How long before we can print a loco or any item we want. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuUAvG1Ampo&NR=1
Yes, I think this will be the next big thing. If they can make the technology affordable for the average hobbyist, the possibilities boggle the mind.cool:
I could print up some RSD15's. I looked at their website but there were no prices so I guess I can't afford one. Twenty years ago a plain black dot-matrix printer (remember them?) cost up to ten times more than a good quality colour inkjet today, the day will eventually come when we can afford one of these.
I love those printers, and I also went to their website.. The lowest model is a monochrome (single color) and a small platten, which would be fine for our models, and the MSRP on it is $20k. Anybody want to loan me some money? lol
This company in Holland will 3d print from your drawings. Several examples railroad items on the site. One axample is this one. Some you can buy. Shapeways | CIE E Class 421 OO Scale
Very interesting technology. Never heard of it before. It'll be interesting to see where this goes in the near future.
One question I would have on the technology though. This technology is used for design prototype models and display. I wonder how durable the finished product would be for daily handling and actual use if you were to print out a loco shell for instance. Not to mention paints, oils and solvents.. Just curious..
Most have seen this before: I fully intend to print this using layers of paper to create recessed windows and such. First layer will be windows. Second layer of paper will be the blue and mabe a 3rd layer of paper for the gold. I expect to be using the Kato critter chassis for power. Trucks will be covered by the "skirt". If it works I'll be doing up a high speed passenger train. First I need to buy a color printer.
3d printing is by no means new for N scale models. Mark4Design has been doing it for a few years. I've had a few small pieces made for myself. The thing to know is that not all printers are the same. Very few have a good enough resolution for N scale models. And even if the price of the printer came down, you would still need someone to make the drawings for you or learn how to draw 3d solids for yourself. Not to mention all the technical aspects and overhead of owning and operation these machines. When this technology does reach the N scale masses price-wise, prepare for a flood of crap. Jason
I'd estimate at least 15 and maybe 20 years, before any such machine is both affordable and sophisticated enough to handle most hobbyist's needs. Also consider that fabricating basic freight cars and maybe diesel shells is one thing. Fabricating steamers and complete locomotive assemblies is going to be quite another matter...especially when we are already seeing the longtime suppliers of basics like wheels, inexpensive drive mechanisms, etc., leaving the hobby field. Likewise, it will probably require that hobbyists revert back to the skill levels of a generation and more ago to design in the necessary tolerances, balancing, etc. Even future 3-D printers are not going to automatically turn out RTR locomotives. It's going to require a great deal of modeler's technical input. These machines may prove a boon to fellas who are mechanical engineers by profession, but I suspect their operation will remain beyond the skill level of 90% of the sort of hobbyist we see today. NYW&B
I just had a weird thought about this technology. What would happen if you loaded this type of printer with a powder made from Tofu, food startches, or soy powder, and printed out a hamburger with soy and food color inks? The future in fast food service.. ekk... Can anybody say "The Jetstons"? hehhe
It doesn't have to be practical for everyone to make it useful. What I hope it will do is make it possible for tiny production runs at lower prices than brass.
If my LHS would have one I would go crazy with some landscaping and some locos WOW the possibilities would be endless.
VERY interesting idea... Any takers? As for models, I could see a day when people (even companies) design the models virtually, and we simply buy and download the CAD model for a few bucks, and print it out ourselves. Painting, weathering, and other textures could be applied in the computer and printed right onto the model as it is manufactured. Even if the cost is too high to allow every modeler to do it, perhaps the LHS could buy the printers, and we simply bring the design to be printed.
Now THAT would be cool. No, not the hamburger thing, I wouldn't eat it.. But, taking cad files to a LHS to print out your custom rolling stock and locomotion..
another weird thought.. About the burger thing. I used to joke when I was on the phone with someone that mentioned they were going to grill a steak on the pit, and I jokingly said "That sounds delicious, Fax me one when they are done.." .. With this technology, that would make that joke a reality.. Hmmm... Soylent green anyone?
Reminds me of what Lego does. For a while now, they've had a service where you can design a model with a CAD program and buy the pieces to build that model. It is limited; you can only use a minority of the selection of parts Lego actually makes. But yes, I can see your idea being used. Of course, this would coexist with companies using the printers and with modellers making their own designs and selling some on the side.
I think this technology may eventually become available to modelers even if as it stands now it is too expensive and not capable of enough detail. Technology progresses rapidly, not too many years ago a group of model railroaders spread around the world, sitting at their computers discussing this would have been science fiction.
It's not going to happen. Why would anyone sell the 3D file for a few bucks? Something that may have taken several hundred hours of research and design using reasonably expensive software. The first file that is sold can be copied, resold, given away rescaled, modified or otherwise abused.
