcially remove as much of the 'wax' support by hand as is possible, but without damaging the part.
- Put part into his pressure jet washer to blast of remaining wax.
- Put part into Sodium Hydroxide (I think) to dissolve any lingering wax. Leave a long as possible, typically 8 hours or more.
- Repeat jet wash process.
- Check part and physically remove ultra-fine layer of wax still left on part, which chemical solution fails to remove.
- Sandblast.
- Prime with paint.
- Sand off build lines etc.
- Part now ready for required finishes to be applied.

Projet:
- Put build platform in fridge.
- When cold enough, a gentle knock removes parts from platform.
- Allow parts to come up to room temperature.
- Put part in 70 degree over to melt off wax support. (If parts put in when cold, fracture lines may appear on part).
- When wax melted off, put part on tissue to absorb as much remaining wax as possible.
- Put part in vegetable oil bath in ultra-sonic cleaner for 15 minutes.
- Remove part and put on tissue and allow to cool.
- Remove excess oil by hand.
- Put part into Gunk to degrease. Physcially brush part in Gunk to aid oil removal.
- Wash part under a tap with tepid water.
- Put onto tissue to dry.
- Sandblast part to aid paint adhesion and to check for residue wax.
- Sand surfaces to remove build lines.
- Part now ready for required paint finishes to be applied.

As you can see, both are incredibly labour intensive in terms of just getting a part ready for painting.

Another thing to note is that the Projet machine needs to be used everyday in an ideal situation to stop the print heads drying out, just the same as a home printer. And the cartidges are not cheap either. Then there is the maintenance costs to factor in.

So hopefully the above will give you an idea of why those off us 'in the know' realise that given the current state of affairs, affordable and reliabe 3D printing at home is a long, long way off. The only way I've seen it used effectively is by the military in Afghanistan and Iraq where they set up printers in a couple of shipping containers to build replacement parts of on the spot conversions quickly, compared to shipping parts in from the UK or America. Buth then the Military have money to burn, given that a AA battery costs circa £20 to get to Afghanistan...

[Hertsblue]

given that a AA battery costs circa £20 to get to Afghanistan...

What's this AA battery armed with - pea shooters? 

[Steve J]

What's this AA battery armed with - pea shooters?

We designed and manufactured a comms system (on behalf of Thales) for soldiers in the field that is worn whilst on patrol. To gaurantee the unit will work whilst on patrol, the batteries are shipped out from the UK, rather than being bought in theatre (gaurantee of supply, not fakes etc). During the manufacture process we found out by chance (from Thales) the cost of shipping one battery to Afghanistan. Needless to say we were somewhat suprised. Each unit uses 4 x AA batteries per unit per patrol on average, so imagine the cost per Company per month when in theatre...

[Techno]

Well....It's certainly very labour intensive Steve !!
Good info....Thanks for that

Can't see it taking off as home based, for reproducing vehicles or figures for decades....If ever.
Definitely can see the advantages of getting really spiffy 'bits' made.....as long as the originating firm is happy for a secondary manufacturer to mould/cast them up for use as parts in their own figures/vehicles.

Cheers - Phil.

[fateeore]

Am I getting the wrong end of the stick here....(probably  )

£18 for a single '6mm scale' tank ?.....I thought those 'ran out'....at something between 50p and £1-50.
Or are we talking about a 'master' that a different firm can use to produce multiples and sell themselves ?
(£18 wouldn't be a bad price at that scale if so.....Like I said above, I've seen some other vehicles produced by high quality printers.....Very high price...But those were being produced as 'masters' for a secondary firm to put into production themselves.)

Can't see many (any?) folk being prepared to fork out that sort of money otherwise !.....

Cheers - Phil

It was for a single tank. There were cheaper ones @£5 or £6.

I doubt they were for use as masters as the site was print on demand, using the same model as T shirt companies; you get the design you want, and then get paid a royalty on sales of that design.

[Techno]

It was for a single tank.

Blimey !! 
Cheers - Phll

[J.S.]

Anyone recognises this figure here?  



Tried to scan a 10mm fig at work (I still occasionally help out at the dental laboratory of my parents)...normally this programe is used to sculpt teeth, but this worked perfectly fine. Just a little bit expensive to cut out a single 10mm fig of a zirconium bloc  

Nevertheless, I can clearly see the potential of 3D techniques in the miniature hobby.

[petercooman]

For me it's a big nono.

I have been looking at various shapeways models recently and they are bloody expensive. Quality seems to be inconsistent too.
And even if the price was right and the quality grade A, it stilll ain't metal! I just like my metal.

I'm probably too conservative for these kind of things but i like it that way.

Also:

[Techno]

I liked the item that was on the news recently that was going on about 3D printing in chocolate.
Just think....If you take out an opponents figure in a game...You get to eat it.
Instead of using paint, you could use food dyes to keep the models edible.

Only problem I can see is that you'd have to do all the gaming in a cold room so the figures didn't melt.
Cheers - Mr Silly.

[fsn]

Perhaps a shell like Smarties?

[Fenton]

You could always eat the enemy soldiers you have killed which would add something to the game, though if my opponent had all of his made of coffee cremes' I wouldnt try and win

[fateeore]

You could always eat the enemy soldiers you have killed which would add something to the game, though if my opponent had all of his made of coffee cremes' I wouldnt try and win

You could always smoke them 

[Fenton]

Not Cafe Creme's ..Coffee Creme's

[Orcs]

You really think the capitalist system will allow this?  I suspect it will remain niche, and if it ever looks like it might become commonly available it'll go the way of electric cars, and other superior technological developments - bought up and buried by the multinationals who will lose out to it.

I think your right there Luddite, As soon as the resolution and price gets to a point where its viable that technology will be burried alongside other technology we know about - Unladerable tights/ Stockings , everlasting lightbulbs etc.

I wish to point out before any of you lot make comments - I have no interest in Stockings or tights, other than looking at (or possibly removing) tham from a female form.  And actually laddered ones can be quite alluring